It was a peaceful day, and the sun dipped low behind the hills, casting a golden glow over the quiet village of Ashwood. The air was warm and still, wrapped in that fleeting peace that only sunset could bring.
Jericho was near the edge of the village, throwing punches in the air as a form of martial arts training. Jericho stood about five foot tall, with a slightly muscular physique and dark skin. His messy brown hair caught the amber light, and his eyes focused as he watched the sky shift from orange to violet.
"Jericho?!" a female voice called from the distance, soft, familiar, and full of warmth. It was Mary, his mother.
"Come inside, it's almost time for dinner!" she said to him.
"Coming!" Jericho called back, his grin stretching wide as the ocean. He hopped off the stone wall and ran toward the house, the fading sunlight catching in his hair as he moved.
In front of their small cottage, Jericho's mother stood at the door, her figure framed by the warm glow from inside. In her arms, she held a young boy, Colby, Jericho's seven-year-old brother, his head resting sleepily on her shoulder.
"Come inside and help me set the dinner table," she said, her voice light.
"Alright, Mom," Jericho replied with a grin, hurrying inside the house.
Inside, the cottage was simple but full of life. The scent of stew filled the air, and the soft crackle of the fireplace added a cozy rhythm to the evening. Jericho helped his mother set the table, carefully placing wooden bowls and spoons, while Colby shuffled behind him, carrying a loaf of bread with both hands.
They moved like a well-rehearsed routine, quiet and full of smiles. Jericho laid out the bowls and wooden spoons while his mother stirred the pot over the fire.
Soon, the family gathered at the table to eat the dinner. Jericho's father, a farmer with broad shoulders and calloused hands, took his seat at the head of the table. His face was weathered from years under the sun, but his eyes held a quiet kindness, and his smile, though tired, was steady and comforting.
He gave a small nod to Mary as she sat opposite him, wiping her hands on her apron after she poured the stew.
Jericho sat across from Colby, who was already sneaking a piece of bread from the table and earning a playful nudge and a grin from his older brother.
"Dad, how was your day?" Jericho asked, a gentle smile tugging at his lips. His voice was laced with warmth.
"You know, the usual. A little work here and there on the field, although I did get to plant some new seeds today," his father, James, replied, a contented smile on his face. "And you, how was your day, son?"
Jericho smiled and lifted his head, eyes meeting with his father's.
"I've been training all day for the Demon Slayer Academy entrance exam," he said softly. "I just hope I awaken a super cool ability, so I can get accepted." His smile widened, but there was a quiet determination behind it.
"Once I become a prestigious Demon Slayer, I'll come back for you guys... and give you all the lives you deserve."
"No talking at the table," his mom said, urging them to eat. "Quick, everyone, dig in before it gets cold."
"Thank you for the food," Jericho said, giving his mom a warm smile before digging into his meal.
Just as his spoon was about to dip into the stew, a loud explosion shattered the peaceful moment, followed by the frantic screams of the villagers.
Before they could even begin to make sense of the explosion, another deafening bang echoed through the air. This time, it was their front door being kicked in, slamming violently against the wooden wall inside the house.
As the smoke engulfing the front door began to clear, a strange, humanoid figure stepped into the house. It was around six feet tall, lanky and unnaturally thin. Though it wore no clothes, it wasn't exactly naked. Its entire body was covered in taut, crimson skin that shimmered faintly in the flickering light.
A long, sinewy tail extended from behind its legs, swaying lazily as the creature moved forward. From its head jutted two long, crooked horns, each twisted like ancient tree roots. Its presence alone was enough to freeze the air in the room. It was like a living nightmare that made its way to the real world.
On seeing this horror, Jericho's father instinctively stepped forward, shielding his family from the creature with his body.
His arm stretched out to keep them behind him, firm but gentle. "Stay back," he said, voice low and steady despite the terror crawling up his spine.
James had no weapon, no armor, just calloused hands from years of farming and the unwavering resolve of a father willing to do whatever it took to protect his family.
The creature took a step forward, its three eyes glowing faintly in the smoky gloom. Jericho clutched his mother's arm, his heart pounding, as he watched his father stand tall against the nightmare looming in their doorway.
Seeing that the creature wasn't stopping, James's instincts kicked in. He reached for a rake resting against the wall and held it out to stop the creature. It was not much of a weapon, but it was all he had.
He swung it with every ounce of strength he could muster, aiming for the creature's head, and hoping to scare it off or at least slow it down. As the rake struck, the metal tines scraped against the demon's crimson skin with a hollow clang, but the creature didn't even flinch.
It kept moving forward, completely unfazed by James's weak attack. As it moved closer, its glowing eyes locked onto James.
Jericho's breath caught in his throat as he and his brother clung tightly to their mother. They had never seen their father afraid before, but now, they could see it clearly. The tremble in James's arms. The way his stance shifted, torn between fighting and shielding his family.
His grip on the rake tightened, and he took another swing at the creature. Despite the fear in his heart, James stood tall, like a wall between them and the approaching nightmare.
A silent promise etched in his eyes as he stood between his family and the approaching creature. "If you want to get to my family," he growled, voice low and shaky, "you'll have to go through me first!" he shouted.
The weight of his words hung heavy in the air, cutting through the fears of his family like a blade. The demon took another step forward, its claws flexing, and its menacing red eyes glowing brighter.
