A Hero Who Returns But Is Out Of Place

Inside the building, just as Kaoru had suspected, lay a research facility filled with horror. Rows of incubation tubes lined the walls, each containing a human modified with DNA from otherworldly creatures—orc, ogre, and various other beings. The sight sent waves of intense revulsion through Kaoru. In one of the tubes, he saw a mutation of a wolf with red eyes filled with hatred, looking like a wild beast trapped in a human body. Disgust overwhelmed his mind, reminding him of dark memories from another world he had once traversed—the universal evil of human greed, it seemed, knew no bounds, regardless of the world.

The bad memories from the past surged in his mind, bringing forth emotions he wished to forget forever. The horrifying events he had witnessed—humans sacrificing one another for power, money, and dominance. All these things filled him with a burning rage within his heart.

Not wanting to linger in this sinful building, Kaoru began to move. Along the way, he slaughtered many guards with his bare hands, enveloped in an Aura—the destructive element he had mastered to perfection. This Aura was not just ordinary energy; it was life force transformed into a destructive power. With Aura, Kaoru's body was strengthened to the point where he could destroy anything in his path, sharpening and enhancing every object he touched.

This Aura was not just physical strength; it also heightened his senses to their maximum, making him an unparalleled warrior. In another world, Aura was divided into seven levels known as Aura Stars, centred around the life core of an individual—for humans, this core was the heart. The higher one's achievement in the levels of Aura, the stronger they became. However, Kaoru was an exception. He was the only one in history to reach the Ninth Star level, a level that surpassed existing concepts of power, making him equal to a god. With this power, he was even able to kill the World Eater, a being from outer space known as a cosmic entity, although the greatest challenge came from the World Eater's cunning minions who wielded corrupt powers.

Kaoru took a deep breath, feeling slightly weary of the endless violence. However, there was no time to rest as more orcs appeared before him, each carrying deadly weapons—axes, swords, rifles, bazookas, even machine guns. Yet, among all these threats, one caught Kaoru's interest—a War Machine, a mechanical weapon developed by this research facility. It was large and sturdy, equipped with various heavy weapons, ready to destroy anything in its path.

Kaoru only smirked, his relaxed demeanour seemingly mocking the danger in front of him. Calmly, he slid his hands into the pockets of his coat, his red-glinting eyes gazing at the orcs and War Machine before him with a look of confidence.

"Do you really think you can defeat me with toys like that?" Kaoru said with a tone full of derision, his voice echoing throughout the room.

The War Machine at the front let out a threatening mechanical roar, its heavy weapons began to move, locking onto Kaoru as their target.

"So, you want to try your luck?" Kaoru raised an eyebrow, still with a relaxed attitude. "Very well, let's see how far you can go."

In an instant, the atmosphere around Kaoru changed drastically. The Aura in his body began to radiate with terrifying intensity, enveloping the entire area with vibrating energy. The wind swirled fiercely around him, making his black coat billow wildly, creating an image of an almost invincible figure.

"This is the end of your game," Kaoru said, his voice turning cold and firm, leaving no room for compromise. "I will show no mercy."

Soon after, the corridor that had been filled with the roar of machines and angry shouts fell into a heavy silence, a silence that hung in the air like a weight. There were no more cries for mercy or curses from those he had faced—only the oppressive stillness remained. Kaoru stood there, with a cold gaze surveying the aftermath of his actions.

"Fools," he sighed quietly, his voice almost like a whisper in the wind. He continued walking without so much as a glance back. Even the clothes he wore were untainted, as if the brutal battle that had just occurred was nothing more than a passing breeze to him. This was a testament to how strong and resilient he was—even in chaos, he stood unshaken.

Throughout the long corridor, the scene left behind was truly horrifying. The floor was flooded with blood flowing like a red river, mingling with scattered organs and shattered machine parts. All of it merged into one in a grim and horrific tableau. Kaoru, once a great hero in another world, now stood amidst a scene of horror that mirrored the darkness consuming his soul.

His courage, his strength, all had shaped him into an extraordinary figure—but at a great cost. Half of his humanity had been lost in the process, eroded by the brutality and cruelty he had witnessed and experienced. In another world, compassion was something disgusting and unnecessary—a weakness that could be exploited by his enemies. That thought had been ingrained so deeply in his mind, carried with him into this world.

Kaoru walked expressionlessly, like a machine programmed for a single purpose: to complete his mission. "Compassion? What is that?" he thought bitterly. In this world, as in any other, compassion would only be a weakness. And here, weakness had no place.

As he continued to walk, the silence that followed Kaoru was a marker of the trail he left behind—a trail of destruction and unyielding resolve. But deep within, in a place he didn't want to acknowledge, there was a small voice whispering, questioning whether the price he had paid was too high. However, that voice was quickly silenced by the reality before him: in this world, as in any other, only the strong survive.

---

In one of the hidden rooms within the building, a researcher appeared frantic, hastily packing up his belongings. Cold sweat trickled down his forehead as he desperately searched for the valuable research data to secure. He had already witnessed the extraordinary power of the intruder through the CCTV footage—and the sight had truly sent shivers down his spine. That man, with unimaginable strength, had obliterated everything they had built with blood and sweat over the years.

The research they had painstakingly developed, the hopes they had pinned on advanced war machines, all reduced to worthless scraps of flesh and metal. The war machines they had prided themselves on, the pinnacle of their most advanced technology, could not withstand even a single blow from that man. What they once considered the height of technology now seemed like outdated toys in the face of such immeasurable power. Everything they had fought for appeared futile in the blink of an eye.

Yet, amidst his panic, the researcher found a glimmer of hope. "At least we have a Taimanin here," he muttered, his breath ragged. His hands trembled as his fingers danced across the keyboard, programming something with incredible speed. "Even though her mind hasn't been fully programmed to obey the organisation's commands, at least I can use her to buy me some time!" His voice was filled with desperation and a fragile hint of confidence.

Before the researcher stood a tall incubation chamber, containing a beautiful woman in an unconscious state. Mizuki Shiranui, a 34-year-old woman with an appearance that belied her age. Her youthful face and voluptuous figure, clad in a tight outfit that exuded the aura of a Taimanin kunoichi, made her look far younger than she truly was. Her brown hair cascaded to her shoulders, with long bangs slightly dishevelled, partially covering her glowing red eyes. Her ample chest and the long bunny-themed ribbon adorning her hair gave her an air of both grace and lethality.

A few weeks earlier, Shiranui had undertaken a dangerous reconnaissance mission, pursuing the trail of a secret organisation led by Ryuuji Kuroi—the incubus king with ambitions of conquering the human world. However, the mission had ended in tragedy. She was captured and brought to this facility, where she was scheduled to undergo brutal training, intended to break her mind and make her a compliant slave under Ryuuji's control. Shiranui, who had only arrived at this facility yesterday, now lay helpless in the incubation chamber, unaware of the threat looming over her.

The researcher knew there was no time left. The research centre, funded by the largest underworld organisation, was under attack by an unknown intruder, and he had to act quickly. "I have to accelerate the process," he hissed, his face tense. "Even if it means Shiranui will lose most of her memories, I have no other choice."

His hands moved swiftly, manipulating codes and commands on the computer, attempting to force the mind control process on Shiranui.

The incubation chamber began to tremble slightly, the lights around it flickering as the mind control process was accelerated. However, deep within, the researcher felt an increasing sense of dread. Was this really the right decision? Or was he about to unleash something far more dangerous than he could control?

Meanwhile, Kaoru, who had been approaching the room, sensed something different. "What are they trying to do in here?" he thought as he slowed his pace, trying to feel the aura behind the door.