Chapter 15: Standing Near the Edge of the Abyss

[ (!) Authors Note ]

[ WARNING: As a reminder, this story is rated M for mature. This means there will be violent and graphic content within the story that may be hard to read for some readers as the story progresses. Especially within this chapter. ]

[ Thank you for reading. ]

x x x

Waves of black energy rose upwards from the bodies of the defeated knights and magicians. A solid black armored glove rose from one of the knight's back, and the rest of its shadowed body rose out from its physical corpse. Two black armored boots clanged as they stepped over their past bodies and walked forward. The small legion of shadow knights stood at attention. Their dark bodies were releasing black and grey wisps of energy. Their eyes glowed blue as they looked towards their master. Ready for any command.

"That's so awesome." I whispered as I looked at the small group of shadow knights and magicians.

[ SKILL: Shadow Extraction Lv. 1 ]

[ Job Exclusive skill. ]

[ No mana required. ]

[ Extracts mana from a body whose life has come to an end and transforms it into a shadow soldier. Odds of extraction failure rise depending on the target's stats and the amount of time between death and extraction. ]

[ Active Shadow Extraction: 30/30 ]

[ SKILL: Shadow Storage Lv. 1 ]

[ Job-exclusive skill. ]

[ No mana required. ]

[ Shadow soldiers can be stored by absorbing them into the caster's shadow. Stored soldiers can be summoned or reabsorbed at any time. ]

[ Shadows stored: 0/20 ]

[ Shadow Infantry Lv. 1 ]

[ Regular Rank ]

[ Shadow Mage Lv. 1 ]

[ Elite Rank ]

"So my shadow soldiers can level up as well?" I said and walked around the knights and magician. As I walked closer to each of them, they stood straighter at attention. It made sense. I was their master. "I can create thirty shadow soldiers but only store twenty so far. In other words, I have to choose who I keep carefully until I can increase my storage. If that's the case…"

I walked over to the still form of Igris and looked at him with greedy eyes. This was by far my toughest opponent. I needed him as one of my shadow soldiers. A window alerted me that I couldn't summon any more shadows as long as I had released the shadows I currently had called. Then I'll release ten of my knights.

"I'm sorry for calling you. You may rest now." I said and watched ten knights sink back into their bodies. I sighed and walked back to Igris.

"Arise."

[ Shadow extraction has failed. ]

[ You have two attempts remaining. ]

Why did it fail? Could it be because of how much time had passed since he died? Or it's because he's that much stronger than me. I wouldn't be surprised if that were the case. I took a deep breath and looked at the destroyed throne on the raised podium. "Your past master is dead. What good is a knight without a king?"

"So, Igris, will you serve me as your new king? Will you protect and serve me until the end?" I said slowly and meaningfully. "I don't know what path I'm on, but I do know that I'll need those I can trust if I'm going to survive in this world. So I'll say this again… Arise."

[ Shadow Extraction is successful. ]

[ The shadow will start with a base level of 7. ]

[ You may bestow names upon shadow soldiers of a knight rank or higher. ]

I smirked as the shadowed form of Igris rose out of his body. No longer was he the blood-red commander; he now stood as dark as the night with glowing blue eyes. His puff and cape bellowed behind him like dancing blankets of shadows. He reached over to his blade and grabbed hold, turning it black.

"Your name will be Igris. Serve me well." I said, watching him and the rest of the knights kneel before me. I smirked and looked around at them with a deep sense of pride. This feels… good. It feels right. I walked towards the throne room's double doors and entered the hallway. I looked down and saw the still form of Iris. "Arise."

[ Shadow Extraction is successful. ]

[ The shadow will start with a base level of 5. ]

[ You may bestow names upon shadow soldiers of a knight rank or higher. ]

"Iris." I watched her kneel in front of me. Her now dark armor contrasted deeply with her pale white skin and glowing white hair. A small smile was on her face as she held an open hand over her chest and bowed her head at me in respect. I nodded at her and turned to my small shadow army.

