A quiet city-edge neighborhood.
Suddenly—
SCREEEEECH
Mutated caterpillar like big worms spotted near an electronic store
They swarm towards screaming civilians holding plastic bags,plastic items.
People run.Shops shutter.Chaos spreads in seconds.
"AREN'T THERE ANY HUNTERS PATROLLING NEARBY?"
"CALL THE GUILD!"
"THEY'RE EVERYWHERE!"
A well-built man steps forward, trying to show off in front of his attractive girlfriend.
He stomps down on a worm—
It doesn't die.
He screams—not a hero's shout, but a shrill, wet sound—as green-tinged mandibles sink in
Blood splashes.
The girl stumbles backward, frozen in terror
CLANG
A spear slams into the concrete, inches from a girl's face. Standing over her is navy-blue-haired hunter steps.
A massive worm lunges.
For a split second—
His eyes widen.
Sain (thinking):No... not worms. Anything but worms. God, I hate the texture.
The spear thrusts—
SPLAT
The worm splits open, spraying viscous green bile.
Sain flinches.He jumps three feet further than necessary, almost slipping.
Another worm lunges—
He stabs again. Faster. Rougher.
His technique is efficient…
…but his face is screaming of terror even if his mouth isn't.
"Is he... scared?" a civilian whispers.
"He looks like he's about to cry," another snickers.
Sain kills another worm, jaw clenched.
His technique is flawless, but his face is a mask of pure, unadulterated horror.
Suddenly—
BOOOOOOM
A mace hammer crashes down.
A worm is reduced to paste.
A loud, echoing scream fills the street.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAA—!!!"
Maru charges forward.
Tears are literally flying off his cheeks like raindrops.
"DON'T COME NEAR ME—AAAAAAAH!!!"
Wild swings but with terrifying strength, like a hurricane of sobbing violence.
CRASH — a bug explodes. Another crawls—
BAM — crushed into the pavement.
Maru keeps screaming nonstop.
"STAY AWAY! STAY AWAY! STAY AWAY!!!"
Bugs shatter.Green blood splashes everywhere.
People peek from hiding places.
One whispers:
"Why is he screaming like that?!"
Sain glances at Maru.
For a split second, the absurdity hits him. He lets out a short, hysterical laugh—
Immediately kills another worm in a panic-induced reflex.
Civilians burst into laughter.
"That guy's fighting like his life depends on it!"
The street goes silent. Worm corpses everywhere.
Two hunters stand drenched in green monster ichor.
Maru bends over, panting.
Maru:"I hate …I hate worms…"
Sain stands stiffly, spear tip dripping.
His hand trembles slightly.
Maru suddenly freezes.
"…Wait."
He looks around.
The civilians are safe.
Not a single injury.
He follows the trail of crushed insects—
All positioned away from the people.
Sain stands there.
Blood-stained.Breathing controlled.
Maru stares at him, mouth wide open.
Sain notices.
They lock eyes.
Awkward silence.
Sain quickly looks away.
Maru walks over, nervous.
"U-Um… hey… sorry , that must be embarrassing"
Sain hesitates.
"…You were loud."
Maru scratches his head.
"Yeah… bugs kinda freak me out."
Sain makes a disgusting face.
"…Mhm. Worms are unpleasant."
Maru grins.
"Guess fear works differently on different people!"
Sain thinks.
"…Perhaps so"
Sain speaks again, sincere.
"But your strength…It was extraordinary."
Maru blinks.
"…Really?"
Sain nods.
"even I could feel your hits"
Maru smiles awkwardly.
"You protected everyone while I was busy screaming, didn't you?"
Sain blushes slightly.
Maru:"I'm Maru! Hunter—uh—still kinda new!"
After a pause—
Sain:"…Sain. Been around a few weeks."
Maru:"Hey… wanna not fight bugs alone next time?"
Sain looks at the destroyed street.
Then at the people.
Sain:"…That would be logical."
People begin to thank them.
Sain looks uncomfortable.Maru waves enthusiastically.
Maru:"You did great too, ya know!"
Sain blinks.
Sain:"…That was the job."
A faint smile appears.
From an alley corner—
Ten hunters watch.
One laughs:
"Two scared idiots wiped out a swarm."
Another:
"One screams. One panics quietly."
One whispers:
"Did you see that hammer guy?"
Another:
"what powerful hits"
A third smirks:
"They're wasted working alone."
The leader speaks:
"Let's ask them."