Author's Note: Not exactly sure whether I should show some behind the scene or not but I tried to at least make this chapter interesting.

WARNING: Gore, violence, and death.

Chapter 3

Difference

The Haruka Village was a large town that was populated with over a thousand people.

Because of their fast-growing growth in effective resources and strong men, they were one of the popular talks within the kingdom of Mistral.

Located in the western side of the continent Anima, they lived within the forest of Hinoki that was known for its mountainous area with cave systems along with inhabitants of Grimms such as Beowolves, Lancers and Manticores alongside with other forest wildlife.

Living in this dangerous forest may have been impossible to last for years because of the Grimms and bandits but, five years ago, some retired Huntsmen and Huntresses along with some dozen Mercenaries that were looking for a place that isn't within the Kingdom gathered under the leadership of Almar Haruka, one of the most famous huntsmen in the world.

They managed to build a fine village from the ground, surviving the harsh nature while they're numbers grew over the five years.

Life was great and people are thriving.

However, as they say, happiness doesn't last long for villagers like them.

No one truly knows how this conflict grew this big among the two groups. But, one thing for sure was it happened on a summer day, a month ago where an infamous tribe came and told them to hand over their resources and work under their protection, the villagers of course, politely refused which still angered the prideful tribe.

And so, the start of war between the Haruka village and the Orka tribe happened.

While the Haruka Villagers managed to fight almost victoriously, who would have thought the real members would hide among the civilians while the guards march into their empty base?

Through the dirt street, a black whitened haired middle-aged man jumped out from the window of one of the burning houses, holding a tearful twelve-year-old child in his arms.

Pushing his aura into his legs, he protectively held the child as he landed on the ground.

The ground beneath him slightly cracked as he bent down and put the child down, glancing over his shoulder, he saw one of the bandits halting in the middle of the street as soon he noticed them.

Cursing under his breath, Topaz looked at the dirtied reddish-brown haired child that was staring at the bandit with wide black eyes.

Shaking his shoulder, Topaz urgently called out, "Rost!"

Snapping out of his trance, Rost's gaze looked into his hazel eyes.

"Go to the northern path and see if there are other guards there if not, hide." Topaz told Rost seriously as he took his silver dagger out of his belt and gave it to the child's hand before lightly pushing him forward,
"Now go!"

Hesitantly, Rost ran as Topaz quickly took out his reddish yellow folded staff and twirled it behind him just in time to block the hammer-mace that was about to connect to his head.

Glaring at the bandit that looked at him with a menacing grin, Topaz narrowed his eyes before smirking, causing the bandit's grin to slightly fade as he furrowed his dark eyebrows.

Clicking something on his staff, Topaz's weapon, Miyamoto, fired a double shotgun shell right into the man's face, briefly stunning the bandit as Topaz slightly bent his wrist and snake his staff into the bandit's center throat, slamming it as the bandit fell back, slightly breathless which Topaz took advantage of.

Twirling his staff, he clicked another function of his weapon, transforming it into a long dark brown and reddish-orange spear.

Quickly fixing his footstep, Topaz slightly tilted his head to the side, avoiding the sword that was about to stab his head.

Maneuvering his hand, he enhanced his Miyamoto with his own aura, activating his semblance as he jabs his spear towards the other bandit that tried to sneak on him.

The brown messy haired bandit noticed the incoming spear and used his hand to put out his own aura to block the spear but what he didn't expect was it to be pierced right through his palm before it impaled his chest, stabbing right into his heart.

The spear was pulled out and blood burst out like leaked water from a water bottle.

Gaping at his bleeding chest, the bandit slowly raised his gaze and the last thing he saw before he died was the cold stone face of Topaz.

The other two bandits, the one on the ground who held the hammer-mace and the other who was standing not far from the other bandit was a dark green haired man who held a dual sword.

They couldn't help but felt chills on their back as soon as their gaze met his cold expression, knowing this guy was one of those with experience.

