[The battle’s far from over—but Hajime’s time is running short.]
[BOOM.]
[The sky cracks open as Hajime, mid-air, his aura flaring violently, lifts his left leg—his boot engulfed in spiraling . The air itself seems to combust.]
Hajime(roaring):
“BLUE FLAME MAGIC: IRON HAMMER!!”
[He crashes down—his foot smashing into Streetka’s skull with monstrous force. The flames erupt like a volcanic blast, streaking downward in a straight pillar as the shockwave splits the stone floor below.]
Streetka’s head slams into the ground, the impact cratering the entire floor beneath them. His body rebounds violently, blood spraying across the air, flame licking at his skin.
Daka(eyes wide):
“He actually connected…”
Rizra(stunned):
“That wasn’t just a hit—that was a statement.”
Duella(arms crossed, nodding):
“Precise. Rage-fueled. But his time’s running out…”
[Smoke lifts off Hajime’s foot as he lands, panting, shoulder slightly trembling.]
Hajime(through gritted teeth):
“How’s that, monster?! Still breathing after that one?!”
[Streetka’s head slowly lifts from the rubble, blood pouring from his mouth and nose—but his twisted grin remains.]
Streetka(voice low, cracked):
“Yeah… now more like it…”
[His claws twitch, the monster markings on his body glowing brighter.]
Streetka(grinning wider, blood dribbling from his lips):
“Let’s see how long that fire of yours burns… before I rip it out of your chest.”
[They lock eyes—both battered, both dangerous. But one is running on borrowed time.]
[The ground split—Streetka moved like a blur. One moment, Hajime was standing, flame flickering at his feet, and the next—]
CRACK.
Streetka’s monster-clawed fist buried itself into Hajime’s stomach, the armor and launching spit and blood from Hajime’s mouth.
Hajime(choking):
“Ggh—!”
[Streetka didn't give him time to breathe. He grabbed Hajime’s face with his clawed hand, lifted him, and him into the ground with such force that the floor exploded upward in a burst of stone and dust.]
Streetka(growling, eyes glowing):
“You wanna know the difference between us, Hajime?”
[Another hit. Then another. He dragged Hajime by the leg and swung him like a weapon, smashing him into the walls—left, right, ceiling—his body leaving bloody craters in every surface.]
Streetka(voice distorted, inhuman):
“You’re using borrowed power! I power!!”
[He vanished in an instant—reappeared behind Hajime—
KNEE.
To.
The.
Spine.
Hajime screamed as he was bent backward unnaturally, blood splattering the ground.
Rizra(horrified):
“Hajime—!! He’s gonna kill him!”
Daka(clenching fists):
“That form… That’s not even full monster—it’s just his ”
[Streetka stood over Hajime’s broken body, breathing hard, monstrous fangs now clearly visible. His voice dripped with venom.]
Streetka
“You think just because you're angry and on fire you can You think a semi-complete Armor Charge can stop ”
“This is the Itsuki Clan. We don’t die… we evolve.”
[Hajime twitched on the ground, face bloody, armor cracked, barely breathing. Yet… his fingers moved. Just barely. His eye still glowed orange.]
Streetka(raising his claw):
“Time to put out that spark for good.”
[It wasn’t over. But Hajime was damn near the edge.]
[Streetka’s monstrous claw raised high—ready to deliver the final, killing blow. Hajime’s head hung low, blood dripping from his nose and lips. He could barely move… until—]
Hajime(weak, but focused):
“…Gotcha.”
[His left hand slammed against Streetka’s chest. A sudden pulse of heat surged through the air. Streetka’s eyes widened—realizing too late.]
Streetka(panicking):
“Wait… that stance—! No… NO—!”
Streetka(screaming):
“CRAP BASKETS—!!”
Hajime(yelling with every last breath in his lungs):
“DRAGON GUNNNNNNNNNN!!!”
[A pinpoint burst of condensed flame and dragon energy erupted from Hajime’s palm—like a railgun wrapped in fire. The beam struck Streetka directly in the chest, blasting through armor, scales, and muscle like a godly spear.]
