A warm morning yet felt very uncomfortable.
Shin standing at the center city demons surrounding him yet he remained calm and calculative.
The demons felt unease and felt cold even though the morning sun is very warm and refreshing.
"The deal is still on correct?" Shin calmly said stepping deeper into their territory.
One demon grin maliciously and stepped forward. "You got guts to enter our territory. We can easily overwhelm you and eat alive." The demon laugh malevolently yet he is the only one laughing.
The other demons are very hesitantly, afraid of Shin. "What's wrong with him does he have a death wish or something?!" Demons started murmuring to each others.
"I'm not liking your attitude..." Shin calmly said.
"Ooh, am I supposed to be scared? I'm a fucking Demon, I'm superior than you in everyway!" The demon said confident but lacking the knowledge on who he is dealing with.
"We cannot save that idiot..." Other demons said to each other. "That fucking fool... He will get dismembered..." Others said.
"I'm going to tear your flesh apart like I tear younglings flesh apa-" in a single hit Shin brutally dislocated the demon's jaw.
"I will tear this now if you don't mind." Without hesitation Shin slowly rip the demon's jaw, flesh, tissues, the jaw itself, slowly got ripped apart.
The demon scream in pain even though his throat is flooded with blood his esophagus got teared apart with his Jaw.
Shin smash his face on the concrete street. And calmly said. "Demons are inferior beings. I should eradicate everyone of your kind out of the face of the earth. But no, you have use for me so consider this my mercy."
Shin without hesitation kick the demon's head Crushing his head and skull at the process, blood got everywhere.
"Now where were we? Oh yeah the fucking deal." Shin looked at the other Demons with a calm demeanor and wipe his bloody hands with a napkin.
The Demons step back a lot after witnessing one of the strong demons get executed in a terrible way, fear and hesitation lingered the air.
"Hey I said the deal!" Shin said. The demons is zoned out after witnessing one of their comrade dead and his head looking like a mashed lump of meat on the ground.
Before Shin act again the demons got their senses back and said. "O-Of course the deal... Wait here for a moment." One of the demons said.
"We got the person you wanna hunt..." The demons politely walk in a path by stepping aside and making a path for him.
"The deal is... You will let us have more days without crossing each others paths right?" The demon said.
"Pretty much sums it up. Is the person harmed? Did he put up a fight?" Shin said.
"We have to knock him out and kidnapped him Infront of his family." The demon said.
"Good, led me to him." The demon nodded and they headed to the destination. An earrie abandoned building.
They went inside passing dark corridors. And then at the very end of the last hallway. Is the room where the man is held captive.
The demon led Shin and politely open the door for him.
"You can go now. I'm a man of my word I will leave you alone but if you and the other demons in your pack did something unforgivable... I will hunt every single one of you." Shin said. The demon nodded and left him alone with the man.
"Who's there?! Who are you?!" The man said in a blindfold.
"Me? I'm nobody I just need you to answer a few questions." Shin said circling around him.
"What do you want?! Resources?! Guns? Food supplies?! I can make that work out... Just don't kill me I beg of you." The man said.
Shin took off his blindfold and sit Infront of him. "It's not resources I want. I need information." Shin showed a picture.
A dragon holding a human head a symbol perhaps.
"Shit... Are you one of them?!" The man said.
"Once they found out I'm gone they will do everything to find me... And if they found out who kidnapped me they'll send a battalion to hunt you down!" The man said in anger
Shin leaned down on him and calmly said. "That's if they'll find you alive. Nor even find your body."
"They won't find a body if it's melted. You can't find anything if you don't see them. That's common sense there." Shin said calmly.
The man shivered in fear he tried to threaten him but no words came out of his mouth this time.
"Listen here...?"
"Croan..." The man said. Shaking thoughts feeling his mind.
"Ah. What a good name for a evil man like you." Shin said he drag a chair and sit Infront of Croan.
"Listen croan. I'm a man of my words I'll leave you alone if you answer my questions." Shin said calmly.
"Please I don't wanna die... I have a family, I will answer your questions all of them.." Croan said his voice tinted with despair.
"Ah good choice Croan.. let's start shall we?" Shin leaned a little closer to him.
Croan nodded. "Go ahead I'm ready..."
"How many lands do your cult have?" Shin said his gaze is menacing and cold.
"It's not a cult..." Croan looked away.