After seeing what he can do, the two briefly glance to each other, conveying the message of 'we can't defeat this guy. Let's retreat.'

The dual welder slowly itched his hand into his belt where his mist bomb was attached, however, before he could have the chance to grab it, Topaz seemed to disappear from their view and reappeared in front of the dual welder.

The dual welder quickly uses his sword to block the incoming spear but fails when Topaz flickered his wrist and used the rear of his Miyamoto and struck the temple of the bandit's head, causing him too almost black out.

In his brief black out, the bandit seemed to have figured out what this guy semblance is.

From the way his aura just shattered just like that, Aura was useless in the face of this guy's semblance.

The dual welder collided on the ground as Topaz grinned darkly causing the other bandit who was about to sneak on him to run away in fright when he saw Topaz's murderous gaze snapping towards him.

Clicking his tongue, Topaz stabbed his spear on the back of the neck of the dual welder, impaling him to the ground before he pulled it up and locked his gaze at the back of the running bandit, ignoring the blood that was spilled on his feet.

Just as he was about to twirl his Miyamoto to throw it at the running bandit, a white tattered cloaked figure appeared which caught his attention.

His hazel eyes narrowed, tensing up as he glanced at the unmoving bandit that crashed on the ground beside the newcomer.

From the way he's not moving, the bandit was already dead.

Turning his gaze back at the newcomer whose white tattered cloak hung around his neck, wavering in the wind as the pointed bangs of his black spiky hair shadowed his eyes.

Looking further, aside from his black long sleeved, high collared uniform with gray buttons clothing his lean figure, Topaz noticed there was a black cloth covering around his eyes when he tilted his head towards his direction.

As the chilling wind breezed, the young man slowly turned around, exposing the black and white sheathed katana that hung on his right and left waist.

The world seems to come to halt as Topaz's pupils literally shrink and his mind almost goes blank as soon as his sight falls into the emblem that hangs on the young man's gray belt.

It was a golden blooming lotus that was engraved on that infamous round emblem made of metal alloy.

Topaz breathing hitched as a sweat slid down on his forehead.

'Why is he here!?'

He kept his composer in check as the man slightly tilted his head and for a moment, Topaz felt his skin crawl as if someone just poke his very soul.

But he didn't dare to move at all.

.

.

The sky was darkening as Alena bent with her head down, sliding to the left as she barely avoided the spiked-mace that impacted the ground, creating a cracked hole.

Quickly but cautiously backing away while keeping her eyes on the man, Alena maintained her breathing as tried to regain what stamina she had left.

Her back was drench with sweat as her limbs were aching in pain.

Her mind was literally screaming for survival as her body coursed in adrenaline, ready to move despite the exhaustion that was stalling her.

With a clenched jaw, she immediately changed her footstep, ready to dodge once more.

The man looked frustrated, glaring at her with his dark eye.

While Alena didn't know how long they were at this but she knew it was long because the sky was darkening in the fading dark orange horizon.

Knowing she had lasted this long against that man quite surprised her but, she guessed being the former dodgeball champion in her early high school wasn't just an empty title.

But still, was she even still fighting a damn human?

Every time she counterattacked with a punch or kick against him, her knuckles or leg would literally ache as if she didn't attack a human skin.

It was like she was fighting a man made of crack able stone.

"Damn auraless bitch." He slightly growled, "Stopped moving!"

'As if!'

Alena wanted to say that the weapon in his hand would literally kill if it hit her, but she didn't dare waste more of her breath and just warily watched the man dragged his mace into the ground, walking towards her with clear hostile intent.

For all the work she did to stay alive, Alena mentally thanked herself for watching some street fight tips and psychological methods in a fight.

Even though she doesn't remember most of it, she already gathered some methods which may or may not make her win.

'In a fight without rules, anger your opponent to make their attack predictable.'

Words that came through various fighters alike.

