Rise of the Rejected Deity from Chaos-Chapter 71 - 70: The Beginning of a New Journey

Tokyo, the heart of Japan, is a city consumed by chaos—a battleground where Awakeners, Dewakeners, Demons, Rogues, and countless other entities clash in an unending struggle. Though the conflict spans the entire country, it is here, in this city, that fate is ultimately decided.

At the city’s core stands the Saviors of Humanity Academy (SHA), a towering institution that serves both as a training ground for new recruits and the headquarters for missions. Awakeners of all ages gather here, honing their abilities and undertaking missions that maintain the world’s delicate balance. While smaller branches exist throughout Japan, this academy is the central stronghold.

Each year, a rigorous examination is held to determine which aspiring Awakeners will gain entry, to become full-fledged Saviors of Humanity. Within its walls, experienced warriors and newcomers alike coexist, united in their mission.

_ _ _

Hayne, Seiya, and his elite along with Seiya’s mother sat together on the bus they had boarded from Sendai. The vehicle had a 3-2 seat layout, allowing all three— Seiya, his mom and Hayne to sit side by side. While Seiya’s elite sat on the seat next to them on the opposite side. It was already a few minutes past noon, and only now were they arriving in Tokyo after parting ways with the others that morning.

As the bus pulled into the terminal, passengers began scrambling to disembark. Amidst the commotion, Hayne glanced at Seiya, noting the way he kept rubbing his palm over his eyes—something he had been doing throughout the ride.

Leaning in to be heard over the bustling crowd, Hayne spoke. "Sei, are you alright?"

Seiya, his palm still resting over his eyes, took a moment before responding with his signature reply. "Mn."

With people brushing past them and the terminal bustling with movement, Hayne didn’t press further and accepted the response at face value.

They stepped off the bus and strolled through the terminal, blending into the steady flow of travelers, making sure his grip over Seiya’s mom that rested on his back was firm. But just as they moved, an oppressive presence swept over the area like a gathering storm. The air thickened with malice, as sinister aura spread like a creeping fog, laced with such potent bloodlust that it sent an icy shudder down Hayne and Seiya’s elite’s spine. A wave of goosebumps tore across their skin, halting them on their tracks.

Hayne’s eyes darted wildly, scanning the crowd for the source of the suffocating energy. Then, as he turned, his breath hitched. His eyes widened in alarm, his mouth going dry.

Four figures were advancing toward them.

Hayne’s heart pounded as he took in their appearance. They weren’t ordinary men. They were Rogues—specifically, members of ’The Ridders’, a notorious organization whose reputation was built on merciless brutality. Civilians, innocents, it didn’t matter—once The Ridders set their sights on someone, their fate was sealed.

Hayne knew this because he had studied them. During the days they had spent holed up in the abandoned building, he had meticulously researched the current state of the world, the shifting power dynamics—and the dangers lurking within it.

As he glanced around, the hushed murmurs and fearful glances from the surrounding crowd confirmed his suspicions. He wasn’t mistaken. How could he be?

Their signature attire was unmistakable—a thick black sash with a narrow slit running down the middle, through which a thin, red sinuous strip of fabric coiled like a serpent. The sash was always clipped to the back of their collars, trailing behind them in fluid, ominous waves with every step.

Hayne swallowed hard, cold sweat beading along his forehead. His mind raced. While many recognized the group, not everyone could perceive the sheer killing intent radiating from them. Hayne knew that if they so much as caught The Ridders’ attention, it would mean trouble—trouble he had no intention of inviting on their first day in Tokyo. Worse, there was no certainty they could even win if a fight broke out.

Without hesitation, Hayne grabbed Seiya by the wrist, motioning for the elite to follow as he yanked Seiya into a shadowed corner.

"Stay low," he murmured, crouching behind the cover while peering cautiously from a distance. His eyes followed the gang’s every step, each one steeped in raw, unrestrained bloodlust.

Then, something struck him.

Seiya hadn’t protested. Normally, he would have resisted being manhandled the way he dragged him, but this time, he remained silent. That alone was enough to make Hayne turn, his gut tightening with unease. But the moment he laid eyes on Seiya, shock tore through him, a sharp gasp escaping his lips.