"Then what is it...?"
Croan got silent... Minutes passed before Shin's patience started burning out.
Shin grab his neck slowly strangling him. "I said what is it answer before my patience run out and kill you."
Shin released him and Croan started gasping for air and coughing.
"It's... It's a... It's a Regime...!" Croan sat down after he felt like his neck is going to be crushed by the weigh of Shin's grasped.
Shin's eyes darkened he sat down processing the information. "...How powerful is it?"
"A whole nation..." Croan said.
"A totalitarian regime am I correct?" Shin's took a long breath.
"What the fuck..." Shin felt frustrated.
He stood up and knocked Croan out. A few hours passed Croan woke up. In the middle of the city where demon's territory rest.
"I know how to burn your regime down... You're one of the commanders of your so well glorified regime. You dying would bring the first damage to the regime of yours." Shin stand cold.
"No you bastard...! You said you would let me live!" Croan shouted in anger and despair.
"I said I will leave you alone." Shin said as demons gathered around them.
"I didn't said I will let you live. I said I will leave you alone. Good luck Mr Croan." Shin said as demons make paths for him to walk away.
Shin walk pass them. "Enjoy your meal. Make sure there will be nothing left even bones."
The demons nodded delighted that they have a human to feast on. The demons gathered, Shin left with cold still lingering his presence.
"I have a family! You monster!" Croan yelled in despair.
Shin stopped. He turned and walked back, the demons step back again fearing to get in his way.
Shin sat Infront of Croan. "Me a monster? Why don't you look at a mirror yourself." He leaned slightly and calmly said.
"I know what you did. You're a abusive husband and father. If I drown you Infront of your family. They will celebrate your death, you are a piece of human trash." Shin said as he lightly slap Croan's face.
"You will die alone knowing your family won't come looking for you. You will never see the downfall of your so called superior regime." Shin stood up and turn his back on him.
Shin walked away passing the demons. "Go to hell!" Croan yelled in anger and despair.
The demons started ripping his flesh, agonizing and horrifying scream surrounded them, Bone crunching sounds, meat being chewed lingered the air.
Shin walked away looking at the sky thinking to himself. "After all of this is done I better get a damn coffee..."
"...I hate killing..."
Shin continued to walk across the empty roads.
Shin stumbled Infront of a store. A furniture store to be exact.
"Hmm... Could be something useful, it wouldn't hurt to check." Shin thought to himself.
He went inside and looked around. "Seems abandoned." He thought.
Shin walked around the soulless place looking for useful supplies.
Then a Shadow moved behind Shin. He instantly notice he isn't alone but remained calmed.
Shin continued looking for supplies he noticed the person or thing behind him is coming closer and closer.
"I'm not in the mood for this..." He thought to himself.
Till...
He move his head to right slightly avoiding a knife and grabbing the person's arm.
Shin pinned the person on the ground.
"Who are you?" He asked calmly. The person is clearly a good fighter as it manage to get out off Shin's grasp.
The person stood up in the darkness it's silhouette the only thing visible.
"You're at my territory. Leave now before I do something about it." The person said.
"Didn't you tried to kill me? Isn't that called 'did something already' i mean really? Trying to stab someone?" Shin said.
"Huh... I like your humor. What's your name." The person said.
"...Shin."
The person chuckled. "Good name... Name's Kirin." She came out of the shadow revealing her appearance.
Shin laughed softly placing his palm on his face.
"What's funny?!" Kirin asked.
"Nothing I... Just didn't expect I almost got stabbed with a woman." Shin said chuckling.
"What's wrong with being a women?! Asshole" Kirin said in annoyance.
"Don't look down on me just because I'm a woman," Kirin said, stepping forward with a playful glint in her eyes, dropping her guard. "Doesn't mean I can't survive. You seem kind, so maybe I won't hurt you."
Shin scoffed, arching an eyebrow. "Is that a threat or a promise?"
Kirin smiled mischievously. "How about both?" She grinned warmly, her tone lighter now.
Shin formed a small smile, and Kirin's eyes lit up. "You're handsome when you smile, you know that?" she teased, stepping a bit closer. "You looked so gloomy before. You should smile more often."
Shin scoffed, the corner of his mouth curling into a wry grin. "Huh... Getting scolded by a stranger," he muttered.
Kirin giggled and took a step back. "Well, better than no one telling you," she teased.
