The First Men Chronicles

#######..Chapter 14: Feeding the Forgotten

Sakamoto rose slowly from the wreckage of the building he had been slammed into, brushing debris off his shoulders. His right leg bore a faint injury, but it was already healing. He rotated his axe once more, his expression calm and focused. His gaze locked onto the bear still emitting waves of Shen energy, and he muttered, "You're scaring the kids in the village. Enough."

His teeth clenched as he blurred out of sight. The massive bear, now fully enraged, roared and gathered an enormous amount of Shen energy in its mouth. In an instant, it fired a condensed blast straight at Sakamoto.

As the blast roared forward, Sakamoto quickly calculated its trajectory. Dodging would leave the buildings—and the boy's house he had seen earlier—completely destroyed. His hand tightened around his axe, and with no other option, he sidestepped to dodge the attack. But as the blast tore through the ground, its destructive force surged toward the child's home.

Sakamoto's eyes narrowed. "No."

His axe dissolved, its dark energy encasing his right hand. He muttered under his breath,

"Axe Teleportation."

Instantly, Sakamoto vanished and reappeared midair, directly in front of the bear's face in its eyes were his axe had sliced earlier. His fist, now encased in the same dark energy from his axe,thrust forward in a powerful punch. The impact created a shockwave so immense that the very air seemed to split apart. The bear's head shattered into pieces, its massive body collapsing lifelessly to the ground.

Sakamoto landed on the dirt, his breathing heavy but steady. He glanced at the lifeless bear and muttered, "Finally." His expression softened briefly before the blood from the bear began to pool around him. He jumped up, muttering,

"Ahhhhhh I didn't know bears bled this much."

Moments later, Feng's team arrived on the scene. The thick fog still blanketed the area, obscuring their view. Feng stepped forward, muttering under his breath, "Wind Release: Threefold Torrent." A powerful gust surged from his hands, scattering the fog and revealing the village.

The scene before them was unexpected. The lifeless mountain bear lay sprawled on the ground, and in front of it sat Sakamoto, calm and unshaken.

Cregan's brow furrowed. "Who's that?"

Feng, recognizing Sakamoto, exhaled sharply. "He's a tournament participant."

Feng stepped closer, addressing him. "What are you doing all the way out here?"

Sakamoto didn't answer immediately. His expression remained serious as he stood and walked toward the bear. His transformation faded, and his physique returned to normal. Reaching into his bag, he pulled out a knife.

Without looking at them, Sakamoto replied, "I'm preparing this meat."

Sakamoto worked with precision, carefully slicing the bear's meat. His movements were deliberate, pulling out large chunks while leaving the hide intact. As he worked, Cregan asked, "Why are you doing this?"

Sakamoto paused briefly, glancing at the ruined village around him. "Look at this place. These people are suffering. They don't have food, and they sure as hell can't afford a hunter to help them. That bear was terrorizing them, keeping them locked away in their homes. I'm going to feed them with this meat. Someone has to."

Feng's gaze hardened, his mind turning over Sakamoto's words. He couldn't deny the truth in them. The Hunter Association often overlooked the poor and powerless, and this village was proof of it.

After a brief silence, Feng spoke. "Cregan, Gong, help him."

Gong nodded, summoning flames from his hands. He ignited a firewood pile, creating a steady cooking flame. Sakamoto didn't hesitate, roasting the bear meat over the fire with methodical efficiency.

The rich aroma of the cooking meat began to fill the air, drawing villagers out of their homes. One by one, they emerged—pale, weak, and starved.

Sakamoto approached the house of the boy he had seen earlier. He knocked lightly, waiting as the door creaked open. The boy and his sister stood there, eyes wide with fear. Sakamoto knelt down, holding out a large chunk of roasted meat.

"You're safe now," he said simply. "Eat. Then bring the others out to share."

The boy hesitated, but his sister grabbed the meat and pulled him back inside. Sakamoto stood and returned to the fire. Slowly, villagers began to gather, their faces lighting up as they smelled the food.

The villagers ate with desperation, their gratitude evident in their tear-filled eyes. An older man approached Sakamoto, bowing deeply. "Thank you, young man. That bear has tormented us for months. We've lost so many lives, and we didn't have the money to hire a hunter from the city."

Sakamoto nodded. "It's over now. You can go back to your lives."

The old man hesitated. "But… why are you here? Surely someone like you doesn't just wander into a place like this."

Sakamoto's expression darkened. He pulled a folded letter from his pocket and handed it to the old man. "I'm looking for the one who left this. They killed my grandmother."

The old man examined the letter closely, his face growing pale. "This… wasn't left by a person."

Sakamoto's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

"This writing," the old man said, "is used by ancient spirits. Evil ones. Spirits like this don't just kill—they torment. This letter… it's from an old god, abandoned by the people of Eagle Island centuries ago."

Sakamoto clenched his fists. "Where can I find it?"

The old man pointed toward the far side of the island. "There's a shrine deep in the forest. That's where it resides. If you're going to confront it, I can guide you."

Sakamoto nodded. "Lead the way."

### Meanwhile, in the City…

The tournament arena buzzed with excitement as the crowd cheered for their favorite hunters. The commentators announced the leaders of the great houses one by one:

"From Lannister House, the SS-rank hunter Mujin!" A tall, muscular man stepped forward, his presence commanding.

"From Dragon House, the SS-rank hunter Daisuke!" A slim, elegant woman with sharp eyes took her place.

"From Light House, the SS-rank hunter Thomas!" An energetic man with a bright smile waved to the crowd.

"And from Shadow House, the SS-rank hunter Frozen!" A short, unassuming boy stepped forward, his calm demeanor belying his immense power.

The leaders took their seats in the VIP section, the crowd roaring with excitement. Below, the ten participants stood in line, waiting for the board to display their matchups. The tournament was about to begin.

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