Episode 7

High above the arena, where the roars of the crowd felt like distant echoes, the figure with the number 5 on his black coat sat on the edge of the stadium's roof. The glowing cityscape beyond cast flickering lights across his back as he watched the battle below with an unreadable expression. His presence was commanding, even in stillness, as if the air itself bent under his control.

The fight below raged on, but Roshi, as the figure was called, barely moved, his focus sharp and unwavering.

The silence was broken by the sound of footsteps, deliberate and unhurried. Another figure ascended the roof, the soft glow of the city reflecting off the number 4 etched into his coat. His hair caught the faint light, giving him an almost ghostly appearance as he approached.

"Roshi," the newcomer said, his voice low but clear.

"You're late," Roshi replied without turning.

"Apologies," the newcomer, Castle, said with a smirk, stepping beside him. "I see you've been busy. Your mastery of the Shen Suppression Technique is flawless. Not even the sensors below can pick you up. Impressive."

Roshi's lips twitched into the faintest smile. "It's not about hiding, Castle. It's about control."

Castle laughed. "Control? That's why you're Number 5, Roshi. But as for me…" He raised his hand and whispered,

"Kai."

The air cracked with sudden force as Castle's Shen energy exploded outward like a tidal wave. The pressure was so immense it swept across the arena below, knocking out ten participants instantly. The sound of bodies hitting the ground echoed through the stadium as weaker fighters collapsed one after the other.

The crowd screamed in confusion as the immense Shen filled the air, heavy and suffocating. The remaining fighters staggered, struggling to withstand the energy.

Up in the VIP section, the S-ranked hunters released their own Shen, forming protective barriers around themselves. Cade stood slowly, his eyes narrowing at the sudden shift in the air.

"Those bastards… The Ten have arrived," he muttered.

Feng, who had been watching calmly moments earlier, clenched his fists.

"Ten years… They've been gone for ten years. What would bring them here now?"

Feng glanced at the arena and saw two figures still standing amidst the chaos: Sakamoto and Draven. His eyes narrowed further, and with a burst of his own Shen energy carefully placed on the glass , he shattered the VIP glass with a deafening CRACK! In the blink of an eye, he appeared on the arena floor, standing protectively between the young fighters and the descending intruders.

Cade followed immediately, his presence like a thunderclap as he landed beside Feng. Despite the tension, the third figure in the VIP section who came in earlier , the unranked and unnamed hunter, remained asleep, his body slouched lazily in his seat.

Castle and Roshi descended like shadows, their coats billowing behind them. They landed effortlessly in the arena, their movements calm yet filled with authority. Castle tilted his head, scanning Feng and Cade with a mocking grin.

"Well, well," Castle said, folding his arms. "The last time we saw you two, you were barely C-rank hunters. How fast you've grown. Dangerous, wouldn't you say, Roshi?"

Roshi nodded slightly. "Dangerous, indeed."

Feng's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "What do you want, Castle?"

Castle chuckled, his gaze flickering briefly to the sleeping in-ranked hunter in the VIP section. "You might want to wake that one up," he said, his tone laced with mockery. "You'll need all the help you can get."

Castle's eyes locked onto Draven, who was still pinned on the ground from Sakamoto's earlier attack. "We're here for him," he said simply.

Draven pushed himself to his feet, glaring at the intruders. "I didn't call for anyone," he spat. "I don't even know who you are!"

Roshi took a step forward, his gaze unwavering. "Doesn't matter if you know us. What matters is what you want. Don't you want power? Don't you want revenge?"

Draven's eyes widened slightly, but he quickly masked his surprise. "Revenge?"

"You prayed for this moment," Roshi said, his voice almost gentle. "The gods have answered. You won't find what you're looking for fighting in this pit. The person you want to kill? Our master will give you the power to make it happen. All you have to do… is join us."

Roshi extended his hand, palm open, his dark gaze boring into Draven. "Come. Let us give you what you desire."

Draven hesitated, his fists clenching. "How do you know about my revenge?!" he demanded.

Roshi's expression didn't change. "Because I can see everything," he said simply. "Your desires. Your fears. Everything you are."

The arena was silent as everyone waited for Draven's answer. But the silence was broken by Sakamoto, who took a step forward, tilting his head at Draven.

"Wait, wait, wait," Sakamoto said, pointing at him. "You wanna kill someone? Dude, what did they do—steal your lunch money or something?"

Castle,burst into laughter at the unexpected remark. Even Roshi blinked, momentarily thrown off by Sakamoto's casual interruption.

Draven shot Sakamoto a glare. "This has nothing to do with you!"

Sakamoto raised his hands defensively. "Hey, I'm just saying, revenge sounds expensive. You sure you're not better off with five million yen instead?"