"What are you doing here?!?"
His shock overwhelmed the feeling of pain as he shouted with a flabbergasted face.
However, Marco only looked at him weirdly and replied, "Me? Of course, I'm saving you. Like why would I come here?"
"Y-Yes, I know. Thank you, b-but how did you know I was here?" Jin stuttered, his speechlessness apparent to his face.
Marco approached him and helped him stand up as he shook his head, "I didn't."
"What do you mean you didn't?"
"I didn't know." Marco replied as he slowly walked while supporting Jin.
"You didn't know what!?"
Jin became even more speechless, he couldn't explain the emotion he was feeling.
"I didn't know that you were here."
"W-What?"
Are you stupid? What the hell is wrong with you? Aren't you aware of the situation?
Such were the words that Jin wanted to say.
However, in the end, there was only one thing he could say, "Thank You."
"No problem, you're my friend after all."
Marco smiled in response.
'So this is what friends are, huh?' Jin thought to himself as they slowly walked outside the house.
As a child with a frail body, he hadn't really experienced his childhood.
The moments wherein he felt the joy of being a kid was when they played games like dodgeball and the like.
However, that was what he thought. That only playing was what you could do with your friends.
Now, he felt that he had discovered another side to what friendship truly was.
They were people you could trust your life with.
At this moment, Marco spoke with a hesitant expression, "By the way…"
"What is it?" Jin replied.
"Why was your house in a wreck? I didn't see any demon beasts on the way so I found it weird."
"Oh, about that… It's nothing, really…"
"Well, if you prefer not to talk about it, it's fine."
"Thank you."
"Stop it. You're my friend so it's just common sense for me to be understanding of you."
"And that's nothing to be overly thankful about. Just make sure to play dodgeball with me, okay?"
"Mhm!" Jin smiled in gratitude.
ROARRRRRRR!!!!
However, at this moment, they heard a loud roar behind them.
"Fuck…"
Marco cursed under his breath as he and Jin slowly turned around.
They could see a massive demon beast who looked to be a tiger. The only difference was that it was pitch-black.
'No…'
Jin's eyes widened as he saw the aura signature within the demon beast.
He hurriedly tried to circulate the rampaging cursed energy within his body but wasn't able to succeed in doing so.
'Please… just let me borrow your power for a while- No, just a minute!'
However, despite his unparalleled talent, Jin found himself powerless. The cursed energy in his body only brought pain and suffering to him.
Now that they were about to die, he couldn't even muster even an ounce of power.
"Ummm… Hi?"
Marco waved at the Shadewraith Tigris as he gulped his saliva nervously.
Grrrr—
The demon beast growled as it slowly approached the two children.
"Hey, Jin."
"Yes?"
"I just wanted you to know that you're the first true friend I have ever had in my life and I'm grateful for that."
"Ehhhh? You're cringe."
"Ouch! How did you even learn that word!?"
"I learned it from Rowena and the others."
"Tsk, I knew it! Your sister's friends are really a bad influence…"
"Pfft!"
"Hahahaha!"
The two of them conversed like they would any other day.
As if the threat of death didn't loom over them.
"Marco."
"Yes?"
"Leave me behind."
"Are you stupid?"
"No. You need to save yourself because I can't die."
"What do you mean?"
"A supernatural power I awakened. It basically ensures that I won't die."
"Ohhh, like the immortality from fairy tales!?"
"Exactly. I'm immortal. So you should esca-"
"No thank you."
"What? Why?"
"I don't care whether you're immortal or not. I believe you, but I still won't leave you behind."
Jin matured early as a kid.
It was to the point that he instinctively lied to the official about his supernatural power back in the day of the awakening ceremony.
Therefore, his decision of revealing his greatest secret to Marco- something that he didn't even tell his family- was testament to how highly he regarded him.
However, he was soon flabbergasted at Marco's nonchalant attitude.
"I'll choose to die first rather than leave you behind."
GROAR!!!
At this moment, the Shadewraith Tigris suddenly leapt towards them.
It opened its mouth, showing its razor sharp fangs that would surely kill the two of them instantly.
POW—!!!!
However, before it could reach them, a heavy punch landed on the side of its face.
"I'm still alive you fucking beast!"
Hearing the familiar voice, Jin and Marco looked ahead and saw Director Ver.
However, instead of joy, their faces flashed with worry. This was because Director Ver was severely injured and was missing an arm.
Jin could also see that his aura only looked strong, but his life force was at its end.
He could also see the black particles of energy that symbolized death gathering towards his body.
Glancing at the two boys, Director Ver showed a large, toothy grin, "Hello!"
Cough—
He suddenly coughed blood.
Nevertheless, Director Ver still maintained his smile, "You kids should get away. Go to the Training Center and meet up with your classmates and families."
"As for me… I'll have a conversation with this demon beast first." A serious expression replaced his smile as he turned his head to the Shadewraith Tigris who kept growling at him.
Marco bit his lips, he wanted to say something but the lump on his throat prevented him from doing so.
Meanwhile, Jin kept his eyes on the old man as he was dragged away by his friend.
"Hahaha! You really think I would go down that easily, huh!? You wish!"
Director Ver laughed crazily as he chanted.
[Fist Barrage]
Power surged within his remaining hand, enabling him to deliver a series of punches that left afterimages.
ROARRRR!!!!!
The Shadewraith Tigris became even more enraged as it viscously leapt at its opponent.
Jin wasn't able to see the rest of the fight as he and Marco turned towards a corner and continued their path to the Training Center.