A deep, growling noise rumbled out from a nearby alleyway—low, guttural, and primal—like the churning breath of something feral and bloodthirsty lurking in the shadows. It carried a savage kind of menace that made one freeze.
The sound was thick with intent, the type of predatory warning that sent signals deep into the primitive parts of the mind. Every sense in Kenji's body sharpened instantly. The static buzz of tension curled along his skin, alerting him to something far from ordinary.
Kenji came to a halt, his muscles coiled like springs, his breathing steady but slowed as his eyes scanned the alley's narrow entrance. Shadows crept along the bricks and dumpsters, and the atmosphere grew heavier. His fingers twitched around his sword, his instincts coiling tight in preparation.
From the darkness stepped four figures, emerging like wraiths from the gloom. They didn't give off any strong magical vibes, and nothing around them changed when they showed up. There weren't any dark powers or glowing lights that usually come with something really scary. These weren't big, important enemies from a legend or story. They were just yokai.
Three of them were oni. Brutish, horned humanoids with menacing builds, reeking of violence and misplaced pride. But the fourth was different.
He was bigger than the others and no doubt their leader. His skin, unlike the others, had markings like tattoos—black lines covering his frame in jagged, tribal patterns that pulsed faintly with energy. The aura he gave off was heavier, more present, and the other three clearly following behind him.
Their broad shoulders, thick limbs, and sneering expressions radiated hostility. The oni's tusk-like teeth gleamed in the dim light, and their glowing red eyes burned with hatred at him.
Each Oni's appearance varied slightly—some had earthy green or dull gray skin, while others bore cracked armor or wore crude bone ornaments. Their weapons were just as primitive: jagged clubs, rusted blades, massive iron knuckles.
They were like thugs. Bullies. But unlike normal thugs, they were dangerous nonetheless.
A quick observation told him all he needed to know.
Kenji narrowed his eyes. These weren't territorial enforcers or protectors of sacred ground. These were a roaming gang, opportunistic and aggressive. They weren't looking for balance. They weren't even hunting for food. They wanted a fight. They wanted to make a statement. Just saw a chance to kill a human and decided to take the chance to feel superior.
They hated humans. Most Older yokai do from what he'd seen.
His vision shimmered as information scrolled rapidly across his perception. He didn't need to read it all—he processed the stats intuitively. Tough bodies, mediocre intelligence, aggressive behavior. Three were standard brute oni types. The fourth—the marked one—had stronger stats, a sharper mind, and more dangerous energy. Not just stronger, but smarter. That made him the real threat.
Kenji's lips pressed into a flat line. Stats wise they weren't jokes, but they weren't even close to touching his level. Still, four against one could be a challenge for most. But not for him.
One of the Oni—taller than the others, two horns curving back like a ram's—stepped forward and jabbed a finger at Kenji. "You stink, human filth," it spat, voice like gravel on metal. "You walk our streets like you belong. You don't."
Kenji raised an unimpressed eyebrow. "You sound like a background thug trying to get screentime. Are you going to attack or just hoping to embarrass yourself?"
Another Oni sneered. "Your kind always hides behind tricks and toys. Let's see what happens when we rip them away."
"I'd say the same, but you don't have much to take," Kenji muttered.
A furious roar tore through the alley as the Oni charged.
Kenji reacted instantly. In one fluid motion, Drawing his sword—a sleek, black-edged blade with a gleam that reflected no light—and activated his gravity manipulation. The air distorted subtly, pressure bending like an invisible net around his body.
The first Oni swung its club. Kenji stepped sideways, increased the gravity around the oni's feet, rooting it in place, and drove a gravity-augmented punch straight into its gut. The Oni flew back, skidding across the concrete.
Gravity magic really was a cheat.
It was something he had spent sometime improving because he knew it could give him an edge even against stronger opponents.
As one of the fundamental laws of the universe, it was a powerful ability even as the weakest of the forces.
Another Oni lunged with a jagged axe, howling. Kenji's sword met it mid-swing. Sparks flew as he twisted, increasing gravity on his blade, slicing through the axe's shaft and continuing into the oni's shoulder. It shrieked and collapsed with a growl.
Kenji flowed between the others like water, slashing and striking with precision. One blow knocked a weapon from an oni's grip. Another shifted gravity under its feet, sending it sprawling before Kenji stomped down with a crushing impact. The pavement cracked beneath the weight-enhanced force.
"Is this really all?" Kenji asked aloud, exhaling slowly, eyes already tracking the next movement.
The marked Oni stepped forward, saying nothing. Its silence was more chilling than the others' boasting. It raised a massive club, black lines along its skin pulsing once as it leaped into the fray.
Kenji dodged, countered, and moved with practiced efficiency. The gravity around him intensified. Their weapons shattered under his blade, and their speed was no match for his shifting weight and precision strikes. The fight didn't last much longer.
He landed silently, standing in the center of the alley with his sword raised. Around him, the four yokai groaned and twitched on the ground, their bodies beaten, heavy with manipulated gravity.
They weren't monsters sent by some greater threat. They were just yokai. Just bullies. Just fools with more rage than sense. Saw an opportunity and decided to have some fun, so he doubted anyone would miss them.
"You picked the wrong guy to ambush," Kenji muttered, flicking his blade clean and sheathing it with a metallic whisper.
He stepped over the dead body of the marked Oni, pausing only to glance at the distant lights of Kyoto beyond the alley. They sparkled serenely, unaware or perhaps willfully ignorant of the chaos that sometimes lingered in the cracks of the city.
"That was easier than I thought," he muttered again. "Seems the grind is working just fine."
With nothing left to keep his attention, Kenji vanished into the streets of Kyoto, the alley returning to silence as the last of his gravity magic dispersed.
He'd gotten what he came for, got some books, and found a good place to buy and sell stuffs, that was good for now.
Now it was time to head back home, It was only a day and he'd already missed his family.
As he walked he opened his status, He'd gained a few levels from that fight and already he was on the upper scale of the low class scale.
Just a bit of push and he should be in Mid class by the end of the week.
'Well, Time to go home'.
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