"Before man opened his eyes… this world was already a graveyard."
Long before kingdoms rose and the first human sword was forged, the world trembled beneath a war so devastating that even time itself seemed to fracture.
The Sovereigns—beings of unfathomable might—clashed against the Shadow Demons, creatures born of darkness and malice.
The battle raged for ten endless years.
Skies burned crimson.
Mountains split apart.
The land was littered with monsters and shadow.
All the eight-king put everything on the line to save the world for humanity to live peacefully.
At last, victory was won by the shadows and the eight sovereigns.
The demons were forced into chains of eternal night, sealed behind what would later be known only in whispers as the Gate of Shadows.
But the price was immense.
The Eight Sovereigns, heroes who had fought to the very end, vanished into the abyss along with the demons.
Seven faded without a trace.
One, before disappearing completely, turned back and left behind a warning:
"When the seal breaks, mankind will rise… and so will the shadows once again."
Centuries Passed
In the 16th century, rumors began to stir in the east.
Travelers spoke of a strange cave hidden deep within the mountains, where the air grew colder with each step and whispers followed those who dared approach.
Five adventurers—Yuriko Setsuna, sharp-eyed and daring; Aiko Sorasen, quiet yet brilliant; Ichiro Zenko, a warrior of unshakable resolve; Kade Hamilton, the foreigner with a heart of steel; and Jinmaru Soryu, silent and mysterious—ventured into the darkness.
Torches in hand, they descended into a labyrinth of carvings and sculptures no known culture could claim.
The deeper they went, the heavier the air became, until their chests ached and their courage began to falter.
At last, they reached a vast chamber.
There, looming in silence, stood a massive gate of black stone.
Its surface shimmered faintly, etched with runes in a language no scholar could decipher.
The symbols shifted when stared at too long, as though alive.
Curiosity drowned out fear.
Against their better judgment, the five adventurers worked together and opened the gate.
The world changed that day.
The moment the seal cracked, the skies darkened.
Black clouds swirled as unnatural lightning split the heavens.
A cold wind howled from the cave, carrying the stench of rot and death.
The demons—those ancient horrors locked away for eons—were unleashed once more.
But this time, something was different.
The shadow army that had once opposed the demons did not turn on humanity.
Instead, they extended their hands.
The warriors of shadow chose to bond with mankind, gifting them fragments of their power so the war could be fought anew—
not by gods, but by men.
Thus, the Age of the Shadow Hunters began.
Present Day
In the quietest corner of a sprawling city library, a young man sat alone.
Books towered around him like silent sentinels, but his eyes were fixed on one page.
The dim light of the old lamp above cast shadows across his pale face.
Ren Akatsuki.
His lips moved silently as he read the faded lines of legend: the rise of the Sovereigns, their tragic disappearance, and the prophecy of a successor who would one day rise among humankind.
Three hundred years had passed since the Gate was opened.
Three centuries of bloodshed, rebuilding, and fear.
To most, the prophecy had become nothing more than a myth.
Ren, however, could not stop believing.
The sudden clang of the clock startled him.
"Damn! The mission!"
He leapt to his feet, nearly toppling his chair, and bolted for the exit, clutching his bag.
The world outside was no longer peaceful.
Humanity had adapted to its cursed reality.
Since the breaking of the seal, those who fought against the demons were known as Shadow Hunters—warriors who shared their bodies with fragments of shadow power.
Each hunter was ranked by stamina, skill, and mastery of Shadow Mana:
Rank A to Rank E formed the majority, with Rank A celebrated as heroes and Rank E struggling to survive.
Rank S stood above them all, hunters whose power rivaled entire armies. Only twenty walked the earth.
Beyond even that was the legendary Rank X, whispered in awe and terror. It had appeared only once in human history, its power described as godlike.
And then… there was Rank F.
In the entire world, only one was known.
Ren Akatsuki.
Mocked. Ignored. Branded as useless.
Wherever he went, whispers followed.
Yet Ren never abandoned his duty.
He trained.
He fought.
He endured.
He bore the ridicule like armor, carrying humanity's future on his fragile shoulders—
even if no one else believed in him.
y the time Ren arrived at the mission site—a cavern near the outskirts—the battle was over.
His team was emerging, bloodied but victorious, their blades glistening with demon ichor.
Ren slowed his steps, chest heaving.