"Let's go home."

x x x

[ STATUS ]

[ NAME: HACHIMAN HIKIGAYA ]

[ JOB: SHADOW MONARCH ]

[ TITLE: The One Who Overcame All Odds. ]

[ HP: 12608 ] ( +1% x 60 sec )

[ MP: 1470 ]

[ LEVEL: 52 ]

[ FATIGUE: 0 ] ( +20 )

[ STRENGTH: 120 ] ( +20 )

[ AGILITY: 114 ] ( +22 )

[ SENSE: 92 ]

[ VITALITY: 93 ] ( +15 )

[ INTELLIGENCE: 89 ] ( +5 )

[ REMAINING POINTS: 0 ]

PHYSICAL DAMAGE REDUCTION: 46% ( +15 )

x x x

I sighed as I finished drying my hair and stepped out of the bathroom. I arrived home around five in the morning and decided to shower before school. I did leave to do the quest late last night after everyone fell asleep; that way, I wouldn't have gotten any questions regarding where I was going.

I opened the door to my room and saw Komachi sitting on my bed. A deep frown was on her face as she held a small laminated card. I stood frozen in surprise as her sad eyes turned to me.

"So you're actually going to become a hunter?" Komachi asked slowly as she flipped the card towards me. It was the trail license I had applied for to begin doing dungeon raids. I frowned at her and nodded.

"I am." I stated. Komachi's eyebrows scrunched up, and she glared at me. She threw the card on the bed and stood up.

"After everything… after almost dying once. Do you want to put your life in danger by fighting in those Gates? Why? I thought… I thought you weren't going to become a hunter!" Komachi said and walked closer to me. I looked away from her and lowered my head slightly.

After I had left the hospital, I told Komachi and my parents about my awakening. Doctor Watanabe had decided not to inform them of my status. Leaving the responsibility of telling them to me. So the day after I arrived home, I told them the truth. From their scared expressions, I immediately knew they weren't thrilled to hear I was a part of the new world.

When I had told them my appraised rank, they seemed to have been relieved. After all, why would an E-Ranked weakling even bother becoming a hunter? They couldn't precisely thrive as hunter due to their low power. So what would be the point? You'd just get yourself killed. And for what? The low chance of making money? My family wasn't exactly struggling with their finances.

"Ah, is that so? Well, I guess you could apply to join the newly awakened sports teams that have been popping up. They're becoming pretty popular after all!" I remember my mother saying with a nervous chuckle. She had been the most shocked at my awakening.

"T-That's right! Since big bro isn't that high-ranked, there's no real point in him becoming a hunter! That would involve a lot of hard work, and my bro is pretty lazy after all!" Komachi said and laughed alongside my mother. Like our mother, she was also scared I would risk my life by foolishly entering the Gates.

I remember feeling disappointed at their reactions. I had hoped they would have shown me some support or encouragement to become a hunter, but their fear weighed heavily on them. I then turned to my father and saw him looking at me earnestly.

"Is that so? Well, I guess not much more needs to be said." I was confused by my father's words at the time and mistook them as him agreeing with my mother and sister. It wasn't until I nervously presented the permission form for the trial license that I realized he was encouraging me at the time without making it evident to the worried woman of our home. "I knew from your eyes that your heart was set to be a hunter, son. Your mother and sister… they're worried sick for you. Hell, I am, too. But I, too, was a young man once. So, I can understand the desire for adventure. Just promise me one thing, Hachi. Come back to us. If you can do that, I can sign these papers."

"No. I never said that." I said and gripped the towel on my shoulders. "You and Mom just assumed that. I want to- no, I will become a hunter."

We stood still and stared at one another. Her angry and betrayed eyes into my still and determined ones. Her hands tightened into fists, but then she sighed. All the anger left her face, and she walked into my chest. I felt her arms wrap around my back tightly. She was shaking.

"I should have expected this. I didn't think you'd want to be one." Komachi said and shook her head. "No, that's wrong. I was the one who didn't want you to become a hunter."

"Komachi." I said and wrapped my arms around her petite body. "I'm not going to die... I'll come back home. Safe and sound."

"You promise?" Komachi whispered. She pulled away from me but kept her hands on my chest. I nodded and smiled confidently.

"I promise."

