MARD Chapter 3 Remastered: First Stage Fighter (Patreon)

The sun was already beginning to dip beneath the treeline by the time they reached the outskirts of the village. The walk had been long and quiet, broken only by the sounds of leaves crunching beneath their feet and the faint groans of the wolves being dragged along the dirt path.

Every villager they passed gave them bewildered looks, some staring in shock at the injured Wu Ying limping slightly, others whispering as they noticed the strange brown-haired boy in red, his shirt dirty and torn, hauling five wolves by their tails.

“Who’s that boy?” 

“Never seen clothes like that before…”

“Did the Wu sisters find him in the forest?”

The murmurs followed them like shadows. Issei tried to ignore it, though his cheeks burned under their stares. ‘First day in a new world, and I’m already the local sideshow attraction.’ He thought bitterly. 

At last, the group reached the edge of the village, where the houses grew smaller and rougher. There, nestled among the trees, stood the sisters’ home, a modest, worn-down structure made of aged timber and patched with animal furs. The roof sagged slightly in the middle, and the smell of herbs and smoke lingered faintly in the air.

To Issei, it looked like something straight out of a historical drama, an old Japanese countryside house that somehow still stood the test of time. To the sisters, it was simply home.

“Here we are,” Wu Lan said softly, smiling as she brushed her hair back. “It’s not much, but it keeps the rain out.”

Issei forced a small smile. “No, no, it’s… really nice,” He said, though he wasn’t sure whether he meant it or not.

Wu Ying, still wincing slightly from her injuries, huffed. “Less talking, more working,” She said bluntly as she limped past him. “Wu Xiao, help me unload. And you—” She jabbed a finger at Issei— “don’t just stand there gawking. Sit down somewhere and stay out of the way.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Issei muttered, raising his hands defensively.

The sisters immediately went to work with practiced efficiency. Wu Lan began unpacking their bundles of herbs, sorting them into neat piles by shape and color before wrapping each group in thin cloth. The air filled with the sharp but pleasant scent of wild mint and ginseng.

Meanwhile, Wu Ying crouched near the fire pit outside, pulling a knife from her belt and setting to work skinning the wolves. The sound of her blade slicing through fur and flesh made Issei grimace slightly, but he couldn’t look away. Her movements were precise and efficient.

‘Guess that’s what happens when you grow up fighting for your meals,’ He thought.

Beside him, Wu Xiao sat cross-legged on the ground, her basket beside her, humming some kind of cheerful tune as she watched her sisters work. Every so often, she’d sneak glances at Issei, her blue eyes curious and full of mischief.

“You’re really weird, Big Brother,” she finally said.

Issei blinked. “Huh? What makes you say that?”

“You talk funny,” Wu Xiao said simply, swinging her feet. “And your clothes are strange. And your hair’s messy.”

“...Thanks,” Issei said dryly.

Wu Xiao giggled, clearly finding his frustration amusing.

The peaceful rhythm of the small house gradually settled over them. The crackle of the fire, the rustle of herbs, and the rhythmic scrape of Wu Ying’s knife against fur all blended together into a strangely domestic calm.

For the first time since waking up in this world, Issei felt his heart slow down. The fear, the confusion, the panic, it all seemed distant now. Watching the sisters move about their home, he realized just how natural it all looked.

‘They’re used to this life,’ He thought, resting his chin on his hand. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he watched the sister’s work.

—--------------------------

Later, Wu Sister’s home

The sky had deepened into shades of amber and violet as the sun dipped behind the horizon, its fading light flickering through the trees like dying embers. The quiet crackle of the campfire filled the air, the scent of cooked meat mingling with the earthy aroma of herbs that hung around the sisters’ home.

Issei sat cross-legged near the fire, his stomach rumbling as he stared into the bubbling pot. ‘Please don’t let that be dog meat.’ He thought with a grimace, watching the broth simmer.

Before he could sink too deep into his own thoughts, a sharp voice cut through the stillness.

“Alright, talk!” Wu Ying’s tone carried no room for argument. Arms crossed, brow furrowed.

