The sky above Kyoto was an empty void, devoid of the Moon's comforting glow. The endless darkness was suffocating, stretching out like a wound that refused to heal. Haruto sat on the cold stone steps of the ruined temple, his thoughts clouded with confusion and fear. Aiko was by his side, her hands trembling as she clutched the old jacket he had draped over her shoulders.
It had been three days since the Moon fell, and the world had descended into something out of a nightmare. Fires burned unchecked across the city, the once-bustling streets reduced to rubble. The air smelled of ash and decay, and the distant howls of Moon Cursed monsters echoed like a sinister melody through the empty city.
Haruto's body still ached from the transformation he'd undergone that first night. The memory of the glowing shard, its searing heat, and the overwhelming surge of power that had followed haunted him. He wasn't sure what he had become, but he knew he was no longer the same person.
"Haruto," Aiko said softly, breaking the heavy silence.
He turned to her, his expression weary. "What is it?"
She hesitated, her brown eyes wide with concern. "You've barely eaten anything. You need to keep your strength up."
He forced a small smile, trying to mask the turmoil inside him. "I'm fine, Aiko. Don't worry about me."
But she wasn't convinced. "You haven't been fine since that night. I saw what happened to you, Haruto. You... you changed."
He looked away, his jaw tightening. He didn't want to admit it, but she was right. Something inside him had shifted, something he couldn't fully understand or control.
---
The First Test
Their conversation was interrupted by a sudden tremor beneath their feet. Haruto stood up, his senses on high alert. He could feel it—the faint, pulsing presence of something nearby. It was as if the earth itself was whispering to him, warning him of danger.
"Aiko, stay here," he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"But—"
"Stay here," he repeated, his gaze hard. "I'll be back."
Reluctantly, Aiko nodded, her small frame trembling as she huddled against the temple's stone wall. Haruto stepped into the open, scanning the area for any signs of movement.
That's when he saw it.
A figure emerged from the shadows, its form hunched and grotesque. Its skin was a sickly gray, its eyes glowing with a malevolent red light. It let out a guttural growl, its claws scraping against the pavement as it advanced.
Haruto's heart pounded in his chest. This was one of the Moon Cursed, a creature born from the same shards that had transformed him. But while he had retained his humanity, this thing had become a monster.
The creature lunged at him with terrifying speed. Instinct took over, and Haruto raised his hands. The ground beneath the creature erupted, a jagged pillar of stone shooting upward and slamming into its chest. The impact sent the monster sprawling, but it quickly recovered, its movements jerky and unnatural.
Haruto gritted his teeth. The power coursing through him was unlike anything he'd ever experienced, but it came at a cost. Each use left him feeling drained, as if the very life was being siphoned out of him.
The creature lunged again, and this time Haruto met it head-on. He drove his fist into the ground, sending a shockwave rippling outward. The earth split open beneath the monster, swallowing it whole.
For a moment, there was silence. Then, slowly, the ground closed, trapping the creature deep below. Haruto staggered back, his chest heaving.
"Haruto!"
He turned to see Aiko running toward him, her face pale. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," he lied, though his body screamed in protest. "It's gone now."
---
A Shadow in the Temple
That night, the temple felt colder than ever. Haruto and Aiko huddled together in the corner, the flickering light of a small fire casting long shadows on the walls.
"Haruto," Aiko said after a long silence. "What's happening to us? To the world?"
He sighed, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "I don't know, Aiko. I wish I had answers, but I don't."
She looked down at her hands, her voice barely above a whisper. "Do you think Mom and Dad... do you think they're still out there?"
Haruto's chest tightened. Their parents had been in Tokyo when the Moon fell. With all communication cut off, there was no way of knowing if they had survived.
"I don't know," he admitted, his voice heavy with guilt. "But we'll find them, Aiko. I promise."
Their conversation was interrupted by a sudden noise. It was faint, almost imperceptible, but it set Haruto on edge. He stood, his eyes scanning the shadows.
