One year ago
"The night has finally arrived."
"Finally, after so long, the veil is getting thinner."
"Today is the day when the moon turns red—the Hunter's Night."
Joy and tension spread through every corner of the fox and wolf clans. Tonight was the Blood Moon—the most dangerous night.
Elders say the Blood Moon was not just a celestial event—it was the day when demons think they can win. On such nights, the veil between realms grows fragile, and demons crawl freely into the world.
But the moon does more than that—it awakens what lies hidden. Some call it the darkest omen because Blood Moon feeds on chaos, stirring the darkest parts of the soul. Others call it destiny, for under its light, the forgotten and the chosen reveal their true nature.
For the foxes, the Blood Moon is a trial by fire.
For the wolves, it is a call to honor.
The elders named it the Soul Catcher—a night where only the bravest hunters stepped forward to collect a demon's soul.
And the packs were ready—the strongest hunters from both packs gathered at the borders, blades gleaming under the pale reddish moonlight.
For them, this was more than survival. It was a competition.
Every demon soul became a contest of pride.
Who would collect more souls?
Who would protect their lands better?
Who would prove themselves worthy of honor in the council?
Victories earned points.
Points determined the rank.
Rank influenced power.
Most nights, demons came once a month—sometimes twice, if the veil thinned too quickly. But tonight was different.
Tonight was a Blood Moon, and the hunt had returned. Which meant only one thing: the stakes were higher than ever.
The territory was already divided: wolves to the west, foxes to the east. And in the silence of the dark forest, hunters prepared to fight.
Among the chosen hunters of the wolf pack stood a girl in dark clothes, silent and out of place—an outcast among her own kind.
Akira tightened her grip on her shining silver dagger as the group moved after hearing the roars of demons coming from deep in the forest.
The other hunters always ignored her, as if she were air.
They teamed up, making plans and moving forward, leaving her behind.
But Akira didn't care because, for her, this night wasn't about points — it was about discovering her true self.
Akira walked alone in the dark forest, moving slowly and carefully as she examined the area.
Her boots crunched against the dry leaves as she studied the surroundings.
A thick, unfamiliar smell spread through the forest, one tainted by the scent of blood.
She heard a sound—more like a scream—from a demon behind her. She carefully drew her dagger and set herself in an attacking position.
Rawr!!
The forest was alive with whispers. Overhead, a great crimson moon loomed, as if the sky itself sensed what was coming.
Screams of hunters and demons carried through the woods.
Before Akira could even draw a full breath, a demon burst out of the shadows—huge with horns, eyes like burning coals, teeth flashing in the moonlight, claws long enough to crush a rock into a million pieces.
ROOOAR!!
'Oh, no, it's the Sluagh!'
Akira moved quickly, raised her dagger just in time, the blade catching its claws.
CLASH!!
Sparks of silver light exploded as steel met bone. She twisted free, slipped beneath its massive body, and stabbed right into its chest.
With a sharp cry, the Sluagh roared—Screechhh!—not in pain, but in rage—and swung its clawed arm, which made Akira stumble, and caused her dagger to fly swiftly to the nearest tree trunk and lodge there.
It smirked, then ran after her.
'Not now, I can't die like this; I want to know who I am.'
Akira screams in agony of not knowing her true self.
'I can't die. I don't deserve this.'
Her eyes welled up with tears, and her heartbeat—thump-thump—raced so fast she could hardly catch her breath.
'This was it—the end.'
Then—something answered inside her. Her body changed, her eyes glowed. Fierce and unrelenting, until her skin burned with light.
The demon came to a sudden stop, then, with a calm and steady motion, bowed before her.
Her heart pounded.
She stepped back, eyes wide, watching the Sluagh lower its head.
Why?
Questions swirled in her mind, but her body was too weak to hold on. She collapsed. And just before her eyes closed, she heard the demon whisper—
"Finally Found you…little one."