One day, the gods decided to erase the Demon King Shinigami from the face of the world.
Zeus, the God of Thunder.
Anubis, the God of Resurrection.
Susanoo, the God of Sea and Storms.
Odin, the Sun God.
Four gods against one king—a king wielding only a single sword named (Kleinor)…
The battle pushed the world to the brink of destruction.
Two gods fell.
The remaining two, severely wounded and exhausted, stood before a king who possessed the power to destroy the world.
Shinigami stood there, worn out, his body torn apart, yet his legs remained firm as he continued facing the gods.
As the final two gods charged toward him, he laughed and threw his sword into the air.
Moments later, the sky began to rage.
Black clouds spread across the heavens.
The two gods stopped.
Shinigami stood with a sinister smile as lightning burst from his body, spinning around him.
"Susanoo!" Zeus shouted. "You're the god of thunder—do something! Stop him!"
Zeus, his eyes wide open, said,
"These lightning bolts weren't summoned… I can't control them! These… these lightning bolts were created. They're beyond my power!"
Shinigami began walking forward with a wicked grin.
With every step, the ground beneath him shattered, the sky trembled, and crimson-black lightning struck the earth.
Yet despite all this power, Shinigami's own body was collapsing.
Skin, bones, flesh—everything was turning into vapor.
When Zeus and Susanoo realized Shinigami's body was falling apart, they seized the opportunity and increased their power, attacking him even harder.
Still, Shinigami kept smiling.
"I'll die here… but I'll drag you all down to hell with me!"
Susanoo roared in anger and unleashed his massive tornado toward Shinigami.
Shinigami was trapped inside Susanoo's whirlwind, while Zeus continuously added lightning to the storm.
Shinigami was slowly lifted off the ground, his body being torn apart by the immense pressure of lightning and wind.
Zeus and Susanoo rejoiced, believing the war was finally over.
But the great war had only just begun.
The black clouds above started spinning—directly over Shinigami.
The clouds merged with Susanoo's tornado.
The once-white tornado turned pitch black, transforming into a colossal storm that devoured even mountains.
"What do we do now?" Susanoo said. "We're finished."
Suddenly, Kali—the Goddess of Death and Destruction—appeared.
A goddess wearing white, floating garments, with a high-collared cloak.
When Shinigami sensed her presence, he laughed and shouted,
"Welcome to hell, great goddess!"
Kali looked down at Shinigami arrogantly and said,
"You have no power left. Your body is already falling apart."
Shinigami laughed.
"It doesn't matter anymore. I'll die here—but I'll drag you all into hell with me!"
Kali's words were cut off.
Kali roared in rage,
"I am the creator of hell itself! Know your place, lowly demon!"
After the great battle between Kali and Shinigami, Shinigami was finally defeated.
Two gods died.
The remaining two remained unconscious for an unknown period of time.
Kali herself suffered deep wounds inflicted by Shinigami.
A war that resulted in the deaths of fifty percent of humans and demons.
Shinigami died.
All memories of him were erased from the minds of the people.
The demons were banished to a place deep within the earth.
The demons were furious, and as the gate was sealed, they shouted only one sentence:
"Our king is not dead…"
One hundred years later…
People whispered among themselves,
"The reincarnation still hasn't happened."
But one night, a child was born whose birth shook the depths of the earth.
A mark resembling a ram's horn was engraved on his back.
The crimson flame that the Kaens had created with powerful magic to detect reincarnation was lit.
Creatures of the depths began howling.
[Will Shinigami return this time for revenge and wipe out the human race?]
The reincarnated child's parents were terrified.
His mother said fearfully to her husband, Atsushi,
"We have to take our son to the surface as soon as possible. The Kaens can't reach him there."
The father took the child and began the journey to escape the depths of the earth.
As Atsushi left their home, the Kaens arrived.
The Great Kaen, Zailor, said coldly,
"Where is the boy, you filthy half-human?"
His mother said in fear,
"My name is Akame—the mother of the new Demon King. Watch your mouth!
And besides, this reincarnation took place in the body of a filthy half-human. Hahaha!"
