As the elderly woman led Axel and Hana to the small cottage, Axel couldn't help but notice the villagers' curious glances. The woman, who introduced herself as Elara, offered them food and shelter for the night. As they ate, one of the armed men, a grizzled veteran, approached them. "You're looking for refuge, but you don't know what's been happening here, do you?" he said, his voice low. "There's a strong Korosu terrorizing our village. We've lost many good people to its attacks. We've offered a reward of 20,000 Kyrium to anyone who can defeat it." Axel's ears perked up at the mention of the reward. He glanced at Hana, then back at the veteran. "I'm listening," he said, his voice measured.
The veteran nodded. "If you can kill the Korosu, we'll give you the reward. But you need to understand, it's not going to be easy. That demon is fast and deadly." Axel nodded, his mind racing with strategies. He made a silent agreement with the villagers: in exchange for killing the Korosu, they would protect Hana while he fought, and he would do it alone.
The next day, Axel set out to face the Korosu. He gripped his sword tightly, feeling the weight of the blade in his hand. As he approached the Korosu, he could feel its malevolent energy emanating from it. The battle was intense, with Axel dodging and weaving between the trees. He landed several good hits, his sword slicing through the air with a swift whooshing sound. The Korosu's claws raked across his chest and arms, leaving him bruised and cut. Despite the pain, Axel persisted, using his wits to outmaneuver the demon. He created a makeshift trap, using a network of vines and branches to ensnare the Korosu. With a final, mighty blow, Axel struck the demon's heart, ending its reign of terror.
As he returned to the village, Axel was met with a mixture of relief and admiration. The villagers thanked him, and Axel approached Elara. "I'm looking for the strongest man in the village," Axel said, his eyes scanning the crowd. Elara's expression turned thoughtful. "Ah, you must mean Ryker. He's our master-at-arms. He'll be able to teach you a thing or two about combat."
Axel nodded, his interest piqued. "I'd like to meet him," he said. Elara smiled. "I'll take you to him."
As they walked, Axel asked, "Why didn't you kill the Korosu if you're so strong?" Elara's expression turned enigmatic. "We wanted whoever kills it to be someone who will learn from the experience. Ryker has a special ability that he only teaches to those who prove themselves worthy. And killing the Korosu is the test."
Axel's eyes lit up with interest. "What kind of ability?" Elara's smile grew wider. "It's called Life Force. It's a powerful technique that allows the user to tap into their inner energy and enhance their physical abilities. Ryker will teach you more about it if you're interested."
Axel's determination grew. He was eager to learn the Life Force technique and become stronger, not just for himself, but for Hana's sake as well. Just then, Hana tugged on his arm. "Axel, I want to join you in training," she said, her eyes shining with excitement. Axel hesitated, then nodded. "Alright, Hana. You can train with me."