In a dreadful world called the Netherworld, various beings coexisted—monsters, demons, and outcasts. It was indeed a grim place. They all lived peacefully at a school known as Netherhigh, where werewolves, vampires, gorgons, and zombies each had their designated sections. The demons had theirs, and the outcasts had theirs too. Interaction between these groups was strictly forbidden; anyone who broke the rules faced expulsion and banishment to Arashi, a mysterious lake of both fire and water.
Netherhigh was the heart of the Netherworld, divided to keep students safe from the greatest threat: the Takahashi brothers.
Barka, an undead spirit, resided in the precious solitude of despair. As a vampire with hair like raven feathers—black and white mixed—and black eyes that mirrored the spirit of the undead, her appearance was striking. Clad in dark attire that evoked the image of a serial killer on the prowl, she was the only child of Sadokshi and Malai. They were the heirs of Tomodoki, a criminal organization that appeared clean but operated like a mafia from the inside. Sadokshi and Malai reveled in their dark reputation, winning awards for being the most dreadful beings of the year—a twisted honor in their eyes.
Barka grew up in that dark home, where her parents cared more about their image than her well-being, pushing her to uphold their family name. Despite her unsettling upbringing, she was as cheerful as a clown, with an insatiable lust for mystery and adventure. She often sat in the garden, lost in the colorful world of her imagination, which was the only place she truly felt herself.
At Netherhigh, Barka had just one friend, Nite—a nerdy human boy placed in the outcast section. His parents were close to hers, leaving him with only Barka for companionship. Due to the separation rule at Netherhigh, they could only hang out at home. Barka was confined to the monsters section, while she harbored a crush on Susan, a student from the demons section. Susan was the school's famous heartthrob, with black hair tinged with red and dressed in an all-black cloak. His blood-red eyes, pale skin, and bad-boy smile drove the girls wild, and his perfect personality only added to his allure. The school had no official information about him, but everyone spun their own tales.
"Wooo.... I can't wait for the festival, Nite! The announcer said a group is performing... it's gonna be lit!" Barka exclaimed, her arms waving with eager anticipation. It was the Night of Nether festival, celebrating the defeat of the Takahashi brothers.
"Yaaaay.... wooo....!" cheered the crowd as students burst through the venue. Barka and Nite stood in line, waiting for their tickets to be accepted.
"Beep...beep... I'm sorry, but the machine doesn't accept your tickets," said the guard, his eyes scanning them like they were con artists.
"Ma'am, are you sure? My parents gifted me those tickets!" Barka replied, her eyes wide with disbelief. "But why can't we just go in? Why do people even use tickets?" she argued.
"We have to ensure con artists like you don't get in... SECURITY!" the guard barked, and they were unceremoniously thrown out. Barka began to throw a tantrum.
With their heads down and shoulders slumped, they were dragged away by security, when suddenly, the ground shook. An earthquake rumbled, and a fierce wind blew away the festival decorations. The ground split, destroying everything in its path, as lava erupted like a fire tornado ready to wreak havoc. Slowly, the force field protecting the Netherworld vanished, leaving the city exposed and vulnerable. Chaos erupted as authorities scrambled to manage the situation.
Barka and Nite watched in terror, their hearts pounding like caged birds. Barka broke free from security and sprinted toward the tomb where the ruby was buried, with Nite hot on her heels. Together, they dug up the seal protecting the ruby.
With quickening heartbeats, they gasped as they stared blankly at the dirt-streaked seal, their eyes wide with disbelief. The ruby was... gone!