#1: Childhood's Beginning

"Ren.... live"

Say the wounded woman to her child.

The boy listen to her word, even though his body are wounded he is struggling to crawl toward her.

The boy look at the abhorrent creature picking up his mother and bring her closer to its mouth.

N- no!

The boy reach out his hand toward her trying to stop the abhorrent creature, but-

Krrrak!

The abhorrent creature bite her, its teeth dig into her flesh, blood sprouts and drips from her body.

The next thing he saw was flesh being rip apart.

Tears fall down from the boy eyes.

His mother is no more. The abhorrent creature has killed her.

The boy grits his teeth and grab the nearby rock.

His whole body aches, just standing almost use his remaining energy.

With shaking arm he throws the rock toward the abhorrent creature.

Alas, the rock miss.

The boy drop to his knee.

With teary eyes he watches his mother being eaten. Sounds of grinding flesh and crunching bone enter his ear.

"Ha- haha… Hahahahahahahaha!"

The boy laughs like a madman, perhaps... to comfort himself, or trying to forget the thing that happens in front of him.

"Kuh- uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"

The boy cried out.

His vision gradually become darken, head aches, his breaths becoming heavy and heavier, his body still writhing in pain.

After finishing its meal, the abhorrent creature walk toward Ren, and stretch out its hand.

Ren saw a huge palm of the abhorrent creature, trying to grab him.

The headache become unbearable, his vision become totally dark, and the boy finally pass out.

..............................................

5 years later.

Narukami city, inside a certain dojo.

"The enemy who receives blessings, yet infringes. With bow and feathered arrow, i fell thee"

"Rekku madan kyuu kyuu no ritsuryō!!"

The boy chanted then launch the enchanted rocks toward the clay pots, destroying 4 out of 5 clay pots.

"TCH!" The boy frown at the result.

"Fufufu, don't be like that Ren you're doing good enough"

"Old man!"

The old man chuckles seeing Ren's attempt and reassure him that what he did is very good.

Ren who hears his words frowning further, he had this sour expression on his face.

If this was a battlefield and his attack miss even one enemy it'll potentially become a problem. A. Huge. Problem.

He can't let the old man's praise get into him, otherwise he gonna become arrogant and careless.

That's what Ren thinking.

"Ha...." The oldman scratch his head, then he continues

"You maybe think what your doing is far from enough, but according to me who had many years of experiences as an exorcist what you did is very good, more so than the adult. So don't worry and accept the praise"

Say the oldman smiling toward Ren.

"Um" Ren reply by nodding his head, a smile finally appear on his face.

"Now that's more like it" say the oldman.

Ren then begun to clean up the destroyed pots.

The oldman looking at Ren, he begins to reminiscent about Ren's past.

But he was disturbed by a sudden bell.

He goes to the front door and found a group of exorcist.

"Zenkichi-san!" The oldest member who probably the same age as the oldman Zenkichi greet him.

"Ah... Manabu-kun, you here for the mission at the abandoned hospital correct?"

Manabu nod at Zenkichi words "That's right, as expected of Zenkichi-san".

One month ago, there's a talk about demolition of the old and abandoned Narukami hospital.

That abandoned hospital would be renovated as a hotel.

But two weeks ago when the peoples from construction agency visit and reviewing the site, all of them vanish.

No survivor or eyewitness.

The local police already launch an investigation, but they didn't find a single clue, even some police went missing.

This news spreads like a wildfire and become a hot topic on TV and newspaper alike.

Thanks to that, the company behind the construction agency and the local police department assign them The Exorcist to investigate it.

"Ha....." Zenkichi let out a sigh, he looks behind him.

Manabu who watches Zenkichi also look toward the direction behind him, but he didn't find anyone there.

"You heard it right? Want to join us? ... Ren?"

After Zenkichi said that, a figure suddenly appear. Ren smile and scratch his head, he was found out eavesdropping by Zenkichi.

Manabu narrow his eyes, what he saw is a figure belonging to a young child probably age 13 or 14 years old.

Spiky hair with midnight blue hair like a moonlit night sky, and a pair of pale blue eyes with almond-shape pupils resembling that of a cat.

