The day was slipping into twilight, and the air was thick with anticipation. Tony and Eleo stood at a crossroads in their journey, a path that would lead them deeper into the unknown. The man they encountered earlier had just explained the consequences of signing up for the hunt for the strongest—a magical challenge that would mark them as participants, drawing the attention of the powerful Supreme Council.
With a sense of gravity, the man said, “Tony, Eleo, when you sign this paper, the government will immediately know who’s part of this hunt. This isn’t just any contract—it’s a magical bond. Once your name is on it, you’ll be marked.”
Eleo, with his characteristic enthusiasm, didn’t hesitate. He grabbed the quill and scrawled his name with a flourish. As soon as he finished, a blue glow surrounded the parchment. A message appeared in the air, shimmering with arcane energy: *Team Leader: Eleo*.
“Wow!” Eleo’s eyes widened in awe. “Wait, how do I make Tony join my team?”
The man chuckled softly, as if remembering his own youthful excitement. “Simple. You just have to ask him. If he agrees, it’ll be noted that he’s part of your team.”
Eleo turned to Tony, his voice filled with excitement and hope. “Tony, would you like to join my team?”
Tony’s skeletal grin spread wide. “Yes, yes I would.”
As soon as Tony spoke, the parchment glowed again, and a new message appeared: *Tony has officially joined the team*. Eleo raised his fist toward Tony, and without hesitation, Tony met it with his own in a bone-on-fur fist bump. Eleo smiled, a glimmer of adventure in his eyes.
“Okay, Tony! Let’s head out and go on an adventure!”
The two companions set off, the sun dipping low as they entered the dense woods. Night fell quickly, shrouding the forest in a blanket of darkness. The trees, tall and ancient, cast long shadows that seemed to dance with each step they took. The air was thick with the scent of pine and earth, but the night was cold, and fatigue began to weigh on them.
After hours of walking, Eleo finally broke the silence, his voice laced with exhaustion. “Man, we’ve been walking for so long, it’s not even funny.”
Tony, ever the pragmatic one, replied, “Yeah, well, this is going to take a while.”
Just as Eleo was about to resign himself to more endless walking, he spotted a faint light in the distance. Squinting through the darkness, his eyes lit up when he recognized what it was. “Oh my god, finally! A bar!”
Tony, his glowing eye sockets fixed on the building, cautioned, “We can go inside, but you can’t drink the beer.”
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“Aww, man!” Eleo pouted but quickly perked up as they approached the bar.
The establishment was rustic, with creaky wooden doors and dim lights flickering in the windows. As they entered, they were hit with the smell of spilled ale, sweat, and the distinct odor of smoke. The patrons, a rough and rowdy bunch, barely glanced up as the duo made their way to the bar.
The owner, a stout pig with a weathered eye patch and a sour expression, was busy cleaning cups behind the counter. His fur was a dirty pink, and his tusks jutted out menacingly. As they approached, the pig spat on the ground, grumbling under his breath.
“Oi, Jorbo, you gotta pay for that, you son of a bitch,” the pig barked at a disheveled man slumped over the counter.
Jorbo, clearly drunk and barely coherent, slurred his response, “Hell no! I’ll pay… uhh… in 66 weeks…”
Before he could finish, the pig slammed Jorbo’s face into the counter, sending him flying through the wall with a crash. As Jorbo disappeared into the night, the pig wiped his hands and returned to cleaning, muttering, “Fucking drunk.”
Tony and Eleo exchanged uneasy glances before Tony spoke up, his tone careful. “Uh, Mr. Piggy, got a name?”
The pig’s one good eye turned toward Tony, his voice dripping with disdain. “Watch it, bonehead. The name’s Jackie. Now what the hell do you want?”
Tony, unfazed, asked, “Do you know where we can find a place to sleep?”
Jackie snorted, the sound a mix of amusement and irritation. “Well, there’s a city about 30 miles from here.”
“Jesus Christ,” Tony muttered.
Eleo, curious as ever, asked, “What’s miles?”
Tony patiently explained, “A mile is a unit of linear measure equal to 1,760 yards or a unit of length.”
Eleo nodded, though he still seemed puzzled. “Oh, well, I still don’t know what that means. So how long would that take us?”
Tony thought for a moment. “About 9 hours.”Tony replied, rubbing the back of his neck.Before Eleo could respond, someone in the bar suddenly yelled out, “Kenji, the Blue Demon!”The atmosphere in the bar shifted immediately. Conversations stopped, and all eyes turned towards a man sitting quietly in the far corner of the bar. His presence had gone unnoticed until now, but as his name echoed through the room, it was as if a spell had been broken.Kenji sat there, his piercing blue eyes catching the dim light, reflecting it like shards of ice. His face was sharp and angular, with defined cheekbones and a strong jawline. His nose was straight, and his lips were set in a neutral expression that hinted at seriousness. His eyes, almond-shaped and intense, were framed by arched, defined eyebrows that added to his stern appearance.But it was his hair that truly stood out. Vibrant blue and slightly tousled, it gave him a casual yet striking look. The long bangs parted slightly to the sides, framing his face and covering part of his forehead, while the sides and back were shorter, blending seamlessly with the longer strands on top. The overall effect was one of effortless power and confidence.Kenji’s presence was overwhelming, as if the very air around him was charged with energy. He didn’t need to move or speak for his power to be felt; it radiated from him like heat from a flame.From the entrance, another figure stepped forward, eyes locked on Kenji. This was Mikage, a man with a more approachable demeanor, though no less intimidating. His hair, slightly tousled and wind-swept, was a more subdued shade of brown. His bangs fell towards the center of his forehead, framing a face that was less severe than Kenji’s but carried its own intensity Kenji wears a deep indigo yukata adorned with a subtle, wave-like pattern in silver that reflects light as he moves. The yukata is tied with a wide, dark gray obi that features intricate, hand-embroidered designs of flowing clouds. The sleeves of the yukata are slightly longer, giving it a more fluid, dynamic appearance.On his feet, Kenji wears black, woven sandals with white straps that complement the overall look. He also carries a slender, polished wooden fan tucked neatly into the obi, adding a touch of traditional elegance to his attire.Mikage’s voice rang out, breaking the silence that had settled over the bar. “Kenji, the Blue Demon, huh? I’ve been looking for you.”Kenji slowly turned his head, his eyes narrowing as he regarded Mikage. There was a moment of tense silence, the air crackling with unspoken challenge.”Looking for me?” Kenji’s voice was low and measured, carrying a weight that made every word count. “You’d better have a good reason.”Mikage smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “I’ve heard you’re the strongest around here. Thought I’d see for myself.”The tension in the bar was palpable. Jackie, surprisingly unfazed, continued cleaning his glass, but his one good eye watched the exchange carefully.Tony and Eleo, who had been watching from the corner, exchanged nervous glances. They could feel the air growing thicker with anticipation, as if something monumental was about to happen.Kenji stood slowly, his every movement deliberate and controlled. He was tall and imposing, his presence filling the room. “Strength isn’t something you see,” he said, his voice cold. “It’s something you feel.”Mikage’s smile widened, but there was no warmth in it. “Then show me.”The bar remained silent as the two men faced each other, the weight of their words hanging in the air. Eleo and Tony, who had been standing at a distance, felt the gravity of the situation. They were in the presence of something far beyond their understanding, and they knew it.