Chapter 21

As the two follow the trail of blood, they became even more panicked. They encountered one of the bandits. Luckily, the guy was just slightly unconscious; he woke up after a few shakes from Ryuya.

The bandit just looks at the two with shock before Ryuya speaks, snapping him out of shock.

"Sir, where's our friend? Is he okay? Whose blood is all of this?"

The bandit didn't answer for a while before Sukehiro slaps him.

*Slap!*

"Do we have to repeat the question to you?"

"No- No need. It was his. One of my friends sacrificed themselves to wound him. Even so, I don't think we can defeat him."

"Where is he now?!" Ryuya and Sukehiro were surprised to hear that Hisashi got injured.

"He knocked me out so I don't know where they were."

*Snap!*

Ryuya hits him in the temple with his katana's kashira knocking him out again. Then, they continued following the trail. There, they saw another body. This time though, it was dead. It has a long slash from the left shoulder up to his abdomen.

They didn't even bother checking more but were surprised when they saw another one that isn't dead or unconscious. They immediately hurried to the bandit leaning on the tree to question him.

"Where's my brother?" This time, Sukehiro's the one who asked.

"Your brother? That kid is the devil! He's the devil incarnate!" The man shouted. He was stabbed in his stomach. Luckily, he was able to prevent it from bleeding more.

"What do you mean devil incarnate?" Ryuya asks.

"That kid, that devil. We were never able to get close to him. He used different sorcery spells without a scroll and the more spells he used the stronger he gets. Finally, when we were able to injure him by stabbing him in the back through his heart, he shrugs it off! If that wasn't a devil, I don't know what is!"

The man becomes fearful the more he remembers.

"Where is he now?!" The two kids asked in a more commanding voice, hearing the story from the man.

"You didn't see him? He went back to the two of you. I assume that he's looking for Usuma and Kaato. He was even dragging my comrade's body with him- the one that injured him."

Hearing this, the two kids look at each other and put the man's arm on their shoulder. However, the man was surprised.

"What are you two doing?!"

"You're coming with us," Sukehiro said.

"No! Why would I want to see that devil again? Leave me to die here for all I care! I'm not facing that again!" He escapes the clutches of the two and continues to sit on the dirt and lean on the tree.

The two didn't bother him anymore and run back to where they left the two defeated bandits. They run even faster than before thinking of the possible scenarios that can happen. Seeing the dead bandits, they don't want to see their friend and brother killing any more people.

Even more, since they were all now defeated, any more killing would be murder and not self-defense anymore. They can reason their way into fighting them as a potential danger, but not this.

This is but a senseless killing, something they don't want Hisashi to do.

They soon reached their previous location and what they see made their heart ache. Kaato, one of the ring leaders was nailed to a tree with a katana. He was stabbed through the heart with blood coming out of his mouth.

Hearing the footsteps, he looks only to see the two kids that defeated them. As the two walk closer, he forced himself to speak.

"…vil. He's *cough*, he's the devil." He just bites his lips and the eyes with great fury… finally lost its life.

Sukehiro quickly runs surprising Ryuya. The latter realizes this too and quickly ran, then separated to cover more area. They no more have any blood trail to follow so they have to go blind. They don't even care anymore.

The sun has already set making it even harder for the two. However, Sukehiro was finally able to see it. As he stand on top of the tree, he saw an orange and yellow light moving fast. On the other side, Ryuya saw it too. The two hurried as they saw where it was going.

…

As Usuma pants, he can't help but look straight at the front. Minutes earlier, he was able to cut himself free using a hidden knife, and he immediately flees. On why he didn't help his friend though, was because Hisashi has already stabbed him with the Katana.

His flight alerted the unhinged Hisashi. He quickly ran, as fast as he possibly can, just to avoid the kid's chase. Just when he was about to get caught by him though, a new spell emerged on his scroll and quickly casts it. Then, some of his body parts transform into wind making him faster. Now, he was able to maintain his distance from Hisashi.

As they continued to run, Usuma started to feel the adrenaline catch up to him and his yoryoku reaching its limits. However, the demon hunting his back has yet to slow down. They soon reach the bottom of the mountain and an idea appears on Usuma.

He saw the town and continued to run towards it. As he starts to slow down, the distance between the two decreases from 7 meters to 2 meters.

He then finally enters to town illuminated by the torches as the sun has finally set. There, he screams.

"HELP! PLEASE! HELP ME! A DEVIL IS CHASING ME!" His screaming made him lose more oxygen and he stumbles to the floor. Hisashi slides off of the dirt to stop and jumped on Usuma with a katana in his hands. His eyes were red and red lightning was coming off from its sides.

However, Usuma's sacrifice was worth it as the citizens start to come out of their houses. There, they saw a red-eyed kid with a katana about to stab a dirtied and bruised man. One of the men immediately runs and tackles Hisashi who wrestled him to the floor.

Seeing the opening, Usuma stood up with a sprained foot and yelled.

"Don't let him go! That kid is a devil! He killed my friends even though we were just hunting for food!"

The man continued to wrestle Hisashi down. However, he didn't last long and overpowered him and immediately lunges at Usuma, still with the katana in his hand. This time, his expression became more terrifying as the red lightning in his eyes grew bigger and his yoryoku surged more, making everyone scared.

When his katana was about to hit Usuma… a metallic sound clashed with one another.

*Ting!*

Usuma sees Sukehiro defending him with his sword.