"You're always nagging me about missions (and it was quite a headache). Now this is a perfect chance, prepare your equipment! We go in about 30 minutes"

"Okay!" Ren then ran to the equipment room, leaving Zenkichi and the group of exorcist.

"I- is that okay Zenkichi-san? Isn't he still a child?" Say Manabu worried about Zenkichi decision.

"Um...." Zenkichi close his eyes while pinching his nose bridge.

The truth is the current mission probably dangerous for the current Ren, but-

"Oh well! If it becomes dangerous I just order him to run away" say Zenkichi reassure Manabu and himself.

"Beside, even though he's a child he is quite skilled and dependable... probably"

"Probably?" Manabu become more worried, but knowing Zenkichi he sure that whatever happen to that boy Zenkichi would do his best to protect him.

Zenkichi invite them inside and have a snack before going, while talking about the mission.

On Ren side.

Finally!! I have waited for this chance!!!

Ren clench his left shoulder, his breaths become heavy and heavier, then a grinning smile appear on his face.

Just you wait mother! Soon! Soon I'm gonna become an official exorcist and help Zenkichi oldman annihilated all the abhorrent creatures!

"Ku- kukuku" say Ren while letting out chuckles.

....

Narukami city, outside of the abandoned hospital, 16.40 p.m.

Zenkichi and the others already in front of the abandoned hospital.

Gray walls representing the passing of time and lifelessness. Graffities and cracks covering some part of the hospital walls. If one's looking enough, a black and green stains also appear on the walls.

The hospital windows, some of them had cracks, missing, or outright shattered.

The front also missing its door and obstruct by police barricade tape, but it didn't stop showing some of the hospital interior.

But the creepiest thing is that the faint smell of blood coming from the building.

Ren felt a chilling sensation like a winter's breeze, just standing in front of the building make his hair stand up.

But rather than afraid, Ren show a grinning smile of excitement.

Zenkichi narrow his eyes, he picks up a phone and send a message to another of his colleagues from the nearby city.

He put the phone away, and let out a heavy sigh.

"Everyone... let's go!"

All of them walks entering the building.

Unbeknownst to them, from the abandoned hospital rooftop an obscured figure is grinning watching them entering the building.

....

Inside the building. The exorcists decided to split up to speed up their investigation regarding the abandoned hospital.

Zenkichi and Manabu refuse the idea for safety reason, but the majority of them agree, Ren didn't say a word and just follow the plan.

There are five teams, each team consist of two peoples except the last one which had three peoples.

Zenkichi, Manabu, and Ren is on the last team which task is to investigate the hospital's morgue.

"Those assh*le!! Didn't they know that at least you need at least minimum of five peoples for doing a mission?! Didn't they know that since the news began to spread there's ten peoples who went missing?! What is the enemy is a high rank one?! Heck. They even order us to check the morgue of all things!!"

Say Oldman Manabu angrily.

"Fufu, well... they're youngster after all. We also like them when we are young, impatience and craving for action isn't that right Manabu?" Laugh Zenkichi

"Ren! As a senior and elder, I'll suggest you prioritize safety if you didn't want to die! Don't become like those assh*le!!"

"Seriously... I know you are angry, but at least be mindful of your language! Isn't that right Ren?"

Zenkichi look behind him, but Ren isn't there.

"Ren?"

A minute ago.

Ren is walking behind oldman Zenkichi and Manabu, but then he hears a child's cry from the room they had pass.

Curious, he enters the room.

The room is filled with old and broken cribs. There, in the corner of the room a child younger than Ren is crying.

"Hik.. hik...hik..."

The child's age is 4 or 5, and from the clothing it appear to be a girl.

Ren pick up his HT "Hello. Ren here! I found a child crying on the babies room! Request back up, over!"

Talk Ren to his HT, but there aren't any reply "Hello? Oldman! I found a child on the babies room! Request a back-up, over!" Ren begin talking again, but there aren't any reply.

"Ha..." Ren sigh and walk toward the crying child.

"Don't cry! I'm here! Everything's gonna be alright" say Ren while walking toward her.

"Hik... hik..."

"Ha... everything's gonna be alright" say Ren stood in front of the girl.

"Gi..."

"Gi?"

"Giah!!"

The girl jump toward Ren, trying to bite his neck.

