After having killed both his parents and his little brother—and devouring them an hour later—Dante sat on the ground, dazed. The reality of what he had done hadn't fully sunk in, yet his body began to ache in unimaginable ways. Waves of pain tore through him, and he collapsed, writhing on the floor. His bones cracked and shifted, reshaping themselves in ways they never had before.
The agony was unbearable. He screamed, his voice echoing through the empty house. Tears streamed down his face as he cried out for his mother, forgetting what he had done to her mere moments earlier.
"What's happening to me?!" Dante's mind was a blur as the pain reached its peak.
Dante always knew he was different. He wasn't a UEW demon like his father or little brother, nor a siren like his mother. Yet, he had always been labeled as a low-ranked demon—a certainty every demon instinctively knew about themselves. But now, as he lay in agony, he felt it. His bloodline rank was rising. The impossible was happening.
So many things had happened to Dante that night. At just seven years old, he muttered to himself, "Why did Mom force me to do that? Why was she so uncooperative?" His voice trembled as he dragged the mangled remains of his family that he hadn't eaten around the house. He scattered the pieces strategically, trying to make it look like an animal attack. The transformation happening to him became an afterthought as he focused on covering his tracks.
After ensuring no one could identify which parts belonged to whom, Dante ventured into a nearby barn owned by their neighbor, Tuford the Rearer. Tuford had always believed in keeping wild animals as pets rather than hunting them, a practice many in the village criticized. Ever since Dante could remember, he'd felt an affinity for ferocious beasts. Quietly, he released the creatures from their cages and guided them toward the woods, not caring about the chaos they would cause.
The next morning, the village was in an uproar.
"Tuford and his daughters are dead!" someone cried. "Those wild animals he kept finally turned on him!"
"I always said it was a terrible idea to rear beasts like that," another villager muttered.
As the chaos grew, another voice called out, "Over here! Apakthu and his family were attacked too!"
Erebil, a close friend of Apakthu, felt his heart sink. He sprinted toward the house, ignoring the warnings of others trying to stop him. When he pushed through the crowd and entered, the sight before him would haunt him forever. The mangled remains of Apakthu and his family were scattered throughout the home, their identities barely recognizable. The way the bodies were torn apart left Erebil shaken to his core.
While the village mourned and speculated, Dante had vanished into the Evermore Forest. He had always felt a strange connection to the forest, which remained unconquered by demons on the demonic continent. It wasn't one of the Nine Forbidden Zones, but it was no less dangerous. Even King-ranked experts had perished within its depths. Yet, Dante thrived there.
For nine years, Dante lived in the forest, hunting, killing, and surviving among its deadly inhabitants. Each time he killed and consumed a creature, he felt his bloodline rank increasing. The sensation was intoxicating, as if each meal unlocked a new piece of his potential. By the time he turned sixteen, his once-scrawny frame had filled out slightly, but he still appeared lean for someone who consumed so much. His black hair was now a pitch-black void, and his crimson eyes glowed brighter than ever.
One day, Dante sprinted through the forest, his heart pounding.
"Shit," he cursed under his breath, glancing over his shoulder. He had made a grave mistake: killing the cubs of a Taflack mother.
The Taflack was a beast equivalent to a professional-ranked expert—far beyond Dante's adept rank capabilities. Though he had carved out a territory for himself in the forest's innermost layers, this beast was not something he could handle.
The Taflack pursued him relentlessly, its snarls growing louder as it closed the distance. Dante pushed himself harder, heading toward his base in a desperate attempt to reach safety. But as he entered the clearing, the beast burst into view.
It was massive, its fur bristling with rage, and its eyes gleamed with murderous intent. Dante had no choice but to fight.
The Taflack charged, its claws slashing through the air. Dante dodged, rolling to the side as he summoned his reddish-black energy. He sent a blast toward the beast, striking it in the shoulder. The creature stumbled but quickly regained its footing, snarling even louder.
Dante darted to a nearby tree, climbing it with speed born of desperation. From the branches, he launched another energy attack, this time aimed at the beast's legs. The blast connected, momentarily toppling the Taflack. Seizing the opportunity, Dante leaped onto its back, digging his claws into its hide as he poured his energy directly into its body.
The beast howled in pain, thrashing violently. Dante was thrown off, crashing to the ground with a thud. Blood dripped from his mouth as he struggled to rise.
The Taflack advanced, its emerald eyes blazing with fury. Dante summoned his last reserves of strength, creating a protective barrier around himself. The beast's claws struck the barrier, sending cracks rippling through it. Finally, the shield shattered, and the Taflack's claws raked across Dante's side.
Pain shot through him as he collapsed, his vision swimming. Yet, as the beast prepared to deliver the final blow, it hesitated. The swirling energy around Dante—a chaotic blend of crimson and black—made even the mighty Taflack wary. Letting out a low growl, the beast retreated just beyond the clearing, its glowing eyes never leaving Dante.
Dante lay on the ground, his body trembling with exhaustion. The Taflack wasn't gone, merely waiting. He knew he couldn't stay here.
After hours of wandering through the forest, Dante stumbled upon a town. His black hair clung to his bloodied face, and his torn clothes barely concealed his injuries. He blended into the shadows, listening to the villagers' conversations.
That day, the count's family was making an announcement in the town square. Dante watched from the crowd, his crimson eyes widening in shock as he saw the woman standing beside the count.
She looked exactly like his mother—the mother who abandoned him all those years ago.