It was clear this was working as this man, who was clearly stronger than her, was getting predictable each time his attacks missed her making him grow impatient.

'If your opponent is bigger and stronger than you, never let them catch you.'

Looking at the tired girl who stared at him with clear focus, the man clenched his hold on his weapon, gritted his teeth as he narrowed his eyes on her.

At first, he felt amused when this auraless girl dared to fight him but now this fight occupied him till this hour, it was a total blow on his reputation and pride.

Knowing some of his comrades saw him having a hard time against an auraless girl who moves like a damn eel, it made him grind his teeth as he thought of how his brothers would not let this go.

And what was worse was his aura was getting low each attack he tried to launch into this slippery bitch.

'I have to end this…' He thought, growing frustrated at the fact he has to seriously fight a kid.

Alena just felt like her end just came nearer.

The moment that man took a deep breath and clicked something on his mace, the spiked ball slid down from the handle, showing the silver chain that was attached to the spiked-ball.

The man was finally taking her seriously.

Which made her feel a bit proud and at the same time, nervous, knowing this is about to get harder.

'...Just fucking great.' Alena mentally whined, trying to ease the tension on her shoulder as she warily observed the man.

With eyes that looked like it could kill, the man moved his arm back, readying to attack.

Throwing the rock that had been in her hand, Alena slightly squatted down as the man growled when the rock hit his face and swung the spiked ball towards her.

Seeing the chains expand longer, Alena immediately jumped back from her position, just in time avoiding being crushed by the spiked-ball.

'Close! Too close!"

Alena grimaces as she really considers ditching this fight which has been a failure because of this guy.

Roaring, the man stepped forward as he maneuvered his arm, pulling the spiked-ball to the side, grinding it to the ground as he raised his arm up and twirling the chain around in the air, creating a large wave of whooshing sound.

Seeing the destructive danger, Alena did what sane others would do in her position.

With a mental salute to her future funeral er... well, future corpse, Alena grimly turned around and ran as if an angry dog was chasing her.

And of course, blindly running straight is a no, no, no.

That would be courting death if she did.

With her life literally on the line, Alena didn't dare to think about anything else and intently focus on what's happening.

Her senses were tingling as her back shivered and when she heard the sound behind her, Alena didn't look and just sharply jumped to the side.

Colliding on the ground, Alena heard a crash behind and slightly winced but immediately got up and ran, ignoring the ache of her legs as she ran as fast as she could towards the burning village.

'The range of his weapon expands to create more damage, so…'

Jumping over the crumbled concrete wall, Alena slightly shrinks when the spiked-ball crashed into the wall, almost hitting her.

Some rocks painfully hit her, some to her shoulder and few hit her head, but she shook it off and didn't dare to stay idly and quickly ran towards the packed house where the fire was minimal.

'I need to limit his use on that weapon since it's more, terrifying.'

Surely, that man is not some immortal that would survive if the whole building crashed into him, right?

By some miracle, maybe she could make those buildings collapse on him.

Wait, wouldn't that be destroying others property?

Alena slightly hesitated but, with the murderous man behind her, she was desperate to do anything.

As long as she doesn't kill innocent people, she is going to take this chance for survival.

With that noted in her mind, she was ready to plan it out while on the run but she was forced to halt when suddenly, the whole ground shook.

'Earthquake!?'

With a startled gasp, she stumbled down, colliding with the concrete ground, scraping her palm and her arm as it took her fall.

Ignoring how dangerous she was close to the burning chunk of wood, Alena glanced over her shoulder and saw something out of the world.

Through the broken wall, she sees something rushed out from the packed trees.

Roar!

The werewolf-like creature let out a primal roar as the man stared in shock when it appeared in front of him and clung itself to him.

Behind them was more of the werewolf-like creatures rushing out as if someone just pissed them off.

Their fur was black as the darkening sky, eyes were like blood behind those white bone-like masks that covered its head while their body was packed with pointed white spikes.

