It was the second day of the last month of spring. The wind on Kaba Island whispered with a chill, weaving through the palms like a ghost of the sea. As the demon grabs on Itoshi, Ayro stays on his guard for a potential attack.
The demon stood in the cold evening, lifting up a blue-haired boy destined for "greatness." The boy's feet dangled helplessly, his breath shallow, his orange streak catching the moonlight as if mocking fate itself.
The demon's grin stretched unnaturally, its eyes gleaming with cruel delight.
"Look at him... fragile, yet chosen."
Its voice echoed in the silence of the abandoned town, every word dripping with venom.
"Greatness... such a funny word. Do you think he understands what awaits him? What it costs to be chosen?"
The shadows around them thickened, curling like smoke that refused to dissipate.
From the ground, Ayro's voice broke through the tension, sharp and desperate.
"Let him go!"
The demon tilted its head, amused, tightening its grip on the boy's throat.
"Why should I? This child... this destined one... he belongs to something far beyond your reach."
It pulled the boy closer, whispering as if speaking to both him and the night itself.
"Chosen by fire, hunted by darkness... cursed by his own greatness."
[Itoshis Mind]
He was once again in a burning place. But this time, it was different. The surroundings flickered between earth and nature—one moment a peaceful field, the next a chaotic ruin. Suddenly, a sharp, high-pitched screech pierced Itoshi's ears. The field around him shattered into destruction.
He clutched his head, covering his ears, his teeth clenched tight.
"Quiet! Stop!"
The screeching abruptly ceased. Slowly, he opened his eyes. The flickering stopped.
Now before him lay a serene grassy field, nestled between two towering mountains. His eyes widened with wonder as calm blanketed the chaos.
The wind pressed against him—a restless whisper, carving unseen stories into his skin.
All the pain and suffering melted away in an instant.
Then, an unusual rustle came from the grass behind him.
Instinctively, he turned, his guard snapping up.
There she was—the white-haired woman again.
Itoshi jolted.
"You again!"
He shouted.
She inhaled softly, her voice calm.
"Itoshi-san..."
Itoshi froze, shocked she had spoken to him once more.
The white-haired woman muttered, almost trembling.
"I told you not to go..."
Itoshi's heart jumped. Panic edged into his tone.
"What do you mean, 'told me'? When?!"
In a voice far too soft, she replied, almost detached.
"Ah... I guess I forgot to tell you during your recent dream..."
Her composure cracked. She bit her nails in despair, eyes darting.
"I'm trying to help you.."
Itoshi blinked, taken aback.
"W-What? Why?"
Her gaze sharpened as she looked straight into his eyes.
"She chose you."
His breath caught. Slight panic colored his voice.
"Me? Who?" He paused, then pressed. "Can you tell me your name?"
The white-haired woman shook her head, her expression unreadable.
"My name is irrelevant. You'll find out in the near future."
Itoshi tightened his fists.
"Alright then... who chose me?"
[Kaba Island]
Itoshi, still in the demon's hands, was asleep. The demon realized he was dreaming.
"Hoh, interesting. He is dreaming."
Suddenly, the demon's eyes widened, and he gasped.
"What the..."
The demon's nose began to bleed. He covered it with his hand, confused by what was happening.
Ayro and Ryujin stared in shock at the sight.
"Demons bleed?"
They both thought in unison.
Without warning, the right side of the demon's face blew apart. There was no blood, but the creature immediately dropped Itoshi and clutched its face with both hands, screaming at the top of its lungs.
Ayro seized the opportunity. He quickly conjured a massive sheet of shadow, wrapping all the boys inside while carrying Kara in his other arm.
"Seriously?! You're packing us like dead bodies?!"
Ryujin asked, still bound in Ayro's darkness.
"Do you have any better idea?!"
Ayro shot back.
The demon realized what Ayro was doing and charged after them. Ryujin noticed it closing in.
"Ayro! Free me!"
The demon lunged for the shadowy sheet.
[Itoshis Mind]
The White-Haired Woman and Itoshi sat together on the grass in the field. It was peaceful—too peaceful, the kind of silence that could make those unaccustomed to it feel uneasy.
Itoshi wanted to continue their conversation. Questions still lingered in his mind, but hesitation held him back. Eventually, though, the words escaped from his lips.
"Who chose me?"
The woman, her red and blue eyes fixed on the grassy field, quickly answered.
"Her."
Itoshi raised a brow.
"Y-Yeah, who is her?"
"Her."
