While Zanki Yoru walked, his cowboy boots made rattling sounds. The noise caught the attention of nearby farmers and children who were running around the neighborhood. As Zanki Yoru gazed at the sky, which was illuminated by the bright sun, he remarked, "It seems like there won't be any snowfall this winter." He looked down and continued walking past his town, but before completely leaving, he felt compelled to take one last glance back. Turning around, he uttered, "Stay safe, Big Bro Juroku and Sister Watane... and may peace be with the people who reside in my hometown." With a determined expression, he walked away, leaving his hometown behind.
After walking for a full six hours, the sun was beginning to set, casting a warm orange hue across the sky. Zanki Yoru started to feel a sense of exhaustion, despite having walked for such a long time. Along the sidewalk, he noticed a cattle vehicle carrying a few cows. Two men were inside the vehicle, and as one of them turned to look at Zanki Yoru, he quickly lowered his head and covered his eyes, hiding his face in the shadows. The cattle vehicle continued on its way, and Zanki Yoru lifted his hand to his forehead, no longer needing to shield his eyes. He contemplated, "I should take a break now. I've been walking forever... and I wonder..." A smirk appeared on his face as he gazed at the forest before him. In a matter of minutes, he ran swiftly into the dense forest, surrounded by towering trees and stepping on a carpet of grass.
As he halted his fast-paced run, Zanki Yoru took a moment to catch his breath, realizing that the sprint had further depleted his stamina. He continued walking at a slower pace, occasionally glancing up at the sky, which was now adorned with the colors of the sunset. Suddenly, he looked down and noticed a large pond encircled by trees, with an open expanse of grass surrounding it. Zanki Yoru realized that he could both quench his thirst and take a refreshing shower at the same time. With a burst of excitement, he exclaimed, "Let's go! This is survival!"
Zanki Yoru proceeded to remove his clothes and carefully placed them on the grass, ensuring they were neatly folded. Stepping with one foot into the pond, he shivered and exclaimed, "Sheesh, it's cold!" Nevertheless, he immersed his entire body in the water, finding the sensation refreshing. He washed himself in the pond, using the water to rinse his body and even pouring some over his long black hair. As he continued to cleanse his hair and body, hunger began to gnaw at him. He extended his hand into the water, scooping up a portion and swiftly drinking it to satiate his thirst.
After spending a full ten minutes in the pond, Zanki Yoru emerged from the water. He proceeded to dress himself, donning his clothes and placing his cowboy hat upon his head. He remarked, "That was a good breath of fresh air and freshwater." Despite his wet hair, he paid it no mind and swiftly ran back to the sidewalk, resuming his journey. Although he had only taken a brief ten-minute break, he was determined to keep moving forward.
As Zanki Yoru continued along the path, he encountered a dense cluster of trees blocking his way. A mischievous thought crossed his mind, and he decided to test one of his weapons, the Persuader. Contemplating the destruction of the two trees, he muttered, "I just want to witness the annihilation of these two beloved essentials of life." Pulling out his Persuader, he declared, "I present to you the Left-Handed Persuader Banger!" Raising his left hand and pointing the Persuader at the parallel trees, he shouted, "BANG!" The gun discharged with a thunderous sound, creating a powerful impact in the surroundings. Zanki Yoru shielded his face with his hat and cautiously lifted it to inspect the aftermath. To his satisfaction, he realized that he had created a massive hole between the parallel trees. Smirking, he observed as the trees began to collapse, succumbing to the blows of his Left-Handed Persuader Banger!
Zanki Yoru observed the destruction he had caused but quickly turned away, whispering to himself, "I can become even stronger, strong enough to defeat those magic masters." As he exited the forest, he realized that he had taken a different path along the sidewalk, sensing that the surroundings looked unfamiliar. Nevertheless, he resolved to continue walking, undeterred by the nighttime setting.
After a mere two minutes of hearing the rattling sound of his shoes, Zanki Yoru noticed a peculiar figure in tattered black clothing. The person's head was concealed by a hoodie. Intrigued, Zanki Yoru paused, and the mysterious individual whispered, "Another person I have to killed again? Oh, brother." Hearing the whisper from a distance, Zanki Yoru became cautious. The strange person lifted their hoodie, revealing a middle-aged man with a full black beard and short black hair. The man extended his hand, displaying a small yellow cast, and warned, "If you don't want to die, don't cross this sidewalk and stay in the forest!" Zanki Yoru gripped his chaps tightly as the strange man commanded him not to move.
With a calm voice, Zanki Yoru inquired, "Are you an enemy?" Before the strange man could respond, Zanki Yoru swiftly unleashed his Left-Handed Persuader Banger, shooting the man in the stomach. The impact created a resounding sound effect that gradually faded away. Looking up at the fallen man, Zanki Yoru heard the dying man mutter, "How could I be caught off guard like that?" Blood flowed from the man's stomach and mouth, shocking Zanki Yoru as he realized he had just killed a magic master with a single blow. He stared at the lifeless body in disbelief and uttered, "Damn, that's my first kill of a magic master right there."
Kicking the man's body off the sidewalk and into the forest, Zanki Yoru wore a smirk on his face. He muttered, "I may be getting closer to my journey." With a surge of determination, he sprinted up a small hill, rejoining the sidewalk and continuing his walk. However, as he ran, his shoes continued to rattle loudly, causing him to stop and contemplate. He mused to himself, "Maybe I should just walk... It's such a quiet moment, even after defeating the strange man with a single blow."
Late at night, two male ninjas clad in black garments dashed along the sidewalk. They communicated in hushed voices, searching for their comrade who was supposed to possess crucial information about their boss's enemy. The night enveloped them in silence as they abruptly halted and detected a lifeless body nearby. With a mix of shock and trepidation, they peered down, leaped down, and cautiously approached the body, moving between the nearby trees.
One of the ninjas removed his mask, his face contorted with disgust as he coughed up a bit of vomit. The other ninja gazed at their fallen comrade, his mind filled with fear and disbelief. He questioned internally, "How is this possible? Who could have defeated him?" His thoughts raced, contemplating the potential culprits. "Could it have been a powerful rock-type? Or perhaps a fearsome monster?" The fallen comrade had been their trusted ally for a decade, never experiencing defeat on any mission. The realization that he had been vanquished with a single blow to the stomach left them baffled and overwhelmed, realizing the mission had spiraled beyond their control.
As the second ninja turned around, his eyes widened in shock. He exclaimed, "What the hell?!" His companion, equally alarmed, concurred, suggesting they should return and inform their boss about the situation. They swiftly vanished from sight, their fear lingering as they dashed across the sidewalk, their minds clouded with uncertainty.