The next morning, Haruki sat in Class E, slumped on his desk, still nursing the faint bruise on his cheek from yesterday. The other students whispered as usual, but he ignored them, doodling circles in his notebook out of boredom.
Suddenly, the classroom door slid open.
THUD! THUD! THUD! Footsteps echoed across the silent room.
It was Furuha.
Everyone stiffened instantly. Even the noisy kids shut their mouths. Furuha's sharp eyes swept across the class, then stopped directly at Haruki.
"Haruki. Come with me."
Haruki froze. His brain screamed WHAT!? but his body moved on its own. He stood up awkwardly, his classmates staring at him like he was marching to his funeral.
As they walked down the hall, Haruki tried to break the suffocating silence.
"So… uh… where are we going? Don't tell me you're dragging me out just to punch me again—"
WHAM!
Before he could finish, Furuha's fist slammed lightly but painfully enough into his shoulder.
"Shut up. Just walk."
Haruki rubbed the spot with a pout. "Ow! Seriously, is that your way of saying good morning?"
They eventually arrived at the Martial Hall (武术馆).
The place was massive—like a futuristic dojo mixed with a laboratory. Holograms flickered across the walls, displaying combat stats and 3D models of weapons. Heavy punching bags hung in rows, one of them already torn and spilling sand. Training robots stood in standby mode, their metal frames gleaming under the cold lights.
Haruki stopped at the entrance, blinking nervously.
"Uh… you do realize I'm not a Young Hero, right? I'm not even allowed in here."
Furuha glanced at him coldly.
"Doesn't matter. Yoruto has something to say to you."
Haruki swallowed, his chest tightening. Yoruto? The top guy? What the hell does he want with me…
Furuha pushed open the door. Inside, there was only Yoruto, standing in the center with his arms crossed, his presence radiating authority.
The entire hall felt heavier just because of him.
Furuha gestured toward Haruki.
"He's here."
Yoruto slowly turned his head, his piercing gaze locking onto Haruki.
Haruki looked at Yoruto, half curious, half annoyed.
"So… what's up?"
Yoruto walked toward him slowly, his eyes as cold as ice. He fixed his gaze on Haruki like Haruki had just stolen his breakfast.
Haruki felt awkward; he swallowed, turned his head for three seconds, then dared to look back.
"Is there any…bug on my face, or am I just too ugly to be here?" Haruki asked, trying for a joke but sounding like a nervous chipmunk.
Yoruto didn't respond. His stare could have frozen a furnace. Finally he said, "Furuha, wait outside. I have a warning for Haruki."Furuha bowed, eyes briefly closing. "Yes, Sensei," she said, then slipped out. The door clicked shut behind her.
Haruki gulped again. "So…am I in trouble?"Yoruto closed his eyes for a moment, then spoke as if reciting bad news from a very calm weather report.
"Trouble? You're trouble if you let Young Hero punch you in the future."He opened his eyes; for the first time Haruki noticed the faint softening around his mouth—just a millimetre, but real. "Tomorrow is your first training. Be ready."
Haruki's shoulders drooped. "Is that all? That's not exactly a warning."
Yoruto's expression snapped back to cold. "I'm not finished. Don't cut me off… or I'll cut your mouth before you can speak." The threat landed like a slap. Haruki lowered his head. "Yeah, yeah. Sorry."
"Good." Yoruto's voice became serious. "I have three warnings."He straightened, each word measured."Every beginner gets these. Important stuff. Listen."Yoruto folded his hands behind his back and began.
"First warning," Yoruto said, his voice sharp. "Do not touch or break anything in Hiloxy. If you do, you'll either be locked for a hundred days… or burned alive by it."
Haruki raised an eyebrow. "Great, so basically don't breathe too hard in this place."
"Second warning," Yoruto continued. His tone dropped, lower, heavier. "Do not go outside after six p.m. without my permission."
Haruki blinked. "Wait—why? What happens after six? Discount demons? Happy hour?"
Yoruto ignored him completely. "Third warning: do not mess with a strong demon. You are not ready. Don't act tough. If you do, I'll personally drag you back half-dead just to lecture you again."
Haruki sighed. "So basically, don't die. Got it."
"That's all," Yoruto said flatly. "Simple warnings but still important."