Shin scoffed, his eyes narrowing. "You're a strange woman... In a good way."
Kirin smirked, clearly pleased. "I'll take that as a compliment," she replied, her tone playful.
Shin glanced around before he began to place the items he had collected back where they belonged. "I better get going," he muttered, respecting her ownership of the place.
"What?! Already?!" Kirin's voice dropped a little in disappointment.
Shin shrugged, looking a bit uncomfortable. "Yeah, I'm not alone. I've got a group to return to... though you're welcome to come with me, if you want."
Kirin's eyes sparkled, her disappointment evaporating in an instant. "Ooh? Really?" Her voice dropped lower, and a mischievous grin appeared. "Or are you just trying to take me somewhere you can do things to me~?"
Shin scoffed, his cheeks tinged with something between annoyance and embarrassment. "I'm not like that. Geez."
But as he spoke, something stirred inside him—something he hadn't felt in a very long time, something he'd lost ages ago…
Kirin was happily packing her things, a small pile of heavy bags piling up around her. It wasn't just the weight she found overwhelming, but the sheer amount she felt compelled to take with her.
Shin, noticing her struggle, couldn't help but ask, "Need help?"
Kirin, already buried by the bags, popped her head up and grinned. "Yes, please."
He gently lifted the bags from her, taking some of the burden off. "Phew... Thanks, Shin," Kirin smiled gratefully, giving his shoulder a light tap.
Shin raised an eyebrow. "Why do you even need all of this stuff?" he asked, even though his tone was soft with concern.
Kirin hesitated, looking down at her bags. "Well, you… Hmm... You said I could come with you. So, no whining," she said playfully, though she was clearly relieved that Shin was helping.
Not wanting to be a burden, she quickly grabbed half the bags, carefully balancing the load. "I'll carry some too. I don't want to make you do everything."
Shin smirked but didn't argue, appreciating her effort. "You really sure about this? You've been living alone for a while…"
Kirin's smile softened, a little more serious now. "I'm used to being alone, but… talking to you today... It's been a long time since I've had company like this. It's... nice."
She glanced at Shin, her tone a little lighter. "I'll carry my own weight—literally and figuratively."
They head out of the furniture store.
"So where is this group of yours settling in? Or could you have a settlement?" Kirin asked maintaining a close distance to Shin.
Shin is zoned for a minute thinking to himself. "Hmm... Vermis.. Kirin will freak out if she found out angels and archangels and literally heaven exist..."
Kirin flick her fingers. "Uh hello!?" Kirin kept flicking her fingers but Shin is literally zoned out.
"Hmm... I wonder what about Kaide and the other people.. they too will freak out if they found that out too... Shit I forgot Sen and I aren't done talking about that... But for me it's fine because either way they're gonna find out the quick way or the long way in the end they're still gonna find it out... Maybe it's a subject I shouldn't think hard of..." Shin is very zoned out.
Kirin sigh and gently tap Shin's shoulder bringing him back. "Hey you're lost in your thoughts."
Shin jumped slightly. "Oh.. sorry just thinking of something... What did you ask again?"
"I said do you and your group have a place to settle for this day or you guys have a settlement like you know safe haven?" Kirin softly asked.
"Yeah for a settlement you can call it a safe haven for sure." Shin softly said.
"Hey Kirin. Why do knives never makes mistakes?" Shin calmly said.
"Ooh. Is the gloomy guy going to make jokes?" Kirin lightly tap his back. "Okay why do knives never mistakes?"
"Because they are always sharp..."
.....
"That's the worse joke I heard.
"I know I'm a walking disappointment I should just disappear." -Shin
Kirin chuckle and lightly punch Shin's shoulder. "You sulk like a kid."
They both laugh it off.
"You trusted me pretty quickly and came with me. I'm surprised no one hasn't tricked you yet." Shin softly said.
Kirin scoffs and softly said. "I've been tricked alot not gonna lie..." She looked down her playfulness disappearing. "I mean used. For their own gain..."
Shin noticing her change of demeanor softly said.
"I'm sorry. Kirin, to be honest I'm not the best guy to you know give comforts or whatever but.. People are unpredictable they use, they take, they judge. But in the bright side of humanity there's people who care, love, honest, and never took advantage of someone. And I know this sounds corny or cheesy but you just haven't been with the right people you just have to find the right people to be this time." Shin softly said.
