Chapter 20 - Departure into Unknown
A few months had passed since Rudra's intense battle against Zoro, and in that time, major changes had occurred.
The first and most striking change happened right after the fight. Exhausted, Rudra returned home to rest, only to wake up a week later—having been unconscious the entire time.
When he finally awoke, he discovered drastic transformations in his body.
His once-black hair had turned pure white, his height had increased to 6'3", and he had unlocked a new demonic ability: Sword Illusion.
However, despite these changes, his Rinnegan remained dormant.
Beyond his physical transformation, Rudra had also gained new powers from his battle with Zoro.
With Zoro's guidance, he had successfully learned Haki, further enhancing his combat prowess.
Now, Rudra sat outside his house, observing the sparring match between Romeo and his clone. As the clash of swords rang through the air, he decided to check his status.
###
Status
Name: Rudra
Age: 20
Race: Human / Demon
Title: Sage / Demon Hunter
Bloodline: Uchiha / Senju / Sparda
Class: Swordsman / Ninja
Abilities: Perfect Body / Soul of the Sword / Emotional Resonance / Dimension Shift / Demon Haki
Stats
Strength: SSS
Endurance: SSS
Dexterity: SSS
Agility: SSS
Intelligence: SSS
Willpower: SSS
Chakra: SSS
Chakra Control: SSS
Chakra Nature: Fire / Lightning / Earth / Water / Wind
Shop: Available
Coins: 810
Quest: Active
###
As Rudra tapped on his Status, he focused on his newly unlocked ability: Dimension Shift. A new screen popped up, displaying its description:
###
Dimension Shift
"After activating this ability, the user will be transported across the multiverse unpredictably. The destination, time, and circumstances of arrival are completely unknown."
###
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Rudra let out a deep sigh. This ability had awakened after his battle with Zoro, and he could already tell where it came from—Zoro's infamous tendency to get lost.
The idea of randomly being thrown into different worlds with no control over when or where didn't sit well with him, but he knew it could be useful in the right situation.
Shaking his head, he moved his attention to another ability—one that had changed since his awakening. What was once just Haki had now evolved into Demon Haki. Curious, he tapped on it.
###
Demon Haki
"A corrupted and enhanced version of Haki, fused with demonic energy. This ability not only grants the user advanced mastery over Observation, Armament, and Conqueror's Haki, but also imbues them with unique demonic properties."
Effects:
Demon's Will: The user's Conqueror's Haki instills overwhelming fear and madness in weaker beings, while even strong-willed opponents feel a crushing presence.
Abyssal Armament: The user's Armament Haki becomes infused with demonic energy, making it far stronger than conventional Haki. Weapons coated in this energy gain increased durability, cutting power, and an eerie black-and-red glow.
Hell's Instinct: An enhanced version of Observation Haki, allowing the user to predict movements with supernatural clarity and even sense killing intent from other dimensions.
###
Rudra's eyes darkened as he read the description. His body had undergone massive changes after his week-long slumber, and it seemed his abilities had evolved as well.
He clenched his fist. "First Zoro, now this... Just what am I becoming?" he muttered.
With a sigh, he turned his gaze back toward the sparring match between Romeo and his clone.
Rudra watched as Romeo sparred against his clone, a small smile forming on his face. Unlike before, Romeo was no longer just brawling—he was now using proper martial arts. His progress was impressive.
After a few more minutes, the spar came to an end. Romeo lay on the ground, exhausted, while the clone stood victorious. Seeing this, Rudra called out, "Hey, brat, come here."
Hearing this, Romeo groaned and stood up. "I'm not a brat!" he shouted as he made his way toward Rudra.
Once he arrived, he crossed his arms and asked, "What do you need?"
Rudra raised an eyebrow. "Is that how you talk to your master, brat?"
Romeo scoffed. "What master? All you do is send your clone to fight while you just sit there loafing around!"
Rudra chuckled. "You know what? You're right."
Romeo's eyes lit up, a wide grin forming on his face. "Wait, really? Does that mean you're finally gonna teach me something new?"
Rudra nodded. "Yeah, I'll teach you a new technique. It's called—"
Romeo eagerly repeated, "It's called—?"
With a smirk, Rudra finished, "—Master's House Chores."
Romeo's excitement immediately shattered. "You just want me to do chores, you bastard!" he shouted.
Rudra smirked and crossed his arms. "What are you talking about, brat? It's an honor to do your master's house chores."
Romeo muttered under his breath, "Lazy-ass master..."
Rudra's smirk widened as he leaned back. "I heard that. Now get to work."
Grumbling and cursing under his breath, Romeo stormed off to start doing chores, leaving Rudra chuckling in amusement.
***
Just like that, more months passed. It was now the year X790, with only six months left until Fairy Tail returned.