"…okay."

x x x

I sighed from my spot against the cold wall. Today was Tuesday, and the school was having a volleyball rally; if it were up to me, I would have just gone home, but it was required for all first-years to attend. I looked over at the ongoing volleyball match; it was supposed to be a fun match but for some odd reason. They had the teachers going against the students.

I watched as Suguru Kamoshida jumped to receive a pass from another teacher and spiked it hard toward Yuuki Mishima. The ball bounced off his arms when he went to receive it and hit his face with a loud pop. The thin boy fell onto his behind and grimaced.

"Still sticks out, like usual." Ryuji said from his spot beside me. I looked over to where he was looking and saw a very attractive girl with pale blonde hair styled in large side twin tails. Her blue eyes looked off to the side sadly as she twirled a strand of hair around her pointer finger. She was dressed in the school's green gym uniform and leaned against the gymnasium's stage podium. An American? Does Ryuji know her?

The girl's eyes met mine; I offered her an awkward wave, which she returned. She looked to the side and flinched when Suguru glared slightly at her. She then pulled her knees in closer and looked back at the floor. Suguru then reared his ugly square face at me and scowled. Hoh? You looking at me?

"Hey. You think they're dating?"

"Clearly, she's such a slut. Damn foreigners."

I looked over and saw two first-year girls whispering off to the side. I shook my head and looked to my right. Shouko and Iroha were participating in a different volleyball match on the other side of the teacher's match. It was between two first-year classes, and only the girls were participating. The boy's match would be after theirs, so it wouldn't be long for Ryuji and I to sub in. That's what school girls are good for—spreading rumors.

"You know her?" I asked. Ryuji turned to me and scratched the back of his head.

"Yeah, we went to the same middle school. She's in class 1-B, her names Ann Takamaki. She's… complicated. I guess." Ryuji said with a frown and glanced back at Ann.

I nodded and looked back at the teacher versus student match. The score was pretty abysmal. The teachers had a significant lead, which wasn't surprising. They had the Crimson Chin on their team. Suguru spiked another ball in Yuuki's direction with a loud pop. A look of anger flashed through his face, only to vanish quickly. Why is he hitting it so hard? He's going to seriously hurt somebody. The ball would hit Yuuki's face if it continued on that trajectory. Yuuki's eyes widened, and he quickly ducked.

"SHIHO!" Ann yelled as the fast-flying ball flew towards a girl with black hair tucked into a ponytail. Shiho turned from her spot on the back wall just in time to see the ball about to slam into her face. A loud plop echoed in the gym, and everyone turned to see the source of the noise.

"What was that?!"

"When did he get there!"

"Did you hear that?"

I sighed and looked at the volleyball in my hand. I looked down at Shiho, whose face was a few inches from mine. In my hurry to stop the ball, I dashed behind her to stop the ball a split second before it could hit her.

"You alright?" I said as she backed away from me with an embarrassed face. Well, she seems fine. Shiho nodded after failing to speak. What's this girl's full name? I smiled slightly and walked around her to look at Suguru. His eyes were looking at me in disbelief, but then he made a show of looking relieved.

"Thank god you caught the ball, young Hikigaya! What a save!" Suguru said with a hearty chuckle. The teachers around him looked uncomfortable and began laughing with him.

"No problem." I said in a bored tone and tossed the volleyball in the air. "Here. You can have it back!"

I slapped the ball back at Suguru and watched as he tried to receive it. A loud smack echoed in the room as he was pushed back several feet with a pained expression. The volleyball spun extremely fast on his forearms and began to burn his skin. Suguru grimaced as the ball finally lost speed and bounced off his arms.

"Why you…" Suguru glared at me angrily, but his expression quickly became happy. "Why, that's a great serve! You should try out for the volleyball club, young Hikigaya! HAHAHA!"

I huffed and looked over to Yuuki, and offered him a nod. His eyes widened at my secret message, and a tiny smile grew on his battered face. Ann quickly ran from where she stood and checked on Shiho like a panicked parent.

"Shiho! Are you okay?!" Ann said as she grabbed Shiho's arms and looked her up and down. Shiho smiled in slight embarrassment and waved her friend's worry away.

