1 Fujino Shizuka

Prologue

Since ancient times, numerous cultures and civilizations have believed in the prophecy of the Red-Eyed Divine, a powerful being whose long-awaited return has finally come to pass, marking the end of the blissful paradise known as Eden. It is said that these fiery beings shall emerge from the ashes of the old world and take their place as rulers of the new, and that the fate of all living beings rests in the hands of this mighty entity. The arrival of the Red-Eyed Divine has been foretold in countless legends and myths, and now that it has come to fruition, many are both awed and fearful of what the future holds.

-Nostradama's last prophecy

~ ~ ~ ~

After a tumultuous typhoon swept through Tori City, the sun emerged from behind the clouds, illuminating the busy streets with a warm, golden light. The vibrant hues of the sunset painted the sky, casting a mesmerizing glow on the surrounding clouds. The rain-soaked leaves of trees sparkled in the sunlight, each raindrop reflecting a miniature rainbow as they gently swayed in the cool breeze.

As the hours ticked by, the once quiet and peaceful streets of the bustling metropolis grew more and more crowded with a flurry of activity. Cars honked impatiently as they jostled for space on the congested roads, while pedestrians hurriedly weaved their way through the throngs of people in a hurry to get to their destinations.

Meanwhile, a group of six menacing-looking men, dressed in Yakuza-style attire, close in on a young female student who finds herself trapped in an isolated alley. Despite the overwhelming sense of danger that looms over her, she manages to remain poised and composed, not allowing fear to overtake her.

"Step aside. please."

With a composed demeanor, she politely asked the person in front of her to move aside and make way for her.

The group of menacing thugs jeered at the young girl, taunting her with their words. "Hey, we've been waiting for you all day," they sneered. "Do you think we're going to let you pass here unscathed?"

"Hmph . . ."

As the girl approached the group of menacing-looking thugs, her confident stride betrayed nothing of the fear that churned in her stomach. Their leader, a burly man with a shaved head and a sneer that threatened to split his face in two, stepped forward to meet her. His companions, brandishing wooden bats, flanked him menacingly. The girl, undaunted, stopped in front of him and locked eyes with him. Her black student uniform contrasted sharply with the dingy alleyway they stood in. With a voice as cold as the night air, she spoke just five words: "Get out of my way."

As the petite girl bravely stood up to their leader, five young men erupted into fits of uncontrollable laughter. Despite her small stature, the girl didn't back down, confronting the leader with unwavering determination. The sound of the guys' laughter echoed through the alleyway, but the girl remained undeterred, standing her ground with a fierce and fearless resolve.

The leader smiled and made a remark about the physical dissimilarities between them, asking, "Do you have a visual impairment or any other related condition?"

The young girl's dangerous grin remained unchanged as she brazenly taunted her much larger opponent, seemingly unfazed by the potential danger. With a seemingly callous disregard for any consequences, she continued to challenge them, her words dripping with defiance. "Are you deaf then?" she replied, her eyes never leaving her opponent's.

The leader stood tall, his menacing presence sending shivers down the spines of those around him. His underlings snickered, their weapons held with casual ease as they surrounded their target. "You're messing with the wrong guy," the leader growled, his voice low and dangerous, as the group closed in.

As the downpour ceased, the once dimly-lit alleyway glistened with moisture, making the uneven concrete surface treacherously slippery. The people who had taken refuge in the alleyway were reflected in the vast, dark puddles like a giant silver mirror, creating an eerie yet beautiful sight.

The young woman pulled her chocolate-brown locks back and secured them tightly, allowing a few stray bangs to rest on her forehead. She cast a fierce glare at the leader, causing her bright emerald-green eyes to reflect his image with crystal clarity.

"I said, Get out of the way."

Despite her repeated efforts to persuade the man to move out of her way, he remained resolute, standing firmly in her path and showing no signs of budging.

She carelessly dropped her bulky shoulder bag on the damp floor and confronted the other person with a challenging tone, "Well, it seems like you're up for a fight, after all."

The guys roared as one and charged at the girl simultaneously, tightly surrounding her. The girl was taken aback and swiftly dodged the swings of the wooden bats coming at her in different directions. The leader of that group stood still and thoroughly observed her agile movements.

As she skillfully evaded the flurry of attacks thrown her way, her body moved with the grace and fluidity of a well-trained martial artist. In an instant, she shifted from defense to offense, dropping low to the ground and unleashing a powerful spinning kick that landed with deadly precision on the chins of the two men who had been foolish enough to challenge her. The force of the blow sent them hurtling through the air, their bodies crashing violently into the unforgiving brick wall behind them. One of the men coughed up a mouthful of blood, while the other lay unconscious on the ground, defeated by her unparalleled skill and strength.