"Okay, so… can I go back to my classroom now?" Haruki asked, already turning toward the door.
"Not yet." Yoruto's eyes gleamed, cold but… different. "There's something important you must hear."
Haruki froze. The room felt heavier, like the walls were holding their breath. He gulped. "...And that is?"
Yoruto finally spoke, voice heavy.
"We've encountered the strongest demons before… but even now, our knowledge about them is limited."
Haruki tilted his head. "Demons? You mean that demon dog that chased me two days ago after I fell here?"
"No." Yoruto's tone sharpened. "Not that mutt. I'm talking about Fatuxy of Harbiloy."
Haruki blinked—then burst out laughing. "Fatuxy of Harbiloy?? That sounds like a rock band that failed their audition!"
Yoruto didn't even flinch. "It's not a joke. Fatuxy group is the most dangerous, the most destructive existence. The Fatuxy group consists of five Harbiloy, each ranked by strength. The Demon King sits at the very top."
He listed them one by one, his voice echoing like a curse:
"The Demon King. The Black Angel. The Dragon Lord. The Moon Hunter. And The Soul Ghost."
Haruki's laughter dried up. His face stiffened. "Oh great… this isn't a rock band. It's a death playlist."
Yoruto said "That was just their codename, their true name is still remain silent."
Yoruto's eyes narrowed slightly.
"The last one… is the lowest among them, but still dangerous. The Soul Ghost."
Haruki scratched his head. "Rank five, huh? So he's like the weakest mini-boss?"
"Do not take him lightly," Yoruto warned. "The Soul Ghost cannot match the Demon King's strength or the Dragon Lord's destruction. Instead, he uses fear and deception. He preys on the mind."
Haruki blinked. "So… like a cheap horror movie villain?"
Yoruto ignored the remark.
"He manipulates voices, shapes, even shadows. Soldiers chasing him often end up chasing each other, slashing their own allies. He thrives in confusion. And when you are lost and exhausted… then he strikes."
Haruki swallowed. "…Okay, that actually sounds worse than fighting a giant dragon."
"Perhaps," Yoruto admitted, his gaze cold. "But remember this—he is still rank five. He can kill thousands alone, he can destroy cities like the higher Harbiloy. His power is in trickery. If you keep your head clear and trust your instincts… you can survive him."
Yoruto's tone shifted, colder.
"Above the Soul Ghost… is the Moon Hunter. Rank four of the Harbiloy."
Haruki raised an eyebrow. "Moon Hunter? What, does he only clock in at night? Sounds like some edgy werewolf on night-shift."
Yoruto didn't flinch. "He is no beast. He was born under the first lunar eclipse a thousand years ago. And every time the moon rises, especially under a full moon, his power awakens."
Haruki tilted his head. "…Okay, spooky origin story, check. What can he do—howl and scratch furniture?"
Yoruto's gaze cut sharp. "He hunts. Patiently. Without mercy. Once the Moon Hunter marks your shadow with his silver scar, you belong to him. You may run, you may hide, but every time moonlight touches you… he will know where you are. And he will come."
The air in the room seemed to thicken, shadows stretching unnaturally long as Yoruto continued.
"His steps make no sound. His presence cannot be sensed until his blade cuts you. That blade is no ordinary weapon—it does not simply slice flesh. It severs the will to fight. One strike, and even the bravest warrior collapses, their spirit broken."
Haruki gave a shaky laugh. "So basically… he doesn't just kill you, he deletes your motivation? Great. I already have homework for that."
Yoruto ignored the quip. His voice stayed heavy.
"He is patient beyond imagination. If he marks you, he does not rush. He has waited years—decades—for prey to break. He enjoys watching them crumble, knowing their doom is inevitable. To him, the hunt is sport, not necessity. A cruel game."
Haruki's grin faltered. "…Right. So he's not a night-shift worker. He's a night-shift psychopath."
Yoruto closed his eyes briefly, then opened them, cold and sharp.
"Do not laugh. The Moon Hunter's blade has ended entire armies, not with strength… but with despair."
A shiver crept down Haruki's spine, his joking tone weaker. "…Yeah, noted. I'm never going out during a full moon again and never trust the moon. Ever."
Yoruto folded his arms, his voice steady as stone.
Yoruto folded his arms, his gaze cold as steel.
