Prologue (3)
Gun led Rimuru through a maze of back streets and hidden roads until he reached a forgotten junkyard on the outskirts of Seoul. Old car parts, bits of rusted metal, and abandoned machinery piled up like mountains of decaying steel. Rimuru watched warily as they advanced toward the rusty gate that guarded this place.
Gun finally stopped his vehicle and turned towards her. "Welcome to your boot camp."
They walked into the junkyard, which Gun opened with a key he seemed to have kept for a long time. Rimuru frowned, looking around in disbelief. "Really? Here?"
"Exactly," Gun said. "Here you will learn what it means to survive and fight without depending on anything but your instincts. Therefore, you will have to learn something fundamental: to endure pain."
Before Rimuru could react, Gun threw a direct punch at her in the stomach that caused her to double over from the impact. She fell to her knees, breathing heavily.
"What are you doing?!" she shouted, trying to recover, but Gun simply watched her with the same smile that had accompanied her since the beginning.
"This is no ordinary training," he said, maintaining his calm but firm tone. "I'm not here to teach you moves. I'm here to forge you. Today you will only receive hits. And if you want to give them back to me, you'll have to reach a new limit."
During the days that followed, Rimuru endured a series of brutal training sessions in which Gun attacked relentlessly. Kicks, punches, and forceful blows fell on her, leaving her on the ground each time, sore, but with a spark of rage growing inside her. Gun made sure she didn't dodge the blows, forcing her to withstand every impact and teaching her to resist.
"Every blow you receive sharpens your senses," he explained to her after each session. "Pain wakes you up and shows you your limits. But it also gives you something that few have: a total connection with your body."
With each day, Rimuru felt his frustration grow. Gun would not let her advance a step; it always ended up on the ground. Until, in one of those sessions, something inside her changed. After taking a particularly strong blow, he felt his frustration and anger come to a head. Her pupils began to glow with a greenish hue, and a fierce and almost primitive energy emerged in her.
"Do you finally want to hit me back?" Gun smiled when he saw the intensity in his gaze.
Uncontrollably, Rimuru threw a punch with all his might. Although Gun blocked it, the impact resonated and, surprisingly, he took a step back. Rimuru didn't stop there. In a wild state, he began to unleash a flurry of attacks. Blows, kicks and even desperate movements with their long nails. In his rampage, he managed to rip Gun's torso, leaving a mark that, although not deep, managed to cut him.
Gun noticed his transformation, satisfied and at the same time cautious. "That's ... the Animal Domain," he murmured, not losing his defiant smile. "But you still don't know how to control it."
Rimuru, now utterly consumed by instinct, continued to attack relentlessly, like a freed beast. Gun, undeterred, decided to resist each blow, assessing his power. As the fight continued, he knew that he had succeeded in awakening in Rimuru a strength that was beyond the human.
Three days later
Rimuru barely felt the passage of time since Gun took her to that forgotten junkyard. It was his third day of training, and his body was covered in bruises and small wounds. The first few days had been a storm of blows, and now she was almost at her limit, exhausted and sore, but determined not to give up.
That morning, Gun arrived with the same indifferent expression as always, lighting a cigarette while watching Rimuru with a faint smile. "Ready to continue?"
Rimuru nodded, though he knew his body was barely responding. Every muscle ached, and the Animal Domain he had awakened only manifested intermittently, without control or precision. Her gaze still had a slight greenish glow, a sign that power was pulsating within her, but when she tried to channel it, it was impossible for her to focus.
Gun gave him no respite. Immediately, he threw a series of quick and forceful punches. Rimuru could barely dodge a few, but most of them hit her hard, sending her backwards and staggering. Each impact echoed through her body, causing waves of pain that made her gasp. Frustration began to build up inside him.
"Is that all?" Gun teased her after each punch, maintaining a smile of defiance. "You have potential, but if you can't control it, you're just another average fighter."
Rimuru clenched his fists, feeling the heat of rage grow in his chest. He knew he needed more than brute force; I needed clarity in the midst of the chaos. But before she could gather her thoughts, Gun attacked again, throwing a direct punch that she tried to dodge. However, the blow grazed her shoulder, throwing her off balance and causing her to fall to her knees.
The anger rose again. He quickly got up and without thinking, launched a desperate attack, channeling what little Animal Domain energy he managed to reach. His movements were swift but disorganized, and Gun easily blocked and deflected his punches, making it clear how far he was missing.
"You're using force, but without purpose. Animal Mastery is not just instinct; it is learning to listen to your body, to let it guide you." Gun watched her sternly, staying calm as she gasped, trying to catch her breath. "You must learn to control the beast within you; otherwise, it will continue to control you."