"I-I'm fine, Ann! Really! It was an accident." Shiho said, causing Ann to sigh with relief. I smiled at the sight and began heading back towards my seat.

"Um!" I stopped and turned to see Ann looking at me gratefully. "Thank you!"

"It's nothing." I said with a smile and headed back to Ryuji. Who slapped my arm with a grin.

"Dude! That was bad-ass!" Ryuji said with a chuckle. I laughed and looked up just in time to see Suguru glaring at me from the volleyball net. I smirked at him and saw him huff. That's right, Crimson Chin. Huff all you want.

A loud whistle was blown, indicating it was time for the girls and boys to switch. As we walked by one another, Iroha held her hands up to offer double high fives. I grinned, and we clapped our hands.

"Yay!" Iroha said cutely and did the same with Ryuji. She then walked over to where Ryuji and I once sat. Shouko followed behind her and looked at me shyly. Her hands moved in front of her with eagerness. I smiled and held my hands up. Shouko's eyes widened, and we exchanged high-fives as well.

"Yay!" Shouko and I said. She then joined Iroha, who waved at me and Ryuji from the floor. I walked over to Ryuji and cracked my neck. We exchanged fist bumps and began playing a one-sided game of volleyball versus our next-door class.

Unknown to me, Suguru's angry eyes glared at me but then moved to look at Ann and Shiho. His snarl then shifted into a hungry grin. His tongue then slipped out and licked his lips in anticipation.

x x x

I sighed tiredly and waited for the vending machine to drop my favorite caffeinated drink. At the sound of the can rolling down the machine's internal mechanisms, I grinned when a familiar yellow can rolled in front of the machine's dispenser.

With a satisfying pop of the lid clicking open, I raised the drink to my lips and drank greedily. "Ah! That hit the spot!" It was the end of school. I had to stick around longer because it was my turn to clean the class with the help of another classmate. I couldn't remember their name, but it wasn't so important. We got the work done; that's all that matters.

As I walked around the school's outdoor corridor, something small crashed into my chest and fell onto his ass. Unfortunately, my precious Max Coffee was also a victim. I looked in horror as the aluminum can rolled on the floor, spilling its delicious contents onto the floor. No!

"Hey! Watch where you're going!" I said, annoyed, and looked down at the scared form of Yuuki Mishima; his eyes were panicked and filled with fear. I quickly forgot about my coffee and kneeled next to him. He was muttering nonsense. "Hey, Mishima. Calm down! What's wrong?"

"I-I'm just the messenger! Just the messenger! This-this isn't my fault." Yuuki muttered, but then he looked up at me with wild eyes. "Kamo-Kamoshida called for Suzui! He called her to her office! I'm not sure why-but-but I think!-"

My eyes grew wide, and I quickly stood up. No way. He wouldn't it! But if what Mashima is saying is true, then I can't waste any time!

I spun around and dashed forward with incredible speed. I ignored Yuuki's shocked yell and ran through the school's hallways toward Suguru's private office. You better not have touched her!

x x x

"Mr. Kamoshida! Please! Please stop! I-I won't tell anyone about this, so-"

"STOP?! STOP! Who are you to tell me what to do!"

I ran back and slammed against the wall. I was hugging my exposed chest tightly with my arms to cover my breasts. I looked over and felt my heart beat in my throat as Kamoshida walked towards me. We stood in his large, soundproof office in an isolated part of the special-use building. He had removed his shirt, and his muscles and chest heaved as he held my ripped school shirt in his hand.

I felt the strength leave my legs, causing me to collapse. I tried to slip back into the wall, anything to hide and protect myself from the man who was supposed to be my teacher. A prominent bulge pulsed in his pants as he looked down at me with lust. My body shivered in disgust as my stomach lurched.

"That fucking friend of yours thinks she can keep blowing me off! When I tell her to show up, then she better show up!" Suguru said, kneeling in front of me and grabbing my jaw with his large, calloused hand. I felt myself begin to hyperventilate. A slap across my face stopped my erratic breathing. Suguru grinned sadistically and grabbed my left breast roughly.

"Ah!" I yelled in pain and tried to remove his hand from me, but nothing I did could make him budge. He smirked as he watched me uselessly struggle and began to rub my nipple.

