The evening sun cast a golden glow over the training ground, stretching the soldiers' shadows long across the dirt. Sweat clung to the three children as they gasped for breath, their legs trembling from the countless laps they had run. Around them, the royal guards were no better, their disciplined forms marred by exhaustion.
Garou crossed his arms, his eyes scanning the children with an approving nod. "Not bad," he remarked, his tone measured yet firm. "At this rate, I might start teaching you martial arts in another month."
The three children lit up at the praise. The little emperor, still catching his breath, straightened up as best he could. "We'll work even harder!" he declared, his voice filled with determination.
"Yeah!" the other two chimed in, fists clenched with newfound resolve.
Garou smirked and nodded. "Good. Don't make me regret saying that."
Budo, standing beside him, chuckled as he observed the exchange. The sight of the little emperor growing stronger, both in body and will, filled him with satisfaction. He had spent years shackled by laws and orders, forced to watch the Prime Minister manipulate the boy, knowing there was little he could do without outright rebellion. But Garou—Garou was different. He didn't care about laws or the Prime Minister's influence. He acted as he pleased, and deep down, Budo hoped the old pig would be foolish enough to provoke him.
He really hated that man.
A voice drifted across the courtyard, smooth and confident. "Finally found you, Garou."
The group turned as one, their eyes falling on the source of the voice. A tall, muscular man with a tan complexion approached, his confident stride exuding arrogance. A smirk tugged at his lips as his sharp eyes flickered over the gathered soldiers before settling on the emperor.
He stopped a few feet away and, with a mocking air, bowed slightly. "Your Majesty." His words were polite, but the respect that should have accompanied them was absent.
Garou gazed at him and asked. "Who are you, and what do you want?"
The man straightened, his smirk widening. "The name's Syura. Son of Prime Minister Honest." He met Garou's stare without hesitation. "And I've been looking for you for quite sometime."
Garou showed a surprised look on his face, the man he wanted to find earlier today and was missing for an entire year came to him just like that. Garou turned toward Budo with a questioning look. Budo has a surprised look on his face as well, it was too much of a coincidence. Budo's eyes met Garou's and nodded while saying "Yes, it's him."
Syura noticed their strange exchange and frowned. "What's with that look? Do you already know me?"
Garou ignored the question. "Why are you here?"
Syura's confusion vanished as he flashed another smirk. "Straight to the point. I like that." He crossed his arms. "I have heard a lot about you, Garou. A human monster, strong, ruthless, doesn't bow to anyone. You would fit right in with the team I'm building."
Garou remained silent, but his eyes glinted hearing the term 'human monster'. Behind him, Budo and the emperor both frowned.
After a brief pause, Garou tilted his head. "Your Teigu. It can really teleport people to a different world?"
Syura blinked at the odd question, he didn't expect such a question or that Garou knew about it, but he nodded confidently nonetheless. "Of course. It's Shambhala's trump card. Actually, I just used it a little over a month ago."
Garou's gaze darkened slightly. "And you want me to join your team?"
Syura chuckled. "I just told you—. You'd make a great addition."
Silence stretched between them. Garou stared at him for a moment before speaking again. "So you are using Shambhala's trump card for this team, to complete it?"
Syura hesitated briefly with a surprise on his face before shrugging. He smirked and answered confidently "Impressive, you are as sharp as you are strong. Indeed I used it for that purpose"
Syura's thoughts drift to his team members, they are a group of wild violent individuals and criminals and a show of power is needed to convince them to join him. He found it strange that the news of his action reached Garou, but it proved that he was more than just a muscle. Syura wanted Garou even more.
On the other hand, Garou's entire demeanor changed. His eyes narrowed dangerously, and the air around him shifted. His aura surged—wild, violent, suffocating.
"So it was you." His voice was deathly cold.
Syura's smirk faltered. "Huh?"
Garou's fists clenched. "I have been looking for the bastard who dragged me here since that night. Who would have thought you would just come to me on your own"
Before Syura could process what was being said, a fist crashed into his face. His body rocketed backward, slamming into the ground with a sickening thud. A pained grunt escaped him as he lifted his head, dazed and furious.
"You son of a—"
Syura's hand shot to his pocket, yanking out a small metallic item—his Teigu. He activated it instantly, a swirl of purple energy forming around him. But before the teleportation could take effect, Garou was already on him. His hand moved like a blur, snatching the Teigu out of Syura's grip.
"There's no escape you piece of shit" Garou said, his voice filled with quiet fury.
