Chapter 2:
Bad Gift
KILLKARMA
After the Harrow exploded, Ren immediately turned to Hajime.
“Sensei, was a show-off like that really necessary?”
Hajime scratched the back of his head, laughing slightly.
“No, not really. But a teacher should always show off when a student is around, right, Ryn?”
Ryn jumped up from the ground, grinning.
“Hell yeah!”
THUD!
Eric punched Ryn straight in the head, sending him to his knees.
“Don’t think you’re off the hook!” she snapped. “You could’ve seriously gotten hurt! Who said you could run off on your own without telling anyone?!”
Ryn lowered his head, ashamed, barely able to respond.
Hajime stepped in.
“Now, now, Eric. Ryn simply thought he could take the Harrow on by himself. Sure, it’s kind of his fault for half the damage done here… but cut him some slack. He’s only been a Golden Air for one month.”
Ren spoke quietly.
“Sensei, you’re too easy on Ryn. He could’ve gotten people hurt… or himself.”
Hajime sighed.
“I suppose you’re right. Alright then—Ryn, drop down and give me one hundred.”
Ryn gasped.
“…Yes, sir!”
He immediately dropped and started doing push-ups. Ren and Eric watched in silence as he powered through them.
He finished, flipping back onto his feet.
“All done!”
Hajime clapped his hands.
“Alright then. Since Ryn has been punished, it’s time to continue patrolling the district.”
Eric raised a brow.
“Remind me why we’re patrolling this district again?”
Ren answered calmly.
“There’s been an unnatural increase in Harrow appearances. It could be coincidence… or someone might be behind it.”
They all returned to the black car.
Ryn suddenly paused.
“Oh—wait! I forgot my dual scythe. I’ll be right back.”
Hajime glanced at him.
“Ryn, I told you to take better care of that thing… but I’ll let you off this time. Go get it.”
“Got it!”
Ryn ran off toward the support beam of the upper highway where he had lodged his weapon.
“Found it.”
He reached for it—
Then froze.
A strange, sinister feeling crept through his body.
“…What is this?”
He pulled out his weapon slowly.
His eyes shifted toward a nearby abandoned subway station.
Without hesitation, he leapt down the stairs.
He landed with a heavy thud.
Silence followed.
A worn-down train sat motionless in the dark.
Ryn stepped forward cautiously—
Then saw it.
A man holding a human by the neck.
His hand glowed purple.
The human’s body began to twist—
Mutate—
Transforming into a Harrow.
Ryn froze in horror.
The chains of his weapon clinked against the floor.
The man turned his head slowly.
Pink glowing eyes.
Bright purple hair.
A long black coat.
“…What’s this? Another one came right to me… Must be my lucky day.”
Ryn’s breath hitched.
This guy… he must be the reason Harrows are appearing everywhere…
“Who are you?!” Ryn shouted. “And what are you doing here?!”
The man scratched his head.
“Why the hell are you yelling…? I don’t like passionate people.”
His eyes narrowed as he examined Ryn’s uniform.
“…You’re part of Golden Air, aren’t you?”
Ryn swallowed.
“…That’s right.”
Suddenly—
The man’s palm shot toward his face.
Ryn barely dodged, jumping back—
But the man followed up instantly, slamming a fist into Ryn’s arm.
Ryn skidded backward.
“You’re pretty agile, kid… durable too. Alright then—this is going to be fun.”
The man grinned.
Ryn swung his chained scythe.
The man dodged, rushing forward.
This guy’s dangerous… I need to take him out now!
Ryn leapt forward, aiming a kick at his head—
The man blocked it with both hands.
Ryn flipped back.
They both landed, facing each other.
A brief stillness.
Then—
Ryn charged.
The man dodged and drove a kick into Ryn’s stomach.
Ryn slid back—
The man appeared beside him instantly.
Ryn raised his arms—
Too late.
He was kicked again—
Sent flying through the train window.
CRASH!
He slammed into the opposite side, crashing through glass and into a wall.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
The man chuckled.
“Hey… I saw your two sharp teeth. You some kind of vampire or something?”
Ryn forced himself up.
“Nah… just something I was born with.”
They walked along opposite sides of the train, almost parallel.
“Born with it, huh…” the man said. “You’ve got a large amount of Karma… feels like you’re holding back.”