As the wind rustled the leaves that flattered some in the wind she watched with wide eyes as the werewolf-creature bit its jaw to the shoulder of the man.

Of course, from his abnormal physical body, he maneuvered the werewolf-like creature and slammed it to the ground.

He was strong indeed but his enemy was not just one but a whole pack of them.

And what she saw next made her blood cold.

Just as he throwed the creature to the ground, one sneaked behind him and bit down his arm.
And like a chain reaction, the werewolf-like creatures that were near him jumped and attacked him by either biting or clawing him.

With a look of pure terror, he tried to put them out of him with his weapon but they were too many.

Overwhelm, he screamed in pure agony as a pale orange light flickered on his body before finally, crimson blood burst out from the jaws of those werewolf-like creatures, their sharp teeth sinking in, soaking his clothes with his own blood as his struggle grew weak each second, they chew on him like a chew toy.

And then, like slow motion, his limbs fell to the ground, his body falling down to the ground like a puppet that had their string cut.

Watching the whole scene with gaped horror, Alena weakly crawled backwards as she literally felt goosebumps on her exhausted body.

She had played many horror games with such brutality but had yet to experience witnessing something like this with her own very eyes.

And what was worse, was noticing those werewolf-like creatures were already this close to her.

With dread on her stomach, she raised her arms in a vain attempt to shield herself from them.

Just as she was sure she was about to be killed, something almost unbelievable happened.

As if she wasn't there, they passed her without much of a glance, rushing deeper in the village like hungry beasts that hadn't eaten anything.

"..."

Huh, what the heck just happened? Did she die without her realizing it?

Pinching her cheek, Alena winced as she felt the stinging pain.

Okay, not dead yet.
Rubbing her cheek to ease the pain, Alena lightly coughed as she warily looked around.

'I need to get out of here.'

Slowly standing up, Alena winced in pain as her legs almost gave away and her arms were stiff, slightly shaking in such a close encounter of death.

Smelling the scent of blood, Alena looked away from the unrecognizable flesh on the ground outside the wall.

With pursed lips, she focuses on the direction of where those creatures were rushing in, wondering what's going on.

'They just ignored me… '

Recalling the fight of those people earlier, it was clear there were two groups in the fight.

One was the natives of this village and the other are invaders?

'Perhaps, those creatures are with the village?' Alena idly thought.

Feeling it wasn't right, she shook her head and looked through the broken wall while ignoring there was a corpse, Alena bit back the urge to curl in pain and urgently but slowly walked towards the wall.

'I… think I should get out of here first.' Alena thought, limping as she pushed forward.

'The last thing I want is more of them to come.'

One was enough to make her want to cry in pain and any more would kill her while she's very vulnerable.

'Just… ahead!"

Alena's sight flickered, almost blacking out before she quickly pushed her other leg and caught herself from falling down to the ground.

Panting, she wanted to sit down and rest even for a moment but, she knows she would immediately fall unconscious if she ever did.

After hours of moving around with intense focus to survive, Alena's fatigue was finally catching up now that there was no enemy.

However, knowing she's still in the middle of this area, who knows what may appear and do to her which Alena didn't like that chance.

'Come on!'

Gritting her teeth, Alena tried to move but when her sight fell on the ground, then her body gave up.

As the ground gets nearer, Alena was numbly prepared for the impact but before she hit the ground.

Someone caught her.

Turning her around, she felt something soft touch her face and tiredly raised her eyes.

The last thing she saw was a nice-looking sharp face with a black cloth covering their eyes.

.

Notes

Haruka means "Faraway" or "Distant" in Japanese.

Orka means Power

Topaz is a precious stone, typically colorless, yellow, or pale blue, consisting of a fluorine-containing aluminum silicate.

Rost means rust, color of Reddish-brown.

Almar means "Strong" in German.

Miyamoto means "base of the Shrine" in Japanese.