The sun beat down mercilessly upon the cracked earth, casting harsh shadows across the desolate wasteland. Heat waves rippled in the distance, making the horizon blur as if the very air was suffocating under the weight of the sun's unrelenting gaze. The dry wind that occasionally swept through the barren land offered no relief, carrying with it only the scent of dust and decay. Akuma's small figure trudged through the wasteland, each step slower than the last as exhaustion clawed at him.
He wasn't alone, of course. Beside him, Kuro, the Bone Fiend, moved with a steady gait, its skeletal frame making no noise as it followed its master. The creature's empty eye sockets glowed faintly with a dark, unnatural light, casting a slight shadow over the ground as it walked. Even though Kuro didn't speak, Akuma found himself talking to it anyway, his voice barely more than a hoarse whisper.
"You know, Kuro," Akuma murmured, wiping the sweat from his brow with a trembling hand. "I wish… I wish you could speak back. But at least you're here with me. At least I'm not completely alone."
His voice cracked at the end, a reflection of the deep loneliness gnawing at his heart. It had only been a few days since the fall of his clan, but to Akuma, it felt like an eternity. The silence around him was deafening, and the constant pressure of being alone weighed heavy on his young soul.
He glanced at Kuro, who continued to walk silently beside him, its bony hands hanging at its sides. The skeleton's mere presence was a strange comfort, even if it was just an animated pile of bones. At least it was something—something tangible in a world that had crumbled around him.
Akuma's lips were dry, cracked from the relentless heat, and his throat felt like it was lined with sandpaper. His stomach growled, the pangs of hunger growing more intense with each passing hour. He had scoured the wasteland, searching for anything—water, food, something to sustain him—but the barren landscape had nothing to offer.
"I don't know how much longer I can go on," Akuma muttered, more to himself than to Kuro. His vision swam, his legs felt like they were made of lead, and his skin was burned and raw from the sun's harsh rays. "I need water… food… anything…"
His words trailed off as he stumbled, nearly falling to his knees. He caught himself at the last second, breathing heavily as he fought to stay upright. The desolation around him seemed to mock him, the empty expanse stretching endlessly in all directions.
But Akuma kept moving. He had to. His father's words echoed in his mind, urging him forward, pushing him to survive.
_"You are the future of our clan. Never forget who you are, Akuma."_
The memory of his father's voice gave him a flicker of strength, just enough to keep his feet moving. He would survive. He had to. For his father. For his people.
But deep down, Akuma knew that his situation was dire. He was running on fumes, and without food or water, his chances of survival were dwindling. His mind began to drift, his thoughts becoming hazy as the oppressive heat took its toll.
He didn't notice the creature lurking in the shadows until it was too late.
A sudden rustling noise caught his attention, but before he could react, something small and fast launched itself at him. Akuma barely had time to raise his arms in defense as the creature's sharp claws slashed across his chest, tearing through his already tattered clothes and slicing into his skin.
"Ahh!" Akuma cried out in pain, stumbling back as blood dripped from the fresh wound. His vision blurred, and for a moment, panic surged through him.
The creature, now fully visible, was grotesque beyond words. It was small—no larger than a toddler—but its twisted, misshapen body gave it a terrifying appearance. Its skin was a sickly yellow-green, mottled with dark spots, and its face was a grotesque mask of distorted features. Pointed ears jutted out from its head, and its sharp teeth glinted menacingly as it snarled at Akuma. Its hunched posture made it appear even more animalistic, like a rabid dog ready to pounce.
Akuma stared at the creature in shock, his breath coming in ragged gasps. This was unlike anything he had ever seen before. It wasn't a beast of the wilderness, nor was it one of the monstrous creatures he had heard of in legends. It was something entirely different—something ugly and malevolent.
"What… what is that thing?" Akuma whispered, his voice shaking with fear.
The creature hissed, baring its teeth as it crouched low to the ground, preparing to strike again. Akuma's heart raced as he realized the danger he was in. He had no strength left to fight—his magic was weak, barely enough enough to conjure a small flame, and his body was already battered and exhausted from the relentless heat and hunger. Panic set in as the creature crept closer, its grotesque form moving with unnatural agility.
"Damn it," Akuma muttered under his breath, clutching his bleeding chest. He could feel his heart pounding against his ribs, the pain shooting through his body in waves. This was the end. He was too weak, too tired, too young to fight something like this.
Then, in a flash of desperation, Akuma turned to Kuro. His only companion, his only hope. The Bone Fiend stood silently beside him, its hollow eyes staring ahead without emotion.
"Kuro!" Akuma's voice was hoarse, but it held a command, a plea. "Protect me! Kill that thing!"