Ryn clicked his tongue.
“I was getting the same vibe from you. That ability you used… turning that human into a Harrow—that’s your Kill Technique, right?”
The man scoffed.
“You’re pretty sharp. Not everyone notices when I hold back.”
He clapped his hands.
“Alright then… here’s my apology.”
Suddenly—
Multiple Harrows burst out from behind the train.
Ryn gasped.
He rushed forward, slashing them apart one by one—
But as he cut one—
It exploded.
Blood splattered everywhere.
Ryn shut his eyes.
“Not good—!”
A Harrow lunged—
Glowing purple—
Then—
It transformed.
Back into the man.
“My Kill Technique… is a work of art!” he said, grinning. “Call it—Bad Gift.”
BOOM!
A punch slammed into Ryn’s stomach.
He coughed blood.
His body flew back—crashing into a stone pillar.
He slid down, motionless.
The man laughed.
“Hmph… I might’ve overdone it a bit. But now that I’ve seen your limits…”
He stepped closer.
“…I’ll make you an offer.”
He crouched slightly.
“Me and you… let’s be devils.”
“We can become artists of death,” the man continued. “With power like that, we can be free. One step at a time… let’s chase that freedom together.”
Ryn stared at the ground.
“…Devils…”
Memories surfaced.
Flames.
His home burning.
A younger version of himself, crying—holding Hajime’s hand.
“I was sold to a dojo after my parents died…”
“I felt anger. Hatred. People looked at me like I was just like them… killers.”
“I was always an outcast.”
“I trained harder than everyone.”
“That’s when I met Hajime…”
“At thirteen, he invited me to join Golden Air.”
“…The others in the dojo didn’t like that.”
Blades dropped from the ceiling.
Ryn dodged—but not perfectly.
Cuts spread across his body.
Above him—
Laughter.
“That’s when it happened…”
“My stomach twisted…”
“I felt nothing but rage…”
Blood ran into his eye.
“I killed them.”
“…All of them.”
“Their blood… all over me…”
“I asked myself one thing…”
Why are humans so rotten?
“I was supposed to be executed.”
“But Hajime saved me.”
“I met the others… they had my back.”
“I owe them everything.”
“Yo. Hey, kid. I’m still waiting.”
Ryn’s voice came out low.
“…Shut up, circus freak.”
His body rose.
Red and black Karma erupted around him.
His hair lifted, floating in the energy.
The man’s expression shifted.
What… is this?
“Be devils with you?” Ryn said, voice steady. “Screw that. I joined Golden Air to help people… so they don’t go through what I did!”
He swung his chained scythes—precise, controlled.
The blades tore through walls and train doors—
One slash grazed the man’s cheek.
“Well damn!” the man laughed. “This just got interesting!”
Ryn charged—
Throwing his coat forward.
“Nice move, kid—using your coat to hide your strike—but I’m ahead of you!”
The man slashed through the coat—
But—
The scythe was already above him.
Ryn vanished.
Appearing behind him—
Elbow raised.
A memory flashed.
Hajime’s voice.
“There’s a technique you can learn… especially since you’re a martial artist.”
“Really?! I wanna learn it now!”
“It’s called Karma Wave.”
“When you force your Karma into your opponent’s body, you disrupt their flow… and overwrite it with your own.”
“This causes a breakdown in their internal circulation—leading to internal damage… or complete system failure.”
I’ll make this move my own…
Ryn stomped the ground—
Pivoted—
His elbow drove forward.
A red-and-black field formed around them.
Energy crackled.
Explosions sparked.
“KARMA WAVE!”
The man’s eyes turned white.
His body launched backward—
Slamming into a pillar.
He collapsed.
What… is this…? I can’t move…
Ryn panted heavily.
“I… did it… I won…”
Footsteps echoed.
“Ryn! What the hell is going on?!”
Ren arrived.
Ryn looked relieved.
“Ren! Where’s Hajime?!”
Then—
He saw it.
Another figure.
Face hidden.
Grabbing the defeated man.
“Oh no—they’re getting away! Move… come on—MOVE!”
The figure touched the pillar.
A portal opened.
They stepped inside—
And vanished.
Ren stared in shock.
Ryn clenched his fists.
