Hiroshi trudged alone through the pouring rain, the desolate streets of Tokyo mirroring the storm in his heart. Tears streamed down his face, blending with the raindrops, as memories of Aoi flooded his mind. Their first meeting in college, her radiant smile, the spark of their friendship, the late-night adventures filled with laughter—each moment played like a cruel reel in his head, cutting deeper with every step.
Lost in his grief, Hiroshi didn't notice he'd wandered onto the Azumabashi Bridge, spanning the sacred Sumida River. The river's dark waters churned below, reflecting his pain like a shimmering screen. To Hiroshi, it was as if the river were broadcasting his memories with Aoi—her playful teasing, their shared dreams, the promise of a future together. He stood frozen, staring into the depths, his heart crushed under a mountain of despair.
But then, a faint white light flickered from his chest, pulsing like a warning beacon. Hiroshi snapped to attention, his eyes darting around the empty bridge. The rain pounded harder, but something else caught his gaze—a lone motorbike roaring toward him through the storm. The rider's silhouette was unmistakable.
Hiroshi squinted, his heart sinking. "Reiji Sakamoto," he muttered, wiping his tears. "What's he doing here?" His mind raced, the name conjuring memories of the thugs in Tsukimichi Alley and their talk of Reiji's deadly Hi no Tomoshibi. He braced himself, watching as Reiji stopped his bike twenty meters away.
Reiji dismounted, his predatory eyes locked on Hiroshi. With a theatrical flourish, he spread his arms and grinned. "Well, well! You've made this too easy, Hiroshi!"
Hiroshi's voice was steady despite his fear. "You were looking for me? Why?"
Reiji's grin widened, his tone mocking. "Why? How? What? Forget the questions! Just hand over your life and let me claim my reward!" His words sent a chill through Hiroshi, the ground beneath him feeling unsteady.
But in that moment, despair overtook fear. What's left to live for? Hiroshi thought. Without Aoi, what's the point? I'd only suffer more. The weight of his heartbreak dulled his will to fight.
Reiji, sensing his prey's weakness, charged forward, his fist glowing with a faint blue aura. The air crackled with energy, the river below rippling as if stirred by an unseen force. Reiji's punch wasn't human—it carried a power a thousand times greater than any mortal's, strong enough to shatter stone. The bridge trembled, the Sumida River churning violently.
Hiroshi froze, his eyes wide. He'd never seen anything like this. Reiji's no ordinary man, he realized, his heart pounding. Reiji's face glowed with pride, his fist inches from Hiroshi's chest. Hiroshi's body locked up, as if encased in ice. He accepted his fate, refusing to close his eyes. If I'm going to die, I'll face it head-on.
Reiji's smirk widened, victory within his grasp. But just as his fist was about to connect, the white light erupted from Hiroshi's chest, a blinding surge that slammed into Reiji. The force sent him flying, crashing onto the bridge dozens of meters away. His right arm, the one poised to kill, hung limp, shattered by the impact.
Hiroshi's eyes widened, his gaze dropping to his chest where the light still pulsed. His head spun, but a spark of excitement ignited within him. "This light… it doesn't just warn me of danger," he said, a grin breaking through his despair. "It fights back! I've got a weapon of my own!" His heart swelled with newfound confidence.
Reiji staggered to his feet, clutching his broken arm. With a grimace, he gave it a sharp jerk, and to Hiroshi's horror, the arm tore free from his shoulder, blood splattering the pavement. Reiji didn't flinch. He glanced at a black ring on his other hand, and a new arm—fleshy, alive—emerged from the ring, seamlessly attaching to his body.
Hiroshi blinked, rubbing his eyes in disbelief. Is he human? A robot? How is this possible? His mind reeled, fear creeping back in.
Reiji, unfazed, smirked at Hiroshi. "Just as the Demon Lord Oni-O Yaksha foretold," he said, his voice dripping with menace. "Capturing the bearer of the Divine Fire would be no easy task. Today, I believe him. But I'll kill you, Hiroshi, even if it costs my life!"
Hiroshi's confusion deepened. "Divine Fire? Oni-O Yaksha? Who are you talking about? And who the hell are you?"
Reiji laughed, his eyes glinting with malice. "You'll ask him yourself when I drag your soul to him!" He charged again, but the white light surged once more, hurling him back. This repeated nineteen times, each attempt ending with Reiji thrown to the ground. Hiroshi grew bored, while Reiji's fury boiled over.