Rimuru barely listened, overcome with frustration. But just as she was thinking about throwing herself again, Gun punched her in the stomach, knocking her out of air and causing her to fall to the ground. However, he did not stop there; Gun picked her up again, forcing her to stand, forcing her to endure the pain relentlessly.
"I don't care how long it takes," Gun said in a cold tone. "I'm going to make you someone who doesn't depend on his power like a wild animal. Until you can't control it, you'll just be just another one playing strong."
As Gun took a few steps away, Rimuru slowly stood up, determination in his eyes replacing rage. Although the pain overpowered her, she knew she wasn't going to back down. These days they were forging it, and although I couldn't see the end yet, I was willing to get there, no matter how much it cost.
Two weeks later
Training at the scrapyard had evolved into an experience that Rimuru could barely describe. The first few days had been a combination of pain and despair, but after two weeks, something in her had begun to change. His body felt more resilient, his reflexes had sharpened, and, although he did not yet have full control of the Animal Domain, he was beginning to understand its effects.
That morning, Gun was waiting for her with a look that reflected both expectation and challenge. Rimuru had learned to read his expressions, anticipate his attacks, and endure his brutal training style. In silence, both positioned themselves in the center of the field, surrounded by the piles of scrap metal that seemed to witness each blow received and each step forward.
"Are you still ready for this, Rimuru?" Gun smiled with his typical mocking expression.
Rimuru just nodded, focused, without losing her composure. Now his gaze was fixed, his breathing controlled, and a firm determination in his expression. The greenish pupils still glowed from time to time, a reminder that the Animal Domain was there, but now she could channel it into brief, specific moments.
Without further ado, Gun launched the first attack, a direct blow that Rimuru narrowly managed to dodge. She knew that the brutality of his attacks was a lesson in itself. It wasn't just about attacking or defending yourself; It was about staying calm, resisting the pain and analyzing the opponent's every move.
As the training progressed, Gun increased the intensity of his attacks. Every punch was faster, every kick harder, and Rimuru had to respond accordingly. For the first time, he began to instinctively mix the Animal Domain and the Endurance Domain, concentrating both to withstand impacts and react with a speed that Gun noted with satisfaction.
But what surprised both was the moment when, seeing a punch coming, Rimuru managed to dodge and counterattack with a quick kick to Gun's side. It wasn't a perfect attack, but for the first time, it managed to get him to back off.
Gun let out a laugh, quickly recovering. "I see that you are understanding. That's the first step: learning to control what you have without getting carried away by despair."
Rimuru felt a mixture of pride and exhaustion. His grip on the Animal Domain was still weak, but each day he advanced a little further. Gun, pleased with her progress, continued to train her in evasion and endurance techniques, forcing her to endure every attack, but also teaching her when and how to use her own power to defend herself.
Finally, after hours of training, both ended up covered in sweat and with their bodies in pain. Rimuru was breathing heavily, but his eyes shone with newfound confidence, knowing that although there was a long way to go, he was beginning to match the level Gun demanded.
"Remember, Rimuru," Gun said to him at the end of the day, as they both rested, "this is only the beginning. Every breakthrough you make here will be put to the test when you really have to fight for your life. Until you can fight without hesitation, without hesitating for a second... there is still much to be done."
She nodded, accepting the challenge, ready for whatever was coming.
One month later
The aroma of the nabe cooked by Gun filled the dining room of the junkyard. Rimuru, already familiar with the routine, enjoyed every bite, aware that this last meal of the day was the prelude to training. An hour later, without saying a word, they both made their way to the makeshift combat area amid the twisted metal and piles of scrap metal.
Gun looked at Rimuru, assessing her as usual, but this time with a hint of recognition in his eyes. After weeks of brutal training, I knew that Rimuru had reached a level of strength and endurance that few others achieved.
"You're almost on my level now," he said, folding his arms. "I want you to fight without holding back."
Rimuru nodded, activating his Animal Domain. His eyes began to glow with the distinctive green glow, and his body tensed up, channeling all of his energy into a combat stance that he had perfected during those long workouts.
Without further warning, Rimuru launched the first attack. His punches were swift and forceful, and Gun barely managed to dodge or block them. With each movement, the blows echoed through the metal of the scrapyard, which creaked and warped under the intensity of its force. Rimuru moved his fists and legs in a wild frenzy, guided by a primitive instinct that mingled with the discipline Gun had instilled in him.
Gun was smiling as he watched the change in Rimuru, noting how, unlike previous weeks, it now managed to put him in a more challenging situation. Rimuru lunged with ferocious momentum, stringing together a series of punches and kicks so intense that they caused a pile of stacked cars to shake and begin to crumble.