The young girl swiftly turned her head towards the tall figure standing in front of her. She sprang onto her feet with grace and ferocity and delivered a powerful punch to the guy's stomach, causing him to crumble to the ground and drop his wooden bat. The girl stood over him, her eyes blazing with determination, ready to defend herself against any further aggression. As she picked up the bat, her gaze turned towards the two remaining guys, who stood frozen in fear at the sight of her unwavering strength and courage.

"You still want to dance?" she scoffed with a hint of confidence.

The leader, with an air of composure, stood still, watching as the other two men charged towards the young girl, their nervous roars echoing through the alley. In an instant, with a single swing of her arm, the two assailants were left bewildered, their hands grasping at thin air where just a moment before they had been clutching onto a wooden bat. It was as if the bat had vanished into thin air, leaving them defenseless and vulnerable.

"What the . . ?!" 

Without warning, the young woman launches into action. She executes a swift and powerful sweeping kick, expertly targeting one of her attackers' feet. As the first assailant falls to the ground, she follows up with a decisive swing of her bat, connecting with the other man's face and sending him crashing down beside his companion. The leader of the group can only watch in disbelief as his two henchmen are vanquished in a matter of seconds by this diminutive yet ferocious opponent.

The tall and imposing leader drew out his gleaming katana with a fluid motion. His eyes remained fixed on the young girl, who seemed unfazed by his threatening presence. He took measured steps towards her, his voice low and steady. "You may look delicate and small, but your strength is undeniable," he remarked, his tone hinting at both admiration and warning.

The man standing before the ferocious girl was dressed in a full Classic-Yakuza suit. With a sly smile on his face, he attempted to intimidate her by acknowledging her past victory over the entire Izumo gang. "You're the famous girl who defeated the entire Izumo gang. It's a pleasure to meet you, the legendary Princess of St. Agnes, Fujino Shizuka," he said, his tone laced with a hint of admiration and respect.

Fujino Shizuka, a poised teenage student, maintained her composure as she gazed icily at the figure who was making his way towards her at a leisurely pace.

As he reminisced about his past, the man's countenance softened into a wry smile. "Those were the days," he murmured. "I was a part of that gang before I became the leader of this group." However, as he continued to speak, his smile slowly faded into a more serious expression, hinting at the darker aspects of his former life.

The man's cold glare remained fixed on Shizuka as he asked her, "And how did you manage to completely eradicate us with that small and fragile body?" His tone was calm and composed, yet his eyes betrayed a hint of curiosity mixed with disbelief. Shizuka stood in front of him, trying to maintain her composure while feeling the weight of his gaze on her. 

Instead, Shizuka gave him a wry smile and scoffed. "So what? You want revenge?"

Suddenly, the man dropped his weapon. The gang leader, who had appeared fearless moments before, was now kneeling directly in front of Fujino Shizuka.

The leader's voice was filled with remorse and regret as he spoke to the girl. "I humbly beg for your forgiveness, Princess. It was a grave mistake to challenge you like that," he said, his eyes downcast and his expression contrite.

As soon as they realized their mistake, the other guys quickly dropped down to their knees in unison, their voices trembling with regret. "Please forgive us!" they pleaded in a desperate tone.

"What the hell?"

"Why did all of you attack her? Huh?! She was just passing through!"

"You openly swung your weapons first, asshole!"

"Shut up! I didn't want any of this to happen!"

"You guys make me sick! I was just confirming if she really was the Princess of St. Agnes!"

Fujino Shizuka, her mind in a state of utter confusion and bewilderment, heaved a heavy sigh as she reluctantly relinquished her grip on the wooden bat, allowing it to clatter to the slick floor below. She then reached down to retrieve her shoulder bag, with a sense of resignation etched on her face, as if she were granting the thugs their fateful mercy.

Did that just happen? 

As Shizuka made her way out of the alley, she couldn't help but feel a sense of confusion and bewilderment. The chaos and commotion that had just unfolded in front of her had left her mind reeling, as she struggled to make sense of what she had witnessed.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Fujino Shizuka was famous in the streets of Tori for single-handedly defeating the notorious Yakuza gang, the Izumo Gang. She possessed extraordinary strength, which she couldn't explain. Shizuka had achieved a black belt in karate, mastered judo, and had a first Kyu in Kendo, making her an exceptional mixed martial artist. However, after the Izumo gang incident, she was disqualified from the upcoming Kendo championships. Any form of violence outside the tournament was strictly prohibited, which led to her ban from participating in future contests.