[Streetka’s body was flung backward, spiraling through the air as the Dragon Gun scorched through him, slamming him into the far wall and breaking through it, dragging fire along with him. A giant explosion followed—BOOM!!—shaking the entire base.]
[Silence.]
[Hajime dropped to one knee, panting, his hand still glowing with heat. His body trembled, sweat pouring down his face, barely holding on.]
Hajime(low):
“…Don’t… ever… call me weak again.”
[Daka and Rizra stared in awe, while Duella’s expression finally shifted—mildly impressed.]
Duella(arms crossed):
“…That’s it kid..”
[But the battle wasn’t over yet.]
[The smoke cleared—Streetka’s monster form had dissolved, leaving him in his base form, bloodied and panting. Hajime’s Armor Charge had also vanished. His orange eye faded, replaced by weary, bloodshot ones. Both stood, barely able to hold themselves up.]
[The battlefield was in ruins. Flames flickered around them. Debris rained lightly from the cracks above.]
[Streetka staggered forward, dragging one foot, chest rising and falling rapidly. Hajime limped, his legs wobbling, but his eyes never left Streetka’s.]
Streetka(rasping):
“Tch… still… standing… huh…”
Hajime(spitting blood, voice ragged):
“…Yeah. Just to knock your psychotic ass down one more time.”
[They both threw themselves forward—Streetka with a desperate punch, Hajime with a spinning low kick. They collided mid-swing, both connecting blows—raw, ugly, desperate.]
[Streetka’s fist slammed Hajime’s shoulder. Hajime’s foot cracked into Streetka’s side. Another exchange—Streetka’s elbow grazed Hajime’s cheek, while Hajime’s shin crushed against Streetka’s ribs.]
[They stumbled, took shallow breaths—and launched one final attack.]
Hajime shouted with everything he had left, blue flames erupting around his foot.]
Hajime(roaring):
“IRON HAMMER—!!!
[His foot came down like divine judgment, laced in Blue Flame Magic—Boom!—smashing into Streetka’s shoulder and sending him crashing down into the ground, carving a crater beneath him.]
[Streetka’s body twitched, then went still.]
[Hajime stood over him, swaying, chest heaving, legs threatening to collapse. But he was still up. Still breathing. Still the last one standing.]
Hajime(breathless):
“…Raging…”
[Then, finally, he dropped to his knees beside Streetka, barely conscious—but victorious.]
[Hajime's body finally gave out.]
He dropped, hard—face grimacing as his muscles locked up. His breathing grew uneven, and then, thin trails of blood ran from his eyes
Duella’s eyes widened, then twisted with rage and concern.
He rushed over, grabbing Hajime by the collar and shaking him.
Duella
“You dumbass! You went over your magic limit!
Hajime(barely conscious, groggy):
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
“…Magic… limit…?”
Duella(veins bulging in his forehead):
“What do you mean ‘magic limit’?! Are you stupid?!
[Daka immediately steps in, putting a hand on his father's shoulder.]
Daka
“Dad, stop! He didn’t know, okay? Just calm down…”
[Duella breathes hard, staring at Hajime for a second more before pulling back.]
[Rizra, arms crossed, sighs.]
Rizra
“Your body only has so much mana, Hajime. Once you pass that limit… it doesn’t just hurt. It starts to eat away at your mind and body. It’s like tearing your soul open just to keep fighting…”
[Hajime’s eyes flutter weakly as he lays down on the cracked floor, completely unable to move. Blood still drips from his eyes. His chest rises and falls slowly.]
Hajime(softly):
“…Raging…”
[Duella clicks his tongue and kneels beside him, still pissed but more worried now.]
Duella
“You better not die, dumbass… You’re Sockoo’s boyfriend, right? She’ll kill me if I let you croak.”
[Fade out with Hajime barely conscious, his vision flickering, watching the blurry faces of his friends above him.]
[Hajime’s eyes snap open despite the pain.]
His muscles scream, blood still dried on his cheeks, but he forces himself up
Hajime(wincing, forcing breath):
“I’m not… done yet…”
[Suddenly, the air shifts. A chilling pressure floods the room.]