In the middle of the fight, Rimuru began to employ his Force Mastery. With a nimble movement, he focused all his energy into a single fist and delivered a direct blow to Gun's chest. The impact was like thunder, and Gun was pushed back, staggering a couple of steps before regaining his balance.
"That was better!" Gun exclaimed, with a broad smile. The adrenaline of the fight kept him on his toes, and he was clearly enjoying every second. Rimuru, spurred on by his reaction, increased the aggressiveness of his attacks, combining the ferocity of Animal Dominance with the brutality of Force Domain.
Gun, already prepared, blocked some punches, but others slipped in, marking his skin with new small wounds. However, as the fight progressed, he began to take advantage of the Resistance Mastery, holding and countering Rimuru's blows. The endurance and strength he had cultivated in his own battles allowed him to absorb the impact and convert it into energy to fight back.
Rimuru, sensing the pressure, lunged forward with a cry of determination, using his Dominance of Resistance to sustain himself and absorb the damage. At that moment, his whole being was in motion, and his body seemed to dance through the rubble of the scrapyard, almost like a predator stalking its prey.
With a twist, Rimuru spun on herself, her feet dragging dust as she threw a side kick with explosive force. Gun evaded it, but the air was filled with flying fragments as his foot slammed into a metal beam, leaving a significant indentation.
Gun laughed with satisfaction. "That's it! Use your environment to your advantage. Not just your skills."
Rimuru, eager to prove her progress, launched a new attack, this time combining a series of quick strikes followed by a devastating kick. Gun blocked the first ones, but the next blow, fueled by his Force Mastery, surprised him and sent him crashing into a pile of scrap metal. The rumble echoed throughout the place, as metal crackled under the force of the impact.
As Gun stood up, with a smile that showed both pain and pride, Rimuru realized that every blow, every scratch, was a step toward his evolution. Gun had said that he lacked experience, but that day, in the midst of the remains of his surroundings, he felt that he was on the right path.
"It won't take long for you to achieve anything more than a scratch," Gun commented, noting the small marks on his skin. "You're close... but you still lack experience."
"Don't underestimate me, Gun!" Rimuru replied, with a determination that reflected his growing confidence.
The struggle continued, transforming into a brutal dance, where both challenged and outmaneuvered each other, making the scrapyard a battlefield where growth and ferocity intertwined in an endless cycle.
Rimuru moved with the fluidity of a predator, alternating between quick attacks and evasive maneuvers. Gun, while enjoying every second of it, knew that his apprentice was about to cross an important threshold in his development. The scrap metal around him had suffered greatly during the fight, with marks and indentations telling the story of his growth.
With one last powerful blow, Rimuru managed to push Gun back. He stopped, breathing with an air of satisfaction. "That's it, Rimuru! You have come far, much more than I imagined in such a short time."
Rimuru, though exhausted, was smiling. The adrenaline of the fight was still running through his body. "I won't stop here! I want to be even stronger!"
Gun nodded, looking at his apprentice with a new respect. "I feel like you can become my successor."
The words echoed in Rimuru, filling her with confusion. "Really?"
"From now on, you will work for me. You will collect the debts of the Four Crews: Big Deal, God Dog and Hostel. Don't worry about Workers; they won't be a problem."
"Good." Rimuru nodded.
With that decision, the conversation veered to the future and new opportunities.
Two years later
Rimuru sat at a distant table, watching her father converse animatedly with an unknown man. The atmosphere was cheerful, and I could hear laughter and talk.
"I think it would be nice for our daughters to meet," the man said, smiling at his father.
"Definitely. Rimuru is a great girl, I'm sure Minji will love being her friend," her father replied.
Rimuru frowned. She didn't know who Minji was, but it seemed that both lords wanted them to be friends. At that moment, a tall girl approached the table. Minji Kim, Rimuru thought upon hearing the name.
Minji was tall, with black hair that fell softly tied with a bun at the nape of her neck. He was taller than Rimuru by about ten centimeters, which made him feel slightly discouraged. With his height reaching 155 cm, Rimuru wondered why his genetics seemed like a bad joke. She had only grown 15cm since she arrived in South Korea two years ago, and Minji's height made her feel a little smaller.
"Hello, I'm Minji," the girl said, smiling. She had arrived at his table.
"Hello, I'm Rimuru," she replied, somewhat shyly.
"They want us to get to know each other. Would you like to sit with us?" asked Minji.
"Sure," Rimuru said, nodding, though with a sense of insecurity inside.
Both joined the table where their parents were talking. As they chatted about trivial topics, Rimuru realized that this meeting was just the beginning of a new friendship, despite their insecurities.