Itoshi stood up, baffled by the woman's vague response.
"What the hell!"
She remained silent.
Then, Itoshi asked a different question.
"Can you at least tell me more about yourself so I know if I can trust you?"
She simply answered:
"You can trust me."
"This girl... just what the hell does she want?"
Itoshi thought to himself.
The woman answered without hesitation.
"I want to save everyone."
"S-She can hear me?!"
Itoshi panicked inwardly as he sat back down beside her.
"Yes."
She could, in fact, hear his thoughts.
"Alright, let's test this,"
Itoshi muttered, words slipping out.
"Sex."
The first word that came to Itoshi's mind.
"Sex."
With no delay, the woman perfectly matched what was in Itoshi's head.
"What the hell?!"
He shot up, flabbergasted, his face turning bright red.
"You'll be waking up soon. The demon will be taken down."
"Taken down? By what?!"
Itoshi demanded, just before he was suddenly yanked into the ground with shocking speed.
[Kaba Island]
Itoshi opened his eyes. Blood streamed down his cheeks as he lay outside the dark sheet. In front of him, Ryujin stood—pierced through the left shoulder by the demon's hand, shielding Itoshi with his body.
"Ryujin!"
Ayro reacted instantly, slicing off the weakened demon's arm. Ryujin collapsed, and Itoshi caught him in his arms.
"Ryujin!"
"I'm fine. You guys go."
Ryujin's voice was firm despite the blood.
"Are you insane?!"
Itoshi shot back sarcastically.
The demon shrieked, clutching its mangled face.
"Arghh!!! What the hell was that?! White-Haired Woman?! Such power!"
The three froze, stunned, as the monster writhed and screamed. Ryujin staggered back to his feet.
"Ryujin, stop!"
But Ryujin marched forward toward the creature, who was clawing at the air and howling the same name over and over.
Ayro dashed forward, slamming Ryujin to the ground and pinning him there.
"Control yourself!"
"Tsk."
Still holding Ryujin down, Ayro turned his head toward Itoshi.
"Itoshi! Get the others out of here!"
"What about all of this shit?!"
Itoshi shouted back.
"I'll take care of it!"
"Ok!"
Without hesitation, Itoshi sprinted south along the cracked road, dragging the others with him and carrying Kara over his shoulder. Every step pushed his limits, but he refused to slow down.
"I need to... put them in a safer place... I... gotta return..."
Ayro wrapped Ryujin again in his shadow, immobilizing him, before shifting his attention back to the demon. He forged a massive hammer from darkness and charged.
Meanwhile, Itoshi finally found shelter beneath a tree. He set the others down carefully and sparked a small campfire with his flame, keeping it controlled and contained. As soon as it was lit, he turned back, sprinting toward Ayro and Ryujin.
Ayro was matching the demon blow for blow. He struck six brutal hits with his hammer, pounding the monster's ruined head. But the toll was heavy. His breathing grew ragged as the hammer dissolved into smoke.
"Is that all? Work harder, Ayro~"
The demon hissed mockingly.
"I'm on par with speed and power now that he's weakened..."
Ayro thought, retreating a step.
"I have to use magic... make a bigger opening for Ryujin..."
He dropped to his knees, pressing both palms against the ground. His breath steadied, and silence thickened.
"This is gonna suck."
He thought to himself.
Then came the chant.
"From the void where shadows creep,
Through the abyss where lost souls weep,
I call thee forth, O power untamed,
By ancient vow and whispered name.
Darkness deep and night unchained,
Rise and heed the pact ordained!
Through blood and will, through fire and fate..."
As his incantation ended, shadows surged. Darkness swirled violently around the demon, pressure tightening like an invisible vice.
"Trying to blind me?! Ayro! Try harder!"
The demon spat, only to gasp as crushing force slammed against its body.
"Let thy presence... dominate!"
A sphere of pure void formed on the demon's chest—a black hole ripping reality apart.
Blood spilled from Ayro's nose as he strained to maintain it. For only Two Agonizing Seconds, the world bent, then snapped back.
The demon's body collapsed onto the pavement, twisted and mangled beyond recognition. The silence was deafening.
Then came a rasping laugh.
"Hahaha..."
Ayro staggered, wiping blood from his face.
"Try harder, Ayro."
The demon's ruined flesh twisted, reshaping itself into its original form.
Ayro raised his hand, compressing another mass of dark energy in his palm—when suddenly, a soft voice cuts through the air.
"Wait!"
~~~To be Continued~~~