Acheron in Tensura

In the forest of Jura, Acheron was sitting under an umbrella. It was raining, and she was aimlessly walking forward. The rain was quite strong. Then she spotted a rock, sat on it, and waited for two days for the rain to stop. She meditated on the rock, her posture serene. After a long while, she opened her mouth.

"I think you have been watching me long enough. Show yourself."

She looked toward the bushes, which began to rustle. A boy in his teens emerged from the foliage, two white horns protruding from his forehead. His long black hair was tied into a low ponytail, and he looked nervous.

...

(Unknown POV)

...

"It's been raining for weeks. I hope it stops soon so I can train with my grandfather."

I was sitting in my family's house. We are proud ogre warriors. 'One day, when I grow up, I will become the strongest swordsman of our race,' I thought, glancing at my mother.

'I want to hunt some monsters. But...'

I stared at the rain outside. It was relentless. As one of the soon-to-be warriors of our clan, I didn't yet have a name. Only my grandfather was bestowed with a name. 'I hope I will get one soon.'

From the kitchen, my mother screamed, "Dinner is ready!"

Everyone gathered—me, my father, my mother, and my grandfather. We ate in silence, the clicking of chopsticks the only sound.

"The rainy season will end soon," my grandfather said, looking at me. "I hope you'll be ready for our training. And no running off to hunt monsters."

I liked training with my grandfather, but monster hunting was more exciting. My father glanced at me. "Go to sleep."

I nodded and went to bed, slowly drifting to sleep.

'I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow,' I thought.

In my dream, I saw a woman. She wore clothing similar to ours, though somehow different. She had purple hair and an umbrella. I could only see her back as she slowly turned toward me, but—

"Wake up, sweetheart! You have training today!"

I woke up to my mother shaking me. 'Who was that woman?'

I got up. The rain had stopped, and sunlight shone over our village. Quickly, I put on my training robes and jumped out the window.

"Hey! No jumping out the window!" my mother yelled.

But I was already gone.

At the training ground, my grandfather stood with his arms crossed, eyes closed in concentration.

"You're here. Let's begin."

He handed me a wooden katana and smiled wickedly. "Attack me."

"Wait—"

"There is no waiting in battle!"

He appeared behind me, aiming to strike.

"Ugh!"

I barely managed to block. This continued for an hour until another ogre approached us, panting.

"Byakuy-sama, we have trouble. The patrol squad is injured!"

Grandfather looked at me. "Run laps around the training ground until the sun sets."

He turned and left with the other ogre. I started to run but quickly grew bored.

'Since my grandfather won't be back until late...' I grinned mischievously. 'I can go hunt some monsters.'

I grabbed a katana from the stand and headed into the forest. I knew the terrain well, so maneuvering was easy. 'If I catch the creature that hurt the patrol, I'll be revered as a warrior.'

I ran toward the noise and found a clearing with fallen trees and craters. Hiding in the bushes, I saw nothing—then I felt a surge of magicules.

Looking up, I saw a dragon.

"A middle dragon!"

It locked eyes with me and began gathering energy in its mouth.

"Oh..."

It fired. I dodged, but the attack grazed my hand, leaving it numb. I needed to run.

The dragon dove headfirst, trying to bite me. I barely avoided it.

'Why is it this close to our village?'

"Agh!"

I stumbled and ran in a panic, moving further from the village. Lightning crackled behind me. A bolt struck me, and I stumbled again.

Ahead was a cliff. With nowhere else to go, I looked down. Below was a water stream feeding into a lake.

3... 2... 1...

I jumped, plunging into the lake below. My consciousness slipped away.

I woke up coughing, water pouring out of my lungs. I didn't know how much time had passed. Disoriented, I started walking.

Wandering through the forest, I saw someone. It was the woman from my dream, sitting cross-legged on a rock with an umbrella over her head. Her eyes were closed. She was beautiful.

Minutes passed as I stared at her, mesmerized. Then she spoke.

"I think you've been watching me long enough."

'She knew I was here?'

I revealed myself. Her fierce, cold purple eyes opened, meeting mine. Her stoic expression unnerved me.

"So?"

I gulped. "I'm sorry. I got separated from my village and hurt. I don't mean any trouble—I just want to go home."

She turned away. "I see." Closing her eyes, she seemed to ignore me.

"Are you human?" I asked hesitantly.

She opened her eyes again, but there was no annoyance—only emptiness.

"I am of your kind. But I have evolved far beyond the ogre lineage."

I stared at her forehead, noting the absence of horns. "What is your race called?"

"Emenater."

I struggled to comprehend. The highest power level of our race was the Oni, and even that was a legend.

"Do you have a name?" I asked. "Can you tell me?"

"Acheron," she replied without hesitation.

"And what were you before Emenater?"

"I was Oni, but that was long ago."

"If I'm not rude... how long ago?"

She gazed at the ground. "I'm not sure, but it was around the time of the first hero."

I froze. 'If she's telling the truth... she's our ancestor.' Her clothing style was similar to ours.

"If you're our ancestor, will you come to our village?"

"No."

"But why? Everyone would welcome you."

She sighed. "I don't like to interfere with the lives of ogres. The last time I did..." She trailed off, a flicker of emotion crossing her face. It was brief, but I saw it.

I decided not to push further.

"Can I challenge you to a battle? Just a spar—nothing serious."

She stood, revealing an overly long katana, still sheathed.

"Come at me," she said.

I assumed a stance, but she remained still. My legs refused to move. I began to tremble.

'What is this?'

She wasn't using any spells or skills. It was pure presence.

"Do you think you can become strong with such feeble resolve?"

She stepped forward, releasing killing intent.

'She's a monster.'

Blood oozed from my nose, mouth, and ears. She took another step.

"You're just a weak-minded child."

Another step. Her hand reached out toward me.

"Are you going to do nothing?"

Her hand closed in. I saw death. Then I thought of my family—my grandfather, my father, my mother. From somewhere, I found the strength to tilt my head to the side.

Her hand missed.

She withdrew it, and the pressure vanished. My knees buckled, and I collapsed, panting. Blood still dripped from my face.

"Congratulations. How does it feel to overcome the fear of death?"

I looked at her, her eyes as emotionless as ever.

'If I hadn't dodged, I would've died.'

On the ground, I bowed deeply, touching my forehead to the dirt.

"Please, teach me!"

(End of chapter)