Chapter 2: Miracle boy

Chapter 2: Miracle boy

(5 years later)

Rui stared at his reflection in the puddle. A little boy with messy black hair, sharp eyes, and a frustrated expression that you knew why he was frustrated.

'Damn... I really became a kid.'

In his previous life, he could destroy mountains with just one punch, but now? Even lifting a wooden bucket is difficult! Not even lifting it, his hands were already shaking!

"Rui! You're daydreaming again, aren't you?"

'Tsk, that crazy woman came again.'

Luna Mei, his foster mother-or rather 'strange nanny'-ran over to him. The girl had grown older, but still treated him like a baby.

"Hurry up and help me pick this up!"

Rui looked at the bucket that was almost as big as his body.

'Seriously...'

Rui looked lazily at the bucket, he looked at Luna Mei who was showing her stupid smile. With a sigh, Rui tried to lift the bucket.

As he tried to lift the bucket, he suddenly felt that something was wrong. The atmosphere in the village felt too quiet.

'Huh? Why is it suddenly so quiet?'

His body had started to train, but he trained it secretly, because he didn't want his stupid 'nanny' to find out and ask something unimportant.

"Hey Rui, are there any cute animals approaching?"

"Huh?"

Rui's face looked strange, she didn't know what to say. His face seemed to say; how did this stupid girl know?

Luna Mei smiled widely, but her eyes sharpened, watching the surroundings warily.

"Usually when the forest is suddenly quiet, it means there's something scary around," she said as she leaned on the handle of her hoe.

Long Rui frowned. This girl might be stupid in many ways, but she wasn't completely careless.

'At least her instincts are pretty sharp.'

Suddenly, from the bushes on the outskirts of the village swayed. Long Rui immediately turned his head, his brain working fast. He could feel a bit of a strange aura in the air, faint but clear-not belonging to an ordinary human.

Luna Mei stepped forward, trying to get a closer look.

"Don't be rash, Mei," Rui said warningly, but his small voice was not too intimidating.

Instead, the girl laughed and patted Rui on the head. "Aww, are you worried about me? Take it easy, I can protect you!"

'That's exactly what I'm worried about, you idiot.' Rui rubbed his face as he heard Mei's words.

But before he could say anything else, something came out from behind the bushes. A tall figure with fiery red eyes and sharp teeth stepped out.

A Shadow Wolf-a savage monster that only hunted in the dark.

Luna Mei froze. Long Rui stared at the creature coldly.

'Looks like I should start getting serious.' Rui thought, but he glanced at Mei who stood frozen nearby. 'But this is risky because of her.

Long Rui stared at the Shadow Wolf in front of him with sharp eyes. The monster was bigger than he expected, with pitch-black fur that absorbed light and red eyes that glowed ferociously.

Luna Mei took a step back, her hands trembling as she grabbed a small knife from her waist. "R-Rui, we have to run-"

"No," Rui interrupted. His voice was calm, but full of certainty. "If we run, he'll catch up. I'll be the one to deal with him."

Luna Mei was wide-eyed. "What? You're just a kid! It's a Shadow Wolf, a real monster!"

But Rui wasn't listening. She picked up a small stone from the ground, swung it with precision, then threw it right at the shadow wolf's right eye.

WHACK!

The wolf roared, growling angrily as he shook his head. He showed his sharp teeth with drooling saliva, indicating he was very angry.

Rui did not waste the opportunity. He dashed forward, his small body gliding with surprising speed.

The Shadow Wolf lunged, its claws aimed at Rui's neck. However, before the claws hit, Rui ducked, and jumped to the side to avoid the attack.

He picked up the log lying on the ground, twisted his wrist, then swung the log with all his might at the wolf's leg.

CRACK!

The wolf whinnied, losing its balance. Rui immediately spun around, aiming for the monster's throat with the end of the log.

The monster realized the danger and jumped back, but Rui did not stay still. With unnatural speed for a five-year-old, she dashed forward, swinging the wood at its head.

BAM!

The Shadow Wolf staggered, its eyes losing focus. Rui didn't give it a second chance. He threw the wood up, then kicked the monster in the stomach with full force.

THUD!

The wolf fell to the ground, its body shaking before it finally stopped moving.

Luna Mei, who was watching it all with her mouth agape, was finally able to speak. "Wh-What was that...? You... you fought like a-"

Rui stared for a while, then sighed. "Just luck." Rui put on a flat face, but in her mind, he shouted, 'What luck? This is the result of my training!'

Luna Mei patted Rui's shoulder proudly. "Wow, if you keep this up, you'll become a great swordsman!"

Rui could only smile slightly, resisting the urge to explain how seriously he had been practicing.

'There's no point in explaining to this girl...'

However, before he could say anything, suddenly the sound of footsteps could be heard from behind the trees. Rui instantly stiffened, her instincts screaming danger.

Rui seemed to be preparing for an unexpected attack, cold sweat began to break out on his face, he had no idea what was in front of him right now.

Rui tightened his grip on his hands, his eyes sharply looking in the direction of the sound of footsteps. From behind the trees, the figure of a masked man appeared, wearing dark clothes with a suspicious aura.

