Leo sat on the cold, hard ground, his mind in a whirlwind of emotions. Dan's death replayed in his head like a haunting echo, the weight of his failure crushing his spirit. He clenched his fists, his eyes burning with anger and regret. But amidst the turmoil, a new flame was kindling within him—a fiery determination to stop Raizen, no matter the cost.
Suddenly, the soft sound of footsteps broke his thoughts. He quickly turned towards the door, sword at the ready. The elevator had arrived, and the door slid open with a quiet hiss. A woman and a small child stepped out into the apartment. The woman, appearing to be in her late twenties, had long brown hair tied into a loose bun, and the child, a boy of about five, clutched her hand tightly. They looked at Leo with a mix of confusion and surprise.
"Are you Dan's guest?" the woman asked softly, her voice gentle but cautious.
Leo's heart sank. He realized these must be Dan's wife and son, the family in the photo he had seen on the wall earlier. His throat tightened, but he managed to nod.
"Yes, I am," Leo replied, his voice hoarse with grief. "But now, I'm about to leave."
The woman gave him a polite nod, though she noticed something heavy in Leo's expression. Without another word, Leo turned his gaze to the family photo on the wall. He took a deep breath, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill over. He couldn't bring himself to tell them the truth about Dan—not yet. They deserved to live in peace, even if only for a little longer.
Leo made his way out of the apartment, his heart heavy but his resolve steeled. As he stepped onto the street, the bustling sounds of the futuristic city surrounded him, but all he could think about was Raizen. He needed to find his family—if they were still alive. His first thought was their farmhouse in the countryside outside Tokyo. It had been a long time since he'd been there, but if his family had escaped the chaos, that would be their refuge.
Determined, Leo flagged down a flying cab. It arrived within minutes, the sleek vehicle hovering above the ground as the doors slid open. Leo climbed in, and the cab took off, soaring through the air at breakneck speed. Normally, the trip to the countryside would have taken hours, but with modern transportation, it was a mere three-hour journey.
As the cab neared the familiar rural landscape, Leo felt a wave of nostalgia. The farmhouse came into view, nestled between rolling hills and a dense forest. But something was wrong. The once-beautiful house was now run-down and abandoned, the garden overgrown with weeds, the windows cracked and broken. It was clear that no one had lived there for years.
Leo stepped out of the cab, his heart sinking. He approached the farmhouse slowly, hoping against hope that he might find some clue as to where his family had gone. But there was nothing—no sign of life, no indication of where they might have fled. The isolation hit him hard, but he wasn't ready to give up.
His family had one more place—a small base on an island far away. It would take time to get there, but it was his only remaining hope. However, with night fast approaching, Leo decided to stay at the farmhouse. He could rest, gather his thoughts, and prepare for the next leg of his journey.
Inside the farmhouse, the dust-covered furniture and creaky floorboards spoke of years of neglect. Leo found an old mattress and lay down, his stomach growling with hunger. He had no food, no money, and the journey from the Nether had left him drained. Sleep came slowly, but eventually, exhaustion overtook him.
In the middle of the night, a sudden sound jolted him awake. His senses sharpened, and he reached for his sword. Someone was in the house. Leo crept toward the living room, the light from the television flickering under the door. He cautiously opened it and peered inside.
A young girl, probably in her early twenties, sat on the couch watching TV, a bowl of instant noodles in her hands. She was laughing softly at something on the screen, completely unaware of Leo's presence. His stomach growled again, and the noise made her turn suddenly.
Without warning, she threw her chopsticks in Leo's direction, her movements as swift as lightning. Leo barely managed to block them with his sword, shocked at the speed of her attack.
"Who are you?" Leo demanded, stepping into the light, his sword still drawn.
The girl raised an eyebrow, seemingly unimpressed. "That's my question, dude. You're the one sneaking around in my house."
Leo's expression hardened. "Your house? This is my family's farmhouse. You're the one trespassing. So get out."
The girl chuckled, clearly amused. "Your family's house? No one's lived here for years. I've been staying here for four years now, and no one's come by. Don't make me laugh."
Leo's eyes drifted to the katana resting on the table beside her. He hadn't noticed it before, but now he was curious. "Why do you have a katana? The world's safe now. There's no need for weapons like that."
The girl's expression darkened slightly. "For self-defense," she said coolly. "My father was a famous sword master. It's natural for me to carry one."
Leo turned away, uninterested in her story. He had bigger things to worry about. "You can stay here," he said over his shoulder, "but I'm leaving tomorrow morning. Just don't bother me."
Without waiting for a response, Leo went back to his room and lay down. The hunger gnawed at him, but he tried to ignore it. Just as he was about to drift off to sleep, he smelled something—food. Opening his eyes, he saw a cup of noodles placed on the small table next to his bed. A small smile crept onto his face, and he ate gratefully before falling into a deep sleep.
The next morning, Leo woke up to the sound of someone practicing sword techniques outside. He stepped out of the farmhouse and saw the girl, katana in hand, striking at a nearby tree with precision and grace. Ignoring her, he turned his attention to the familiar scenery of the mountains, memories of his childhood flooding back. He had spent so many summers here with his family, but now everything had changed.
As Leo stood lost in thought, the girl called out to him. "Hey, why do you have that sword? It's glowing like it's on fire or something."
Leo glanced at the blade strapped to his back. The Destroyer. "It belonged to my aunt," he said quietly. "I have it for a reason."
"What reason?"
Leo hesitated for a moment, then answered without looking at her. "Revenge."
The girl's eyes gleamed with curiosity. "Revenge, huh? How about we spar? If I win, you let me take a closer look at that sword."
Leo considered her offer. He needed the practice, and besides, she had already proven herself to be a skilled fighter. "Fine," he agreed. "But don't expect me to go easy on you."
They took their positions, swords at the ready. The clash of steel echoed through the morning air as they engaged in a fierce battle. The girl was fast, her movements precise and controlled, but Leo was strong, his experience from the Nether giving him an edge. They fought for over an hour, both pushing their limits. In the end, the girl won by a narrow margin.
Breathing heavily, Leo handed her the sword, as promised. She took it, examining it closely. But as soon as she touched it, something strange happened. Her expression changed, her eyes widening in shock as memories seemed to flood her mind.
Suddenly, her body began to transform. Her skin darkened, her eyes glowing red. She had become a demon.
Leo stepped back, stunned. "You're... you're a demon?"
The girl, now in her demon form, nodded. "I am. And this sword... it triggered something in me."
Leo, now even more curious, took back the sword and felt a surge of power as he, too, began to transform. His demon blood awakened, his appearance shifting slightly, though still human in form.
They stood there, both knowing each other's secret. Both demons, yet both with their own reasons for hiding.
"If you're a demon, why are you alone out here?" Leo asked.
The girl's eyes narrowed. "I'm training. I need to get stronger to defeat someone."
Leo's heart skipped a beat. "Who?"
"Raizen," she answered, her voice filled with anger. "The ancient lord who's manipulating this world."
Leo couldn't believe what he was hearing. "I'm after him, too. I want revenge for what he's done."
The girl looked at him, her expression softening slightly. "Then it seems we have the same goal."
Leo's determination flared once again. "Join me," he said. "We can defeat Raizen together."
The girl hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. My name's Fiona. Let's take him down."
Leo smiled. "Good. But first, we need to find my family. They might be at our base."
With Fiona now by his side, Leo set off on a new journey, determined to gather the strength and allies he needed to face Raizen. Together, they would confront the ancient demon lord and put an end to his reign of terror—no matter the cost.