Zailor roared in rage and slapped Akame across the face.
He ordered her execution and sent two others to chase after the child.
In the shadows and darkness, a sword pierced Akame's body.
With her final breath, she whispered:
"I hope you live a peaceful life, my beloved son… Zeno."
Atsushi crossed massive ravines, fought enormous demonic beasts, passed through flames, and finally reached the gate to the surface.
At that moment, Zailor's men arrived.
"Return the chosen one, traitor!"
Atsushi struggled to open the gate, but it wouldn't budge.
The pursuers were closing in.
On the surface, near the Demon Gate, lay a small village called Ashin.
In Ashin lived an orphan girl named Kurenai.
To survive, she often wandered near the Demon Gate collecting rare medicinal herbs to sell later.
One day, she went to gather herbs but found very few.
"If I go closer, maybe there will be more," she thought.
As she approached the gate, she heard sounds.
Peeking through the gate, she saw a man fighting two cloaked figures.
She tried to run away, but—
Suddenly, she heard the cry of a baby.
She turned back and looked down to see a newborn.
Her heart ached, but she couldn't take him back to the village.
She closed her eyes and tried to leave, but Atsushi's voice stopped her.
"Please… save my son. I beg you."
Kurenai forced herself and pulled on the gate, but it was covered in chains and locks.
When one of Zeno's fingers touched the gate, it glowed with a strange crimson light.
The locks shattered one by one, and the gate opened.
At that moment, the sword Kleinor—sealed within Shumrak Castle—began to tremble.
The power it still held after one hundred years was unleashed, shaking the entire palace.
King Ares tried with all his strength to suppress the sword, but it wasn't enough.
Sacred Palace:
The messenger angel Hermes appeared before Kali and said,
"The Demon King Shinigami has returned."
Kali calmly ordered them to investigate the depths and kill the reincarnated one as quickly as possible.
"Remember, he won't be able to use even half of his power for years.
Right now, he's just an ordinary demon."
At the gate:
Kurenai took the baby in her arms as the gate began closing again.
"Quick! Come! The gate is closing!" she shouted.
Atsushi ran toward the gate and was about to escape when a sword pierced him from behind, bursting out through his abdomen.
He pulled the sword from his body and kicked his attacker away.
He passed through the gate.
The gate closed.
Blood poured endlessly from Atsushi's body.
"We have to go!" Kurenai said.
Atsushi replied sternly,
"You go. I have to stay here."
She begged him, but Atsushi roared angrily,
"I said go!"
Kurenai ran toward the village with Zeno in her arms.
Moments later, angels arrived.
Soma said calmly,
"We're here to destroy you, Shinigami… but it seems there's no need, given your wounds."
Atsushi laughed joyfully.
"Then what are you waiting for? Come!"
With a single motion, Soma launched a blade of wind.
Atsushi's head was severed from his body.
Zeno suddenly trembled and began to cry, as if he sensed he had lost something important.
Another angel checked the mark on Atsushi's back and confirmed it.
"It's him. Shinigami, the Demon King."
The three angels departed.
Zailor's men returned and reported everything.
Zailor roared in rage,
"Damn you filthy half-humans!
Why would our lord choose a half-human body for reincarnation?!
Go now and slaughter the entire half-human tribe—leave only the women!"
The half-human tribe was burned to the ground.
The men were killed, and the women were enslaved.
Kurenai took Zeno to her home—a broken wooden hut outside the village.
Zeno began to cry.
Kurenai didn't know what to do.
She gave him bread and water, but he wouldn't eat.
Worried, she muttered,
"What should I do… why won't you calm down?"
She went to the village market and asked a merchant,
"What do you give newborn babies?"
The merchant looked shocked.
"Milk, of course."
She bought some milk and fed Zeno with a spoon.
After a while, he made a mess.
Kurenai got angry but had no choice except to clean him.
Zeno cried again.
She cared for him all day and didn't even eat herself.
Night fell, and Zeno finally slept.
Kurenai sighed in relief.
But Zeno woke up again and started crying.
Angry, she took him to the village, left him in front of a door, and walked away.