Syura's breath hitched. For the first time, genuine fear flickered in his eyes. He stared up at Garou, his confidence crumbling. "W-Wait—"
Garou wasn't listening. His aura flared violently. "You're going to regret ever dragging me like that"
A second later, his fists came down.
Syura barely had time to scream before the blows landed. Each punch sent shockwaves through his body, rattling his bones and driving him deeper into the dirt. Blood splattered, the sound of impact sharp and unrelenting.
The soldiers and the emperor stood motionless, watching in silence. Not a single one moved to stop Garou.
Budo, arms crossed, watched the brutal beatdown unfold with a smirk of his own. "Syura must have done something," he muttered approvingly. "Karma came back to bite him at last. I hope his father follow his son's footsteps"
Garou was not going to stop anytime soon, he wanted to make the bastard feel pain.
_____________________
Night had settled over the camp, flickering shadows across the training ground. Syura was barely conscious, tied to a wooden pole, his swollen and bruised face barely recognizable. Dried blood crusted over his split lip, and both of his eyes had swollen shut. Occasionally, a faint groan would escape his lips, but no one paid him any mind. He had brought this upon himself, and not a single soul in the camp seemed inclined to pity him.
Inside a nearby military tent, Garou sat at a plain wooden table, idly spinning the ornate Teigu between his fingers. Seated before him, his three young disciples—Ari, Eren, and the little emperor—watched him with rapt curiosity. Budo stood behind them, arms crossed, his sharp eyes fixed on Garou's hands.
The silence stretched on until, unable to contain himself any longer, the little emperor finally spoke up. "Teacher… what did Syura do to deserve that?"
Garou's fingers stopped their motion as his gaze flicked toward the boy. He studied his small disciple for a moment before leaning back in his chair, exhaling through his nose. "He's the reason I'm here."
The three children exchanged confused glances, while Budo's brow furrowed slightly. "What do you mean?" Budo asked.
Garou's expression darkened slightly, his fingers tightening around the Teigu. "I'm not from this world," he said, his voice calm but firm. "Over a month ago, a purple light flashed in front of me, and before I knew it, I was here. Since then, I have been looking for a lead on what caused it, but I've had nothing to go on." He tapped the Teigu lightly against the table. "Until now."
The revelation left his audience like clap of thunder. Ari's mouth hung open slightly, Eren's brows knitted together in disbelief, and even the emperor—who had been expecting something significant—looked dumbfounded. It was Budo who finally found his voice. "That's… absurd," he muttered, rubbing his temple. But as ridiculous as it sounded, it explained too much.
Budo shook his head. "No wonder no one's heard of you before. Someone with your strength and high profile actions couldn't have just gone unnoticed."
Garou merely shrugged, unconcerned with Budo's reasoning. "Doesn't matter. What matters is figuring out how to use this thing." He lifted the Teigu, studying it intently. "If it can send me back, I need to learn how."
The moment those words left his mouth, Ari, Eren, and the emperor stiffened, distressed expressions crossing their faces. Eren was the first to protest. "You're planning to leave us?"
"We're finally making progress, and you're just going to go?" Ari added, frustration leaking into her voice.
The emperor didn't speak, but the look in his eyes spoke volumes. He had already grown attached to Garou in the short time they had known each other. The thought of losing his teacher clearly unsettled him.
Garou frowned slightly. "If I can move between both worlds, then I don't have to leave for good." He leaned forward, his tone firm but not unkind. "I'm not abandoning you."
In truth, he wasn't sure how much of that he believed himself. He had no idea what awaited him back in his world. His last memory before the purple light had been running after heros-monsters war, one that had left an entire city in ruins. If he returned, what would await him? He was a monster that caused too much damage and he had no doubt a fight was waiting for him.
The children, however, didn't seem comforted by his words. Their shoulders remained tense, doubt lingering in their eyes.
Budo, who had been silent through their exchange, let out a deep breath. "For now, don't do anything reckless," he said, his authoritative tone breaking the heavy atmosphere. "We don't know how to utilize Shambhala's power. It's best to get information from the Royal archive and Syura…. once he can talk again."
Garou clicked his tongue in irritation but ultimately nodded. He glanced toward the training ground where Syura hung limply from the pole. "Damn it," he muttered under his breath. "I should've focused on his limbs instead of his face."
Budo smirked slightly at the comment but said nothing. He, for one, had no complaints about Syura's current state. Garou, on the other hand, would just have to be patient.