The village of Rudravana burned under a blood-red sky.
Arin stood at the broken gate, feet planted firmly in the dirt, breath steady despite the chaos around him. Houses smoldered behind him. Villagers huddled in fear. Children cried.
In front of him, three demons circled like starving beasts.
Their bodies were tall and warped, skin cracked like obsidian, horns twisting from their skulls. Dark energy leaked from them, distorting the air.
Arin exhaled slowly.
Blue chakra surged from within his body, flowing across his skin like liquid light. It wrapped around his arms, hardened along his shoulders, and pulsed beneath his feet.
One demon lunged.
Arin moved.
The ground cracked as he vanished forward. His fist, coated in dense chakra, slammed into the demon's chest. The impact echoed like thunder.
The demon didn't even scream.
Its body shattered into black ash.
The second demon attacked from behind, claws dripping with corruption. Arin spun, drawing his sword in one smooth motion. Chakra flowed into the blade, igniting it in blue fire.
One strike.
The demon split in two.
The last demon hesitated.
Fear flickered in its glowing eyes.
Arin stepped forward.
"You don't belong here," he said quietly.
The sword flashed.
Silence fell.
The village stood frozen as the demon's body dissolved into smoke. The fires dimmed. The oppressive pressure vanished.
Arin turned back toward the villagers.
"It's over," he said.
Relief crashed through Rudravana like a wave. People wept. Elders bowed. Children ran toward him.
From the crowd, a girl pushed forward.
"Brother!"
Arin's expression softened instantly.
Aanya ran into his arms, gripping his clothes tightly. She was younger than him by many years, small, trembling—but unharmed.
"It's okay," Arin said, resting his hand on her head. "I'm here."
The wind shifted.
The temperature dropped.
Arin's body stiffened.
The chakra around him reacted on its own—flaring violently.
The villagers felt it too.
Fear returned.
Two figures stepped out of the shadows at the edge of the village.
They were nothing like the others.
Taller. Sharper. Their horns were crowned with ancient markings. Their eyes burned crimson, filled with intelligence—not hunger.
Power rolled off them like a storm.
One smiled.
"So this is the one," the demon said.
The other's gaze locked onto Aanya.
"The bloodline is intact," he replied calmly. "The sister comes with us."
Aanya tightened her grip on Arin's chest.
"B-Brother…?"
Arin stepped forward, placing himself between her and the demons.
Chakra exploded around him.
"You'll have to kill me first."
The demons laughed.
And the ground beneath the village began to crack.
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To be continue...