> — Did you just say... "two hundred silver coins"?
Kael stared at the man in a suit with round glasses. He held a crumpled old contract between his fingers, shaking it like a wilted lettuce leaf.
— That's what I was promised for catching that big guy with one eye, right?
The recruiter shrugged awkwardly.
— Yes, but... you destroyed three buildings, a historical statue, and the mayor's dog went missing in the explosion.
— That wasn't me, it was the dog! He triggered the grenade while running with it, I couldn't stop him!
— You threw the grenade at the dog.
— …Technically, it was a test.
Awkward silence. The man leaned forward:
— You're fired.
Kael froze. Then he smiled, stood up from his chair, and patted the recruiter's shoulder.
— No problem. I'm gonna become the greatest mercenary in the world anyway.
— Sure you are, the man muttered, already filling out insurance paperwork.
---
Later, in a seedy tavern…
Kael dragged his sorry self onto a bench, starving, pockets empty.
He ordered a glass of water (the only free thing) and mumbled into his beard:
> — I need to find a teammate… a good one. A tough one. Someone who inspires fear…
Just then, a deafening crash shook the tavern. The customers jumped to their feet, panicked.
Someone had crashed through the front door… or rather: blown it off its hinges.
Standing in the dust, a towering figure.
A young man, shirtless despite the cold, with messy black hair and an icy gaze.
Strapped to his back: a massive sword as long as he was — an ancient blade, nearly alive, wrapped in chains.
Around him, a burning aura of deep crimson.
> — Tch... more hunters. I told you—I'm not looking for trouble.
Armed mercenaries surrounded the stranger.
> — You're Ryuu, right? The one they call the Sleeping Dragon?
— 50,000 Ck on your head, kid. This is gonna be fun.
Kael, chewing on his empty glass, looked up.
> — Ohh... now this is promising.
He jumped on a table and pointed at Ryuu:
> — You! Be my first teammate!
(awkward silence)
Ryuu: ...Who the hell are you?
Kael (grinning): Kael Drayden. Future King of Mercenaries!
> — They say your head's worth 50,000 Ck, Ryuu… Let's see if you're still breathing after we bleed you dry.
The mercenary leader's voice echoed through the tavern, every word dripping with sadism.
His men surrounded Ryuu and Kael, weapons drawn, confident in their numbers.
Ryuu didn't answer. He tilted his head slightly.
His red eyes lit up with a supernatural glow, as if something inhuman had just awakened.
He slowly drew the sword from his back.
A long black blade, as tall as him, marked with glowing red runes.
It hissed steam when it touched the air, vibrating like it was alive. Hungry.
> — Last warning, he whispered.
Leave.
The leader chuckled.
> — Or what…?
BOOM.
Three mercenaries flew across the room, crashing into the walls.
They didn't even see the strike coming.
Chaos exploded.
Ryuu became a storm of raw power.
His massive sword danced with monstrous precision, as if it were part of him.
Each blow sent enemies flying, each dodge was effortless and premeditated.
He moved with perfect economy — silent, swift, deadly.
Around him, the mercenaries screamed, fired, charged in groups.
But nothing could stop him.
---
Meanwhile, Kael was still standing on his table, arms crossed, looking serious… but with slightly trembling legs.
> — Wooow… He's cool. Super cool.
That's it, I found my first team member. No doubt.
A flying stool whizzed past his head. He dodged it with a casual hip move.
> — …Chill.
Then an empty bottle bounced off his head. He hopped off the table.
> — Alright… guess I better help out, or he's gonna think I'm useless.
He drew his short sword. Nowhere near as impressive as Ryuu's, but Kael handled it with surprising skill.
He slid under a table, popped up behind a mercenary, flicked his skull — and then kneed him in the chin.
> — Is it just me or am I getting good at this?
Ryuu, in the middle of the carnage, glanced at Kael.
He saw this guy, sword in hand, doing all kinds of nonsense but somehow still surviving.
And above all… he was smiling. Even in the middle of a fight.
A bright, genuine smile. Like this chaos was his element.
> This guy's an idiot… but he's not afraid.
A rare flicker appeared in Ryuu's eyes.
> Interesting.