Everyone is returning to their homes, but a few people are still chatting, laughing, and joking around.
Children are happily playing in the village lanes.
But perhaps… that happiness was never meant to last.
Suddenly, a strong wind began to blow.
The clouds turned dark, and then — all at once — a sharp, terrifying sound echoed through the skies of Noctira.
A deep, ominous voice filled the air:
"The time has come… When every light shall fade, And only darkness will remain. Now, the skies of this world shall echo with only our legend. Your world... is now ours. I am Yami… and I have returned — to rule this world once more! The prison of centuries has been shattered… Now, this world will kneel—To me, and me alone."
And at that moment, an old monk shouted in a grave voice:
"What our ancestors warned us about… it's happening now. Someone has found the Cube. And now... the portal is opening. Everyone—leave this village at once, while you still can!"
He had just finished speaking when suddenly, a portal opened toward the forest — and from it, Yami emerged.
Yami is 8 feet tall, with a muscular body and exposed muscles. His nails are claw-shaped, thick, curved, and beast-like, with a deep black color. His face is triangular in shape, with a sharp jawline. His teeth are sharp and jagged, and he has long white hair. His eyes are tiger-like and deep-set, with thin black eyebrows. He holds a black sword with fire-like cracks in his right hand.
As soon as they saw him, everyone began screaming and ran for shelter. Children cried, adults shouted, and dust rose into the air as the entire crowd scattered.
Just then, he launched a brutal fire attack. Flames erupted in all directions — burning people alive, engulfing homes in mere seconds.
Screams echoed through the village as chaos spread.
Among the many houses consumed by fire were Riku and Akira's.
Aorika was just stepping outside when a heavy wooden door collapsed on her with a loud crash. Riku saw it happen — and without thinking, he ran toward her.
"Mom… Mom, wake up! Please, Mom!" he cried, tears streaming down his face.
Lying beneath the weight, Aorika groaned in pain. "Riku… my son… run! Don't worry about me, just go! Get away from here — now!" she shouted, her voice filled with desperation.
"No!" Riku shouted back, his voice trembling. "I won't leave without you!"
Meanwhile, Akira was escaping with his family, but the moment his eyes caught Riku, he stopped — then bolted straight toward him.
Behind him, Yozuki, Hiroshi, and Mihana were yelling, trying to stop him.
"Riku!" Akira shouted, sprinting through the smoke and fire, ignoring everything around him — the heat, the fear, the destruction.
"Akira! Stop! Don't go there!" Yozuki called out after him.
But Akira didn't stop.
He had already reached Riku.
"Akira! Stop! Don't go there!" Yozuki called out after him.
But Akira didn't stop.
He had already reached Riku.
Aorika, her breath weak and trembling, looked up Akira.
"Please… take Riku… and save him…" she whispered.
Akira's eyes filled with tears as he turned to Riku.
"Riku, let's go. Please," he said gently.
But Riku shook his head, crying, yelling through his tears.
"No! I'm not leaving! Not without my mom! Let me go, Akira! Please! I have to save her!"
At that moment, Yozuki and Mihana arrived, grabbing both boys and pulling them back.
Aorika, her face wet with tears, begged with all her strength.
"Please… take my son away. That's all I ask… Please…"
"We have to leave!" Hiroshi shouted, panic in his voice. "Before Yami—comes!"
They began running, fleeing through the flames and rubble.
But they had only gone a short distance when Yami reached Aorika...and slashed her neck with his sword.
"MOOOOOM!!!" Riku's scream ripped through the burning air, his voice cracking from pain.
Seeing Aorika die before her eyes, Mihana gasped—then collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Yozuki knelt down beside her, gently shaking her motionless body. "Mihana?! Mihana, wake up! Don't do this… please!"
His voice trembled. He looked up, pain flooding his eyes, and turned toward his brother.
"Hiroshi! Take Akira and Riku — run as far from here as you can!"His voice shook, but it remained firm.
If we survive… we'll find you. But if we don't… don't come back. Remember this — sometimes, to win… you have to turn your back. But that's not running away. That's giving hope a second chance. A true brother understands that. And when it comes to promises… he doesn't just keep them… he turns them into duty." His voice cracked. "Go! Get them out of here—NOW!"
"I will," Hiroshi replied, eyes filled with tears but voice steady. "I promise."
Without hesitation, Hiroshi grabbed Akira and Riku by their hands and dashed through the fire and falling debris. He pulled them behind a crumbling stone wall — hiding them from Yami's sight. They waited there, breathless… hoping for Yozuki and Mihana to come.
Yozuki gently lifted Mihana in his arms. But before they could escape —Yami struck from behind. With a single blow… he killed them both.
"Mom… Dad… NO!!" Akira scream, tears pouring down his cheeks.
Hiroshi quickly covered Akira's mouth and ran, dragging both boys with him. But Yami didn't hear Akira's voice.
Hiroshi glanced back… But he didn't stop. He wanted to… But he couldn't break his brother's final promise.
They reached the edge of the village…
Boarded a local train that would carry them far away from Noctira.
They sat in silence, surrounded by others who had escaped — each one holding back tears, memories flooding in with every turn of the wheels.
Akira stared ahead, thinking to himself:
"When Uncle covered my mouth… I saw that white-haired man…Who was he?"
But that train carried not just them — Many others from Noctira had survived too. Eventually, they reached Dawnvalley — A quiet place, far from the horrors they left behind. And there… they began a new life.
Chapter 5 coming soon