Issei blinked, caught off guard. “About what?”

Wu Ying’s eyebrow twitched. “Don’t be stupid. Who are you, and why didn’t you tell us you were a First Stage Fighter?”

“First Stage what now?”

“Don’t play dumb!” Wu Ying’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

Issei raised his hands defensively. “I told you, I don’t know! I just woke up in the forest, probably kidnapped or something! And for some reason, my body’s been acting strange ever since!” He spoke quickly, trying to sound reasonable despite the nervous sweat on his forehead.

Wu Ying’s eyes darkened. “Stop ly—”

“Wu Ying, that’s enough.”

The calm but firm voice of Wu Lan cut through the growing tension. The eldest sister looked up from her spot beside the fire, her hands still steady as she stirred the pot. Her tone wasn’t angry, but it carried a quiet authority that made even Wu Ying hesitate.

“But, Sister!” Wu Ying protested.

“He clearly knows nothing about what you said.” Wu Lan’s soft gaze turned toward Issei. “Issei, please, tell us more about these strange changes in your body.”

“Uh… sure.” He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “Well, while we were walking earlier, I noticed something weird. Normally, I’d be out of breath after a few hours, but I didn’t even feel tired. Actually, I felt like I could keep going forever. And when those wolves attacked, I… just reacted. My body moved on its own. I’ve never been this strong before.”

Wu Lan nodded thoughtfully. “I see… Wu Ying, doesn’t that sound familiar? Like when you reached your first stage?”

Wu Ying frowned, crossing her arms. “...Maybe.”

“Yeah, Sis!” Wu Xiao chirped in from beside Issei, her green eyes sparkling. “It sounds just like you when you got super strong! You even scared Uncle Min into giving you extra dumplings, remember?”

Wu Ying’s glare silenced the girl instantly, though a faint blush rose on her cheeks.

“Fine,” Wu Ying muttered, exhaling sharply. “Maybe he’s not lying. But listen up, perv, because I’m only explaining this once.” She leaned forward, her tone growing serious. “For some strange reason, you’ve cultivated your body to reach the First Stage Fighter Realm. There are only two ways for that to happen.”

She held up a finger. “One, you trained your body relentlessly until you broke through to that stage.”

Her piercing gaze lingered on Issei, searching for any hint of reaction. Instead, she was met with a blank, confused stare.

Issei scratched his cheek. “...Yeah, no. I don’t remember training that hard. Honestly, I was just… average back at school.”

“School?” Wu Xiao tilted her head, blinking. “What’s that?”

Wu Lan smiled gently. “It’s a place of learning, where people go to study and master different arts or trades.” She turned to Issei with a hint of admiration. “Does that mean you’re a scholar?”

The hopeful gleam in her eyes made Issei want to disappear. “Ehhh… sorry, not really.” He laughed awkwardly, remembering his barely-passing grades. “I was… kinda failing, actually.”

Wu Xiao burst into a fit of giggles. “Hahaha! Big Brother’s an idiot!”

Issei felt a metaphorical arrow stab straight into his chest. “Oof… you didn’t have to say it like that…”

Wu Ying rolled her eyes, unimpressed. “Figures.”

She raised a second finger. “Anyway, the other way to become a Fighter is by cultivating Qi inside your body.”

That caught Issei’s attention immediately. His eyes widened. “Wait… Qi? Like… energy? As in—” His face lit up with sudden excitement. “Does that mean I can shoot the Kamehameha at people?! That’s so cool!”

All three sisters blinked in unison.

“The… Kame-what?” Wu Lan asked, utterly lost.

Issei’s grin faltered. “Oh, come on! You know, Kamehameha! Blue energy beam! Goku! Dragon Ball—?” But then he remembered where he was. “Sorry I forgot that Dragon Ball doesn’t exist here.”

Wu Ying’s patience snapped. “So you do know about Qi!” She accused, stepping forward. “Then stop lying and tell me, what martial techniques do you know? Do you have any Cultivation Manuals on you?!”

“Wait, what?!”

