LIFE HUNTER

Life Hunter Chapter3: The Shadow Elemental

Four more years passed in the mountains of Akihara. Kaijen was now eight years old. His face was still childlike—thin cheeks, small nose, and those deep eyes always lost somewhere far away. But his hair... it was now completely sky blue. Glowing in the sunlight, as if the clear sky over the mountains was trapped inside them. Every morning, his hair shone brighter, and people stopped to stare.Kaijen spoke even less now. He went to school but made no friends. Kids came to him, trying to talk. "Kaijen, wanna play?" "Your hair is so cool!" He just smiled or nodded. At home, he was quiet too. His mom would pick him up, "Beta, say something." But he only stared. In his mind, there was only one thing—power. Time and the 118 elements. Every night, practice in the forest. Stopping the wind, reversing water droplets, shaking soil atoms. Control was growing, but so was his loneliness.One day, walking home from school, something felt off. Akihara's main market—small shops on a narrow street where people drank tea and bought vegetables. Kaijen walked slowly, an old book in hand. Suddenly, the air felt wrong. Elements... vibrating. Oxygen atoms spinning fast, like someone was pulling them. Kaijen stopped. He closed his eyes. Felt it. This wasn't his.Someone else was there. Controlling elements. Somewhere far, in the alley behind the market.God's voice echoed in his memory. Two years ago, in the crib. "Besides you, many others have the power to control elements. But very few can handle more than two. You... you have them all. For balance."Kaijen's heart raced. This was it. Another elemental. And maybe... a threat.He headed toward the alley. People noticed—"Hey Kaijen, where you going?" But he didn't stop. He reached the alley. There stood a man. About thirty, thin build, black coat. Red fire sparks in his hands—fire element. He glared at a beggar, and coins flew from the beggar's pocket, floating through the air into his hand. Like telekinesis, boosted by fire.The man saw Kaijen. Smiled. "Little blue hair. Watching?"Kaijen stayed silent. But he sensed it—this man controlled not just fire, but air too. Two elements. Rare.The man laughed. "Get lost, kid." Fire sparks shot toward him, but Kaijen slowed time. The sparks froze mid-air. Back to normal speed. The man was shocked. "You... what was that?"Kaijen spoke, for the first time in years: "Who are you?"The man tried to run, but Kaijen raised his hand. Time slowed again. The man's strength halted. Kaijen walked up, grabbed his throat. Time normal. "Tell me."The man panicked. "I'm... I'm Ryu. From Life of Elementals. We live with the elements. Take power, use it. What do you know?"Life of Elementals. Kaijen remembered God's warning. This group was evil. They misused elements—stealing, fighting, breaking balance. The line between heaven and hell."Ryu, how many in your group?" Kaijen's voice was cold.Ryu laughed. "Lots. We're the strongest. We have the red oath—blood oath. Once you join, forever together. Come with us, blue boy. Your power... boss will like it."Kaijen's anger rose. He sensed elements—iron in Ryu's blood, carbon in his coat. Not yet. "Where's your group?"Ryu went quiet. Kaijen pressed time—Ryu's heartbeat slowed. In fear, he said, "Across the mountains, old temple. Two days away. But don't go... they'll eat you alive."Kaijen let go. Ryu ran, leaving a fire trail.Kaijen went home. Thought all night. Life of Elementals. Evil group. Against balance. God said—hunt threats. This was the first.Next day, Kaijen started the search. Skipped school. Went to the forest, tracking elements. Ryu's fire traces—like red smoke. Toward the mountains. Day one, nothing. Day two, exhausted. Day three, evening, near a cave. There was Ryu, with others. Five men. All using elements—one making water droplets, another shaking the ground.Kaijen hid. Listened. "Boss wants the blue hair kid. He controls time. Perfect for the red oath."Ryu: "I'll bring him. But he's strong."Kaijen's decision was set. Time to hunt.Night fell. Moonlight outside the cave. Ryu stepped out alone to drink water. Kaijen appeared. "Ryu."Ryu turned, made fireballs. "You! How here?"Kaijen waved his hand. Time STOPPED. The world froze. Ryu's fireballs stuck in air. Water drop halted. Leaves, wind, everything.Kaijen walked up. Grabbed Ryu's throat. Time normal. Ryu collapsed, gasping. "What... how?"Kaijen said, "Life of Elementals ends. You're the first prey."Ryu laughed, coughing. "You don't get it. We don't want balance, we want power. Angels from heaven, demons from hell—all on our side. Red oath... bound by blood. Boss will avenge you."Kaijen sensed elements. Iron atoms in Ryu's heart. Shook them—Ryu's face turned red, screamed in pain. "Stop! I'll tell everyone!"But then voices from the cave. Others came. "What happened to Ryu?"Kaijen slowed time again. They moved slow. He picked up Ryu, carried him to the forest. Dropped him there. "Run. Tell your group—Lifehunter is coming."Ryu fled in terror.Kaijen back to Akihara. Home, mom asked, "Beta, so late where were you?" He said, "Playing in the forest, Mama." First time speaking so much.Inside, lying on bed, he thought. It begins now. Other elementals exist. Life of Elementals is evil. Red oath—blood vow binding them. But me... I'm the bridge. Time is mine, elements mine.Far in the mountains, cave, Ryu told his people. "A boy... sky blue hair. Stops time. Must tell boss."A shadow said, "Boss knows. He's happy. New prey found."God's voice echoed in Kaijen's ears, in the dark. "First hunt done, Lifehunter. Next will be bigger. Get ready."His sky blue eyes glowed. The eight-year-old boy was now a hunter.