"Just shut up and enjoy what's going to happen. If you stay quiet and do as I say, maybe I'll put you on the first string. How's that sound?" Suguru said and pulled down his waistband, exposing his erect penis. My eyes shook in horror as his other hand reached for my skirt.

"…no." I managed to say in a weak whisper and closed my eyes. I didn't want to see anymore, not what was about to happen to me. Please god. Help me!

The doors to his office exploded off their hinges, and the sunset's soft, orange light flooded the dark room. I looked over with tear-filled eyes at a shadowed person standing at the room's entrance. It's that student from earlier—the one who caught the ball. I'm unsure if it was a trick of the light or my intense emotional state, but I could have sworn that the student's eyes were glowing purple.

Suguru pulled his pants up and snarled at the intruder with rage. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU-"

I blinked in confusion as Suguru suddenly vanished from in front of me. A loud explosion rocked the room on my left; I looked over shakily and saw a large hole in the wall. As gently as my raven-haired savior could, he wrapped his black school jacket over my shoulders and covered my naked chest.

"It's okay." The student, whose name I couldn't recall, said softly. "You're safe. He will never touch you again."

I watched him walk over to the hole and stood to look out at something I couldn't see. "Protect her." He said and jumped out of the hole. I was confused about what he meant, but a black armored knight rose from the ground beside me and stood protectively before me. A long black sword rested in his hands.

It was then that the weight of what almost happened to me hit me. My chest heaved, and I leaned forward; sobs escaped my throat as I cried loudly into my hands. My only comfort was the jacket wrapped around my body and the knight in front of me.

x x x

I slowly walked through the trail of destruction Suguru's body made after I punched him through the school's outer wall. His body had rolled and crashed through the trees behind the school and ended up buried deep into the ground. I watched as he jumped out of the dirt. His upper body was scratched and covered in dirt. A large bruise had begun to swell in his right cheek. As he panted, I saw three of his teeth missing.

"You! Just what the hell do you think you're doing?! I'll have you locked up! You hear-" I blurred in front of Suguru and kicked his chest. His body shot further into the forest, and the sound of trees being split apart rocked through the air.

As I followed after him, I felt completely numb. The sight of Shiho's stripped chest and terrified eyes made my blood boil within my body. All I knew was that I wanted to stop Suguru. Hurt him like he hurt Shiho. Hurt him like everyone else he's hurt.

Kill him.

I tilted my head and avoided a thrown thick tree branch. It crashed uselessly into a tree and exploded into splinters and dust. I saw an enraged Suguru breathing hard as his outstretched arm fell to his side.

"I'll kill you." Suguru growled and rushed me. "You should have just kept your head down, you damn brat!"

The earth beneath Suguru exploded into dust and rubble as he rushed at me. He threw several punches toward my face, but I dodged and weaved around them all with ease.

"Stop moving!" Suguru roared and attempted to kick my head off. I merely raised my hand and grabbed his incoming foot. His eyes widened at how my hand didn't even budge as he tried to pull his foot back. "You! You're supposed to be E-Ranked!"

"And you're supposed to be a teacher! A teacher protects and looks after their students!" I landed a powerful right hook into his ribs, which shot him several feet in the air. He coughed in pain but was quickly silenced when I dashed behind him and wrapped an arm around his neck. With a heave, I launched him down to the ground. The earth beneath us rumbled, and a loud crash rumbled through the forest.

"I'm going to make you pay. I'm going to make you suffer." I snarled and glared hatefully at the slowly rising scum bag. My body felt like it was on fire, and my muscles shook in rage. Shiho's crying eyes remained frozen in my mind as a red bruise glowed on her cheek.

End him.

In my mind, Shiho was suddenly replaced with Komachi and then Shouko, followed by Iroha and then Yui. If this bastard was capable of doing that to Shiho, then it could happen to anyone I cared about. It was probably happening to several other defenseless people around the world by power-hungry monsters like Suguru.

I dashed in front of Suguru and punched him across the face, sending his neck snapping back. Pivoting my waist, I dug my fist deep into his right kidney. Causing him to spit out a glob of blood. I didn't let up and rained punch after punch in a series of jabs, crosses, hooks, and uppercuts.