Before he could react, she vanished from her spot. appearing right in front of him in an instant, ignoring her injuries. Her hand shot out, grabbing the front of his shirt and pulling him forward so their faces were inches apart.

“Tell me,” She growled, eyes flashing with intensity, “or I’ll beat it out of you.”

Issei’s hands shot up in surrender. “W-wait, hold on! I seriously have no clue what you’re talking about!”

Wu Ying’s brow twitched. “Don’t play dumb.”

“I’m not! I swear!” Issei said quickly, trying not to breathe too fast. “I don’t even know what a Cultivation Manual is!”

“You—!” Wu Ying’s temper flared as her aura seemed to ripple, her muscles tensing as if ready to strike.

“Wu Ying! Calm down! You’re scaring us!”

Wu Lan’s voice broke through the tension again, sharp but gentle. She wrapped her arms around Wu Xiao, shielding the trembling girl who had pressed herself close to her sister’s side.

Wu Ying froze, guilt flickering across her face. She slowly released her grip on Issei’s shirt and took a step back, her cheeks coloring. “S-sorry,” she muttered, looking away. “I didn’t mean to…”

The cooking fire crackled quietly between them, filling the heavy silence that followed.

Issei sat back down, his heart still racing, while Wu Lan rubbed her sister’s shoulder reassuringly.

“Let’s all calm down,” Wu Lan said softly. “We’ve had a long day. We’ll figure everything out together.”

Wu Ying crossed her arms again, but this time her glare lacked venom. “Fine. But if he tries anything weird, I’m punching him.”

“Noted,” Issei muttered, clutching the front of his shirt where she’d grabbed him.

Despite the tension, Wu Xiao peeked from behind her sister, smiling timidly. “Big Brother’s really funny when he’s scared.”

That earned her another glare from Wu Ying, but it was halfhearted this time.

The tension around the cooking fire gradually began to melt away as the flames flickered softly, their light painting the wooden walls in hues of orange and gold. The earlier shouting and glares had quieted to a weary stillness. Wu Lan sat with her hands folded on her lap, Wu Xiao hummed quietly as she played with a twig, and Wu Ying, though still pouting, was visibly calmer.

Issei leaned back slightly, poking at the dirt near his feet with a small stick. His head was spinning from all the talk of “cultivation” and “Qi.” ‘This really sounds like something out of a light novel?’

He took a breath and broke the silence.  “Listen… I don’t have any martial techniques or cultivation manuals.” His voice came out softer than intended, edged with guilt. The disappointment that flashed in Wu Ying’s eyes made him feel even worse.

Wu Lan’s shoulders slumped. “Then how are you a First Stage Fighter? There's no way for you to have it without those manuals or at least some sort of physical training.”

Issei frowned. “Why is it so important? Can’t you just train normally to reach the Fighter Realm?”

Wu Ying let out a small scoff but answered nonetheless. “You can. But without a cultivation manual, you’ll hit a limit quickly. With one, your body refines Qi more efficiently, you get stronger faster and can push past natural limits.” Her tone softened slightly at the end. “That’s what Father used to say, anyway.” Her words hung in the air for a moment, filled with the quiet weight of memory.

Wu Lan smiled faintly, trying to shift the focus. “You know, Issei, the reason my sister keeps asking about manuals isn’t simply for greed. It’s because she wants to raise her cultivation.”

Issei tilted his head. “Raise her cultivation?”

Wu Lan nodded. “That’s right. She’s also a First Stage Fighter like you. But with the right techniques, she could reach the Second Stage—and maybe beyond.”

He blinked, struggling to wrap his head around the concept. “Why? What’s the point of climbing stages like that?”

This time, Wu Lan’s tone grew soft, her gaze drifting toward the fire. “If she reaches higher realms, she could become stronger… and maybe give us a better life.”

Wu Xiao, ever the mischievous one, piped up with a grin, “Yeah! Then Big Sis could become a noble and boss everyone around!”

“Wu Xiao!” Wu Ying barked, face flushing red. “You little brat!”

Wu Xiao only giggled in response.

