Billions of years ago, Earth was a vast, lifeless expanse. It overflowed with raw life energy—Tao—but had no true life.From that density of Tao, the first Yokai was born: Ragnarok.It had no gender. No purpose. No desires. It simply existed.
Time passed. The first humans emerged. Unlike Ragnarok, they had instinct—survival.But humanity did more than survive. They thrived.
They learned to manipulate Tao, turning it into weapons, defenses, and miracles. With it, they founded the Hunter Organization, a force sworn to destroy the Yokai. Under the banner of Kin Yama, the first King, humanity was united into a single nation: the Kingdom of Humanity.
But a thousand years ago, when Kin Yama's four sons were to share the throne, greed shattered their unity. They waged war, each carving their own kingdom:
Sao Kingdom
Yoru Kingdom
Natsu Empire
Zenith Republic
Only one law bound them—if only one prince remained, he would inherit the crown.Since then, no prince has ever claimed it.
But one dreams of doing what no one else has.
His name is—Akira Yamato.
A sharp knock rattled the wooden door."Akira!" a gruff voice barked. "You still haven't paid for this inn!"
With a groan, Akira blinked awake. His head throbbed. He fished out the last crumpled bill in his wallet and shoved it into the innkeeper's hand."Pleasure doing business. Now get out," the man sneered.
Akira stretched, joints popping, and stepped onto the street with a tired exhale."Broke again… just my luck. Guess I've got no choice but to visit her."
He trudged across the city until he reached a narrow shop wedged between taller buildings. The air smelled of herbs and old parchment. Behind a cracked counter sat an elderly woman, flipping through a book.
She looked up, her wrinkled smile softening."Ah, Akira. Back already? Down on your luck?"
Akira yawned. "Yeah. Got any work?"
The old woman chuckled and slid a folded slip of paper across the counter."Always. Bodyguard job for some Atlas developer. Here's the contact."
He tucked it into his pocket. "Thanks, Granny."
"Don't call me Granny," she huffed. "I'm still in my prime."
Akira ignored the rest of her muttering as he stepped outside, already dialing the number."Hello? I was told to guard a developer from Atlas?"
"You're the one Granny mentioned?" A clipped voice replied."…Sure."
A ping lit his phone—coordinates."Meet me here. Ten minutes.""Can I at least get your na—"Click.
Akira scowled at his screen. "Ten miles away?! You've gotta be kidding me."
He bolted. The city blurred past—alleys, rooftops, markets. He vaulted walls, ducked carts, lungs burning as he ran until he finally arrived at an Atlas warehouse.
Ten bodyguards already waited."…Guess these are the others," Akira muttered, slicking back his white-and-black hair.
Two men emerged from the back: a developer in a crisp black suit, and another in similar attire trailing him. Akira offered a hand, but the developer brushed past.
"You will escort me to a facility three miles away," the man said flatly. "There are no Tao barriers here. We may be attacked."
Akira raised a brow. Really needs this many people for a walk?
A woman among the guards spoke up. "We'll need a Taoist, or at least someone with a Tao-infused weapon. If not, I'm leaving."
Nobody objected. She turned to walk away—until the developer's voice cut sharp."You signed a contract, miss. There's no reason to fear. It's only three miles."
His assistant whispered nervously, "Sir, shouldn't we wait for the Hunters?"
"They're unnecessary," the developer replied. "If a Yokai appears, we'll already be close enough to lose anyone."
"Follow."
The group moved out. Silence stretched as they entered the forest. Akira jogged up beside the developer."Hey. You hung up before giving your name. What is it?"
The man ignored him."Tch. You're not high enough to ignore me, you kn—"
Something shifted in the trees.
A lizard-headed Yokai crouched on a branch. Horns curled like twisted roots. Green-black scales glimmered in the dark.It hissed—then lunged.
Two guards split in half before anyone drew breath.
The others charged, but the Yokai's tongue lashed out, coiling around three men. With a brutal snap, it smashed them against the ground, over and over.
Chaos erupted. Some guards fought with makeshift weapons, others fled. The developer and his assistant drew pistols, firing wildly as they were dragged through the dirt.
Akira watched, almost smiling—not at their deaths, but at the fight itself.He thought: People without dreams deserve life as much as dreamers. But if you want to claim that dream, you fight for it. That's why I fight—for myself.
He launched forward, twisting mid-air, striking the Yokai with all his strength.
The creature barely staggered. One claw swatted him aside, hurling him through four trees. Splintered trunks collapsed on top of him.
Gunfire rattled, bullets sparking off hardened scales.One swing—the guards' heads fell.
Only the developer remained, trembling."P-please… someone! Help me!"
The Yokai grinned and drove its claw through his chest. Blood sprayed. A card slipped from the man's pocket, landing in the dirt.
Pinned beneath broken trees, Akira's blurred vision fixed on the card.Steven Yung.
A chuckle escaped his lips."…Hah. This sucks."
Darkness closed in.
The last thing he saw was movement—two Hunters dropping from the canopy, weapons gleaming.
"Sora, is he alive?""Hopefully."