"You can say life is unpredictable and hard even before this godforsaken crappy world that we lived in now people are still unpredictable back then." Shin hesitated but gently place his hand on her shoulder.
Kirin looked at him for a moment, then without saying a word, stepped forward and hugged him tightly.
Shin froze in place, caught completely off guard. He hesitated before awkwardly placing his hands around her, his voice soft and unsure. "Uh... Kind of unexpected, but okay."
Kirin tightened her hold, burying her face against his shoulder for a brief moment. "You really don't get hugged much, do you?" she murmured with a faint smile, her voice tinged with warmth.
Shin swallowed hard, feeling strangely comfortable despite his usual wariness. "Aren't we... too close?" he muttered, his tone half-embarrassed, half-joking.
After a while, Kirin pulled back, her hands lingering on his shoulders as she looked up at him with a warm smile. "Seriously, thanks. I really needed that. It wasn't corny at all—it's just reality."
Then, as if catching herself, Kirin slowly stepped back, her usual playful demeanor returning. "Don't get used to it, though. I'm not in the habit of hugging gloomy guys."
Shin smiled faintly. "Welcome back."
Kirin smirked, giving him a playful pat on the back. "Let's go—I'm dying to meet this group of yours already."
Meanwhile, an hour earlier...
Sen was lounging on the roof of the house, the soft light of the early morning sun warming his face. He sighed, clearly bored.
"Man, waiting for Shin really sucks…" Sen muttered, staring up at the cloudless sky as he stretched out on the roof.
His thoughts wandered as he closed his eyes. "I could take them to the settlement without him… but knowing Vermis, he'll just bombard me with questions if Shin's not there. Besides, I don't want to deal with his nagging about splitting from my brother. Yeah… I'll just wait for him."
Sen shifted slightly, letting the morning sun warm him as he waited. "Hurry up, Shin. Don't leave me here for too long."
Moments passed Sen See's silhouettes on the distance.
"Speak of the devil." Sen got down on the roof and approach them. "Shin, brother you're back..."
Sen looked at Kirin. "And who might you be?"
Shin softly said. "She's Kirin she tried to kill me." Kirin gently bump Shin.
"Hey don't bad mouth me so suddenly!" Kirin said protesting.
Shin chuckled and softly said. "Well you did try to kill me." Kirin pouts and said. "Well that's because you're at my home and a stranger on someone's home is dangerous..."
"Fair enough." Shin said. While Sen grows amusement on her and interaction with Shin. "I've never seen my brother... Smiled for that long..." Sen thought to himself.
The noise from outside quickly caught the attention of Kaide and the others. Peering out cautiously, they saw Shin standing at the entrance, and their tense expressions softened when they recognized him.
"...My apologies for the wait, but please come in. We'll rest for a bit, and in about an hour and a half, we'll continue our journey to the settlement," Sen said, ushering them inside.
As Shin, Kirin, and Sen entered the house, the people they had rescued, along with Kaide, greeted them with relief. The atmosphere shifted to one of warmth and gratitude.
Kaide smiled gently, her gaze falling on Kirin. "Wow, you brought someone. May I know your name, miss?" she asked, her voice soft but curious.
Kirin's lips curled into a playful grin as she leaned in with confidence. "Name's Kirin. And you are?"
"Kaide," Kaide replied, her tone equally light.
"What a beautiful name," Kirin said, her voice filled with genuine admiration. She glanced around at the kids gathered near Kaide, her eyes brightening. "And who are these little cuties?"
"They're my younger brothers—Yin, Ren, and Hans," Kaide introduced, gesturing to each one as she spoke.
Kirin's smile widened as she crouched down, her playful nature shining through. "What adorable kids!" she exclaimed, her tone teasing but affectionate.
Few minutes passed the group are trying to kill some time.
They spent some time fixing and packing their things to prepare for the long walk ahead, heading toward the settlement Shin and Sen had been staying at.
Shin gently set down Kirin's bags and gave her a curious glance. "Why so much stuff?"
Kirin hesitated, her fingers fidgeting nervously. "Well, you see, it's... uh... sleeping bags, and... camping stuff."
Shin raised an eyebrow, his voice calm but with a hint of amusement. "Camping stuff?"
Kirin's cheeks flushed, and she fidgeted even more. "Y-yeah, you know... essentials."
