Evan's eyes widened in shock, his body frozen before a scene too brutal for his mind to comprehend. His home… completely destroyed. The neighboring houses—once filled with laughter and life—were now nothing but scorched ruins and silent wreckage.
He ran toward his house, his legs barely carrying him through the haze of disbelief. He burst through the door, eyes scanning every corner. Everything was shattered—furniture overturned, glass broken, blood splattered across the walls.
Before he could speak a single word, a hand clamped tightly over his mouth from behind. He struggled instinctively, until a familiar voice whispered into his ear:
— "Ivan… hush… it's me. Your mother."
She turned to him, eyes filled with fear, though her face tried to appear calm.
— "I'm here with you. Don't be scared. Everything's going to be alright…"
— "Mom… what happened? What happened to our house… to the neighbors?" he asked, his voice trembling, tears gathering in his eyes.
She pressed a finger gently to his lips, then pulled him into the small bedroom. The single bed inside barely fit one person. Her gaze trembled as she whispered:
— "Hide under the bed. Now—quickly!"
Without hesitation, Ivan crawled under the bed, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst. Just before leaving, his mother grabbed his hand, placed her other hand gently on his cheek, and whispered in a trembling voice:
— "You'll be safe here. Don't make a sound. I love you… I'll be back. No matter what happens… don't move."
Then she stepped away. Ivan could only see her feet from beneath the bed. As she approached the door, it burst open violently—and a stranger stepped inside.
Ivan couldn't see his face, but what he heard was enough to freeze his blood. His mother's voice, screaming, resisting:
— "Let me go! Please, no!"
Then… the chilling sound of something sharp cutting through flesh. And a heavy thud.
Ivan didn't need to see to understand… but he saw it anyway. His mother's head fell before him on the floor—only centimeters from his face.
He couldn't breathe. Tears streamed down his face. His lips trembled soundlessly as he clasped his mouth shut with his own hand.
The shock went beyond words. His mind cracked, as if something inside him was shattering.
Another person entered… this one different. A humanoid figure, but with horse-like legs, surrounded by a dark aura like living shadow.
— "Are you done?"
— "Yes," the first one replied.
— "Search the rest of the house. Someone might be hiding."
Time stopped. Ivan couldn't breathe… couldn't move… couldn't hear anything but the deafening thump of his heartbeat.
The horse-legged creature began walking toward the bed. He knelt down slowly, his face drawing nearer… his hand reached for the cover…
Ivan gasped silently, holding his breath with all his strength. His heart threatened to explode, his eyes begged the heavens.
Then… he saw the face. A young man with brown hair and eyes black as void, staring straight at him. The world froze. A cold, cruel smile spread across the man's lips—a smile that promised death.
But then, inexplicably, he stood up and said:
— "There's no one here."
They left.
Minutes passed. Or hours. Ivan no longer knew. The only sound in his world was the echo of his own heartbeat, beating like a funeral drum in his skull.
His hands still covered his mouth, but the scream inside him never stopped. Finally, slowly, he pushed the cover away and crawled out from under the bed.
The house was silent. The air was heavy. The smell of blood… unbearable.
He approached his mother's head… her body lay outside, but her face… was here, close. He knelt beside it, hands trembling, and gently lifted it as though holding something sacred.
— "Mom… Mom… please get up…"
He pulled her close to his chest, trying to give her warmth—any warmth he could spare. With his small hands, he pressed her cheek to his.
— "I'm here… I didn't scream… I was a good boy… just like you asked…"
He wept—silently at first, then louder, until sobs wracked his chest and breathing felt impossible.
He sat there, cradling his mother's head, his clothes and hands stained with blood, as if life itself mocked his innocence.
The sky above turned gray, mourning with him. Smoke still rose from the burning homes. The ruins groaned beneath the weight of his sorrow.
From afar, a tall man appeared. His body was sharp as a blade, his features carved like ancient stone. His long hair danced in the wind, as if moved by a will of its own.
He walked forward slowly, eyes fixed on the broken boy who barely had the strength to remain standing.
Ryoma looked at him, not knowing who he was, but sensing something strange—something that did not belong to this world.
The man knelt in front of Ryoma, silent. He stared deep into his eyes, as if trying to reach into his soul.
But the shock… the grief… the crushing weight of trauma… it was too much for a child to bear.
In that moment, Ryoma collapsed. Tears still flowed, and his hand clung to the man's robe.
Without a word, the man gently lifted him, as one would carry a shattered child. He looked toward the horizon and whispered:
— "The suffering has begun… and the blood will not stop anytime soon."
Elsewhere, deep within the forest, Akari ran between thick trees alongside her father—a large, battle-scarred man with a massive sword strapped to his back. Time had carved itself into the lines of his face.
— "Akari, faster! Don't look back!"
Her breathing was ragged, blood trickling down her cheek from a sharp branch. Her father ran ahead, his eyes fixed behind them, where shadows pursued like death itself.
— "Who are they?!" she cried, as blood and tears mingled on her face.
— "I don't know!" he shouted.
The sound came closer—screams, footsteps, incomprehensible whispers filled the forest, as though the land itself rejected their presence.
They reached a small river. Her father stopped suddenly and turned to her.
— "Akari, listen to me. You'll cross this river and run. Don't stop. No matter what you hear—don't look back. Do you understand?"
— "But Dad! Don't leave me!"
— "This isn't the time for emotion! Your life matters more than anything. This is my final duty as your father—to make sure you survive."
He held her face, kissed her forehead, then pushed her firmly toward the river.
— "Run!!"
The battle erupted behind her just as she crossed. Swords clashed. Raikono energy lit the air. Screams. The roars of unspeakable creatures.
Akari, hiding behind the trees, looked back through the branches… her father was fighting them all. Alone. Against three monstrous beings, their bodies deformed, bleeding black energy.
Still, he resisted, with everything he had. His cries were fierce… but one unexpected strike pierced his chest.
He screamed her name one last time—then fell. His sword clanged against the earth.
Akari pressed a hand over her mouth, stifling a sob. Her tears bled harder than her wounds.
Se moved. Slowly at first… then faster. She ran through the trees. Fell. Got up. Stumbled. But never stopp
ed.
She kept running until her legs gave out.
She kept running until darkness fell, and even the trees seemed to weep with her.
-
End of chapter