“…Damnit…”
Silence filled the subway.
“…No…”
“Sensei, was a show-off like that really necessary?”
Hajime scratched the back of his head, laughing slightly.
“No, not really. But a teacher should always show off when a student is around, right, Ryn?”
Ryn jumped up from the ground, grinning.
“Hell yeah!”
THUD!
Eric punched Ryn straight in the head, sending him to his knees.
“Don’t think you’re off the hook!” she snapped. “You could’ve seriously gotten hurt! Who said you could run off on your own without telling anyone?!”
Ryn lowered his head, ashamed, barely able to respond.
Hajime stepped in.
“Now, now, Eric. Ryn simply thought he could take the Harrow on by himself. Sure, it’s kind of his fault for half the damage done here… but cut him some slack. He’s only been a Golden Air for one month.”
Ren spoke quietly.
“Sensei, you’re too easy on Ryn. He could’ve gotten people hurt… or himself.”
Hajime sighed.
“I suppose you’re right. Alright then—Ryn, drop down and give me one hundred.”
Ryn gasped.
“…Yes, sir!”
He immediately dropped and started doing push-ups. Ren and Eric watched in silence as he powered through them.
He finished, flipping back onto his feet.
“All done!”
Hajime clapped his hands.
“Alright then. Since Ryn has been punished, it’s time to continue patrolling the district.”
Eric raised a brow.
“Remind me why we’re patrolling this district again?”
Ren answered calmly.
“There’s been an unnatural increase in Harrow appearances. It could be coincidence… or someone might be behind it.”
They all returned to the black car.
Ryn suddenly paused.
“Oh—wait! I forgot my dual scythe. I’ll be right back.”
Hajime glanced at him.
“Ryn, I told you to take better care of that thing… but I’ll let you off this time. Go get it.”
“Got it!”
Ryn ran off toward the support beam of the upper highway where he had lodged his weapon.
“Found it.”
He reached for it—
Then froze.
A strange, sinister feeling crept through his body.
“…What is this?”
He pulled out his weapon slowly.
His eyes shifted toward a nearby abandoned subway station.
Without hesitation, he leapt down the stairs.
He landed with a heavy thud.
Silence followed.
A worn-down train sat motionless in the dark.
Ryn stepped forward cautiously—
Then saw it.
A man holding a human by the neck.
His hand glowed purple.
The human’s body began to twist—
Mutate—
Transforming into a Harrow.
Ryn froze in horror.
The chains of his weapon clinked against the floor.
The man turned his head slowly.
Pink glowing eyes.
Bright purple hair.
A long black coat.
“…What’s this? Another one came right to me… Must be my lucky day.”
Ryn’s breath hitched.
This guy… he must be the reason Harrows are appearing everywhere…
“Who are you?!” Ryn shouted. “And what are you doing here?!”
The man scratched his head.
“Why the hell are you yelling…? I don’t like passionate people.”
His eyes narrowed as he examined Ryn’s uniform.
“…You’re part of Golden Air, aren’t you?”
Ryn swallowed.
“…That’s right.”
Suddenly—
The man’s palm shot toward his face.
Ryn barely dodged, jumping back—
But the man followed up instantly, slamming a fist into Ryn’s arm.
Ryn skidded backward.
“You’re pretty agile, kid… durable too. Alright then—this is going to be fun.”
The man grinned.
Ryn swung his chained scythe.
The man dodged, rushing forward.
This guy’s dangerous… I need to take him out now!
Ryn leapt forward, aiming a kick at his head—
The man blocked it with both hands.
Ryn flipped back.
They both landed, facing each other.
A brief stillness.
Then—
Ryn charged.
The man dodged and drove a kick into Ryn’s stomach.
Ryn slid back—
The man appeared beside him instantly.
Ryn raised his arms—
Too late.
He was kicked again—
Sent flying through the train window.
CRASH!
He slammed into the opposite side, crashing through glass and into a wall.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
The man chuckled.
“Hey… I saw your two sharp teeth. You some kind of vampire or something?”
Ryn forced himself up.
“Nah… just something I was born with.”
They walked along opposite sides of the train, almost parallel.
“Born with it, huh…” the man said. “You’ve got a large amount of Karma… feels like you’re holding back.”