James didn't wait for the demon to get any closer. With a loud roar born of desperation, he lunged at the demon, swinging the rake like a weapon of war. The metal tines scraped uselessly against the creature's crimson skin, barely leaving a mark.
Then, with a flick of its clawed hand, the demon slashed across James's chest in a vicious arc. Blood splattered against the walls as the demon's claws slashed his chest.
James stumbled back a bit, the rake slipping from his grip onto the ground. He turned slightly, just enough to glance at his family one last time. Then, with a low thud, he collapsed lifeless to the ground.
"No!!" his wife screamed, stepping forward to protect her kids. She shoved Jericho and Colby back behind her, her arms outstretched like a fragile human shield. Her body trembled in fear, but she didn't step away.
"Stay back!" she shouted at the demon, her voice breaking.
But the demon didn't listen. Instead, it lunged forward and slashed her down in one brutal motion. She crumpled beside her husband, her hand stretched out toward her sons.
Jericho's and Colby's eyes widened in devastation. A silent horror etched across their young faces as they stared at the lifeless forms of their parents.
"No! No…!" Jericho's hands trembled as he grabbed the rake his father had dropped, tears streaming down his cheeks, and with a scream, he rushed forward, swinging wildly at the demon.
As Jericho approached the demon, it remained unfazed. With one swipe of its arm, it backhanded Jericho, sending him flying across the room. He slammed into the wall with a sickening thud. Pain exploded in his body as he hit the ground.
The demon turned to Colby, who was frozen in place in fear and grinned, wide and cruel. Then, with one hand, it lifted the boy effortlessly by the neck.
"Let him go!!" Jericho cried, staggering to his feet. "Leave him alone!"
He tried to run, but his legs suddenly felt heavy, and he was unable to move. He stood and watched as the demon's grip tightened on Colby's neck, and then there was a sickening crack.
The demon had snapped Colby's head backward in an unnatural way. The sound of breaking bone rang in Jericho's ears. Then his body went limp, and his head fell from his shoulders.
"No!" Jericho screamed at the top of his voice.
Screaming with grief and rage, he hurled himself at the demon, grabbing and swinging the rake like a madman. The demon caught it easily, and with a snarl, it ripped the weapon from Jericho's hands and tossed it aside.
Then it grabbed him, its clawed fingers wrapping around his torso. Next, it flung him through the shattered doorway and out of the house.
Jericho hit the ground hard, his body rolling through dirt and broken debris.
He groaned in pain, trying to lift his head. Slowly he raised his head, and that's when he saw it.
The entire village, his home, was ablaze. Multiple demons roamed freely, setting houses on fire and tearing through anyone in their path. The screams of innocent people filled the air, mingling with the crackle of fire and collapsing wood.
The demon stepped out after him, grabbed Jericho by the neck, and lifted him high into the air. Its eyes gleamed with cruel satisfaction as it raised its claws.
Then, with a slow, deliberate motion, it drove them into Jericho's chest, a large grin playing on its face.
Jericho gasped, and blood poured out from the wound, running down his body in rivers. Soon the world began to blur, and then, he was flying again, the demon flinging him aside like trash. He landed in a heap of hay at the edge of the burning village, his body broken and his breath shallow.
Smoke choked the air, and flames roared behind him. He couldn't move; he could barely even think. Blood pooled beneath him as the demon turned away and left him for dead.
As everything went dark, all that went through his mind was the images of his family and brother being slaughtered.
"No!" he thought in his head. "I refuse to die like this. I have to live and exact my revenge on the demons. For Colby, for Mom, and for Dad. I can't die, not now!"
As these words ran through his head, everything suddenly went dark for a second. Then out of nowhere, a faint light shimmered before Jericho's eyes. It was soft at first, then sharpened into focus.
Following the glowing light was a glowing translucent screen. It hovered in the air, not making a sound, but somehow demanded his attention.
Across it, a message pulsed in bold, glowing letters.
"System initializing. New user detected."
The words on the screen flickered in front of Jericho's fading vision, shifting and rearranging themselves in an eerie, mechanical dance. Each new line that appeared seemed to pulse with a faint, otherworldly glow, growing more urgent.
"Vital signs critical. Multiple body system failures detected."
"You are dying."
Jericho's chest tightened. His limbs were heavy, his breath shallow and ragged. The world around him felt distant, like he was sinking deeper into an abyss. He couldn't speak and could barely even stay awake.
His heart hammered in his chest, each beat weaker than the last. Another line pulsed on the screen, brighter and more urgent.
"System Activation Recommended."
"Instant benefit: Full physical recovery upon acceptance."
"Cost for the system: reduction in your lifespan."
"Do you accept the system as its host? Yes, or No."
Jericho's body screamed for him to make a decision. His vision was narrowing, and his body shutting down. The flames from the village seemed so far away now, as if the world itself was slipping beyond his grasp. It was obvious that he didn't have much time left.
"Please..." he thought desperately, his fading consciousness clinging to the one thing that might give him a chance.
Without another thought, and with everything he had left, he coughed up the strength and said, "Yes."
The screen flashed white, and the world around him seemed to explode in a rush of sound and light. A strange, warm energy poured into his body, surging through him like a tidal wave.
Then the screen appeared before his eyes once more.
"Welcome, new owner of the Divine Sun System."
Jericho's vision blurred one last time, and as the weight of unconsciousness overtook him.