It was the dead of night. Normally, at this hour, even lone travellers would be a rare sight, especially on a small road like this one.
This night was different, however. A troop of horses passed, amidst a flutter of scared birds terrified by the sudden noise.
The riders were all clad in armor, but anybody could tell at a glance that this was no ordinary armor. It was much more ornate, elegant, unbefitting of regular guards. But it wasn't the gold and silver used by the elite guards, but rather black and angular, giving off an aura of menace. These were no guards, but something more dangerous.
The Hunters.
"Tracker. We getting closer?"
"Of course, boss. You know I'm the best, right?"
"Good. You better not waste my time."
"I'm smart enough to know that, boss."
The old man at the head of the party laughed.
"Keep doing what you're doing, and I'll keep you around. Just don't stop being useful to me."
"R-right."
The man turned around to face another figure, clad in a lighter version of the same armor.
"That goes to you too, boy. I'm only letting you into our ranks because the emperor said he'd pay me for it. I'll only keep you around if you're useful. So don't disappoint me."
"Yeah, yeah, old man. Keep telling yourself that. You may be stronger than me, but the rest of these wimps? I've got them all beat. Soon you'll be begging me to stay with you lot."
"I'm not getting paid enough to put up with you. So stop pushing your luck. I hope you're as strong as you say you are, otherwise I'm not saving you if you get in a pinch, barrier boy."
"Don't overwork yourself, I can protect myself fine. I am the strongest Bulwark after all..."
The young man smiled, and tossed a small steel ball into the air. A red spark burst forth from his finger, and formed a barrier around the size of a coin. The ball fell back down and hit the barrier, but it didn't stop, as it should have.
It bounced.
"The strongest Bulwark, Nakatani Norio!"