His head snapped back toward The Ridders in panic, fearing he had drawn their attention. But with the terminal still alive with noise and movement, the sound was swallowed by the crowd.

Relieved yet unsettled, Hayne slowly turned back to Seiya—dread pooling in his chest.

There was blood.

Seiya’s hand was clamped over his eyes, but red streaks trickled through his fingers, trailing down his pale cheeks.

"What happened?" Hayne whispered, his voice tight with confusion and worry.

But he couldn’t focus entirely on Seiya—the gang was still within sight.

His gaze flickered between them and Seiya, torn between immediate danger and the unsettling realization unfolding before him—until something struck him like ice in the veins.

He could feel the overwhelming aura radiating from The Ridders. Not just him—anyone with enough power and awareness could.

And Seiya?

Seiya’s strong so his presence would be anything but subtle. His power, his aura—it would be far too potent to go unnoticed.

What if they sensed him?

What if, even amidst the crowd, his overwhelming energy singled them out?

Fear twisted in Hayne’s guts. His pulse pounded erratically, his breath coming shallow and uneven. His wide eyes tracked the gang’s every step, waiting, dreading—until they disappeared entirely did Hayne dare to exhale freely.

The moment they were out of sight, his body sagged with relief, his racing thoughts finally slowing.

Instantly, he turned to Seiya, letting Seiya’s mom rest against the wall before he clasped Seiya’s face between his palms, tilting it up to examine him.

"What happened?" he demanded, eyes scanning him in growing concern. But Seiya remained silent, his expression unreadable beneath his blood-streaked fingers.

Hayne’s finger hovered near his eyes. He studied Seiya’s face, searching for an explanation—searching for anything that made sense.

"How did this happen?" he pressed again, his voice tense.

At last, Seiya’s lips parted. His voice was soft and distant.

"…It stings."

Hayne immediately loosened his grip. "Why? All of a sudden?"

But Seiya only turned his face away, burying it deeper into his hands. This caused Hayne’s worry to only deepen.

"Does it hurt much? Can you see?" Hayne asked urgently.

There was a long pause.

Then, in a quiet voice, Seiya spoke. "I can’t see."

Hayne’s breath hitched. He knew Seiya’s eyes were beyond ordinary—they possessed abilities far exceeding normal sight. Even now, with blood trickling from them, he hadn’t thought for a second that their abilities would be completely obstructed.

"Nothing at all?" Hayne asked for clarification.

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"It’s all dark," Seiya murmured.

A shiver ran through Hayne. He watched as Seiya remained still, his fingers hovering over his eyes and pressing against his temples as if shielding himself from something unseen.

Then, a thought struck him.

"…Could it be that the sunlight is hurting your eyes?" he asked cautiously.

"Yes," Seiya answered, voice barely above a whisper. "It’s too bright… It scorches my eyes."

Hayne’s brows furrowed. Light sensitivity wasn’t unheard of. But this—this level of pain, this bleeding—was unlike anything Hayne had ever seen.

He took a slow breath, pushing down his unease. "Alright. Keep your eyes closed and your head down. I’ll guide you."

Using his clothes and with gentle care, he wiped the blood he could from Seiya’s face, then helped him to his feet after steadying Seiya’s mom on his back.

"Where?" Seiya asked as he was led forward. The question was short, almost incomplete but Hayne understood.

"To my uncle’s house," Hayne answered.

"Assuming he still lives there."

The walk was long, stretching across unfamiliar streets and quiet alleyways. Yet when they finally arrived, the house was eerily vacant, as if abandoned for years.

Left with no other choice, he asked around. A few locals pointed him toward a shop, supposedly owned by his uncle.

A craft shop, to be exact.

The moment they stepped inside, the scent of metal and wood filled Hayne’s lungs. At the far end of the shop, a man sat at a workbench, carefully shaping a weapon. The rhythmic sound of his craft halted the instant he noticed them.

A tense, suffocating silence shrouded the atmosphere.

Hayne froze. His breath hitched as his gaze locked onto the man before him. A storm of emotions swirled within him—relief, disbelief, longing. His pupils trembled, glistening with unshed tears.

"Uncl—" His voice barely made it past his lips before the man moved.

With startling speed, he shot up from his seat, a dagger gleaming in his grip.

And then he lunged—not at Hayne, but at Seiya.