"Who's there?" he called out, his voice echoing through the temple.
A figure stepped into the firelight, cloaked in black from head to toe. A mask obscured their face, but their piercing gaze seemed to cut straight through Haruto.
"So, you're one of the Moon Blessed," the stranger said, their voice calm and measured.
Haruto tensed, his fists clenching. "Who are you?"
"Just an observer," the figure replied. "Someone who has seen what happens to people like you."
"People like me?"
"The Moon Blessed," the stranger explained. "Those who survived contact with the Moon's shards and gained... gifts."
Haruto's mind raced. He had suspected as much, but hearing it confirmed sent a chill down his spine. "What do you want from me?"
"To warn you," the stranger said, their tone turning grave. "Your power is both a blessing and a curse. If you push it too far, it will consume you. You'll become one of the Moon Cursed, just like the creature you fought earlier."
Haruto's blood ran cold. The thought of losing himself, of becoming a monster, was terrifying. "How do you know this?"
"I've seen it happen," the stranger replied. "Many times. The Moon Blessed are rare, but the Moon Cursed... they are everywhere now. You've stepped into a world far more dangerous than you can imagine."
Haruto's fists tightened. "Then tell me how to stop it. How do I control this power?"
The stranger tilted their head, as if amused by the question. "Control? There is no control, only balance. Use your power sparingly, and you may survive. But push too far, and you'll lose everything."
Before Haruto could ask more, the stranger turned to leave.
"Wait!" he called out. "Who are you? Why are you helping me?"
The stranger paused at the doorway, glancing back over their shoulder. "You can call me Kage. And I'm not helping you. I'm simply ensuring that the balance remains intact."
With that, Kage disappeared into the night, leaving Haruto with more questions than answers.
---
A World Forever Changed
The days that followed were a blur of survival. Haruto and Aiko scavenged for food and supplies, moving from one ruin to the next. Kyoto was unrecognizable, its once vibrant streets reduced to rubble. Fires burned unchecked, and the air was thick with ash.
Each night, Haruto practiced using his powers, testing their limits. He discovered that he could manipulate the earth in incredible ways—raising walls of stone, creating fissures, and even sensing movements beneath the surface. But each use left him drained, the toll on his body growing more apparent.
"Haruto," Aiko said one evening as they sat by a small fire. "Do you think there are others like you out there?"
He looked into the flames, his expression thoughtful. "I don't know. But if there are, I hope they're on our side."
---
The First Encounter with Another Blessed
It was on the seventh day after the Moon's fall that Haruto felt it—a faint, pulsing presence in the back of his mind. It was unlike anything he'd experienced before, both familiar and foreign.
"Someone's here," he said, his senses on high alert.
Aiko clung to his arm, her voice trembling. "Is it... one of those monsters?"
"No," Haruto replied, though he wasn't sure how he knew. "It's different."
Moments later, a figure emerged from the shadows. She was a young woman, her short black hair and piercing green eyes giving her an air of confidence. She carried a staff crackling with electricity, the faint hum of power radiating from it.
"So, another Moon Blessed," she said, her tone cold.
Haruto raised his hands in a gesture of peace. "I'm not looking for trouble."
"Neither am I," the woman replied. "But trouble has a way of finding us."
"What's your name?"
"Rei," she said after a moment's hesitation. "And you?"
"Haruto," he replied. "This is my sister, Aiko."
Rei's eyes softened as she looked at Aiko. "You're lucky to have family left. Most of us don't."
Before Haruto could respond, the ground began to shake violently.
"Moon Cursed," Rei said, her voice sharp. "Close. Very close."
Haruto felt it too, the oppressive presence growing stronger with each passing second. Without another word, Rei turned and ran toward the source of the disturbance.
Haruto glanced at Aiko. "Stay here. I'll handle this."
"Be careful," she whispered, her eyes filled with worry.
As Haruto followed Rei into the darkness, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something far more dangerous.
---