The Beginning of the End

Humans lived in the shadow of this balance, unaware of the true threat simmering beyond the veil of reality. Villages flourished, forests whispered under the breeze, and rivers flowed peacefully, bringing life and abundance. The angels had not directly interfered in human affairs for generations, but their presence lingered, like a gentle wind shielding the world from the hidden darkness.

Caught off guard, the angels fell one by one under the artifact’s destructive energy. Their celestial citadels crumbled, turning into ruins that rained down on the earth like blazing comets. In just a few days, the demons accomplished what they had failed to do in thousands of years—they nearly eradicated the angels, leaving the heavens empty and the earth defenseless.When it seemed nothing could save humanity, the goddess who governed the balance between worlds intervened one final time. Weakened by the angels’ destruction and the chaos engulfing the world, she used her last reserves of strength to raise a magical barrier around a few human realms. But many were left outside this protection—entire villages and cities abandoned to the demons’ mercy. Once someone stepped beyond the barrier, there was no return. Thousands of souls were doomed to perish.The barrier, an invisible dome woven from divine light, would shield humanity… but only for a time. The goddess knew her power was fading, and the barrier would last just one year. After that, the demons would have free rein to conquer the world.Before sacrificing her essence to erect the barrier, the goddess left a resounding final message in the minds of all:

— You have one year. Find a solution… or the world will perish.

The remaining human leaders—kings, sorcerers, knights, and scholars—gathered in a sacred place to debate the world’s fate. In an ancient fortress built atop a rock in the continent’s heart, they sought a plan.Tensions ran high. Some suggested hiding beneath the barrier and living there as long as possible. Others proposed seeking legendary weapons that might be used against the demons. But in the end, they reached a consensus: to save the world, they needed heroes capable of confronting the demons directly and uncovering their weaknesses. As time passed, life grew harsher in the cities near the barrier’s edge.In a forgotten little town on the fringe of divine protection, a boy—half-human, half-demon—strolled lazily down the road. His black hair draped over his forehead, and his red eyes gleamed under the sunset’s light.At one point, a small child watching from the roadside flinched at the sight of his glowing eyes. The boy dropped an apple, tripped, and fell. Wide-eyed, he began to scream in panic:

— Demon! Help!

Within moments, people emerged from their homes. Some wielded pitchforks and axes, while soldiers, alerted by the cries, raced toward him. Though they knew him and he had never harmed them, fear and panic overwhelmed them. Without hesitation, they drove him out of town, pushing him toward the barrier’s edge.

— Leave and don’t come back! shouted a peasant.

For him, it was a death sentence.Raizen turned and gazed at the barrier isolating him from the human world. Bitter thoughts swirled in his mind, and he smirked sarcastically.

— And that someone is me, Raizen, the half-breed of my human mother and my father… who went out for bread and never came back.

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

— But even though people did this, I don’t hate them. I know there are good ones out there… like my mom.

He stared at the dark road ahead, unsure of what to do next. His whole life, he’d lived by the promise he made to his mother

—never to leave the lands protected by angels. But now, he had no choice.

— Hm… I should find a purpose, now that my calm, boring life is over, he said, taking a deep breath that betrayed his laziness.Raizen had been walking for a while along the dusty, deserted road, his gaze lost on the horizon. After being cast out from the human world, he had nowhere to return to. Though he hated to admit it, he missed the village where he’d grown up—the children’s laughter, the quiet evenings, the stories told by the fire.

— Ugh! I’m starving! If they were going to kick me out, they could’ve at least given me some food, he grumbled, dragging his feet along the path.His steps echoed softly on the loose earth when, suddenly, he felt something odd beneath his foot. He stopped and looked down. Under his heel, a massive bird with a huge beak and a long neck glared up at him furiously. It was a vaniusha, one of those birds known for their aggressive temperament and pack-hunting instincts.Raizen lifted his gaze and, to his horror, realized he was surrounded by an entire flock of vaniusha. The bird he’d stepped on let out a piercing screech, and the others raised their heads from the ground, fixing him with cold, gleaming eyes.— What’s with this cursed luck?! Raizen yelled, bolting as fast as his legs could carry him.The vaniusha birds gave chase, shrieking and flapping their massive wings. Raizen ran until he spotted an old, gnarled tree tall enough to offer refuge. He scrambled up the thick trunk in a hurry, while the birds gathered below, trying to reach him, pecking at the bark and lunging at the lower branches.

— Leave me alone already! he shouted, exasperated, settling onto a sturdier branch.As night fell, the birds, exhausted, fell asleep one by one. Raizen peered down and sighed in relief.

— Maybe now I’ve got a chance to escape, he thought. He descended slowly, careful not to make a sound. Suddenly, one bird stirred, and Raizen froze, his heart skipping a beat. He turned his head slowly and saw it had only shifted in its sleep.

