Chương 1: Wanderers arrival

The forest stretched endlessly before Scarlett Mochi, the heavy canopy of trees casting deep shadows in the twilight. The journey through the wilderness had taken longer than he'd anticipated, and now, standing on the edge of a cliff, he could see the city in the distance, Azuma City, a beacon of civilization after days of isolation. Mochi paused for a moment, gazing at the sprawling skyline far below, a tinge of relief washing over him. The city was within his reach. After all this time, it was finally here.

"Azuma," he muttered under his breath, the word feeling foreign yet comforting. Without another thought, he jumped. He hit the air with practiced ease, his body twisting slightly as he descended into the dense forest below. The ground came up fast, but his boots met the earth softly, cushioning his landing. Dust kicked up around him as he stood, brushing off his clothes and adjusting his pack. His eyes were already scanning the path ahead.

The forest was quiet, save for the distant calls of birds and the rustling of leaves. But as he walked, his sharp senses caught a disturbance in the air a noise, a commotion.

"Stop! Thief!" A voice shouted. Mochi's eyes narrowed. He followed the sound, moving swiftly through the trees, until he saw the scene unfold before him. A man was sprinting through the dense forest, clutching a leatherbound book in his hands. Behind him, three police officers were in pursuit, shouting orders. The thief was quick, but his attention was split between dodging obstacles and glancing nervously over his shoulder at the officers. Mochi's gaze turned cold.

The thief was too distracted, too focused on running and looking back. He didn't even see Mochi as he closed the distance. With a single, effortless motion, Mochi extended his arm into the thief's path. His fist collided with the robber's face with a dull thud. The thief crumpled immediately, falling to the ground in a heap, his book slipping from his grasp. Mochi stood over the fallen robber for a moment, watching him twitch before going still.

The police officers quickly caught up, panting as they came to a halt beside the thief. One of them kneeled to cuff the robber.

"Thanks for the help," he muttered, glancing at Mochi. Mochi didn't respond. His attention was already on the book that lay on the forest floor, the leather cover with an image of a lion on it. It was scuffed but intact. His fingers hovered over it, drawn by something he couldn't explain. Without a second thought, he bent down and picked it up, the weight of it oddly substantial in his hands.

As he flipped open the book, the symbols inside were unlike anything he had ever seen ancient, intricate markings that seemed to swirl and shift before his eyes. His heart raced. There was something deeply unsettling about the book, but his curiosity got the better of him. The words on the pages felt like they were calling to him, urging him to read further. Suddenly, the book began to glow faintly.

The light was soft at first, but then it grew brighter, swirling around the pages and casting an ethereal glow over Mochi's face. His eyes widened in surprise, captivated by the mysterious symbols. His breath quickened as he felt an energy, raw and strange, emanating from the pages.

"Hey!" one of the officers shouted, his voice sharp and urgent.

"Close that book! It's evidence!" But Mochi didn't hear him. The glow was now overwhelming, filling the air around him. The strange energy seemed to seep into his very being, a deep, almost magnetic pull. His fingers trembled as they traced the symbols on the pages, absorbing something he couldn't fully comprehend. The second officer moved forward, but the moment he reached out, the glow from the book flashed brightly, and everything froze for a split second.

The light seemed to pulse one final time, and then, as suddenly as it had appeared, it began to fade. Mochi blinked, staring at the book in his hands. The pages, which had been glowing moments ago, were now just empty paper. The strange symbols had vanished, and the book had returned to its normal, unassuming state. And then, in a blink, the book was gone. The leather cover dissolved into the air, as though it had never existed, leaving only the feeling of something profound having slipped away.

Mochi stood still, his breath catching in his chest as he looked down at his empty hands. The weight, the glow, everything was gone, vanished into thin air. The officers stood frozen, equally stunned.

"What the hell was that?" one of them muttered, looking around, trying to make sense of what had just happened. Mochi's mind raced, trying to make sense of the sensation he'd felt. What had just occurred? The energy, the connection it was gone now, but it lingered in the back of his mind, a mystery he couldn't let go of. Without saying a word, Mochi turned on his heel and started walking away. His steps were steady, but his mind was far from calm.

Whatever the book had been, it was no longer here but its presence, its power, would stay with him.

"Wait!" one of the officers called, taking a step forward.

"You can't just" Before the officer could finish, the head officer barked out an order.

"Luka! Take him down!" he commanded, his voice cold and sharp. The officer named Luka stepped forward, his hands clenched into fists. He was tall, broad shouldered, and his expression was one of barely contained aggression.

"You heard the boss. Don't make this harder than it must be." Mochi slowed, his eyes glancing over at Luka, sizing him up.

"I don't want any trouble." Luka began to sneer.