After only a few steps, she stopped and looked back.
"He doesn't have parents either… what if they mistreat him?"
"No… they're rich. They'll take better care of him than I can."
She took a few more steps.
Then she heard laughter.
Kurenai turned back and rushed to Zeno, picked him up, and ran home.
When she arrived, she hit her own head and said,
"Why did I do that… why did I bring him back?"
Zeno laughed again.
Hearing his laughter filled her with peace.
She smiled, stroked his face, and said,
"I'll stay with you until the end. I promise."
Soon, they both fell asleep.
Seven years passed.
Zeno grew up and every day went deep into a forest far from the village, hunting and distributing the meat to everyone.
Five years later
Kurenai fell ill—coughing, fever, chills, and body pain.
Zeno gathered every medicinal herb he could find until one finally worked.
She recovered, but not like before.
She was paralyzed.
Zeno said shamefully,
"I'm sorry, Kurenai. I couldn't save you."
She smiled and said,
"Lift your head. You should never bow it.
One day, you'll become the greatest holy knight… promise?"
Zeno wiped his tears.
"I promise."
Six years later…
"Stop right there, you damn bear!"
Zeno was chasing a twelve-meter-tall giant bear through the Spirit Forest.
The bear ran in terror.
Zeno threw stones, branches—anything he could—but it wouldn't stop.
Angrily, Zeno shouted,
"So you won't stop? Fine—burn here!"
A fiery explosion engulfed the bear.
Zeno casually picked up the cooked meat and returned to the village.
When he entered, people cheered,
"Zeno is back! He brought so much food!"
He gave meat to everyone he passed.
A five-year-old boy named Yato—Zeno's closest friend—ran up to him.
"Big brother! Take me hunting with you!"
Zeno gave him meat and said,
"When you're bigger and stronger, I'll take you. Train hard."
Yato shouted happily,
"I promise! One day I'll be the strongest person in the world!"
Everyone liked Zeno—except one old man.
"You always remind me of the Demon King. I don't like you," the old man said.
Zeno passed him and replied,
"How are you still alive, old man?"
The old man muttered,
"I won't die until I see you dead."
Zeno returned home.
Kurenai lay on her bed, coughing blood.
Her legs had turned black up to her knees, her face pale, dark circles around her eyes.
Yet whenever she saw Zeno, she smiled, as if she felt no pain.
Zeno sat beside her.
"How are you today? Look, I brought special medicine."
She placed her hand over his.
"Don't push yourself so hard… I'm fine… I'll get better."
Zeno smiled.
"When you get out of bed and cook curry soup for me, then I'll believe you."
She smiled.
"Seeing your smile makes me feel better.
Promise me that even after I die, you'll keep smiling.
Never let anyone see you bow your head."
Zeno shouted angrily,
"Don't say that! You won't die—I won't let you!"
She smiled gently.
"Everyone dies someday.
Only those who stand up again after countless defeats remain eternal.
History never remembers the losers."
She pulled out a sword from beside her bed.
"Take this. It's my birthday gift to you."
Zeno's eyes widened as he held it.
"What is this? It feels… special."
"It was my father's sword. He was a samurai."
Zeno hugged her.
"Thank you—so happ—"
He stopped.
Kurenai was gone.
Zeno held her hand and stood up.
The villagers were crying as he carried her body outside.
He buried her on a hill near the village.
He returned home, took the sword, a chain, and a black shining cloth.
Everything was ready.
The villagers brought him food, but he refused.
"If you give this to me, you won't have anything left."
They insisted.
Zeno sighed, accepted the food, and left quickly.
They wished him happiness.
Zeno set out on a journey toward Kurogane, the capital.
Two nights later—
A thunderous sound shook the village.
The villagers rushed outside to find countless roasted bears piled in the center.
Soma stepped forward—the same shopkeeper Zeno once stole food from as a child.
He saw a shadow wearing a floating black cloth atop the hill… then it vanished.
Soma laughed quietly.
"I never thought I'd say this… but I'm glad we have you."
At dawn, Soma stood before a burned forest, roaring in fury:
"ZEEEEEEENO!