Issei chuckled awkwardly, scratching his cheek. “A noble, huh…”

Wu Lan nodded slowly, her expression clouded with a trace of melancholy. “That’s right. In this world, cultivation determines everything, status, wealth, opportunity. Those who are strong are respected and rewarded. Those who aren’t…” She trailed off, her smile faltering. “Father always said power opens doors. So my sister fights, trains, and risks her life… for us.”

The fire crackled quietly as her words sank in.

Issei looked down at his hands. “...Sorry,” he said at last. “But I really don’t have anything like that. And I don’t even know how I got this Qi stuff in the first place.”

Wu Ying exhaled heavily, her frustration fading into resignation. For once, she didn’t argue back. “Tch. Guess you’re just as clueless as you look.”

Her disappointment seemed to spread, even Wu Xiao’s usual energy dimmed. The air grew heavier until Wu Lan suddenly perked up, as if remembering something.

“Hyoudou Issei,” She said gently, “What are you going to do now? You don’t know where you are, and you don’t know how to get home.”

Her words hit harder than he expected. Issei stared into the fire, watching the sparks rise into the dark sky. For the first time since waking in this world, he truly let the reality sink in. ‘I’m really stuck here, aren’t I? Mom, Dad… are you worried? Are you looking for me?’

“I… I don’t know,” he admitted, his voice low. “I just don’t know.”

Wu Lan’s expression softened. Then she smiled—a warm, reassuring smile that almost felt like sunlight breaking through clouds. “Then how about you stay with us?”

“Sister?!” Wu Ying nearly choked on her drink. “You can’t just—”

“Really?!” Issei’s eyes lit up immediately, all traces of sorrow vanishing in an instant. ‘Living with three bishoujos? This world might not be so bad after all!’

Wu Lan chuckled softly at his enthusiasm. “Of course, not for free. You’ll help us around the house and assist the villagers when needed.”

The sparkle in Issei’s eyes dimmed slightly. “Oh… so manual labor, huh?”

Wu Ying folded her arms, glaring. “What, you thought you’d get to laze around while we worked? Dream on.”

He sighed in defeat but smiled nonetheless. “Still… thank you. I really don’t have anywhere else to go.”

Wu Ying watched him quietly before finally crossing her arms tighter. “Fine. You can stay. But under one condition.”

“Condition?”

“Every day,” She said, her lips curving into a mischievous smirk, “you’re going to help me train.”

“Sure!” Issei replied without hesitation, grinning like an idiot. ‘Training with a cute girl? How bad could it be?’ He had no idea what kind of hell awaited him the next morning.

“Good,” Wu Ying said, clearly satisfied.

“Then it’s settled,” Wu Lan said cheerfully, her smile warm and maternal. “Let’s eat before the food gets cold.”

Issei clapped his hands together out of habit. “Itadakimasu!”

The three sisters blinked in confusion.

“Big Bro?” Wu Xiao asked curiously. “What does that mean?”

“Oh,” Issei said, smiling sheepishly, “it means ‘thanks for the food.’ You say it before eating.”

“‘Itadakimasu,’” Wu Lan repeated carefully.

Wu Xiao mimicked her with a bright grin. “Itadakimasu!”

Wu Ying rolled her eyes but didn’t comment, choosing instead to focus on her meal in silence.

As they ate together, the fire crackled and the first stars began to appear in the sky. 

—---------------------------------

The flickering firelight slowly dimmed as the sisters began to prepare for the night. Shadows danced across the wooden walls, and the warm scent of cooked meat still lingered faintly in the air.

Issei sat quietly, staring at his now-empty bowl. His jaw still ached a little from how tough the meat had been, each bite a challenge in its own right. He couldn’t tell if it was wolf or something else, but he wasn’t about to ask.

‘Guess beggars can’t be choosers,’ He thought with a faint sigh.

After cleaning up, Wu Lan pulled out several furs from a chest and hung a large curtain of them across the small room, dividing it into two makeshift spaces, one for the sisters and one for Issei. She spread blankets of rough cloth and animal hide across the wooden floor for him.

