The forest was thick—so dense that sunlight struggled to touch the ground.
Ancient roots wrapped around each other like sleeping serpents. A cold mist drifted low through the leaves, humming with quiet magic.
Three monks walked carefully between the twisted trees, baskets in hand. They had entered the forest only to gather herbs for their temple, but even they could feel something was wrong.
"Master Ryou," whispered the youngest monk, Seiji, "why is the forest so… silent?"
Master Ryou, the eldest of the three, stopped walking. His eyes narrowed.
"Because a spirit is watching us."
A chill swept through the air.
Then she appeared.
A ghostly woman glided from behind a massive tree, her form shimmering like moonlight reflected on water. Her hair floated around her face, and her hands trembled with desperation.
"Wise monk…" her voice echoed, weak but urgent. "Please… help my child…"
Master Ryou bowed politely. "Speak, wandering soul. We will listen."
Tears—made of light—fell from the ghost's eyes.
"They tried to kill us… hunters from the demon clans. They wanted my child… because of a prophecy."
Seiji swallowed. "What prophecy?"
The ghost's voice broke.
"My child… is born of two forbidden bloodlines. His father was the Demon King's strongest general—feared across realms. His mother… a wizard of the White Council. Such a union is forbidden by all worlds."
She touched her chest.
"But worse… they said my son is the Child of Destruction. Destined to wield his father's sword… and become the next Demon Lord."
Master Ryou's expression darkened.
"And they attacked you?"
"Yes…" she whispered. "His father tried to protect us. But his own brother betrayed him and led the hunters. I had only a moment to cast a binding spell—to hide my child. The spell saved him… but trapped him."
Her body flickered.
"I died before I could undo it."
The monks exchanged glances—fear, pity, duty.
"Where is the child now?" Master Ryou asked.
The ghost raised a trembling arm and pointed deeper into the forest.
A red glow pulsed between the trees.
"Please…" she begged. "Save my Kanji…"
The monks followed the light.
They stepped into a small clearing—and saw him.
A boy wrapped in thick roots like a cocoon, glowing red with demonic seals. His silver hair fell over his closed eyes, and strange black markings crawled along his skin.
The seals were cracking… pulsing… trying to swallow him.
Master Ryou knelt. "This spell… is powerful. A wizard's protection spell, fused with demonic binds."
He closed his eyes, chanting.
Holy light burst from his hands, clashing with the red demonic magic. Roots shattered and smoke hissed. The ground trembled as the spell broke.
The boy fell forward—straight into Seiji's arms.
His eyes opened slowly…
…glowing gold, the color of both magic and demon fire.
"Wh… who are you?" Seiji whispered.
The boy blinked. "Kanji…"
A deep vibration echoed through the earth—like something powerful waking far away.
The ghost mother appeared one last time, her body almost gone.
"My son…" she whispered, touching Kanji's cheek. "Forgive me…"
Kanji's small hand reached out. "Mama…"
The spirit smiled weakly.
"Remember this, Kanji… your father died protecting you. And the sword he left… seeks only you…"
She dissolved into tiny white sparks that floated into the wind.
Kanji stared at the empty air where she had stood.
The forest trembled.
A loud boom echoed in the distance.
Master Ryou stood and placed a hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Kanji," he said. "You carry a destiny darker than any child should bear. From this moment… we will protect you."
The old monk looked into the mist, sensing something monstrous stirring.
"Because whatever hunts you," he whispered, "is coming."
And far beyond the trees, in the demon realm…
A massive sword—black, jagged, and taller than Kanji himself—knelt in the ground.
It pulsed once.
As if it knew…
its master had finally awakened.