Ryn clicked his tongue.
“I was getting the same vibe from you. That ability you used… turning that human into a Harrow—that’s your Kill Technique, right?”
The man scoffed.
“You’re pretty sharp. Not everyone notices when I hold back.”
He clapped his hands.
“Alright then… here’s my apology.”
Suddenly—
Multiple Harrows burst out from behind the train.
Ryn gasped.
He rushed forward, slashing them apart one by one—
But as he cut one—
It exploded.
Blood splattered everywhere.
Ryn shut his eyes.
“Not good—!”
A Harrow lunged—
Glowing purple—
Then—
It transformed.
Back into the man.
“My Kill Technique… is a work of art!” he said, grinning. “Call it—Bad Gift.”
BOOM!
A punch slammed into Ryn’s stomach.
He coughed blood.
His body flew back—crashing into a stone pillar.
He slid down, motionless.
The man laughed.
“Hmph… I might’ve overdone it a bit. But now that I’ve seen your limits…”
He stepped closer.
“…I’ll make you an offer.”
He crouched slightly.
“Me and you… let’s be devils.”
“We can become artists of death,” the man continued. “With power like that, we can be free. One step at a time… let’s chase that freedom together.”
Ryn stared at the ground.
“…Devils…”
Memories surfaced.
Flames.
His home burning.
A younger version of himself, crying—holding Hajime’s hand.
“I was sold to a dojo after my parents died…”
“I felt anger. Hatred. People looked at me like I was just like them… killers.”
“I was always an outcast.”
“I trained harder than everyone.”
“That’s when I met Hajime…”
“At thirteen, he invited me to join Golden Air.”
“…The others in the dojo didn’t like that.”
Blades dropped from the ceiling.
Ryn dodged—but not perfectly.
Cuts spread across his body.
Above him—
Laughter.
“That’s when it happened…”
“My stomach twisted…”
“I felt nothing but rage…”
Blood ran into his eye.
“I killed them.”
“…All of them.”
“Their blood… all over me…”
“I asked myself one thing…”
Why are humans so rotten?
“I was supposed to be executed.”
“But Hajime saved me.”
“I met the others… they had my back.”
“I owe them everything.”
“Yo. Hey, kid. I’m still waiting.”
Ryn’s voice came out low.
“…Shut up, circus freak.”
His body rose.
Red and black Karma erupted around him.
His hair lifted, floating in the energy.
The man’s expression shifted.
What… is this?
“Be devils with you?” Ryn said, voice steady. “Screw that. I joined Golden Air to help people… so they don’t go through what I did!”
He swung his chained scythes—precise, controlled.
The blades tore through walls and train doors—
One slash grazed the man’s cheek.
“Well damn!” the man laughed. “This just got interesting!”
Ryn charged—
Throwing his coat forward.
“Nice move, kid—using your coat to hide your strike—but I’m ahead of you!”
The man slashed through the coat—
But—
The scythe was already above him.
Ryn vanished.
Appearing behind him—
Elbow raised.
A memory flashed.
Hajime’s voice.
“There’s a technique you can learn… especially since you’re a martial artist.”
“Really?! I wanna learn it now!”
“It’s called Karma Wave.”
“When you force your Karma into your opponent’s body, you disrupt their flow… and overwrite it with your own.”
“This causes a breakdown in their internal circulation—leading to internal damage… or complete system failure.”
I’ll make this move my own…
Ryn stomped the ground—
Pivoted—
His elbow drove forward.
A red-and-black field formed around them.
Energy crackled.
Explosions sparked.
“KARMA WAVE!”
The man’s eyes turned white.
His body launched backward—
Slamming into a pillar.
He collapsed.
What… is this…? I can’t move…
Ryn panted heavily.
“I… did it… I won…”
Footsteps echoed.
“Ryn! What the hell is going on?!”
Ren arrived.
Ryn looked relieved.
“Ren! Where’s Hajime?!”
Then—
He saw it.
Another figure.
Face hidden.
Grabbing the defeated man.
“Oh no—they’re getting away! Move… come on—MOVE!”
The figure touched the pillar.
A portal opened.
They stepped inside—
And vanished.
Ren stared in shock.
Ryn clenched his fists.
“…Damnit…”
Silence filled the subway.
“…No…”
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