“It’s not much,” she said kindly, “but it should keep you warm.”

Issei smiled tiredly. “No complaints here. It’s better than sleeping under a tree.”

Wu Lan’s eyes softened before she gave him a small nod and disappeared behind the fur curtain.

The room quieted. The faint creaks of old wood and the soft murmurs of the sisters behind the divider filled the silence. Wu Xiao’s cheerful giggles eventually faded, followed by Wu Lan’s gentle “good night,” and Wu Ying’s characteristically short, “Hmph.”

Then, all that remained was the crackle of the last dying embers in the hearth.

Issei lay on the floor, hands behind his head, staring up at the ceiling. The rough furs beneath him were surprisingly soft, though the chill of the night seeped through every crack of the walls. Still, he couldn’t complain.

He had a roof over his head. He had food, barely edible, but food nonetheless. He wasn’t eaten by wolves or left alone in the forest.

And yet…

“What am I going to do now?” He murmured quietly, his voice almost lost in the whispering wind outside.

He turned onto his side, his thoughts swirling restlessly. His mind refused to settle.

‘Mom… Dad…’

The image of his parents’ faces surfaced unbidden, his mother’s gentle smile, his father’s exasperated grin whenever Issei did something stupid. Then the image warped, turning into faces twisted with grief.

‘Are they worried? Are they looking for me right now?’

His heart clenched painfully.

‘Or… will they think I just ran away?’

The thought was enough to make his chest tighten. For a long time, he just lay there, staring blankly at the wall, the ache of homesickness gnawing at him.

He tried to think back, was there anything strange about that day before he woke up in this world? Anything out of the ordinary? But no matter how hard he searched his memory, nothing stood out. It had been a normal day at school. A boring, uneventful walk home. Then bed. Then… darkness.

And now, this.

His gaze drifted toward the corner of the room, where the faint blue light of the marble shimmered dimly from within his belongings.

He reached for it, holding it up to the faint moonlight seeping through the cracks in the wooden wall. The marble pulsed softly, its inner glow swirling like a trapped galaxy.

“…What are you?” He whispered.

The smooth, cool surface felt oddly warm against his skin now, like it was alive. He tightened his grip around it, a strange comfort seeping into his heart.

‘Could this thing… be connected to how I got here?’ The idea was tempting—but his exhaustion finally began to outweigh his curiosity.

He placed the marble on the floor beside him and exhaled softly. “Guess I’ll… figure it out tomorrow…”

The words slurred into a yawn as his eyelids grew heavier. The chill of the night faded, replaced by a faint warmth that seemed to radiate from somewhere deep inside him.

Before long, his breathing evened out, his body relaxed, and his thoughts faded into the quiet hum of sleep.

The last thing he saw before slipping into dreams was the blue marble—its soft light pulsing gently, like a heartbeat in the dark.

—----------------------------

Morning

The morning began peacefully, the sun rose over the tree line, scattering rays of gold across the misty village. Birds sang their early songs, and the small forest animals stirred from their burrows. The gentle breeze carried the smell of dew and wildflowers through the wooden cracks of the sisters’ old home.

It was calm. Serene.

Until—

“WAKE UP, YOU SLACKER!”

Issei shot upright with a startled yell as a familiar, very angry voice shattered the morning peace.

“Huhhh?!” He groaned groggily, blinking blearily as his blanket of fur tangled around his legs. Before he could fully process what was happening, a sharp kick against the floorboards startled him to his feet, and in his panic, he stumbled—tearing down the makeshift fur curtain that separated his sleeping area from the rest of the room.

He found himself staring at a furious Wu Ying, her arms crossed and one foot tapping impatiently.

“You promised you’d help me train,” She snapped, her sharp eyes narrowing. “Don’t think I’ll let you sleep your lazy ass away.”

Still half-asleep, Issei rubbed his head, his voice slurring. “Wha…? Training? It’s morning…”

Wu Ying rolled her eyes. “No kidding. I’ll be waiting outside.”

Before he could even argue, she turned on her heel and strode out, the wooden door slamming shut behind her.