"How strange, a child in a place like this," the man spoke in a low voice.

Rui did not reply. Instead, he adjusted his position, his legs slightly lowered to prepare to dodge the attack.

In an instant, the man moved! Rui could barely see him, but his body reacted on its own. He jumped to the side, dodging the swift attack that almost hit him. The wind from the attack was strong enough to shake the surrounding leaves.

'So fast!'

Without giving himself time to think, the man attacked again. Rui raised his arm to parry, and although the impact made his hand tremble, he did not retreat. Instead, he used that momentum to turn around and throw a low kick at his opponent.

The man jumped back, slightly surprised. "Interesting, looks like you're not an ordinary boy, huh?"

Rui did not answer, but his eyes remained sharp. He knew this wasn't a fight he could win easily, but he wasn't going to give up so easily either.

Rui himself was a bit confused, as he also had to protect Luna Mei who was behind him.

'Damn, she can't be fought.'

Rui clenched his hands, his body tense as he stared at the opponent in front of him. His instincts screamed danger, but running away was not an option.

'This opponent... is too strong. But if I retreat, Mei-'

He bit his lip, his eyes sweeping around, looking for an opening or opportunity.

Behind him, Luna Mei grasped his sleeve tightly. "Rui... we're okay, right?" her voice trembled slightly, much different from her usual cheerfulness.

Rui sighed softly. "I don't know..." he answered honestly. But then, she looked straight at the threat, the look in her eyes turning cold. "But I won't let anyone touch you!"

The five-year-old boy thought back as he continued to stare vigilantly at the figure of the man dressed all in black. Rui turned to Mei, then picked up the short knife on the girl's hip. Rui prepared with the small knife.

"Rui..."

"Relax, I'll try to buy some time."

Mei bit her lower lip, she looked at Rui anxiously. "Rui..."

"Fool, just stay behind me." Rui stiffened, gripping the short knife tightly. He knew very well the difference in strength between himself and the man, but he had no other choice.

The black-clad figure stepped forward calmly, as if the little boy in front of him was no threat. "Interesting..." his voice was flat, yet there was a mocking tone in it. "A kid dares to challenge me with a kitchen knife? Hah! Ridiculous."

Rui did not respond, only strengthened her grip on the knife handle. His legs lowered slightly, his body ready to pounce like a wild animal.

The man smiled sarcastically, then in an instant, he disappeared from where he stood.

Rui's eyes widened. 'Damn it! He's fast!'

Reflexively, he swung the knife to the side and something blocked his movement. A hand gripped his wrist firmly.

"Wow, not bad reflexes, kid," the man whispered in his ear, before swinging his leg quickly.

Rui could barely react when a hard kick slammed into her stomach. His small body was thrown to the ground, rolling several times before coming to a stop.

"RUI!" Mei screamed, about to run over to him.

With the last of his strength, Rui got up, enduring the pain that radiated through his body. He stared intently at the man, not the slightest fear in his eyes.

The assassin raised an eyebrow. "Heh, this kid is different. A kid who is probably around five years old can fight like this? What anomaly have I got here?" The assassin laughed at the sight of Rui's helpless body.

Little by little Rui began to lose his consciousness.

"I understand, because he's a child, and fainted, but..." The assassin's eyes stared intently at Luna Mei who had a flat face. "Looks like you're not an ordinary girl."

"..."

SLASH!

The assassin's cheek was scratched by something, the man blinked, then raised a hand and touched the thin wound on his cheek. A drop of blood ran down his fingertips.

He looked up, staring at Luna Mei who still had her flat face, but now held a thin, glittering needle between her fingers.

"Interesting..." The man grinned, his casual expression turning slightly serious. "So you hide your fangs too, huh?"

Luna Mei didn't answer, just stared at him calmly. In her heart, she calculated the odds of winning-and the results were unfavorable. But she was not going to stand still.

Rui, who was still trying to stand up, looked at Luna Mei with wide eyes. 'She...'

The man grinned even wider. "Looks like I underestimated you guys." He lowered his body, preparing to attack. "Then let's play more seriously."

However, as the man prepared, he was surprised to see an air sword flying above Luna Mei. Not just one, but there were more than five Air Swords

However, as the man prepared, he was surprised to see several Air Swords-invisible swords formed from air pressure-flying above Luna Mei. Not just one, but more than five, all aimed at her with a sharp, piercing aura.

Rui tried to stay conscious, but her head felt increasingly heavy. His vision blurred, and his body went limp. Wounds and fatigue began to take over his consciousness.

'Damn... I...'

Before he could finish his thoughts, the world around him turned dark. Rui fell to the ground, unconscious.

Luna Mei briefly glanced at him, before returning her gaze to the black-clad man.

"I'll only help him a few times, I'm sorry..." Mei's eyes blazing, she stared intently at the man, then moved her air sword quickly.

The man did not move as he was hit by the invisible wind sword of the girl in front of him, he did not have time to scream as his head was cut off by Luna Mei's wind sword.

"No one can touch the Great Emperor, no one can..."

To Be Continued