"Heh, you don't scare me kid. COME, show me what ya got!" Without warning, Luka lunged at Mochi, throwing a powerful punch aimed directly at his face. But Mochi moved with such speed that Luka's fist only cut through the air where his face had been moments before. Luka's eyes widened in surprise as Mochi easily sidestepped his attack.

"You're very slow, you know that?" Mochi remarked with a disappointing tone. Luka growled, swinging again. This time, Mochi ducked under the punch, his body flowing smoothly as he twisted and spun. Luka's momentum carried him forward, and before he could adjust, Mochi dropped a swift kick into his midsection, sending him sprawling back. Luka staggered but regained his footing just as Mochi leapt into the air, delivering a brutal drop kick directly to Luka's head.

The officer crumpled instantly, flying backward and landing hard against a nearby tree, knocked unconscious. The two other officers stood frozen, wide eyed in disbelief, as Luka lay slumped on the forest floor, completely out of it. The head officer, furious now, glared at Mochi. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

"What about your other lackey, does he want what he just had too?" Mochi asked as he pointed towards the unconscious Luka. The other officer's voice was chill and relax.

"Nah, I aint trying to get my bones broken bro, to be completely honest I'm just a chill guy" Mochi smirked, wiping his hands together as if he had just completed a trivial task.

"Heh, seems like one of you actually has brains" The head officer's hand tightened around the hilt of his baton, stepping forward with a deadly seriousness.

"Benson, you're so useless, nincompoop let me show you how it's done!"

"Show me what ya got kid," he said, stepping into a battle stance. Mochi smirked, his stance loose but ready.

"Sure, Let's go!" The Head officer's patience had run out. Without warning, he charged forward, his feet pounding the earth, his baton swinging toward Mochi's head with incredible speed. The strike was like a blur, a flash of motion too quick for most to even see. But Mochi was different. His instincts kicked in, and just as the baton swung toward him, he barely managed to step back, feeling the wind from the officer's attack graze his cheek. His heart raced as he realized just how fast this officer was.

He hadn't expected that level of speed. In that split second, Mochi tried to counter with a swift kick aimed at the officer's side, but the officer was too quick. With a grunt, he raised his baton to block the strike, redirecting Mochi's leg effortlessly. The force of the blocked kick sent a shock up Mochi's leg, and he staggered slightly. Mochi's eyes widened in astonishment. This guy's strong… he thought, wiping the sweat from his brow. But there was no time to think.

The officer's baton whipped through the air again, this time aiming for Mochi's ribs. The two were locked in a fast paced exchange of blows. Mochi dodged and weaved, throwing quick jabs and kicks, but the officer's reflexes were razor sharp. The baton whistled through the air, narrowly missing Mochi as he danced around the strikes, his mind focused entirely on the officer's movements. For a moment, Mochi thought he had found an opening. He swung a powerful punch toward the officer's face, but the officer was ready.

In a blur of motion, he caught Mochi's punch mid-air, gripping his wrist tightly. Mochi tried to twist his arm free, but the officer's grip was unyielding. With a forceful twist, the officer yanked Mochi forward, his momentum working against him. In an instant, the officer threw Mochi like a ragdoll, sending him flying several feet through the air. Mochi crashed into the dirt, his body skidding across the ground with a sickening thud.

His breath was knocked out of him, and the impact sent a wave of pain through his chest and ribs. He groaned, pushing himself up onto his elbows, the world spinning for a moment. The officer stood tall, his baton now resting calmly at his side. He was breathing heavily, his eyes locked onto Mochi with a cold, determined glare.

"You've got guts, I'll give you that," the officer said, his voice steady despite the intensity of the fight.

"But you're not strong enough to beat me." Mochi wiped blood from his lip, his body aching from the throw. He could feel the bruises starting to form, his ribs sore from the impact. But his resolve didn't waver. His eyes, though strained, were sharp.

"I can't back down now, because I gotta be a voyager no matter what." Mochi lay on the ground for a moment, his body aching from the officer's brutal throw. He slowly pushed himself back onto his feet, the world spinning just slightly as he regained his balance. His eyes locked onto the officer, who stood confidently, his baton still resting in his hand.

"You really are something else," the officer said, his voice laced with mockery.

"I have to admit, you took down Luka, but that was just luck. You don't even have any magical energy just sheer stupidity. How did you manage to even do it?" Benson snickered from the side lines, clearly enjoying the humiliation. The head officer's expression remained cold, but there was a glint of amusement in his eyes.

"Is this really your best?" the officer taunted.

"You're not as impressive as I thought, are you?" Mochi's teeth clenched, irritation rising in him. How dare they mock me? he thought. The officer's words stung, but worse, they made him feel as if he wasn't enough. He was used to being underestimated, but there was something about this officer's smug attitude that lit a fire in him. Without a word, he sprang forward, throwing a quick swing at the officer's head, a sharp and precise strike aimed to land. But the officer was too fast.

