Long, long ago, a war erupted that would shape history—a war between the most powerful demon lord the world had ever known and the mightiest hero to walk the land. For forty years the battle raged, a conflict so fierce it would forever be etched into time. But before we can speak of the war's conclusion, we must first look back at its beginning…
On a bright, sun-drenched day, in a land far removed from the reach of other civilizations, there was a small, thriving village. It was a place with many lively souls blossoming. The souls that lived there were as simple as they were content.
"Hey, Yuri! Wanna come play outside with us?" Yuu asked with a smile.
"No, Yuu. Leave me alone," Yuri replied, not looking up from his book. "I keep telling you that playing games is childish. I'd rather read and learn, unlike you."
Yuu chuckled. "Yuri, this is why I like you," he said with a teasing smirk. "You act all serious, but it's written all over your face. You want to play. Come on—maybe today's the day you finally beat me in something."
Yuri's eye twitched, frustration mounting. "Sigh... Fine," he muttered, slamming his book shut. "Just because you challenged me, I'll take you up on your offer. Today is the day you lose. I'll beat you in a duel today!"
Yuu's eyes light up with excitement. "Alright Yuri, are you ready to head out to duel then!?" His grin widened.
"Of course let's just hurry it up so I can go back to something productive."
Both Yuu & Yuri move out to the open field on just the outskirts of the village, Yuu on the way moves excitedly, almost overjoyed, while Yuri walks with a stiff, serious posture, almost as if tense about the battle.
They both approach the area, getting ready to battle. Yuu stretched, cracking his neck as he brandished his blade in one hand.
Yuri observed him, trying to predict his next move. But it was difficult to predict someone like Yuu—his attacks were wild and reckless, more instinct than strategy. The fight wouldn't be about tactics; it would be about skill, plain and simple.
"Look at this crowd, Yuri," Yuu chuckled, eyes scanning around.
Yuri doesn't respond. He stood tense, his grip tight on his blade, trying to block out the noise of the crowd. The anticipation was starting to get to him, but he forced himself to focus.
Yuu, noticing Yuri's silence, raised an eyebrow. "Well, Yuri, let's begin...?" Yuu hesitantly asks.
Yuri takes this as a fair signal to start, he rushes Yuu and swings his blade relentlessly.
"Whoa!" Yuu laughed, sidestepping the attacks with ease. "Yuri, your swings have gotten way better!"
Yuri gritted his teeth, frustration building. "I don't want your praise," he snapped, his voice tight with irritation. "Just fight."
For the next two minutes, the two of them danced through the field—Yuri relentlessly attacking, his sword cutting through the air, while Yuu moved fluidly, dodging every strike with minimal effort.
Yuri's face was flushed, his exhaustion showing in the strain of each swing. Despite his determination, he couldn't land a single hit. Yuu was too fast, too unpredictable.
Yuu kept his distance, his eyes sharp, studying Yuri's moves with the calm of someone who already knew how this would end.
"STOP RUNNING AWAY AND FIGHT ME YUU!" Yuri screams overcome with anger.
As if the atmosphere itself shifted, Yuu's demeanor suddenly changed. His playful energy hardened into something more serious, more focused. He took a slow step toward Yuri, his eyes narrowing.
"Yuri," Yuu began, his voice no longer light, but heavy with intent, "I wasn't taking this seriously before. I knew you weren't strong physically. But... since I respect you so much, I'll at least finish this seriously."
A chilling, ominous aura began to radiate from Yuu, sending a shiver down Yuri's spine.
Before Yuri could react, Yuu moved. In a blur of motion, he knocked Yuri's sword from his hand. Panic surged through Yuri as he instinctively stepped back, his body on autopilot, trying to create distance. Yuu closes the gap between them in a single, fierce step. Yuri's breath hitched as Yuu's blade came to a rest at his neck, the duel concludes with this. Yuri stood frozen, feeling defeated and hopeless, he falls to his knees, collapsing to the ground.
Tears welled up in his eyes as despair settled deep in his chest. He didn't even try to hold them back. Why was he always so weak? Why couldn't he ever be strong enough?
Around were people praising Yuu for his amazing swordmanship but all Yuri could hear was the defeating silence in his own mind. He sat broken.
Then, out of the corner of his vision, he saw Yuu. Yuu wasn't smiling or celebrating his victory. Instead, he was stepping forward, kneeling beside Yuri, his hand outstretched. Yuu didn't say anything at first. He just looked at Yuri with quiet understanding, as though he knew exactly what Yuri was feeling.
Choking on his tears, Yuri screams,"Why... why do you always beat me, but then you find a way to help me?" His voice cracked with frustration. "Why?!"
Yuu's smile softened, and he extended his hand to Yuri, his voice calm but full of warmth.
"Because you're my best friend, Yuri." He said it as though it was the most natural thing in the world, the truth of it undeniable. "I'll always be there to help you up."
Yuri stared at Yuu's stretched hand. Slowly, he took Yuu's hand, allowing the warmth of his friend's gesture to sink in.
After the duel, things between the boys began to change. Over time, they grew even closer—Yuri began to open up to Yuu. With each passing day, their bond deepened, until it was no longer just friendship but a brotherhood.
They became family, in the truest sense of the word, when their parents got married. The two of them, once just friends, were now brothers—bound not by blood, but by the unbreakable bond they had forged through years of understanding and support.