Gritting his teeth, Reiji snarled, "Fine. I'll have to use my Hi no Tomoshibi." Hiroshi didn't understand, but the name sent a chill down his spine. He knew something massive was coming.
Reiji reached into his black ring, pulling out a small, ornate lantern. Its design was otherworldly, etched with yokai-like patterns that seemed to writhe in the dim light. He placed it in his palm, and a strange glow emanated from it. Reiji's eyes narrowed, and he began chanting, pouring his spiritual energy into the lantern. The air grew heavy, swirling with dark power. The lantern ignited, its flames unnatural, casting an eerie red glow.
The atmosphere shifted. Hot winds whipped across the bridge, the Sumida River boiling below. Nearby trees caught fire, their leaves curling into ash. It was as if the sun itself had descended to earth. Hiroshi's heart pounded, his body trembling. "So this is the Hi no Tomoshibi," he whispered. "It's real… and it's terrifying. I'm about to be roasted alive!" Panic surged, but he steeled himself. "No. I have to do something. This white light lives in me—it should obey me!"
He looked at his chest and commanded, "White light, form a shield around me!" Instantly, the light poured out, enveloping him in an egg-shaped barrier of radiant energy. Hiroshi's fear melted into exhilaration, the pain of Aoi's betrayal momentarily forgotten. This power is mine.
Reiji saw the shield but didn't hesitate. Behind him, the lantern's flames coalesced into a massive, fiery silhouette—a towering yokai-like figure. The river began to dry, its waters evaporating into steam. The ground blackened, and Reiji's eyes burned with the same fire as the lantern. From the yokai figure, two enormous fireballs shot toward Hiroshi.
Hiroshi clenched his fists, trusting his shield. The fireballs struck, and a deafening explosion rocked the bridge. Reiji was thrown back by the blast, skidding across the pavement. But a smug smile spread across his face as he stared at the impact site, now shrouded in thick smoke.
The bridge groaned, cracks spiderwebbing across its surface. Reiji laughed triumphantly. "At last, we've destroyed our greatest enemy! No one can challenge us now! The Demon Lord Oni-O Yaksha will—" His words cut off, his face paling.
Through the dissipating smoke, Hiroshi stood unscathed, casually brushing his hands as if mocking Reiji's failure. The white light's shield had held, not a scratch on him. Hiroshi's eyes gleamed with wonder and pride. This power… it's incredible. I didn't know I had this in me. He was more thrilled than shocked, his confidence soaring.
Reiji's head throbbed with rage. He'd poured half his strength into that attack, and it had failed. Only one option remained, a choice that made his hands tremble. I have to do it, he thought. Even if it kills me, I'll take him down. The demon clan will remember me forever. He glared at Hiroshi. "I may die today, but you won't leave this bridge alive!"
Reiji began chanting ancient mantras, his body rising into the air, suspended by dark energy. Hiroshi watched, bewildered but intrigued. What's he planning now? he thought, a strange excitement bubbling within him. His newfound power was thrilling, despite the chaos.
Reiji drew a dagger from his ring, its blade etched with the snarling face of a demonic yokai, its presence chilling the air. Without hesitation, he plunged the dagger into his own throat. Hiroshi's breath caught, his eyes widening in horror. Reiji looked skyward and roared, "Blood's Cry!" The ground quaked, Hiroshi's shield trembling under the force.
A crimson beam shot from the sky, striking Reiji. His body exploded into fragments, blood and flesh scattering—but the blood didn't fall. It hovered, forming a human-shaped mass that glowed like a ruby. A vortex of dark energy swirled around it, and the blood began to grow, expanding into a towering, hundred-meter figure. Its form shifted, morphing into a massive, venomous red serpent, its scales glinting like molten lava.
Hiroshi's shield cracked under the serpent's oppressive aura. His breath hitched, fear creeping in. "Is this Blood's Cry… or my death's cry?" he muttered. The serpent loomed, its power overwhelming. The shield shattered like glass, leaving Hiroshi exposed.
Can Hiroshi save himself from this monstrous serpent? Will Reiji's final attack end his life? Who is Reiji, and what are these terrifying powers? Why is Hiroshi the demon clan's greatest enemy? And what is the secret of his white light?
To find out, keep reading…