Chapter 1

The first chapter of Claymore by Norihiro Yagi, first published in the May 2001 issue of Shonen Jump.

Short Synopsis
A village is attacked by Yoma and the chief sends for a mysterious, half-monster warrior known as a Claymore to detect and eliminate the Yoma. A boy called Raki takes an interest in her and is the only one who is not scared of her, trying to engage her in conversation. When he returns home, he finds his guardians dead and that his older brother, Zaki, is the Yoma. The Claymore intervenes just as the Yoma is about to kill him and destroys it. Afterwards, Raki is in shock but comes to his senses in time to thank the Claymore for defeating the Yoma. At the end of the chapter, he finally gets her name: Clare.

Detailed Synopsis
The chapter opens with a woman with slit-pupils slaying a humanoid monster using a large Claymore by cutting off its head.

The Yoma Strikes
The scene changes to a village where it is clear that a grizzly murder has taken place. The victim's body is left lying in the street in a pool of his own blood. According to the villagers, he is the sixth victim to fall to this murderer. The villagers are apparently being killed at a very fast rate, the victim before being killed only three days ago. All the people believe that there is a Yoma in the town and it will kill everyone if left unchecked.

In the village chief's house, a number of people have gathered, including Zaki. It is agreed that something must be done. Yoma eat out a human's guts while they are still alive but they can take human form and become impossible to find. Before an argument can start, the chief interrupts with the announcement that a Claymore has been sent out to the village. No one is pleased about this and the cost is high to hire one but they have no choice, since Claymores are the only ones who can detect a Yoma when it is in human form.

Zaki leaves the meeting and finds his younger brother, Raki. He had been listening in to the meeting and asks Zaki about Claymores. Zaki explains that Claymores are people who have been trained to fight Yoma for a fee but also that they are hybrids, created by taking on the flesh and blood of a Yoma. Zaki goes on to explain how only females could adapt and every male who tried apparently died. When they fight Yoma, their eyes shine gold and they have distinctive silver eyes, giving them the names 'Silver-Eyed Witch' and 'Silver-Eyed Slayer'.

The Claymore Arrives
There is a sudden commotion. The Claymore has arrived. Raki hurries to see her. She is an armored girl with short fair hair, a strangely frail-looking body and wearing a large sword on her back. The people are all nervous at the sight of her, wondering whether, being part-monster herself, she could turn on them. She passes them by, ignoring their speculations. Arriving at the chief's home, she rejects his offer to take the fee, saying coldly that, if she died, there would be no reason to pay. If she succeeds, a man in black would collect the money later. She reassures them, in the same aloof tone, that she will find it and either she or the Yoma will turn up dead.

Leaving the shaken chief, the warrior ventures out into the village. All the villagers flee into their houses at the sight of her. Suddenly, her eyes flash gold, she draws her sword and turns. A shocked Raki is behind her, saying he was only following her and was not doing anything wrong. The warrior sheathes her sword and carries on. Raki tries to engage her into conversation, during which time it is revealed that Claymore is not the Organization's name and humans merely thrust it upon them. Raki is unafraid of the warrior since she looks normal and rather pretty to him. He continues to follow her until they reach the outskirts of the village.

There, the warrior sticks her sword into the ground and sits with her back to it, saying she is taking a nap after walking for three days. Raki finds a long and imitates her. Unamused, the warrior asks why he is so interested in her. He confides in her that the first victims of the Yoma were his parents and that he wishes the Yoma dead. She coldly replies that she did not come here to simply please him. Suddenly, a bell tolls and Raki, realizing he is late, begins to hurry towards his uncle's house. Before he leaves her, he tells her his name and asks for hers. However, she declines to give it to him, since she thinks he will forget it soon enough.

The Yoma Revealed
Raki hurries home, only to find that his uncle has been attacked and killed by the Yoma. Zaki appears but his face is distorted, his eyes are golden and his mouth is covered with blood. It soon becomes clear why: Zaki is the Yoma. As he morphs into monster form, he professes how hard it was to hide among humans and resist the temptation to devour them. He also mentions that he had eaten Zaki the night Raki's parents had been attacked, taking over his body and mind so he could infiltrate among humans without drawing the attention of the people or even Raki. Suddenly, Raki notices tears coming from the Yoma's eyes and the Yoma explains that the part of Zaki still left is shedding tears. Raki fruitlessly tries to attack the Yoma, who scornfully knocks him aside with ease.

Just as Raki was about to be devoured himself, the ceiling above them is destroyed and the warrior descends between them. She explains that Raki carried the scent of Yoma and all she had to do was follow him home. Raki is shocked to see her golden, Yoma-like eyes. The Yoma, thinking she would be as weak as a human, recklessly lungs at her. To his astonishment, she is able to evade and cut him with seemingly superhuman speed and strength. She is soon able to sever an arm and, when the Yoma attempts to use Raki as a shield, she severs his other arm.

Now helpless, the Yoma begs for mercy. The warrior tells him how, by putting Yoma blood into her, she gained unmatchable speed and, by putting Yoma flesh into her, she is able to wield her sword with one hand. While she says this, her whole body begins to distort, much like the Yoma's did. Her veins bulge on her arms and her face seems to darken. In one swift movement, she cuts the Yoma in half from head to toe. She promptly throws the blood from her sword and, sparing a small glance at the cowering Raki, leaves.

The Day After
The next day, Raki is taken to the chief's house, where he is still unresponsive from the shock. The chief kindly tells him to forget the events, making Raki remember the warrior. Hearing that she has left the village, he catches up her. He admits his fear of the Yoma and thanks her for killing the Yoma, saying that he will never forget her. She does not respond but walks away when he is finished speaking. Again, he asks for her name.

At last, she consents to give it to him; her name is Clare.

Characters Introduced

 * Raki
 * Zaki
 * Clare