The Seven Demon's Tamer

"Took me long enough, right?" Master Sung nodded with a short-lived smile and then patted Ryder by the shoulder. "With the crazy amount of aura coming from here, I figured out it could be you."

The relief in Ryder's voice was clear as he responded, "Master Sung! I thought I was going to have to handle this entire situation myself."

Zhou arrived first, his usual manic energy somehow seemed to disappear , leaving behind seriousness. His eyes were tensed, the eyes of someone who would mind to get into serious combat.

"Master Sung!" Zhou called out halting right next to him, " Its been so long I've last saw you taking battle seriously."

Mikasa and Ryomen arrived next, both still at their primal stamina. Mikasa's pink hair was scattered from their rapid journey, but her eyes were sharp and alert as she quickly assessed the situation, seeing that Ryder was fine.

Ryomen, as always, appeared completely emotionless, though there was a slight evidence in his posture that suggested he was ready for immediate action.

Leo, Mara, and Brok came rushing in together, with Akira bringing up the rear. Leo's silver eyes immediately swept the battlefield, taking in the destruction and the crater on the field.

Brok, still sporting the bruises and swollen eye from Leo's earlier wake-up call, looked around in amazement.

"Holy shit," he muttered, his voice carrying awe. "Ryder, you did all this?"

"Not all of it," Ryder replied, gesturing toward Captain Kyujiro and his familiars. "That man over there contributed quite a bit to the landscape renovation."

"Ryder!" Mara called out, her voice filled with relief and concern. She rushed towards him without hesitation and grabbed him into a big hug, her arms wrapping around him tightly as if she needed to physically confirm if he was the one standing before her.

Ryder's face turned into a hundred shades of red instantly as he stuttered his response. "Ummm... Uhh, yeah. I'm plenty strong to handle myself."

The stuttering and blushing didn't go unnoticed by the others. Zhou let out a chuckle, while Leo raised an eyebrow with what might have been amusement.

"This is new," Brok commented with a grin, earning him a sharp elbow to the ribs from Leo this time around.

"Now's not the time," Leo whispered, though there was a slight smile on her face as well.

Mara pulled back from the embrace, but kept her hands on Ryder's shoulders, looking him all over. "Are you hurt? When we saw all those explosions, and then felt those incredible auras clashing..." She trailed off in worry.

"I'm fine, really" Ryder assured her, though his face was still flushed. He was beginning to wonder how Akira was suddenly showing so much care to him.

This made his mind trail back to the past. He barely have any friends back then and purposely refused to make friend while Akira was quite the brainiac who had many people trying to make friend with her. She turned majority down but yet, somehow, she and Ryder managed to get to know each other.

Though, they hardly ever talked to each other, Ryder still have some brief conversations once in a while.

But wait, why was that memory come back to Ryder now of all times...

"Master Sung," Captain Kyujiro called out with a wide grin plastered across his face, his scarred facial twisted into an expression of crazy delight. "So it is you after all."

"I have to admit," Captain Kyujiro continued, his voice carrying across the battlefield filled with descended pods that were still in their round shape, delaying to bring our what every was inside it.

"I was beginning to wonder if you would show up at all. The great Dwang Sung, leader of the Red Eastern Guild, allowing his newest ally to fight alone against the mighty Falcon Guild."

Captain Kyujiro's grin widened. "Ah, Zhou Sen. I've heard about you. The unstable one. The one who enjoys pain a little too much." His eyes gleamed with interest that matched Zhou's playful attitude.

"Oh wow, look who remembers my name." Captain Kyujiro cheered out in delight. "I'm so surprised."

"Seems like lady luck dropped me a present from the sky," Zhou replied, his body moving instinctively into a fighting stance. "I've been looking for a good fight all day."

"Kyujiro," Master Sung called out, his voice carrying stoic composure. "So he sent you to fo his bidding."

"Oh wow, look who remembers my name," Captain Kyujiro cheered out in delight, his voice carrying fake surprise. "I'm so surprised. After all these years, after everything that's happened, you still remember little old me."

"I remember a lot of things," Master Sung replied, his voice growing colder with each word. "I remember a young boy who used to follow me around the training grounds. I remember someone who used to look up to me like I was some kind of hero even though he was older."

Captain Kyujiro's grin weakened slightly, but he quickly recovered. "That boy grew up, Master Sung. He learned that heroes are just fairy tales, and everyone ones life is worth nothing to him."

"Master Sung," Leo said carefully, "you know this man?"

"Where is Yuki!" The words exploded from Master Sung's lips like a curse.

Captain Kyujiro's grin faltered slightly, but he quickly recovered. "That boy grew up, Master Sung. He learned that heroes are just people who haven't been pushed hard enough yet."

Everyone behind exchanged confused glances.

"You mean Yuki Tian?" Akira questioned, her voice uncertain. She was thinking of the only Yuki she knew—a guild member and ally with the affinity to mind bend.

"No," Master Sung replied sternly, his voice carrying a finality that made it clear this was not a matter for discussion. "My elder brother, Yuki Nakamura!"

This revelation sent everyone gasping in shock. Mara's hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with disbelief. Brok's jaw literally dropped, and even Ryomen's perpetually stoic expression shifted slightly.

"Wait," Mara said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Your brother is the guild leader of the Falcon Guild?"

Yuki Nakamura is your brother!