The Roar That Shattered the Illusion
Daichi frowned slightly.
— Did they… forget?
He muttered.
Or maybe…
They were pretending to forget.
He made his way to the merchant’s warehouse.
The man was already there.
Organizing some boxes.
— “You’re early, kid,” he said, without looking up.
— I came to work.
The man nodded.
— Good.
He pointed to a pile of bags.
— Take these inside.
Daichi didn’t answer.
He just started.
The work was heavy.
More so than the day before.
Each bag seemed harder to lift.
His arms still ached from Erza’s beating.
His back was burning.
— Tsk…
He took a deep breath and lifted another one.
— “Faster,” said the merchant. “That pace won’t pay for food.”
Daichi clenched his teeth.
— Okay…
He kept going.
One box.
Another.
One more.
Sweat was running down his face.
His hands ached.
His body protested.
But he didn’t stop.
After a while, the merchant watched him.
— You seem strange today.
Daichi paused for a second.
— …Did something happen last night?
His heart beat faster.
He looked at the man.
Waiting.
Any reaction.
Any answer.
But the merchant just went back to work.
— Something always happens here.
The reply was curt.
Short.
Ending the conversation.
Daichi fell silent.
— …
He squeezed the bag harder.
And he kept working.
Time passed.
Slowly.
Heavily.
But, little by little…
Something was changing.
His movements became more steady.
More stable.
Still clumsy.
But less weak.
When he finished, the merchant tossed a few coins his way.
Daichi caught them in midair.
— Better than yesterday,” said the man.
— Keep it up.
Daichi looked at the coins.
Then…
At the village.
The same people.
The same faces.
The same “normality.”
But now…
He knew.
That calm…
It was a lie.
He clenched his hand around the coins.
— …
And, without realizing it…
His expression changed.
Less lost.
Daichi walked toward the tavern.
His body was tired.
His mind still restless.
Everything seemed normal…
Until—
— Norun! Where are you?!
A scream cut through the air.
Desperate.
Daichi turned his head.
A woman was running down the street, looking in all directions.
Her eyes were filled with fear.
— Has anyone seen my daughter?! Norun! Where are you?!
People began to gather.
Whispers.
Tension.
And then—
ROOOOOOAAARRR!!
A deafening roar echoed from the forest.
The ground seemed to vibrate.
The silence turned to panic.
— The forest…!
— It can’t be…!
The woman didn’t think.
She ran.
Straight toward the sound.
— NORUN!!
— Wait! — Daichi shouted, running after her.
Still near the village…
They arrived.
And then—
Daichi stopped.
His body froze.
The woman was kneeling.
Motionless.
Before her…
A monster.
A gigantic bear.
Over four meters tall.
Burly.
Covered in blood.
The woman’s eyes met Daichi’s.
Cold.
Empty.
Sad.
As if she already knew.
— No… — Daichi whispered.
Too late.
The bear raised its paw.
And came down.
BOOM.
The impact made the ground shake.
Blood splattered.
Daichi’s eyes widened.
The air vanished.
— …
The bear slowly stood up.
It spread its arms.
And roared again.
Right at him.
ROOOOOAAARRR!!
The world fell silent.
Daichi fell backward.
His body trembling.
Paralyzed.
— I'm going to die…
The thought came to me clearly.
Cold.
Real.
CLANG!
A shield appeared in front of him.
Blocking the attack.
— Get out of here, kid!
Erza.
Beside her, two armed men.
One of them was holding the shield.
The impact sent his arm flying back.
— He’s way too strong!
The bear attacked again.
One of the men was struck.
His body flew through the air.
It crashed into a tree.
A dull thud.
Blood dripped from his mouth.
He didn’t get up.
— DAMN IT!
The bear grabbed the shield with both paws.
The man shouted:
— ERZA!!
It was already on the air.
A precise cut.
The blade sliced through the creature’s flesh.
The bear dropped the shield.
Erza advanced.
She dodged another attack.
She slipped under the monster.
She spun.
She climbed onto its back.
And plunged her sword into it.
— ARGH!!
The bear thrashed about.
Erza jumped back.
The monster charged forward.
Furious.
The man with the shield intercepted it.
Absorbing the impact.
Erza ran.
Fast.
Too fast.
Her legs felt light.
Unreal.
She stopped.
She positioned herself.
The wind began to swirl around her feet.
A green light appeared.
Enveloping his body.
The air changed.
— Cut down my enemy…
Her voice echoed.
— Oh wind… hear my voice!
She raised her sword.
— ARGH!!
And she sliced through the air.
Invisible blades shot out.
Cutting through the bear.
One.
Two.
Several.
Blood gushed out.
The monster retreated.
It staggered.
And fell backward.
