"Mian Explosive Fist is a technique created purely for killing. Every movement is lethal, and it is a secret skill passed down through my family," I said calmly while looking into Mikasa's eyes. "You must promise me that you will never use it unless there is no other choice."
"Why?" Mikasa asked, confusion clear on her face.
"Power is not meant to bully others. It exists to protect the people and things you care about," I replied.
Mikasa tilted her head and thought quietly for a moment.
"Alright, I promise. Once I master it, I will use this power to protect Mom and Dad, and I will protect Jax too," she said seriously.
I smiled faintly. "I'm going back to sleep for a while. Wake me when the food is ready."
This time, I remained in bed for five days while recovering from my injuries. Fortunately, the remarkable vitality of this world allowed my body to heal faster than expected.
Hank and Yato appeared to notice that something about me was unusual, especially after I gave them mosquito repellent cards made by mixing my blood with crushed herbs and pressing the mixture into stiff paper. The effect worked surprisingly well.
Both of them looked pleasantly surprised, yet neither questioned me. Instead, they simply patted my head.
"Thank you, Jax. Now we won't have to worry about mosquitoes anymore."
I buried my suspicions deep inside. The Ackerman family clearly carried secrets far beyond what appeared on the surface.
Over the following two weeks, I trained Mikasa every morning in the techniques and breathing methods of Mian Explosive Fist. Around ten o'clock, I accompanied Uncle Hank into the forest to chop firewood. After returning home for lunch and a short nap, the afternoon became my hunting time.
By combining my heightened perception and aura awareness, I managed to catch prey almost every day. The rest of my time was spent refining my combat skills and strengthening my body through constant practice.
If the old warriors who once taught these abilities could see me using them to hunt rabbits, they would probably be furious.
Now, only two Demon Hunters should still exist in this world, myself and Renn. If he failed to survive, then I would truly be the last one left.
Sitting beneath a tree and watching the sun slowly sink beyond the horizon, I let out a long breath and cleared my thoughts. Gripping my bow in my left hand while carrying a freshly cleaned wild boar in my right, I began walking home.
At least I still had a family.
I was not alone.
No matter the cost, I would protect everything in front of me.
Mikasa's home stood on a small hill surrounded by dense forest. Only a few distant households existed nearby, and the families rarely interacted. About a kilometer away lay a freshwater lake where I had just finished hunting.
By the time I reached the foot of the hill, dusk had already settled over the land. Warm light from an oil lamp shone from the small house above, and Mikasa stood at the doorway waiting for me.
She wore a simple white dress that made her easy to spot in the fading light.
The moment she noticed me carrying the wild boar, Mikasa hurried down the hill toward me.
"Jax, what did you hunt today?" she asked curiously, examining the animal resting on my shoulder. "Is that a boar?"
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