As I returned home, I began to pack my things for the solo journey that was about to begin. I wore a long-sleeved black shirt under a light yellow armor and black pants that matched the shirt. I used gloves, boots, and a belt to accommodate the short swords, all of them the same color as the armor and my eyes.
I felt powerful, as if darkness enveloped me and made me shine.
I received a letter, or rather, someone simply tossed it under the door. Few could get within two meters of me.
"A letter from the leader?" By the seal and appearance of it, it seemed authentic. I opened the letter and found a brief message.
'Come to the auditorium immediately. Izumi.'
Upon reading the letter, I was sure it was genuine. Only the leader would write something so directly.
"What does he want?"
I had my suspicions. I entered the auditorium and soon felt that wave of disgust that always hit me. The leader was in the center of the stage, to his right were other important members, and to his left was the person I feared the most.
"Always late, as usual," said the leader.
"My apologies, I was getting ready to leave," I retorted.
"That's the point. You won't be going alone."
My suspicions were confirmed; from the beginning, the old man never intended to honor the agreement. Before the tournament to determine who was the strongest in Mangoland, I proposed that if I won, he would allow me to leave alone. Once again, he betrayed me.
"I don't accept!"
I couldn't agree to go to a dangerous place with people who could attack me at any moment.
"You have no choice, Izumi. It's accept or give up."
The old man spoke with a serious expression and stared at me, but I also maintained seriousness.
"Whatever. Old man!" I kept my composure and stared back at him.
"You didn't understand, Izumi. Don't you really want to know?"
I didn't expect him to resort to this, appealing to my origins as a way to convince me.
"Thirk!"
I didn't say anything else, and the old man understood that I had accepted, even though he could clearly see that I was very upset.
"Max and Izumi already know each other, so let me introduce Idalme. She's a medic and will be a great help on our journey."
"You'll just be a hindrance!"
"Did you say something, Izumi?" The old man asked.
"Nothing," There wasn't much I could do; the old man had control over me.
The woman was on the other side of the auditorium, but when called to join the team, she quickly approached Max and with a clearly fake smile said:
"Max, I'm a big fan, can you give me an autograph?"
This woman must have thought she fooled everyone with her sagging breasts, which swayed from side to side as she tried to persuade others with her honeyed words.
"Waste of time."
The saggy-breasted woman looked in my direction and stared at me, not with eyes of resentment, but of pure anger.
"What's the matter? Didn't like what you saw?"
"Ever heard of someone who likes monsters?" The saggy-breasted woman replied with a mocking smile.
"I don't give a damn about what you say. Saggy boobs!"
"You bastard. What did you say?" Angry, sagging breasts, she replied.
"Silence!" shouted the old man, "This is the youngest group of fighters ever formed in the history of Mangolândia. In particular, Izumi, the youngest of the group at just fifteen years old, will venture beyond the city limits. They should feel lucky."
"Look at my happy expression," I said it seriously.
Facing me, the old man smiled, clearly mocking me. Damn old man.
"You didn't write anything."
"And I'm not going to write!"
"What happened wrong?"
Max turned his back and walked away.
"You screwed yourself, sagging breasts. Hahaha!" I left too.
"You…!"
I couldn't see her face, but I could feel the furious gaze. A real saggy-breasted bitch.
"These kids. The meeting had barely started, and we're already done here."
My whole plan had gone down the drain, and now I was about to travel with humans. I could handle Max, but the saggy-breasted woman was a danger.
"I'll kill her at the first opportunity!" Outwardly, I maintained a normal appearance, but inside, my malice burned intensely.
Back in my room again, I put my swords on the belt I had managed to buy on the black market with great effort. In that place, everyone looked after me as long as I paid the right amount.
When I saw those short double swords for sale, one black and one white, I couldn't resist and bought them immediately. I had a problem with the seller, as he tried to cheat me, but we soon resolved the situation with a little violence.
These beauties were definitely tailor-made for me. One of them was identical to my teeth, with a serrated pattern, while the other was white, matching my curly hair perfectly.
After bidding farewell to my room, I headed for the front door and saw them waiting for me.
"Thirk!"
I was frustrated with this; the plan was to escape after waiting for a minute, but once again, this idea was thwarted.
"Don't get in my way," I approached and spoke.
"Tell me about it," Saggy boobs retorted.
She still stared at me with those looks, and as soon as she responded, Max smiled. It was obvious he was laughing at my expense.
"Let's go!" Max said.
"Don't act like the leader."
"Two against one. Max is the leader!" She retorted once again, even making a face at me.
"I'm the leader of myself," I said with conviction.
The guards opened the gates, and we walked out. Looking outside, I could see two things. First: those guards wouldn't let me leave without a group. Second: the world outside was completely different.
The smell of blood permeated the air, showing that the city was often under attack, though unsuccessfully. The mutilated bodies on the ground, the result of some long-range technique, caught my attention.
"It truly looks like hell here," I commented, flashing an excited smile.
From the shadows emerged two hostile demons with completely black skin, moving irregularly. I thought I might feel some connection with them, but I was mistaken. My desire to kill only grew stronger.
"Mother. Here begins my vengeance," I whispered as I looked up at the sky.
I closed my eyes and, when I opened them, I unleashed my bloodlust. They approached quickly, and I stared at them with determination. I swiftly drew my swords.
"Come!"
Both of them leaped toward me. I also performed a spinning jump, gripping my weapons firmly.
'First form.'
I got close enough and cut both of them at once while we were in the air.
'Kotxi Swivel!!'
I landed on the ground with an impressive pose, a demonic smile on my face, and delivered my catchphrase.
"You were humiliated!"
I stood up and looked at the sky, gripping my swords tightly, and thought:
'Demons, for your existence, I shall exterminate you all! Fearless ones, for prolonging my mother's suffering, I shall not grant you forgiveness! Demon King, for causing my mother pain by giving birth to me, I shall eliminate you! I will humiliate all of you.'