With a single, fluid motion, the officer stepped to the side, effortlessly sidestepping the punch. In one swift motion, he grabbed Mochi's outstretched arm, twisting it behind his back in a painful lock. Mochi gritted his teeth, struggling to break free, but the officer's grip was ironclad. He didn't give him a moment to recover. With a grunt, the officer spun him around and shoved him back toward the ground.

"Pathetic." the officer said with a smirk, watching as Mochi stumbled but managed to catch his balance.

"You think you can take me on with your bare hands? You can't even land a single hit and you want to be a voyager?." Mochi's frustration bubbled over, but before he knew it, he was in striking distance of the officer once again.

"S-Shut up!" He said through heavy breaths Mochi's chest heaved with each painful breath, his body still reeling from the officer's vicious counterattack. His hands were shaking, his vision blurred. He was losing ground fast. The mocking voices of the Benson rang in his ears, but they were fading now, drowned out by the adrenaline pulsing through his veins. The head officer was about to step forward, his baton raised high, ready to deliver the final blow.

He smirked, looking down at Mochi as if the fight was already over.

"This is where your little journey ends boy." he said coldly. But just as the officer lunged toward him, a sudden, sharp rustle of leaves echoed through the forest. Out of nowhere, two hooded figures appeared, stepping through the trees with fluid precision. The taller one, with a dark cloak billowing behind him, moved first. In an instant, he unsheathed two gleaming blades, their edges flashing in the fading light.

He dashed forward like a blur, closing the distance between himself and the head officer in the blink of an eye. The officer didn't have time to react. With a quick swipe of the blades, the taller figure sliced across the officer's cheek, leaving a deep, bleeding gash. The officer staggered back, a surprised gasp escaping his lips as he instinctively let go of Mochi's arm, his baton dropping to the ground.

The smaller hooded figure quickly appeared at Mochi's side, gripping him by the arm and yanking him away from the chaos. Mochi, still dazed, was dragged toward the safety of the trees, the sound of combat ringing in his ears. From a safe distance, Mochi looked back, eyes wide with disbelief. The head officer stood frozen, staring at the mysterious hooded man, now in a defensive stance, his blades glinting ominously in the dim light.

"Who the hell are you?" the officer demanded, his voice filled with anger.

"Answer me!" The hooded man said nothing, his expression hidden beneath the shadow of his hood. His silence only seemed to fuel the officer's frustration.

"You Coward!" the officer shouted, now visibly irritated.

"You won't get away with this you bastard!!" The officer lunged forward with nothing but the intent to kill, baton raised high to strike down the hooded man. But before he could land a blow, the hooded man was already moving, his blades flashing with incredible speed. With a single swipe, the officer's baton was sliced clean in half, the two pieces falling to the ground with a sharp clang. The head officer's eyes widened in shock as the hooded man effortlessly sliced through his weapon.

Enraged, the officer lunged forward again, fists swinging, but the hooded man was faster. He danced around the officer's attacks with ease, his blades a blur of steel. In one swift move, the hooded man struck the officer multiple times. First, a cut across his chest, then his side, then a series of slashes that left the officer bleeding and stumbling. The officer tried to retaliate, but his movements were sluggish, each attack parried or dodged by the hooded man with uncanny precision.

Finally, with a swift motion, the hooded figure delivered a brutal slash, cutting across the officer's torso. The officer crumpled to the ground, sliced and diced, his body left broken and battered, but still alive. Mochi's breath caught in his throat as he watched in stunned silence, the fight unfolding like something out of a dream. The head officer, now on the ground, gasped for breath, his face contorted in pain and disbelief. But the hooded man was not finished.

He took a step back, and in one fluid motion, he leaped into the air, spinning as he rose higher. As his body spun, blue flames erupted around him, engulfing his form in a fiery aura. The flames crackled and roared, intensifying with every rotation.

"Magic skill: Fire Tornado!" the hooded man shouted, his voice deep and commanding. With a final, powerful motion, the hooded man hurled the blue fire tornado at the head officer, the vortex of flames spinning faster and faster as it grew larger, engulfing everything in its path. The officer had no chance to react. The firestorm tore into him, flames searing his skin, the force of the wind from the tornado tossing him around like a ragdoll. The officer screamed "ARRRGGHH IT BURRRNNSSS!!"

When the flames finally subsided, the officer was reduced to nothing but ashes and smoke. The forest was eerily quiet, the only sound the crackling of the last embers of the fire. Mochi, still in the grip of the smaller hooded figure, watched the scene in awe, his body trembling not just from pain, but from the sheer intensity of what had just unfolded before him.