The sky burned red as the village screamed.
Ryuji ran, his heart pounding like war drums. Flames licked at the wooden houses, their embers floating like dying stars. The scent of blood, thick and suffocating, filled the air. Bodies lay scattered across the streets—some lifeless, others writhing in agony.
"No..." His breath hitched. This wasn't supposed to happen. Not again.
A guttural roar tore through the chaos. From the shadows of the burning shrine, a hulking demon emerged, its eyes glowing like molten gold. Horns curved backward from its forehead, and its claws dripped with fresh blood. It exuded pure malice.
Ryuji froze, every muscle in his body locking in place.
"Run!"
The voice jolted him. He turned to see Ayaka, her long black hair streaked with ash, her crimson kimono torn at the sleeve. Her dark eyes, once filled with warmth, now reflected terror. But she wasn't running—she was standing between him and the demon.
"Get out of here!" she shouted, brandishing her naginata. A swirl of water coiled around the blade, its glow illuminating the smoke-filled air.
"No! I'm not leaving you!" Ryuji shot back.
The demon lunged.
Ayaka moved faster, slashing upward. The water sliced through the beast's thick hide, but it barely flinched. With a snarl, it swatted her aside, sending her crashing into the rubble of a collapsed house.
Ryuji's blood turned to ice. "Ayaka!"
She groaned, struggling to get up, but the demon was already moving toward her.
Something snapped inside Ryuji.
A searing pain erupted from his left arm. His cursed mark—an intricate, blackened seal etched into his skin—flared to life, glowing an eerie crimson. His vision blurred, his heartbeat thundered. He could feel it—the beast within him stirring.
Not now… He clenched his fist, forcing the power down. If he lost control, he wouldn't just kill the demon—he'd destroy everything around him, including Ayaka.
The demon snarled, sensing his hesitation. It lunged again.
Ryuji had no choice.
He drew his sword, the old steel gleaming under the firelight, and charged. The cursed energy pulsed through his veins, sharpening his movements, fueling his rage. In an instant, he was beneath the demon's guard.
Slash!
His blade carved through its arm, black blood spraying into the air. The creature howled in pain but didn't fall. Instead, it grinned, as if it had been waiting for this moment.
Ryuji's breath hitched. No… it's after me.
A gust of wind surged behind him—Souta. The silver-haired warrior leapt from the rooftops, his naginata spinning with deadly precision. "Move, idiot!" he barked.
Ryuji barely dodged as Souta struck. The wind-wrapped blade pierced the demon's chest, sending a shockwave through the ground. The monster let out a guttural cry before collapsing, its body crumbling into ashes.
Silence followed.
Ryuji fell to one knee, gripping his cursed arm. His breath came in ragged gasps. The energy still clawed at him, begging to be released.
Souta's gaze hardened. "You almost lost control again, didn't you?"
Ryuji looked away. "I had it handled."
"Like hell you did." Souta sheathed his weapon. "One day, that curse is going to turn you into something worse than that demon. And when it does… I'll be the one to cut you down."
Ryuji said nothing. The words stung, but they weren't untrue.
A weak groan made him turn—Ayaka. She was trying to stand, but her body trembled. He rushed to her side, catching her before she fell.
"You shouldn't push yourself," he murmured.
She looked up at him, exhaustion in her eyes. "And you… shouldn't fight alone."
His chest tightened. "I—"
A sudden roar in the distance made them all freeze.
More demons.
Ryuji's grip on his sword tightened. The fight wasn't over.
It was just beginning.