**The Black Door—sealed until now—**blasts open violently with a wave of dark wind. Everyone shields their faces
Out walks Strikeka.
His eyes burn red, his body calm and precise… and in his hand, he’s dragging a large obsidian cage
Inside the cage… is Sockoo.
Unconscious. Bruised. One eye swollen shut. Her left eye still covered
with the bandage Hajime never questioned.
Strikeka(smiling smugly):
“Ah… perfect timing. I wanted to see the moment your spirit shattered.”
[Hajime freezes.]
His pupils shrink. His breathing hitches.
Hajime(barely above a whisper):
“…Sockoo…”
[He tries to run—but collapses to one knee, his body locking up again.]
Duella(shocked):
“Strikeka…”
Daka and Rizra stand in front of Hajime defensively, while Angel and Rei look stunned.
Strikeka(mocking):
“I told you before, didn’t I? I’ll use anyone, break anyone, just to win. She’s just the first piece.”
[Inside the cage, Sockoo stirs slightly, mumbling Hajime’s name.]
Hajime’s teeth grit, his eyes glowing dim orange.
He mutters beneath his breath:
Hajime
“…rage on… desu…”
Hajime’s voice explodes like thunder, shaking the very room.
Hajime(roaring from the pit of his soul):
“YOUR OWN FUCKING DAUGHTER, YOU SON OF A BITCH!!
[Everyone freezes. The echo of his scream lingers.]
The weight of his rage sinks into the air like gravity shifting. Strikeka’s smirk falters for the first time.
Inside the obsidian cage, Sockoo’s eyes flutter open.
Her vision blurry, but the voice—his voice—pierces her haze.
Sockoo(weakly):
“…H-Hajime…?”
[She lifts her head slowly, eyes locking on him.]
He’s barely standing, body trembling, eyes bloodshot, lips quivering from fury and pain.
But he’s alive. Still standing. For her.
Sockoo(a whisper, but clearer):
“Hajime…”
Hajime’s teeth grit hard, tears of blood mixing with sweat as his voice shakes again.
Hajime(lower now, furious but broken):
“She trusted you… She looked up to you… And you… locked her in a cage like a damn animal…”
[Strikeka’s expression hardens.]
Strikeka
“She’s a tool. A legacy. Not a daughter. That word is meaningless.”
[Sockoo's hands clench. Her head lowers.]
Sockoo(gritting her teeth):
“…no… it’s not…”
[Suddenly, the cursed runes around her eye begin to flicker.]
Hajime’s voice breaks through the heavy silence, voice hoarse but determined:
Hajime
“Storyshift.
[A surge of energy responds—his sword materializes in his hand with a gleam of light and shadow, the blade humming with his emotion.]
The blade knows its wielder’s rage.
Hajime’s grip tightens. He sprints forward, eyes locked on Strikeka, fury burning in every step.
Hajime (screaming)
“I’ll kill you!!
[With all his strength, he goes for a clean, killing strike—Storyshift cutting through the air like vengeance itself.]
But—Strikeka’s arm morphs in a flash. A grotesque transformation, veins bulging, claws extending into black steel.
Strikeka(coldly):
“Too predictable.”
[He swipes.]
CLASH.
Hajime’s blade meets claw—but the power difference is brutal. Strikeka twists and FLINGS Hajime like a ragdoll.
Hajime smashes into the ground, the floor cracking beneath him.
His eyes go wide—then white. Blood drips from his lips as his body slumps.
Everything fades to black.
Sockoo(from the cage, screaming):
“HAJIME!!!
[Everyone around freezes, staring at his limp body. Daka’s fists clench. Rizra covers her mouth. Angel steps forward, trembling.]
Duella’s eyes narrow.
Then from behind her, a soft, strained voice spoke up.
Duella(growling low):
“…You really don’t care about anything, do you… Strikeka.” Daka, kneeling with blood dripping from his mouth, slams his hand into the ground. His aura flickers, weak—but determined.
A flash of golden light fills the area.