Kuro moved instantly. The skeleton's bones cracked as it straightened, stepping forward to place itself between Akuma and the advancing creature. For a moment, Akuma's heart skipped a beat as he watched the undead servant move. It was like watching a puppet master expertly control his strings, each motion deliberate and precise, yet unnerving in its silence.
The creature hissed again, lunging at Kuro with surprising speed. Its claws slashed through the air, aiming for the Bone Fiend's skull. But Kuro was ready. With a bone-chilling creak, the skeleton raised its bony arm and blocked the attack, parrying the creature's blow with ease. The sound of bone scraping against flesh was sickening, and Akuma felt a knot form in his stomach as he watched the battle unfold.
Kuro swung its other arm in a wide arc, aiming to crush the creature's head. The creature, however, was quick—far quicker than Kuro—and it ducked under the attack, darting to the side with incredible agility. Akuma could barely keep up with the movements, his eyes wide as the two engaged in a brutal fight.
The creature, despite its small size, was fast and vicious. It danced around Kuro, slashing at the skeleton with razor-sharp claws, trying to find a weak spot in its bony frame. Kuro, on the other hand, was slow but relentless, its attacks powerful and precise. Each swing of its bony arms was aimed to kill, but the creature's speed kept it one step ahead.
Akuma watched in horror, his chest tightening with anxiety. He was scared—terrified, even. This was the first real danger he had encountered since being banished to this wasteland, and he was helpless. All he could do was watch as his only ally fought for his life.
"Come on, Kuro…" Akuma whispered, his voice barely audible over the sounds of battle. "You can do it… Just finish it…"
The fight dragged on, each passing second feeling like an eternity. The creature darted in and out of Kuro's range, its claws leaving deep gashes in the skeleton's bones. But Kuro didn't stop. It didn't feel pain, didn't tire. It was relentless, its glowing eye sockets locked onto its target with a single-minded determination.
Finally, the creature made a mistake. It lunged at Kuro, aiming for the skull again, but this time, it wasn't fast enough. Kuro's bony hand shot out, grabbing the creature by the throat with a sickening crunch. The creature let out a choked scream, its body thrashing wildly as it tried to break free. But Kuro's grip was like iron—unbreakable.
"Kuro! Now!" Akuma shouted, his voice filled with a mix of fear and desperation.
With a swift, brutal motion, Kuro tightened its grip and crushed the creature's throat. The grotesque being let out one final gurgle before its body went limp, the life draining from its twisted form. Kuro held the creature for a moment longer before tossing it aside like a rag doll, its lifeless body crumpling to the ground.
Akuma collapsed to his knees, his body trembling with relief and exhaustion. He could hardly believe what had just happened. He had been so close to death, so close to losing everything. But Kuro had saved him. His loyal Bone Fiend had protected him, just as the book had promised.
For a long moment, Akuma sat in the dust, breathing heavily as he tried to calm his racing heart. His chest still ached from the creature's attack, and the wound was bleeding heavily, but at least he was alive. That was all that mattered.
"Kuro…" Akuma finally spoke, his voice soft. "Thank you."
Kuro stood silently, its bony hands hanging at its sides, as if waiting for its next command. Akuma looked up at the skeleton, a strange sense of gratitude swelling in his chest. It was just bones—nothing more than an undead servant he had summoned—but in this moment, it was the closest thing to a friend he had.
Akuma winced as he tried to stand, his body still weak from hunger and thirst. The heat of the sun was unbearable, and he could feel his lips cracking further, his throat dry and parched.
"I need to find water…" Akuma muttered to himself, looking around the barren landscape. "If I don't… I'll die out here…"
He glanced at the corpse of the creature Kuro had killed, its grotesque form lying in the dirt. A thought crossed his mind, and though it repulsed him, he couldn't afford to be picky.
"Maybe… maybe it has something I can use…"
With a grimace, Akuma knelt beside the creature, searching through its small, misshapen body. To his surprise, he found a small pouch tied around its waist, hidden beneath the tattered rags it wore. Inside the pouch were a few dried pieces of meat—far from fresh, but edible.
Akuma hesitated for only a moment before taking the meat. He was starving, and his body was screaming for sustenance. The meat was tough and tasted awful, but he forced it down, knowing it was the only thing keeping him from collapsing.
After eating, Akuma stood again, his legs still shaky but his resolve strengthened. He looked at Kuro, who stood silently beside him.
"We need to keep moving," Akuma said, his voice filled with determination. "There has to be something out here… something that can help us…"
With Kuro by his side, Akuma set off once more, the vast wasteland stretching endlessly before him. He didn't know where he was going, or what dangers lay ahead, but he had no choice but to keep moving. His father's words echoed in his mind, a reminder of what he was fighting for.
_"Never forget who you are, Akuma."_
And he wouldn't. No matter how hard it got, no matter how much pain he had to endure, Akuma would survive.
For his father.
For his people.
For the demons.