Suguru's body jerked side to side as I attacked. My superior speed and strength quickly foiled any attempt he made to hit me back. I jumped up and delivered a rising knee kick squarely into his face. Suguru's nose splattered with blood, and he crashed through five more trees and rolled to a stop in an open clearing.

"I've had enough!" Suguru roared, and his body exploded with bright red power. "REINFORCEMENT!"

I watched as he rushed at me with quick speed. Suguru reared his right arm back and punched me across my face. A loud shockwave exploded from the impact, causing the forest behind me to shake and the ground beneath me to crack as my feet sank into the ground slightly.

Suguru grinned, but it quickly vanished when I slowly turned my head to look at him with cold, piercing eyes. My cheek was slightly steaming from his punch, but not even a scratch could be found when it disappeared.

"W-what?" Suguru muttered but then began to gurgle and choke as his body began to float into the air. He reached towards his neck as a crushing pressure squeezed his esophagus to the point he could no longer breathe.

I glared up at him as I held my hand towards him and slowly squeezed my fist tighter and tighter. A small, cruel smile grew on my face as I watched him struggle for oxygen. Just a little more. Just a little tighter.

[ SKILL: Rulers Hand ]

"That's enough!"

I looked back and found Ann Takamaki hugging my back tightly. She looked up at me with tears running down her face as she panted from exhaustion.

"Stop! You don't have to lower yourself to his level! Please!" Ann cried and fell to her knees. Her hand held onto my dress shirt tightly as she cried. "…stop."

Looking back at Suguru, I saw his face turning blue as he weakly struggled. With a tremendous amount of will, I let him go. He dropped onto the floor and coughed violently. Suguru took long, deep breaths as his lungs expanded quickly.

"You… this isn't over… you don't know who I am… I'm Suguru Kamoshida! A B-Rank hunter and the brother to the S-Rank, Satoshi Kamoshida!" Suguru roared at us from the ground. I touched Ann's hands, causing her to look up at me weakly. I nodded to her, and she let me go.

I walked over to Suguru and ignored his heated yells. I punched down onto his temple. His head snapped off the ground violently, leaving him unconscious. I walked back to Ann and kneeled in front of her.

"Why are you here?" I asked softly. Ann's lip quivered, and she began crying again.

"S-she… Shiho called me. After you left her- she called me and-and I rushed back to school and found her and this-this knight! It wouldn't let me close to her, but she told him I was a friend." Ann cried and fell onto my chest. I was surprised but grabbed her shoulder to try to comfort her. "I tried to help her, but she told me to go after you. That- that I had to make sure he didn't- he didn't!"

"It's okay, Ann." I awkwardly hugged her close and rubbed her back. Just like I did for Komachi when she was younger. "Everything is going to be okay."

I felt her nod in my chest, and she began to sob. She repeated Shiho's name repeatedly as she broke down in my arms. I frowned and looked over at Suguru's unconscious body. I focused on the dark bruise around his neck and grimaced. I… I almost…

I jerked my head away and frowned in disappointment. I almost killed another human. If it weren't for Takamaki and Suzui, I would have crossed that line. I pulled out my phone and dialed a number I never thought I'd call.

"Hello! Hikigaya! I'm happy you called! What can I do for you?" Haruno said with a cheery voice from the other end.

"Yukinoshita." I spoke gravely. "I need your help." I held Ann tighter and felt her body relax. I then began to explain everything that had happened. Haruno replied with a deadly serious voice that she and the surveillance team would be here soon. With that done, I ended the call.

"Takamaki, Let's go find Suzui." I said as I pulled her to her feet. She nodded and let me go. Ann looked over at Suguru and walked over to him. Once she was in front of him, she pulled a leg back and kicked him repeatedly in the groin. With every kick, Suguru's unconscious body jerked and whimpered. Ann only stopped when she became exhausted.

"Okay." Ann said through tired breaths. "Let's go."

I nodded and lifted Suguru with ruler's hand, dragging him along the ground behind us as we walked back to the school. Every now and then, I'd slam his head against the base of a tree. It wasn't long before we made it back to campus.