Daka (panting):
“Even if I’m broken… I can still do this much…”
BOOM.
A hundred golden swords erupt from glowing circles in the air, orbiting behind him like a golden storm. Each one radiates with his will, sharp and unwavering.
Angel’s eyes widen.
Rei, now serious, mutters:
“…He’s summoning everything he has…”
Daka wavers slightly, but he steadies himself.
“Rizra… take it from here.”
Rizra steps forward, serious for once, her aura flaring with pink and white power. A wild, almost storm-like surge of magic wraps around her as she extends her arms.
Rizra (grinning slightly):
“Tch. You really think I’ll let you show me up, dumbass?”
She claps her hands together. A blinding flash—
—BOOM.
Each golden sword suddenly amplifies with a layer of her magic, now glowing with both Daka’s purity and Rizra’s explosive firepower.
Rizra:
“Let’s light this bastard up.”
Together, they aim the field of floating blades toward Strikeka, who stands beside Sockoo’s cage with a cocky smirk.
Strikeka (grinning):
“Oh? The little support duo trying to be frontliners? Cute.”
Daka:
“Fire.”
All 100 swords rocket forward—an elegant, deadly storm.
Before the golden storm can even reach him, Strikeka vanishes.
Angel blinks.
“Wait… where did he—?”
A sickening slash cuts through the air.
Rizra gasps—blood spurts from her neck.
Strikeka stands behind her, claws dripping crimson.
Strikeka (calmly):
“Support mages should stay in the back.”
He then vanishes again. Daka senses it—too late.
A surge of magic overtakes the golden swords as Strikeka, now mid-air, redirects every single one of Daka’s summoned blades—
—back at him.
Daka (eyes wide):
“…What—!?”
SHUNK. SHUNK. SHUNK.
Blade after blade tears through his body. His knees give out as he’s impaled from every angle—arms, legs, chest. Blood sprays as he collapses, barely conscious, twitching and pierced like a human pincushion.
Angel screams:
“DAKA!! RIZRA!!”
Rei grits his teeth, his playful tone gone.
Strikeka stands tall, completely untouched, his monstrous claw-arm pulsing with dark power.
Strikeka:
“You think I made it this far by underestimating kids like you?”
Angel rushed to Rizra’s side, trembling as blood continued to pour from Rizra’s artery.
Angel (panicking):
“Hold on—! Hold on, I got you!!”
She presses both hands against Rizra’s neck, light magic glowing violently between her palms.
Angel:
“Holy Effect: Divine Mend—Artery Repair!”
Golden threads of light weave through the wound, slowing the blood. Rizra gasps sharply, her eyes rolling back before snapping open with a strained breath.
Rizra (choking):
“Ghhh—… A-Angel…”
Angel’s eyes burn with determination, tears falling.
Angel:
“Don’t talk! Just breathe! I’m not letting anyone else die—!”
The bleeding finally stops. The holy glow fades slowly as Rizra’s artery is sealed, her body still weak but alive.
Rei (serious for once):
“…She saved her. That girl’s no joke.”
Duella glances back, gritting his teeth.
Duella:
“One down… now where the hell is that dumbass Hajime?”
Strikeka turned slowly, smirking with his bloodstained claws as the dust around him settled.
But then—
A powerful gust of wind erupted behind him.
Angel’s wings burst open, six radiant feathers extending from her back, glowing with holy magic. Her eyes blazed gold, and the air around her shimmered like a storm of light.
Angel (furious):
“You hurt my friends… You crossed the line…”
She ascended high into the chamber, her silhouette angelic yet wrathful. Light gathered at her fingertips, forming a massive burning sphere.
Angel:
“HOLY RAY…”
The light intensified, almost blinding—
Angel:
“—BURN, STRIKEKA!!!”
She unleashed the beam.
A colossal golden ray ripped through the chamber, hitting Strikeka dead-on. The impact cracked the floor beneath him and scorched his flesh, his roar of pain echoing through the walls.
Strikeka (gritting his teeth, shielding himself):
“AGHHH—!! This holy power…!”
Smoke and light engulfed him as he staggered, his monster form burning, the black markings on his face sizzling away in some areas.