— Phew… he murmured, breathing deeply.With light, almost floating steps, he slipped past the flock, tiptoeing across the soft ground. Once he was far enough away, he relaxed his shoulders and quickened his pace, relieved to have escaped unharmed.As he pressed on, a heavy breeze filled his nostrils with the sharp scent of smoke and blood. His brow furrowed, and he clutched his sword to his chest. In the distance, he spotted a small, isolated village of wooden and thatched houses, but something was wrong. He approached silently, hiding behind a tree, and squinted at the scene before him.— I knew demons were terrifying, but this… he whispered, stunned.Three massive demons were wreaking havoc in the village. One dragged an old man by the hair, laughing mockingly, while another ripped planks from rooftops and hurled them at people like broken toys. The third stood in the middle of the road, lobbing fiery projectiles at the houses as villagers desperately fled.Fury began to boil in Raizen’s chest. He knew humans no longer wanted him around, but that didn’t matter now. He couldn’t stand by and watch these demons destroy everything. Without hesitation, he stepped out from his hiding spot and shouted at them:

— Hey, you lot! Having fun?The demons turned to him, their expressions puzzled. For a moment, they seemed surprised that someone dared interrupt their rampage. Then they burst into laughter.

— Look who’s come to play hero! A filthy kid with an old sword! one of them jeered, pointing at Raizen.

— He doesn’t even have decent armor! another cackled.Raizen kept his cool and slowly drew his sword from its sheath.

— Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha…! the three roared with laughter.

— At least I know how to fight… you just destroy what you can’t understand, he retorted.The demons’ grins vanished instantly. Their gazes darkened, and one stepped forward menacingly.

— You’ve made a mistake. You’ll regret opening your mouth, boy.Without another word, the demons attacked as one.The first demon, still holding the old man by the hair, flung his prey to the ground and charged at Raizen with a massive sword. Raizen blocked the strike at the last second, though the impact nearly knocked him down. The second demon came from behind, and Raizen barely had time to leap aside, dodging a blade that would’ve taken his head.

— Three against one? Not surprised! Raizen yelled, jumping back to keep his distance.The demon in the middle raised its hands and began hurling bolts of black magic. With sharp reflexes, Raizen dodged most of them, but an explosion sent him flying several meters back, tumbling across the ground.

— Well, that actually hurt… he said with a wry smile, rising slowly.He knew that if he wanted to win, he’d have to fight seriously. His eyes blazed with demonic energy as he tapped into his latent powers. A reddish aura enveloped his body, and his gaze turned cold and piercing. The sword in his hand began to hum faintly, as if it too felt the call of battle.The bewildered villagers watched, marveling at what was happening.The first demon lunged again, but Raizen, faster now, sidestepped and drove his sword straight into its chest. The demon howled in pain, but before it could speak, Raizen twisted the blade and yanked it free.

— Next! he shouted, leaping toward the second demon, who was raising its weapon.Raizen’s strike was so swift that the demon barely blocked in time. Their swords clashed with a deafening clang, but Raizen used the force of the impact to shove the demon back. With a sudden spin, he smashed the hilt into its face, sending it crashing to the ground. Without wasting a moment, Raizen beheaded it in a single stroke.The last demon, the one wielding black magic, began to retreat. Raizen fixed it with an icy stare and hurled his sword with deadly precision, the blade sinking deep into its back and dropping it to the ground.The village fell silent. The people, hidden in their homes, now stared in awe at the young stranger who had defeated three demons single-handedly. Raizen retrieved his sword and, without a word, started walking down the road at the village’s edge.Gazing at the dark sky above, he felt a surge of clarity.

— Maybe I don’t have a place in this world anymore… but if demons destroy everything they touch, then it’s my duty to stop them. That’s my mission now… Raizen said softly, before his legs gave out and he collapsed to the ground.The villagers, still stunned by what they’d witnessed, gathered around him. The village leader, an old man with a white beard and a slightly hunched back, approached and looked at him with concern.— Are you alright, young one? he asked.Raizen lifted his head slowly, his red eyes more tired than ever.     

— I’m hungry… he whispered faintly, as if that were his only problem.The villagers burst into laughter, and the tension around them seemed to melt away. They thanked him with their eyes and, without hesitation, helped him up and led him to an improvised table where they began bringing food. Raizen, seeing the piled plates, felt his stomach growl desperately.Without another word, he sat down and dug in with such gusto that it seemed he’d never seen food before. He ate quickly, shoveling everything in, barely lifting his head from the plate.A tiny old woman, watching him with a gentle smile, approached and asked, amused:

— Do you like it, dear?Raizen looked up and nodded enthusiastically, still chewing.