"So that's why you've been carrying so much stuff." Shin chuckled, shaking his head.
"It's a settlement, not a freaking camping trip." He teased, a small smirk playing on his lips.
"I know...!" Kirin huffed, her face flushing with embarrassment. "I got too excited about living with people again! Don't blame me!"
Sen, ever the calm one, glanced at them both with mild amusement. "You two are something else. Are you really strangers?"
"We are." Shin answered casually, shrugging. "I just met her, invited her along, and now she's with us."
Meanwhile, Kirin was still trying to cram everything into a large bag, her face red as she muttered to herself. "Stupid Kirin... getting all excited. Now look, you're embarrassed..." She whined quietly.
Shin glanced at her.
"Damnit, even her whining is somehow..." He shook his head, trying to focus. He knew something big was coming, and he couldn't afford to slack off now.
Shin grabbed Sen and pulled him into a private room.
"We need to talk."
Sen didn't resist and let himself be pulled in.
"What is it?"
Shin's voice was steady, but there was a weight behind his words.
"Sen, earlier today, I fed a man to demons and left him there to be devoured alive... but I got some info on who we might be up against."
Sen felt a chill run down his spine.
"What...? Isn't that a bit... cruel? I mean, we kill bad people, sure, but feeding someone alive to demons? That's a bit much, don't you think?"
Shin shrugged, his voice flat.
"He's an abusive husband and father. I don't give a damn what happens to him."
At that moment, Sen knew. Shin was slowly, yet surely, losing his humanity. Losing his soul.
"They are what the world doesn't need nor want..."
Sen couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Shin, you fed a man to demons. Alive!" Sen's voice trembled with anger. "Doesn't it bother you that he cried out in pain as they took bites out of him?!"
Shin met his gaze, his expression as cold as ever.
"Yeah, I heard him cry out. But I don't care. It doesn't matter. I got the info, and that's all that matters."
Sen's fists clenched, the anger rising in his chest.
"Shin?! Brother, listen to me! There's a difference between painless, quick deaths and slow, agonizing ones! Yes, we kill bad people, but we always make it quick, right?!"
Shin shrugged, his indifference evident.
"People like them deserve it anyway. Why do we care? If the world loses a few, it only lightens the load. It'll be a better place."
Sen's eyes widened, and he shook his head in disbelief.
"That's called..." He paused, trying to find the words, but they wouldn't come. "Never mind."
Shin's voice grew colder, his eyes narrowing.
"What? Say it. Am I a tyrant? A fascist?"
"No... it's not that," Sen's voice faltered, his heart heavy. "You're changing..."
The words hung in the air between them, the weight of them sinking in.
Shin didn't respond immediately. His expression remained unchanged, but a flicker of something, maybe guilt or doubt, passed through his eyes for a fraction of a second before he masked it again.
"Sen... What we do is important, we can't feel remorse in this. This is our life this is what we are..." Shin paused.
"What?! Born this way? Raised this way? Shin say it... If the world never went to shit 7 years ago if our parents are alive we wouldn't be who we are now...! We're nothing but pretend heroes, we're killers." Sen's anger got ahead of him.
"If we doesn't kill who will? There's people out there, creatures, monsters, that deserves death! If no one will play the hero card we will!" Shin said.
"We're no hero... We're killers Shin. We are nothing but pretend god who judge and execute..."
Shin's eyes twitched a little. He glance at Sen and said.
"We saved a lot of lives for doing whatever we can to save them. Killing, murder, mass murder, or even massacre. We did that to saved not for fun or pleasure of killing." Shin looked at the clock.
"It's time let's go." But Sen grabbed Shin's hand and pull him back.
"No we're not until we had this talk... We're kids when it happened I know that and I understand it's not something you can just forgot over the years. But that doesn't mean we're going to be heartless. It's just plain wrong mom and dad won't let us... Do this... Be like this..." Shin looked at him and raise his hand.
Sen braced himself at the thought that he hit a nerve in Shin so deep that he would be hurt by him. But a gentle hand is placed on his shoulder.
"You're right Sen... Mom and Dad won't let us turn to what we are right now... But we either do this or innocent will die or get used for the rest of their live like some replaceable slaves... You know how important the things we get our hands dirty for..." Shin's expression is genuine and shows empathy.
To be continued...