Angel (hovering):
“You’re not invincible.”
Duella, watching from the side, clenched his fists.
“…She’s strong. Really strong.” As Strikeka was mid-taunt, a sudden blast surged straight through his chest—
BOOM!
A hole burst open clean through him, smoke sizzling off the wound.
Strikeka’s eyes widened as he coughed blood, slowly turning his head.
Rei stood behind him, grinning wildly, both arms pointed forward, skeletal magic flaring.
Rei:
“Yeah, yeah, yeah—talk all you want, freakshow. You forgot one thing… I’m a dead man with a lotta bones to pick!”
His shoulders cracked back unnaturally as a dozen ghostly skulls appeared behind him, all glowing cyan and white, mouths wide.
Rei (yelling):
“PERLA BLASTERS—FULL BURST!”
The skulls roared to life—
FWOOOM! FWOOOM! FWOOOM!
Blasts of spiritual fire shot out like cannons, hammering into Strikeka’s body—one after another, relentless, shaking the entire floor with every hit.
Strikeka stumbled, coughing, shielding his face, his body smoking and riddled with burns.
Rei, panting slightly, smirked as his skeletal aura pulsed.
Rei:
“Still hungry, bastard? I’ve got plenty more where that came from.” As the smoke cleared from Rei’s attack, Streetka tried to step forward—
SLASH!
Blood burst into the air.
Streetka’s right arm hit the ground with a wet thud.
He turned slowly, wide-eyed, as Duella stood behind him, blade dripping with blood, his eyes sharp and unflinching.
Streetka (grinning through the pain):
“Finally… a real challenge…”
He staggered back, clutching the stump of his arm but laughing—his monstrous grin stretched unnaturally.
Streetka:
“You… You’re from Baku’s team, aren’t you? Hah… I wonder what face he’ll make… when he finds your corpse on the floor.”
Duella didn’t even blink. His tone was ice-cold.
Duella:
“Keep dreaming, freak.”
Duella raised his blade again, eyes narrowing.
Duella:
“I’m not the one dying today.” Sockoo sat beside Hajime, clutching his hand as his unconscious body barely breathed. Her voice was soft, trembling, overwhelmed by everything happening—the fight, her father, the sight of her friends bloodied and broken.
Sockoo (tearfully):
“Why… why did you guys come here? You didn’t have to… this isn’t your fight…”
She looked around—Daka impaled with swords, Hajime unconscious, Rizra barely holding on, and Angel gasping for air after the holy beam clash. The guilt crashed down like a wave.
Rizra (weakly, almost whispering):
“Tch… shut up… idiot…”
Sockoo turned, shocked, as Rizra slowly leaned forward, clutching her healing side, blood still trickling from her lips.
Rizra (smiling faintly):
“Of course we came… you’re our friend… Hajime’s girl… our teammate… what kinda Music Club would we be… if we just left you behind?”
Sockoo’s lip trembled. She lowered her head, tears dripping onto Hajime’s hand.
Sockoo (whispering):
“Thank you…”Sockoo’s eyes widened at Rizra’s next words.
Rizra (still breathing hard, eyes half open):
“You’re not just Hajime’s girl… you’re our leader, Sockoo…”
Sockoo froze.
Rizra (smirking despite the pain):
“Doesn’t matter if your dad’s some monster… we didn’t come here for him. We came because you would’ve done the same for us…”
Sockoo’s heart pounded. The cage bars lay broken behind her. Around her, her team—no, her friends—were all wounded because they believed in her. Hajime almost died… just for her.
She clenched her fists.
Sockoo (softly):
“I… I won’t run anymore…”
Her bangs shifted slightly, revealing just a flash of her hidden left eye, glowing faintly. Makoto slowly begins to stir, his mind hazy, struggling to piece together what happened. He’s in a completely different area now, surrounded by debris and crumbled walls. His body is sore from the earlier conflict, and he groans softly as he sits up. Looking around, he realizes that he’s alone for now.
has the true battle only just begun?
Find out next time on Hajime Adventure
