Ren had barely taken a few steps before he heard hurried footsteps behind him. He didn't turn around, already knowing it was the boy he had just saved. The frantic footsteps grew closer until the boy skidded to a stop next to him, his face flushed, eyes wide with a mixture of fear and determination.
"Please, wait!" the boy called out, breathless but resolute.
Ren slowed but didn't stop. "Go home, kid. This isn't your fight."
But the boy wasn't deterred. He ran in front of Ren, blocking his path. His face was pale, but his eyes were filled with desperation. "I don't have a home," the boy said, his voice shaking. "I don't have anything. You saved my life. Please… help me get stronger. I want to fight back. I want to survive."
Ren stared at him for a moment, his expression unreadable. The kid was thin and clearly had no experience in battle. His eyes were still too soft, too innocent, despite the terror he had just faced. But something about the boy's plea struck a chord within Ren.
The memory of his own weakness flashed through his mind—his inability to protect his clan, his helplessness as the Silver Tide destroyed everything he cared about. If Kaito hadn't taken him in, he would've been dead long ago.
Ren's gaze softened slightly, but his tone remained firm. "The road I'm on… it's dangerous. It's not just about getting stronger. It's about surviving the worst this world has to offer. If you come with me, there's no turning back."
"I don't care," the boy said quickly, his fists clenched at his sides. "I'll do whatever it takes. I'll learn, I swear. I just don't want to feel weak anymore."
Ren studied him for a moment longer, then sighed. "What's your name?"
"Akio," the boy replied, his eyes brightening with hope. "Akio Matsuda."
"Alright, Akio," Ren said. "You can come with me. But don't expect this to be easy. The training is hard, and the fights will be harder."
Akio nodded eagerly, gratitude flooding his features. "I'll do whatever it takes."
Ren gave a small nod in return, though his expression remained serious. "Good. Let's move. We'll need supplies if we're going to travel far."
As they walked, Akio began to open up. His voice trembled as he recounted his past, but there was a quiet strength beneath his words.
"My father, Paul, was a soldier," Akio started. "He wasn't like most of the others, though. He cared about people. During one of the battles, he was told to retreat, to leave the civilians behind because they were deemed 'expendable.' But he didn't listen. He saved my mother and some of the others… but the army executed him for disobeying orders."
Ren listened silently, his eyes fixed ahead, though his mind was elsewhere. He understood the pain in Akio's voice all too well—the loss of a loved one, the anger that followed, and the helplessness of being unable to change the past.
"I've been running ever since," Akio continued. "Trying to stay ahead of anyone who might come after me, but I've been alone. Until now."
Ren remained silent for a moment, then spoke quietly. "The world isn't kind, Akio. But if you want to survive in it, you'll need to learn how to fight for yourself. I'll teach you what I know, but the rest is up to you."
Akio's face lit up with determination. "I won't let you down."
---
They continued their journey in relative silence, walking for hours through the winding paths of the wilderness. The landscape changed as they traveled—forests gave way to rolling hills, and the distant sound of a small town began to reach their ears. Ren had been wandering for days, but this town seemed like a good place to rest and regroup.
When they entered the town, Ren scanned the area with sharp eyes. It was small but bustling, with people moving about their daily routines. The air smelled of freshly baked bread and the sound of hammers striking metal echoed from a blacksmith's forge.
"We'll stay here for a while," Ren said, his gaze shifting from person to person. "We need to lay low and gather our strength. Find some work so we can earn enough to keep moving."
Akio nodded, following closely behind him. "What kind of work?"
"Anything that pays," Ren replied. "Manual labor, most likely. The more we work, the stronger we'll get. Training comes in many forms."
They made their way to the outskirts of the town, where a large labor camp was set up. Workers hauled heavy crates, chopped wood, and repaired broken machinery. It wasn't glamorous, but it was exactly what they needed—physical work that would build their strength and endurance.
Ren approached the camp overseer, a gruff man with a thick beard, and offered their services. The man eyed them both suspiciously but shrugged. "If you're willing to work, there's always something to do. Pay's not much, but it'll keep you fed."
And so, for the next week, Ren and Akio worked from sunrise to sunset. They hauled crates, chopped wood, and repaired anything that needed fixing. It was grueling, back-breaking work, but neither of them complained. Ren focused on honing his body, while Akio worked hard to prove himself, eager to learn and grow stronger.
When they weren't working, Ren began teaching Akio the basics of combat. They trained in the small clearing behind the camp, Ren showing him how to stand, how to punch, how to defend himself.
"Your stance is weak," Ren said one evening, watching as Akio threw a punch. "If you can't stay balanced, your enemy will knock you down in an instant."
Akio grunted, adjusting his footing. "Like this?"
"Better," Ren said, his tone neutral. "But you're still too slow."
Akio wiped the sweat from his brow, his face red with exertion. "I'll get faster."
"You will," Ren said, his eyes hard. "But only if you keep pushing yourself."
---
A week passed, and the town became a temporary home for the two of them. The labor camp paid just enough to keep them fed, and their training sessions grew more intense as Ren began pushing Akio harder.
But even as the days blended into one another, Ren's mind never strayed far from his true goal. The Silver Tide was still out there, and each day that passed brought him closer to facing them again.
He glanced at Akio one evening as they sat by the campfire, the flames flickering in the dark. The boy had potential—more than Ren had first realized. But potential alone wasn't enough. If Akio was going to survive this world, he needed more than just strength. He needed the resolve to see it through.
"You've done well this week," Ren said, breaking the silence. "But this is only the beginning. The real test is coming."
Akio looked up at him, his expression serious. "I'm ready."
Ren stared into the fire, his mind filled with thoughts of vengeance. "We'll see."