As the sun gradually descended, the towering buildings projected their elongated shadows onto the streets. As the natural light receded, the artificial illumination of the streetlights flickered to life, casting a warm glow on the dimming surroundings.

"It's late, and I'm not home yet. I was supposed to watch my favorite show. Those bastards are to blame." Feeling iritated, Shizuka uttered.

Shizuka doesn't mind taking the alley, despite its reputation for being a hotspot for crime. To her, it's just a convenient shortcut on her way home. Shizuka and her grandmother reside in a modest Japanese house that comfortably accommodates two people. The house has two floors, with Shizuka's room and a bathroom located on the upper level.

Upon arriving at her house, Shizuka was taken aback to find her grandmother sitting on the couch waiting for her. Her grandma's visits are rare, as she is usually occupied with her work, a job that Shizuka is not even aware of.

"Well, hello, brat. Is it fun beating someone again?" Grandma uttered, gazing sharply at her grandchild.

"Why are you here? And How did you know what happened?"

"Just assuming. It seems like it's true after all."

Shizuka removes her black stockings and places her shoes at the front door without acknowledging anything.

Grandma turned on the television and said, "I cooked dinner for us tonight. You should be grateful that this old lady still cooks for her messed up grandchild."

"Please eat it yourself. I have lost my appetite since you arrived," Shizuka murmured quietly.

Granny's eyes remained glued to the television as she addressed the adolescent in a stern tone, "It's time for you to stop acting like a child, young one. Despite being fifteen years old, you still behave like a twelve-year-old. You must understand that it is wrong to inflict physical harm on someone. This is the reason why you were disqualified from the tournament."

Shizuka walked past her grandma without acknowledging her, completely ignoring her presence.

"If only your parents were alive, you wouldn't have become what you are right now." granny added.

Shizuka comes to an abrupt halt, her steps slowing to a stop as she hears her grandmother's insult. Her body stiffens and her eyes widen, taken aback by the unexpected remark. She stands frozen, caught off guard by the hurtful words.

Shizuka murmured, "It's partly your fault why I'm feeling this way," as she held back her emotions.

"What did you say, you disgraceful brat?" Grandma stated, shifting her gaze irritably towards Shizuka. It is the first time she has heard her grandchild talk back to her like that.

Shizuka turned her eyes towards Grandma and looked at her with teary eyes.

"Well, it's your fault, old hag!"

"Ol . . . Did you just call me old hag?"

"Yes, OLD HAG!"

Grandma rose from her chair, her expression stern as if she was poised to teach her grandchild an important lesson.

"Stop it! I'm sorry for being this way! I rarely see you at home, yet all you seem to do is criticize and hate on me. You never treated me like your own grandchild! You never even hug me or anything! Yes, I defeated the gangs who attempted to harm me, yet you still accused me of it!" Shizuka hysterically yelled with teary eyes.

With arms crossed and a stern expression on her face, Granny turned away from her grandchild who was sniffling. She seemed to be ignoring her grandchild's tears, perhaps in an attempt to teach a lesson.

Shizuka's voice quivered as tears streamed down her face, "You and my father are so much alike, you never cared for me." She let out a deep sigh and continued, "Maybe you're right. If only my mother were still alive, I wouldn't have grown up like trash." With a heavy heart, Shizuka slowly made her way upstairs, sniffling.

In a heartwarming display of patience and understanding, the grandmother responds to her teary-eyed grandchild with a gentle chuckle, choosing love and compassion over frustration and anger.

You resemble your mother in many ways. She is resilient but vulnerable. Stay strong, my dear grandchild.

With tears streaming down her face, Shizuka slowly made her way up the stairs. Despite the sadness, Granny couldn't help but smile brightly, filled with love and compassion for her beloved grandchild.

It is not fair to blame Shizuka for her bad behavior as she grew up without love. If we were in her shoes, we would probably feel the same way. Although she was a kind girl and a champion in both mixed martial arts and kendo, everything changed after she defeated the Izumo gang.

After defeating a gang single-handedly, she was perceived as a villain by everyone. They believed that she had gone too far and had used her skills to intimidate and bully others in her school. Consequently, she was prohibited from participating in any more tournaments and was suspended for several months. This incident shattered her aspirations of becoming a national athlete, leaving her dreams in tatters.

I hate this world . . .

A/N

I hope you like the first chapter of this story. I revised it since it was awful before.

I'd like to give credit to the following app that helped me make this excellent book cover and the apps that helped me construct my story.

1. Character Story Planner 2

2. Pitzmaker

3. Wattpad cover maker

4. Magicut

5. Avatar maker anime

Alright, let the 2nd chapter begin.