His fists clenched as shame washed over him.
From the shadows, voices drifted:
"Why does the leader keep him around?"
"He's just dead weight."
"He's useless. Nothing but a burden."
The words struck deeper than any demon's claw.
Ren lowered his gaze, unwilling to meet their eyes.
But not every voice was cruel.
Two of his teammates, his closest friends, clapped him on the shoulder.
"Don't listen to them," one whispered.
"You've got more heart than all of them combined."
Ren forced a faint smile, though the ache in his chest remained.
He wasn't blind to his weakness.
But deep within him, beyond the failures and shame, something stirred.
A faint shadow.
A whisper.
Perhaps… a destiny waiting to awaken.
"Nine months had passed since their last major assignment with the organization."
The hideout was quiet, sunlight filtering through the cracked windows.
Dust motes danced lazily in golden beams of light.
The creak of floorboards and the soft drip of water from the ceiling pipes were the only sounds.
Ren leaned back against the wall, stretching with a long sigh.
Every scarred piece of furniture, every weapon rack and pinned map told the story of battles that survived.
Beside him, Shoji Yagami, his closest friend, sprawled on a sofa pretending to nap—
but Ren could feel his watchful gaze.
"This is… nice," Ren murmured.
"Almost feels like the world is holding its breath."
Shoji smirked without opening his eyes.
"Don't get used to it. The moment we think we're safe, the universe throws something worse at us."
Ren's hands trembled slightly.
Every quiet day reminded him how fragile he still was.
His shadow flickered faintly at his feet, restless, as if sensing the storm to come.
Then the sound came—boots striking the floor, sharp and deliberate.
The air shifted.
Government visits were never casual.
An assistant in a crisp uniform stepped in.
His gaze swept the room before landing briefly on Ren.
This was Ichiro Zenko, known for his calm judgment and cold precision.
The tablet in his hand and the aura he carried made it clear—he was here on business.
"Captain Haru Kenzaki?" Ichiro's voice was smooth, but carried weight.
Haru emerged from his office, posture rigid.
"What does the organization want this time?"
Ichiro's gaze lingered on Ren for half a second before turning back.
"There's a gate," he said simply.
"No demons detected, but the aura is overwhelming. Your team is required to investigate."
Haru frowned.
"Why not send an S-rank team?"
"We did," Ichiro replied evenly.
"Every team we sent has failed to report back. You will lead this investigation. An S-rank will assist you."
The weight of the mission settled over Haru's shoulders.
"Understood. When do we leave?"
"Tomorrow."
Ichiro turned and left without another word, his footsteps fading into the distance.
The room fell silent.
Haru spoke at last, his tone firm.
"This mission is for all of us. Everyone's going."
Uneasy murmurs rose.
"Why take the F-rank with us?" someone muttered.
Haru's cold gaze swept the room until it landed on Ren.
"Ren is part of this team. I decide who stays."
Ren's throat tightened.
"They're right, Captain… I'll—"
Shoji's voice cut through, sharp and resolute.
"He's trained harder than anyone. I'll support him. He won't be a burden."
Haru nodded once.
"He's coming. That's final. Rest up—we leave at dawn."
The team dispersed, some whispering doubts, others casting sidelong glances at Ren.
He lingered, their skepticism pressing down like a physical weight.
Haru called him into the office.
The dim light threw long shadows across the walls.
"Don't give up," Haru said quietly.
"Perhaps God chose you for something greater. I see potential in you, Ren. I believe you'll forge history."
Ren's voice was barely a whisper.
"But Shadow Bounds can't change rank. If we push too far, both hunter and shadow could die."
"True," Haru admitted.
"But strength isn't only measured by rank. Through combat, strategy, and will, we change fate. You must try."
Ren hesitated, then nodded.
"Yes, Captain."
He left the office with quiet determination, though doubt gnawed at the edges of his mind.
As he lay in his quarters that night, the shadow within him stirred, a strange warmth running along his spine.
It curled around him like a living thing, whispering in a language he couldn't yet understand, Its presence was both comforting… and hungry.
For a brief moment, Ren thought he saw it—his shadow stretching across the floor, sharper, darker, almost alive.
A beast waiting to wake.
Tomorrow, destiny would test him.
In the captain's office, Haru gazed out the window at the faint glow of the city below and whispered to the night:
"One day… you'll become something more."