"And above him… is the Dragon Lord. Rank three of the Harbiloy. I still don't have much information on him yet. For now… all I can say is that the top three remain a mystery. Dangerous, silent, and unpredictable."
Haruki swallowed, feeling a chill creep down his spine. He rubbed the back of his neck, trying to force a grin.
"…Great. So, after surviving demons that hack your mind and delete your motivation… the next one is a mysterious supervillain chick. Perfect. Just perfect."
Yoruto said nothing, letting the weight of his words hang in the air. The silence in the room pressed down like a physical force, and Haruki couldn't help but feel how small he truly was in this new world.
He glanced at the door, then back at Yoruto, a mix of fear and stubborn curiosity in his eyes.
"Guess… I better get some sleep. First training tomorrow, huh?"
Yoruto's cold stare didn't soften, but he gave a single nod.
"Rest. You'll need all your wits and strength. The world outside is not kind… and it only gets worse from here."
Haruki exhaled, leaning against the wall. Somehow, he felt both terrified and… strangely excited.
The room fell silent, the only sound the faint creak of the door. Outside, Furuha waited, unaware of the full weight of what Haruki had just learned.
And somewhere, in the shadows of the world, the Fatuxy of Harbiloy stirred… waiting.
Haruki finally pushed the door open. Furuha was waiting outside, arms crossed, tapping her foot impatiently.
"Finally," she said, eyes narrowing. "What took you so long? I was about to start wondering if you got lost in Sensei's scary stare."
Haruki scratched the back of his neck, half-smile forming. "Well… turns out Sensei can talk about demons for hours and still make you question your entire life. So yeah, got a little… distracted."
Furuha raised an eyebrow. "Distracted, huh? Or terrified?"
"Eh, maybe a tiny bit terrified," Haruki admitted, laughing nervously. "Apparently, there's a demon group called Fatuxy of Harbiloy. And they're not just strong… they're like the final boss cheat codes of this world. Top five are insane."
Furuha's expression didn't change, though her eyes flickered with recognition. "…I see."
Haruki blinked. "Wait… see? You already know about them?"
Furuha smirked faintly. "Of course. I've known about Fatuxy for a while. That's why I wasn't worried leaving you with Sensei—at least you'll hear it from the horse's mouth, literally."
Haruki's jaw dropped. "…You mean you were letting me slowly die of suspense?"
Furuha shrugged, playful but serious. "More like… I wanted to see if you'd actually survive the briefing without panicking completely. Lesson learned?"
Haruki muttered something under his breath. "Barely."
Furuha shook her head, a small grin breaking through. "Come on. Let's get to Class E. You've had your warnings, your horror stories… now it's time for actual training."
Haruki followed her, still rubbing the back of his neck. "Class E… I hope there's not another surprise lecture from Sensei waiting for me there."
Furuha glanced back, her eyes sharp. "Don't worry. The surprises are outside the classroom. Inside, you'll just try not to embarrass yourself too much."
Haruki groaned but followed, the weight of what he'd learned still heavy in his chest—but a strange spark of determination forming.
Haruki pushed open the door to Class E, the chatter of students filling the room. He glanced around, taking in the desks, the blackboard, and the faint smell of ink and old books. Some students turned to look at him, curiosity in their eyes, but no one spoke—yet.
Furuha stood by the doorway, watching him with that same sharp gaze. She gave a small nod.
"Don't get too comfortable," she said lightly. "You're still new here."
Haruki grinned weakly. "Yeah, yeah. Got it. Don't embarrass myself, survive first day, check, check."
Furuha's lips twitched into a brief smile, then she turned on her heel.
"I've got my own class," she said. "See you later, stupidity."
And just like that, she was gone, slipping effortlessly down the hall.
Haruki exhaled, letting his shoulders drop. He walked further into the room, taking a seat near the window. Sunlight spilled across the floor, warming him a little, and for the first time since arriving, he felt… normal. At least for a moment.
The chatter of the classroom continued, teachers called names, students shuffled papers—but for Haruki, it was a pause from the chaos, a brief moment of calm before the next challenge.
He leaned back in his chair, letting his thoughts wander, and thought: Maybe this place isn't so bad… as long as Furuha doesn't glare at me too much.
And with that, the class E began.