The tempest calmed down as the downpour ceased. Everything in Delphi returned to a normal state, and the dusk fell, shrouding the kingdom in darkness. The croaks of frogs, the chirps of crickets, and the buzz of cicadas filled the air.
Coldness swept through the atmosphere due to the recent downpour. A small number of people began to get out of their houses to check on the damage outside, unaware of the lurking danger in the kingdom.
In the most southern part of the kingdom, the fringes, a mother and her 14-year-old son were setting the table for dinner, while the father was lying on a sofa reading a book on farming. When he saw the food on the table, he closed the book with a thud, stood up, and stretched himself.
"It has really rained big," he said, excusing himself. "I'm going to check the condition of the stable. You can start without me."
He walked towards the door, but his wife shouted, "Wait!"
The husband turned, a puzzled look on his face. "Why?" he asked.
"You're forgetting something important," she said, walking towards him with a lantern in her hand. She lit it and handed it over.
"Haha, thank you dear," he said, a little embarrassed, but genuinely grateful. He walked outside, shutting the door behind him.
The darkness outside was so thick that the lantern seemed ineffective. The man hugged himself with his left hand against the cold and held the lantern tightly in his right hand.
He walked carefully along the narrow, wet path, pointing the lantern at the ground. The stable was only a few meters away, but first, he had to pass through a patch of long grasses.
He followed the path that ran in the grasses, and when he reached the middle, he heard rustling sounds coming from behind him. He whipped around, pointing the lantern towards the source of the noise, but there was no sign of anyone. He hesitantly turned back, unsure if he was hearing things. Again, he saw and heard nothing.
He proceeded towards the stable, now more convinced that the noises were just the wind.
But as he neared the stable, he heard another sound: "shkshkshk". It was as if he was being toyed with. Irritated, he spun around, this time with a threatening tone. "Whoever it is, when I get hold of you, you'll regret it!"
Silence and nothingness greeted him. He turned back, now determined to reach the stable. It was only two meters away.
He flashed the lantern across the structure, revealing the bent poles from the storm.
Next, he pointed the lantern at the cows, and at the same time, they moved backwards as if in fear. He wondered at their reaction, and while he was still deep in thought, a gust of wind blew out the lantern's flame, plunging him into total darkness.
His hair stood on end, and a chill ran down his spine. His hand that held the lantern trembled with nervousness.
He heard a roar, and slowly turned around, searching the darkness for the source of the sound. Nothing was visible in front of him except the inky blackness.
He heard a second roar, and this time, he realized it was coming from above. He tilted his head up, and what he saw made his blood run cold.
A creature unlike anything he had ever seen before hovered above him: an akuji.
Before he could scream for help, the creature descended on him with a speed and ferocity he couldn't fathom. Its massive jaws tore through his neck, separating his head from his body. Blood gushed from the open wound as he fell into a pool of his own blood.
Meanwhile, in the house, the mother and son were enjoying their dinner. Suddenly, the mother stopped moving.
"Have you heard that, Ruby?" she asked, still motionless.
"Not really," replied Ruby, continuing to eat his meal.
But the mother's concern was palpable. She knew something was wrong. Something terrible had happened.
The mother stood up from her chair. "I'm coming back. You wait here." She went inside a room, came out with a lamp, and headed for the stable. The night breeze blew past her slim body, and the coldness bit at her skin. She had not worn anything to keep herself warm, and now she was beginning to suffer the consequences.
She walked past the tall grasses, and was only a meter away from the stable when she heard a nibbling sound.
"Darling." She called out, pointing the lantern towards the sound.
"Darli...eeeeeeeek!!!" She screamed as she was greeted by the sight of an akuji devouring her husband's flesh.
She dropped the lantern and held the bottom of her dress, running towards the house. "Ruby! Hide! Hide somewhere!" she screamed. But before she could reach the safety of her home, the akuji caught up with her. Using its long, sharp claws, it tore into her back, causing her to lose balance and fall to the ground.
As the akuji began devouring her left side, she cried out in agony. In unison, screams rent the air from all around the surroundings, as demons and akujis attacked unsuspecting humans. Men, women, and children were engulfed in terror as the demonic creatures invaded homes and struck people in the middle of their sleep, their dinners, and their family moments.
When Ruby heard his mother's screams, his heart pounded in his chest. Sweat trickled down his forehead as he trembled in fear, unable to move.
Through a small hole near the doorknob, he saw a terrifying creature devouring his mother. "Aaaaarrrrggghhh! R-Ruby...r-run!" Barely alive,she shouted.When Ruby heard her voice,he shivered uncontrollably.
"Hmmm,I see,so there is someone named Ruby here."A demon descended swiftly beside the akuji and Ruby's mother.And then, started walking majestically towards the door.
"N-o-o-ooo!" Ruby's mother screamed, but it was too late. Ruby fell backwards in shock, staring at the door in disbelief.
Just as the demon was about to open the door, a shout rang out. "Show me what you have got, Demon! Haha... I'm going to discipline you!"
An old man wearing a large weaved hat emerged, a large bow in one hand and a flask of alcohol in the other. He took a swig of the liquid courage, returned the flask to his pocket, and carefully drew an arrow from his quiver. With all his might, he pulled back the arrow and aimed it at the demon's wing joint.
The arrow flew through the air with speed and force, creating a gust of wind that knocked the demon off-balance. The old man then darted into the bushes, disappearing into the darkness.
Enraged, the demon pulled the arrow from his joint and threw it to the ground. "You idiot pet, what are you waiting for? Follow him!" he screamed at the akuji, and together they chased after the old man.
"I have marked you, bastard! I shall enjoy making you suffer!" the demon shouted as he disappeared into the distance, leaving Ruby and his mother alone.
Some strength returned to Ruby's legs, and he seized the opportunity. With renewed vigor, he opened the door and ran towards his mother.
Ruby reached his mother and knelt down beside her, his heart breaking as he saw the extent of her injuries. She was lying in a pool of her own blood, her left side devoured beyond recognition.
"Mother!" he cried, tears streaming down his face.
"R-run... R-ruby!" she gasped, her breath ragged. "I-wo-n't s-ur-vi-ve, no matter what. You must go!"
"What are you saying? Where is Dad?" He sobbed.
"Th-e c-reature has de-voured him. They are coming from the west...you must run to the east. M-m-ake sure you survi..." With that, she took her final breath and was still.
"Mother! Mother! Don't leave me! How can I survive alone? I don't have anyone else!" Ruby was overcame with emotions, his heart aching with grief and disbelief.
He looked around, the chaos worsening by the second. Demons and akujis filled the air, their numbers multiplying rapidly.
With tears streaming down his cheeks, Ruby took advantage of the commotion and ran through the fields and farms towards the east.
Meanwhile, in the sky, a large demon with piercing eyes and dark circles around them stood flapping his wings. His name was Azazel. At his flanks were two demons and a demoness.
"Hunapo," he ordered one of the demons in his deep, commanding voice. "Go and help them take over. Occupy all the houses that belong to the royals and nobles."
With a chilling cackle, Hunapo descended upon the earth, eager to establish the authority given to him by his master.