The girl's appearance reflected on his eyes. Face devoid of eyes and nose, showing a pitch black hole, mouth devoid of lip, jagged teeth like a shark so its appear grinning, and rough black skin.

Ren who shocked by her action and appearance, stop moving.

....

Zenkichi side.

"Ren?!" Zenkichi then look around, but Ren is missing "Ren?!" Cold swears begin to rolled from Zenkichi's forehead.

"Damn it! Is it the enemy?!" Say Manabu angrily

Zenkichi pick up his HT to contact Ren "Ren! Answer me! Ren! Where are you?!"

Only a buzzing cryptic sound is heard, no answer from Ren.

Zenkichi try it again, but like before there isn't any reply from Ren.

"Ren..." Zenkichi look down, feeling depress

"C'mon! Let's go back!" Say Manabu

"Yeah! Let's go!" He and Manabu then start backtracking searching for him.

...

The girl jump toward Ren, trying to bite his neck.

Typical impurity...

Ren punches the disguised impurity in the face, crushing its head.

"Ghk!"

A star mark then appears, signaling the success of exorcising an impurity.

The impurity sudden attack and appearance shock him, but Ren quickly snap and quickly enchant his gloves with a talisman, transforming it to a pair of black gauntlets, and he punches the impurity's face as hard as he can.

After Ren attack, his surrounding become distorted, and shattered like a glass.

The surrounding change. Ren found himself standing on a barren wasteland surrounded by ruins.

Magano eh? So... there's another impurity

Even though he was transported Ren still calm, rather he let out a chuckle that express his amazement.

"Hey! Are you the one behind this whole fiasco?"

Ren turn back, behind him there's a big impurity probably 5 meters, glaring at Ren.

Degan? No... a Hannya!

"Gihihihi" The Impurity laugh

"I take it as a yes" reply Ren while drawing his talisman.

The impurity upper half body is like a human, but the lower half is like the body of crayfish and its hands was a claw.

Its faces have two big glowing white eyes, nose protruded like a beak, and it mouths devoid of lips, showing its teeth and gums.

But the most noticeable thing is a Kujikiri (#) mark on its torso.

Ren pick up the rocks from the ground and began to chant "The enemy who receives blessings, yet infringes. With bow and feathered arrow, I fell thee!"

A mark appears on the rocks and its start to levitate

"Rekku madan!!"

Ren launch a barrage of enchanted rocks like buckshots, thanks to the impurity's size all of them hits it.

"Grraakkk!!!" The impurity roar, angered by Ren's attack.

Ren on the other hand grinning excited "Losing composure because of a little pebbles?"

The impurity smash its claw repeatedly to the ground trying to crush Ren.

But Ren dodges all of it. Thanks to Idaten-fu (Fast Leg Talisman), his overall speed is boost tremendously.

This impurity is just about size and no speed.

Ren strikes all of its left legs, making the impurity flinch, and proceed to strike the back of its head making him fall.

What a letdown... Satoshi-nii san even stronger than this!

The impurity trying to get up with the help of its claws, but Ren didn't give it mercy and destroyed its upper left arm.

"Gyaakkk!!!" The impurity let out a scream, his left arm fall to the ground.

The impurity tumble to the ground. It screams and clench the place of its destroyed arm, an agonizing pain linger on his left arm.

As expected. That's wasn't enough for him... Then I, Ren Sasaki, shall end your life!

The impurity tries to stand up, it uses its other claws to bring itself back. Suddenly Ren's figure appear in front of him.

"Grrrraaaa!!!" The impurity let out a deafening roar to Ren.

He still hasn't get back up yet, then this little human appear in front of him, adding further humiliation to him.

Ren didn't mind the scream, he clenches his fist focusing his enchanted power to his right hand.

Ren jump toward the impurity face, and smash it.

"Giaaaaaaaa-"

Its head's destroyed, what comes after is a big star mark much bigger than the previous one.

Ren stood, watching the remains of the impurity.

"May you found peace among the stars"

The remains disappear, leaving a trail of scattered light.

Ren let out a heavy sigh. He looks at the surrounding.

"Rejoice...."

Even though Ren just finish exorcising the impurity, another impurities come surrounding him.

"You are not alone!"