Issei groaned and slumped forward, his hair sticking up in every direction. “Ahhhh… so this is what I signed up for…”

With a heavy sigh, he sat up and glanced around for something to wear. On the floor beside him lay a neatly folded robe and a pair of worn sandals. Guess Wu Lan had left them out for him.

“Barefoot training would’ve sucked,” he muttered as he slipped them on. Fortunately, he’d fallen asleep in his red shirt and boxers, so he didn’t have to face the morning in full humiliation. Pulling the robe over his shirt, he stretched his arms and winced as his back popped.

‘Alright, Hyoudou Issei,’ he told himself as he trudged toward the door. ‘You can handle one angry girl… right?’

The moment he stepped outside, the cool morning air hit him, along with the rhythmic sound of fists striking wood.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Wu Ying was already at work. Her bare feet dug into the dirt, her fists striking a thick tree trunk again and again. Each punch echoed with controlled force, the vibrations making the bark tremble. She was still injured but those injuries didn’t stop her from her practice.

For a moment, Issei just stood there—awestruck. ‘She’s… intense.’

Her breathing was steady, her movements sharp. Sweat glistened on her pale skin, the thin fabric of her training robe clinging tightly to her frame. With every strike, her body moved in perfect rhythm—powerful yet graceful, like a dancer made of muscle and determination.

And, of course, being Issei, his eyes… drifted.

‘Holy crap, she’s not wearing a bra.’

His mind short-circuited. The way her chest swayed with each strike was—

‘Oppai.’ The sacred word echoed in his brain like divine music.

Unfortunately, divine music came with divine retribution.

Wu Ying froze mid-punch. The hairs on the back of her neck rose as she felt the unmistakable sensation of being watched, not just watched, but stared at like prey.

Slowly, she turned her head. Her gaze met his. And she knew.

Issei paled instantly. “Ah… uh-oh.”

A visible aura of fury ignited around Wu Ying. Her expression went from calm warrior to full-on murder goddess. Without a word, she charged—her fist cocked back.

“You damn pervert!!”

Instinct took over. Issei dove to the right just as her fist slammed into the ground where he’d been standing, sending dirt and splinters flying.

He rolled to his feet, hands up defensively. “W-Wait! I swear it’s not what it looks like!”

“Oh, really?” She snarled, spinning on her heel. Her movements were smooth, deadly. “Then what were you looking at?”

Issei opened his mouth—and immediately realized there was no good answer. “...Your training form?”

“Die.”

Her foot slammed into the ground as she launched herself forward, pivoting into a flawless high kick.

Issei instinctively leaned back to dodge, but his brain betrayed him halfway through when he realized just how high that kick went.

‘Wait… she’s not wearing pants?!’

His eyes widened. “Wha—”

THWACK!

Her heel connected squarely with his face, sending him crashing backward into the dirt.

“Ow ow ow ow…!” He groaned, clutching his nose.

Wu Ying stood over him, panting slightly, a small, satisfied smirk curling at her lips. But that satisfaction didn’t last long. The moment Issei groaned and started to push himself back up, her expression twitched.

‘He’s still moving?’ Her eyebrow twitched. ‘Perverts are like cockroaches. They never die easily.’

Without hesitation, she stomped her foot and charged again.

“You’re not getting away this time!”

Issei scrambled to his feet, waving his arms wildly. “Wait! Wait! Time out! Violence isn’t the answer!”

“It is when it’s you!”

And so, the early morning peace was shattered once again.

The quiet forest now echoed with the sounds of feet pounding, fists swinging, Issei yelping, and Wu Ying shouting threats that could make grown men cry.

“Die, you pervert!”

“Ahhhh! Have mercy! I swear it was an accident!”

To anyone passing by, it probably sounded like a brutal fight. But for the Wu sisters peeking out from the doorway, Wu Lan sighing and Wu Xiao giggling, it was clear what this really was.

The first of many mornings that would mark the start of something chaotic, comedic… and, unknowingly, the beginnings of a strange and beautiful bond.

Done. Tell me what you think and if I made any mistakes.