— It’s really tasty! Thank you! he said with his mouth full, sparking another round of laughter among the villagers.After finishing every last crumb, Raizen leaned back in his chair and sighed deeply, satisfied.

— Can I stay here for a night? he asked, resting his elbows on the table and propping his head on his hands, trying to hide his exhaustion.The village leader gave him a wide smile and nodded.

— Of course, young one! You’re our hero. You can stay as long as your heart desires. The inn’s right at the end of the road—you’ll spot it easily.Raizen nodded in thanks and stood slowly, feeling the weight of fatigue pressing down on him more and more. Without another word, he headed toward the inn.

— I’ll crash for a day or two and then move on, he muttered, yawning from exhaustion.Once in his room, he tossed his sword by the door and flopped onto the bed with a heavy sigh.He didn’t even have time to ask himself any questions. Sleep claimed him instantly, and Raizen drifted into a deep slumber, safe and at peace for the first time in a long while.It was late at night, and the village slept quietly under the moon’s pale light. Raizen lay sprawled across the small bed in the inn, his sword discarded by the door. After days of fighting and wandering, sleep had overtaken him completely.The stillness of the night was shattered by a sharp sound. A metallic whistle pierced the air, and in the next instant, Raizen felt a cold chill brush past him. He opened his eyes just in time to see a sword slashing down toward him.Without thinking, he leaped from the bed with astonishing agility, narrowly avoiding the blade. The sword cleaved the bed in two, leaving only splinters behind.

— Just let me sleep already! Raizen shouted, annoyed, whipping his gaze toward his attacker.Before him stood a massive man, nearly two meters tall. His hair was fiery orange, his green eyes piercing, and he wore heavy armour adorned with strange black symbols. In one hand, he gripped a large sword, and in the other, he held an imposing shield, sturdy enough to bring down a wall.

— Who are you, and what do you want from me? Raizen asked, trying to sound calm, though his eyes were already darting toward the sword resting near the door.

— Do you even realize I haven’t slept properly in a week?! What do you people want from my life?! The man fixed him with a stare, a look of disgust spreading across his face.

— What am I doing here? I’ve come to rid the village of a sinful demon like you! he said in a deep, menacing voice.

— I just wanted to rest… Raizen tried to reply, but before he could finish, the man raised his sword and attacked again.Raizen dodged at the last second, leaping toward the door and grabbing his own sword. He spun around quickly, now gripping the hilt firmly and eyeing his attacker closely.

— Who are you? Raizen asked, narrowing his eyes.The man straightened his back, raising the imposing shield.

— I am Kurogane, demon hunter and temporary protector of this village. I left the sacred barrier to avenge my clan, destroyed by demons. Remember my name… because it’ll be the last thing you hear! he said in a serious, threatening tone.Raizen stared at him for a few seconds, frowning.

— Listen, man, I don’t know what demons did to you, but I’ve got nothing to do with it!But Kurogane wasn’t listening. He raised his shield and, with incredible force, slammed it into Raizen’s chest. The impact was so powerful that Raizen flew through the door and crashed outside, smashing through a wooden wall.Before Raizen could fully get up, Kurogane leapt after him, bringing his heavy sword down toward his head. Raizen rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike, which left a deep crack in the ground.— Stay still, you wretched demon! Kurogane shouted.

— Look, I don’t know who you are or what your problem is with me, but if you’ve gotten in my way, don’t expect mercy! Raizen said, standing up and readying himself for battle.Raizen’s sword clashed with Kurogane’s in a deafening ring, sparks flying in all directions. The two fought relentlessly, each blow destroying everything around them—tables, barrels, even chunks of the inn’s walls.The commotion woke the villagers, who rushed outside, alarmed by the sight of the fight. From the crowd, the village’s elderly leader hurried forward.

— Stop! Enough! he shouted, approaching the two combatants.Kurogane paused and looked at him, confused.

— What are you doing, Kurogane? This is our saviour! the old man said in a stern voice.

— Who? This demon filth? Kurogane asked in disbelief, pointing at Raizen.

— What does it matter what he is? He saved our village! the elder retorted, glaring at him reproachfully.Kurogane seemed about to say something, but before a word could leave his mouth, a desperate cry rang out from the crowd.

— Demons! a peasant yelled, pointing toward the edge of the village.Everyone turned and stared in fear at the nearby hills. In the distance, an army of demons was advancing toward the village, while a few angels fought desperately to hold them back.Kurogane clenched his jaw and started toward the village’s edge, but Raizen caught up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.— Hey, how about we put our fight on hold and call a temporary truce? What do you say? Raizen asked, serious.Kurogane hesitated for a few seconds but finally nodded.

— Fine… but only for now, because I have no choice.They exchanged a tense glance, but in their eyes, a shared resolve was clear. Without another word, they set off together toward the village’s edge, ready to face the approaching army.