During this time, Rudra had completed several missions and trained Romeo in deadly martial arts. He also introduced him to Observation Haki and taught him how to wield a knife. However, despite Romeo's efforts, he was still unable to awaken Observation Haki.
Right now, the two were engaged in a spar. Romeo attacked relentlessly, trying to land a hit, but Rudra effortlessly deflected or blocked each strike.
"What are you doing, brat?" Rudra taunted as he caught Romeo's leg mid-air just as he attempted a kick to the face. With a flick of his wrist, he threw Romeo across the battlefield.
Romeo twisted his body mid-air, somersaulting before landing on his feet. He looked at Rudra, confused. "What do you mean?"
Rudra's gaze sharpened as he locked eyes with Romeo. "Don't hold back, brat. Come at me with the intent to kill."
Romeo hesitated. "But—"
Before he could finish, Rudra's eyes turned cold. His voice carried a chilling edge as he interrupted, "I've told you countless times—show no mercy to your enemies, or it will lead to your death."
Romeo clenched his fists before nodding. "I understand."
Without hesitation, he reached behind his back and pulled out a dagger. Seeing this, Rudra smirked.
"Now, come at me."
Romeo's eyes sharpened with determination as he charged. Watching the shift in Romeo's expression, Rudra's smirk widened. "Good."
As the dagger swung toward him, Rudra smoothly dodged, his movements fluid and precise.
Romeo dashed forward, gripping his dagger tightly as he aimed a slash at Rudra's chest.
Rudra effortlessly sidestepped, watching Romeo's movements with a critical eye. "Your stance is too stiff, brat. Loosen up or you'll be predictable."
Romeo gritted his teeth and quickly pivoted, launching a spinning kick aimed at Rudra's ribs.
With a smirk, Rudra raised his arm, blocking the kick with ease. "Better. But you're still hesitating. If you commit to an attack, don't pull back halfway."
Not giving Romeo a chance to retreat, Rudra countered with a sweeping leg kick. Romeo barely managed to leap over it, but the moment his feet touched the ground, Rudra was already in front of him.
"Too slow."
A powerful palm strike slammed into Romeo's chest, sending him skidding backward. He coughed but quickly regained his footing, determination burning in his eyes.
"Good. Now again."
Romeo tightened his grip on the dagger, charging in once more. This time, he feinted a stab to Rudra's side before twisting his wrist and slashing upward toward his chin.
Rudra smirked, dodging at the last second. "That's more like it. But don't rely too much on tricks. A true warrior is unpredictable by nature, not by design."
Romeo didn't pause—he spun into another attack, this time bringing his knee up toward Rudra's stomach.
"Hmm... Good speed, but—"
Before Romeo could react, Rudra grabbed his knee mid-air and flipped him over, slamming him onto the ground.
Romeo groaned, lying on his back. "Damn it...!"
Rudra stepped over him, arms crossed. "You're improving, brat. But you still hesitate. In battle, there's no time for doubt. When you strike, commit. When you defend, be absolute. There is no in-between."
Romeo exhaled sharply before nodding. "Got it... One more round!"
Rudra smirked. "That's the spirit. Now get up."
After a few more hours of sparring, they finally stopped. Romeo lay on the ground, utterly exhausted, drenched in sweat, and breathing heavily. Meanwhile, Rudra stood over him, arms crossed, looking down at his student.
"I'm beat..." Romeo huffed, trying to catch his breath.
Rudra smirked. "You did good, brat."
Romeo groaned, wiping sweat from his forehead. "But I still couldn't land a single hit on you."
Rudra let out a small chuckle. "If hitting me was that easy, you wouldn't need a teacher, brat."
Romeo clicked his tongue in frustration but didn't argue.
After a brief silence, Rudra spoke again. "Starting tomorrow, you'll be training on your own."
Romeo sat up, his expression turning serious. "Are you going somewhere?"
Rudra nodded. "Yeah. And I don't know when I'll be back."
Romeo's eyes flickered with something—concern, maybe—but he simply nodded in understanding. Without another word, he got up and started walking toward Rudra's house.
Rudra raised an eyebrow. "Where do you think you're going, brat?"
Romeo stopped and turned back, shrugging. "Doing the chores... Like usual." His voice was flat, as if stating an obvious fact.
Rudra chuckled. "No need for that today, brat. Go home."
Romeo blinked, looking at Rudra for a moment before nodding. "Alright... See ya, Master." With that, he turned and walked toward his own home.
Now alone, Rudra exhaled and looked up at the night sky. "Alright... System."
A mechanical voice responded in his mind.
[What is it, Host?]
Rudra's eyes gleamed. "Activate Dimension Shift."
In the blink of an eye, he vanished from where he stood, disappearing into the unknown.