This story begins in Japan, a nation where the entire world remains shrouded in fear of the Devils born from humanity's own terror. The threat they pose has become a part of daily life, elevating both public and private Devil Hunter organizations to crucial importance.
In the chaotic heart of Tokyo, Kenji Hayaka was born on July 27, 1978, into a warm and ordinary family.
The Hayaka Family
Kenji is the first and only son of Masaru Hayaka, his father, an ordinary salaryman at an automotive company, and Akane Hayaka, his mother, a full-time homemaker.
Their home is a small house in the suburbs—not luxurious, but filled with love and warmth. Kenji's father is a kind, good-humored man who is always smiling when he returns home. He often spends weekends teaching Kenji various skills. Kenji's mother is gentle and attentive, showering her son with endless love and protecting him even from the smallest concerns.
From birth, Kenji had a distinctly noticeable appearance—unusually pale skin and striking light blue eyes that seemed otherworldly and captivating, like eyes that could see through everything. His parents often joked that their son had stepped right out of a fairy tale. This unique look made both Masaru and Akane especially doting and indulgent towards Kenji. They coddled their son, hoping he would grow up to be a good and safe person in this world full of danger.
Time Skip: Age 6 (1984)
Six years passed quickly. The world remained the same, with news of Devil attacks appearing in the newspapers intermittently.
At six years old, Kenji is an intelligent and observant boy. His striking features are still frequently mentioned; his handsome, mature-looking face and light blue eyes always draw attention. Yet, despite his seemingly powerful gaze, Kenji is just an ordinary boy...
One day, while playing in a park with his friends, their ball rolled into a dark alley.
"Kenji, go get it," one friend called out.
Kenji nodded and walked into the dark, damp-smelling alley. Suddenly, an unnatural chill spread over his skin. He felt like something was watching him, even though his blue eyes saw only shadows and piles of trash.
He gathered his courage and retrieved the ball, but before he could turn back...
"Oof..."
He tripped over something hard and cold. Looking down, Kenji saw a dark stain, like dried blood, on the wall, and what appeared to be a broken fragment of a sharp claw stuck fast.
Kenji's heart pounded. It wasn't fear of the injury, but the realization that "something" had been here... something he should have seen but couldn't. It was as if his special eyes were useless against this hidden threat.
He instantly understood that in a world filled with Devils, no matter how striking his appearance, he was just an ordinary boy with no special powers.
The six-year-old boy clutched the ball tightly. He decided to keep silent, telling no one, but a resolve was forged in his heart—he had to do something to survive and protect his loving parents in a world that couldn't see the true dangers.
Back home, the six-year-old boy chose silence, never mentioning the Devil traces or the broken claw in the alley to anyone, especially his parents. He opted to maintain the image of the loving and obedient son.
He realized that if he started talking about Devils or showing interest in dangerous things, his parents would certainly stop and restrain him. This, Kenji understood, was his only path.
7 Days Later
November 18, 1984
On an ordinary day, news louder than any clap of thunder broke. It wasn't just common news; it was news that shook the entire world. No one knew exactly how it arrived; there were no prior warnings. All that was known was that, suddenly, the world descended into chaos in the blink of an eye.
On the day the Gun Devil appeared, millions were instantly and brutally murdered. Not by bullets from soldiers, but by a Devil born directly from the worldwide fear of firearms.
November 18, 1984, was etched into history as the "Day of Disaster." With just its appearance and movement, the Gun Devil claimed over 1.2 million lives worldwide in just five minutes.
The young Kenji may not have understood the meaning of those numbers, but he felt the fear that permeated the air, soaking into the words of everyone around him.
After the Gun Devil Incident
Following the massive massacre, the Gun Devil's body was torn into pieces, seized by the governments of major global powers, including the United States, the Soviet Union, and China. Every nation desired a piece of the formidable Devil to use as a weapon and a bargaining tool in international politics.
News about the Gun Devil fragments was discussed daily. It became a living legend, a symbol of power and destruction that continues to haunt every human survivor.
For a young boy like Kenji, this global catastrophe was just a cold whisper of a twisted world... a world where fear was converted into flesh and blood, and became a commodity fought over by nations.
On that day, the Gun Devil left a scar that not only killed people but also left a deep wound in the hearts of all mankind, sealing the fate of many future Devil Hunters, including a man taking a trip with his family, named Aki Hayakawa.
Gun Devil Casualties by Country
Although the Gun Devil took over 1.2 million lives in just five minutes, the massacre was scattered across many nations, with the horrifying statistics recorded as follows:
United States: 21,791 lives
Soviet Union: 60,000 lives
China: 30,000 lives
Japan: 2,912 lives
Other Countries: A large number of additional fatalities
Total worldwide casualties reached 1,213,991 people.
Due to the fierce attack, the Gun Devil was left in a weakened state and was divided into pieces by the governments of the major powers to be used as weapons and for making contracts with their own Devil Hunters. This division reflects the international politics and the power struggle over the fear of firearms.