The Mountain Shrine trembled under the force of Enma's fire. Flames twisted and roared around him like living serpents, scorching the stone walls and sending embers into the night sky. Hana stood her ground, channeling all her firepower to counter him, but the heat radiating from Enma was overwhelming. Her hands blistered, smoke curling from her skin as the intensity threatened to consume her.
"Stay back, Hana! You'll burn yourself alive!" Batsu shouted, rushing forward. He raised his massive shield, a shimmering barrier of energy, shielding her from the worst of Enma's inferno.
Hana gritted her teeth, sweat and blood streaking her face. "I... I can hold him! Just a little longer!"
Enma laughed, a chilling sound that echoed through the shrine. "Foolish girl! You cannot withstand me!" Flames surged, striking Batsu's shield with a thunderous roar. The barrier groaned, molten streaks appearing as it began to fail.
Batsu's eyes widened. "Hana, fall back! I'll buy you time!" He charged at Enma, a desperate attack fueled by sheer determination.
Enma's eyes narrowed, anticipating every movement. With a colossal fire blast, he struck Batsu, sending him crashing into the stone floor. As Batsu groaned in pain, Enma seized the key dangling from his neck, its deadly gleam reflecting in his fiery eyes.
"No... this can't be..." Hana gasped, staggering as Nao rushed to her side. "Hana! Hold on! I've got you!" Nao lifted her carefully, his face etched with worry.
Juzo and Ichiro arrived just then, their expressions grim. "We're too late," Ichiro muttered, his fists clenched. "The key... it's gone."
Enma's voice echoed from the shadows as he retreat. "You cannot stop what is coming. The gates of hell will open, and your world will burn!"
Enma's laughter faded into the distance, leaving behind the stench of burning stone and ash. Batsu, coughing weakly, reached out toward the retreating shadow. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
"Damn... it..." he muttered, forcing a shaky smile. "Nao... protect... Hana..."
His hand dropped lifelessly against the floor. The firelight flickered across his still face as the last of his energy faded. The key's absence left a hollow glow on his chest where it once hung.
Nao turned too late-Batsu's body was already motionless. "Master Batsu! No!" he shouted, falling to his knees beside him. His voice broke against the silence of the ruined hall.
Juzo closed his eyes, bowing his head. "He fought bravely... his death won't be in vain."
Ichiro clenched his jaw. "Then we move forward-for him."
---
The Next Day
The shrine lay heavy with grief. Smoke from burned incense drifted through the infirmary halls, carrying the faint hum of prayer.
Nao entered quietly. Hana lay unconscious on the bed, her body wrapped in bandages, her breathing shallow but steady. Akari rested in the corner, arm in a sling, bruised and pale. Around them, several trainees and Lampmen bore their wounds in silence.
Nao sat beside Hana, his eyes soft but haunted. "You were right... we weren't ready," he whispered. "But I'll make sure Enma pays for this."
Outside, the morning sun broke through the mist, casting a faint light on the shrine courtyard.
Riku approached Juzo near the training grounds. "I'll stay," he said firmly. "We can't afford another loss. Train me harder."
Juzo gave a solemn nod. "Good. We'll rebuild from the ashes."
By dusk, Nao stood at the shrine gates, his pack slung over his shoulder. He took one last look at the sacred grounds-at the place where his friends bled, fought, and fell.
"Wait for me, Hana," he murmured. "I'll return when it's over."
With that, he turned and walked down the mountain path alone, the wind carrying the faint toll of the shrine bell behind him.
At the Demon Hunter Headquarters, the tension was suffocating. Genzo, the great elder, slammed his hand on the table. "This is unacceptable! The key has been stolen, and one life lost-Batsu!"
Takashi, commanding Souten's faction, leaned forward. "Where is it now, Elder Genzo?"
"Intelligence reports indicate a Chinese Mob stronghold in China," Genzo replied firmly. "We have no time to waste. Select your most skilled operatives. Failure is not an option!"
Satoshi, the Chainsaw, frowned. "We cannot underestimate Enma. He is faster, stronger, and more cunning than any demon we have faced."
Sister Mayumi, the Torturer, tapped her fingers against the table, eyes cold and calculating. "Then we strike swiftly and without mercy. The key must be recovered at any cost."
The room fell silent, the weight of their mission heavy in the air. Five keys could open the gate to hell-and Enma already had three.
Takashi stepped quietly out of the room, his long coat brushing against the floor. The corridor was dimly lit, shadows dancing along the walls. Outside, Nao waited, his hands fidgeting nervously, eyes focused but restless.
"Nao," Takashi said, his voice calm but carrying authority, "you've done well. Becoming a demon hunter... it's not a task many can endure."
Nao blinked, a mixture of pride and anxiety crossing his face. "You... really mean it?"
"I do. Your instincts, your courage... it reminds me of someone very dear," Takashi replied, his eyes softening. "Your father. Shigeru."
Nao's expression grew solemn. "Takashi... can you... can you tell me how my dad... how he died?" His voice was barely a whisper, laced with grief and curiosity.
Takashi nodded, looking away briefly, as if recalling painful memories. "It was years ago. Your father... he was not just a man, Nao. Shigeru was one of the strongest demon hunters our world has ever known. He protected countless lives, often at the cost of his own."
Nao swallowed hard. "I... I always thought he just... disappeared. I didn't know..."
Takashi's gaze hardened, and he took a step closer. "What I'm about to tell you is the truth of your father, Shigeru-a man whose courage and sacrifice shaped the world you now face. He was not only a skilled demon hunter, but someone who carried the weight of countless lives on his shoulders. The story of his final mission, the battles he fought, and the choices he made... it is a story that must be heard. It will show you why you are destined to follow in his footsteps. Listen carefully, for the path he walked is about to become your own."