Chapter 1

I woke up gasping for air, clutching my chest as if I’d been on the brink of choking. My sheets were damp with sweat; my lungs were still heavy like I had been drowning. I couldn’t get much sleep the night before, haunted by an odd reoccurring dream.

But night passed, and the sun was rising. A new day had begun. I got up and made my way downstairs, still going over the dream I had the night before. Distracted with my own thoughts and still being half asleep, I couldn’t react in time as a shadow leapt from beneath the staircase.

“Gotcha!”

As I fell to the ground, all I could hear was laughter coming from above. As I opened my eyes, I couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of my little sister waiting for the right moment just to pull off a prank on me. How long had she been waiting in the same spot just to torment my morning? Questions like those came up more often than I would have liked.

“Got you this time didn’t I big brother?”

“You certainly did, Akari. You’ve always had quiet feet. One day I will get you back.”

“Of course, Hayato. You can dream all you want!”

Akari’s always been very energetic. She could hardly stay put. Always jumping around and running in the streets. Many times, I wondered where she got her energy from.

“Hey Akari, where’s gramps? Did he go somewhere?”

“Yeah, he went down to the fishing pond. Said he was in the mood for some early fishing. He asked if I wanted to go but I don’t enjoy fishing. It’s so boring.”

“Yeah well, I didn’t think you would enjoy just sitting down waiting for something to happen anyway. I’ll go check it out and then go to Mr. Yugoshige’s. See you later!”

The streets were filled with people that day. A lot of travelers passed through Amahara Village. It had always been a good rest and trade location. As I continued to head down to the fishing pond I couldn’t help but notice how a flock of birds seemed to be moving away from the area. A weird detail since winter was not close... I couldn’t help but wonder.

Arriving at the pond I saw grampa Saburo. He was sitting down waiting for a fish bite. As I sat down by his side waiting for him to realize I was next to him, I soon realized he was asleep...

“You’re kidding, right!? Wake up old man!”

Gramps cocked back in shock and woke up to my frowned face as I looked at him.

“Come on grampa. I’ve told you one too many times that you shouldn’t be heading out without eating something first! Ever since we had to close the family dojo you always fall asleep in random places.”

“Sorry about that Hayato! I was just in the mood for fishing today. You know how peaceful it is out here. Just you, the pond, and some peace and quiet. I tried to bring Akari, but she didn’t want to come, she says it’s boring or something. I figured that if she accompanied me so much before to the dojo, then it meant she would enjoy other things with me such as fishing!”

“Well, I have no doubt that if you had taken her to go hunting again, she would have been ready before you had finished saying onigiri.

And speaking of onigiri, look at what I have here. You shouldn’t head out without eating something.”

Grampa’s face lit up as he saw the food I had taken. Without second thought he rapidly started eating. Gramps looked at me not touching the food and noticed my uneasy face. Concerned, he just asked.

“What’s on your mind, boy? Are you not hungry?”

“Oh. Yeah, sorry. You noticed huh?”

“Hard not to, you’re always bright as a sunflower with an insatiable appetite!”

“Well, it’s just that, I’ve been having quite a few bad dreams recently. They feel so real. Thinking about them gives me the chills.”

“Bad dreams you say? Could you describe to me what they were about?”

“They were weird. It’s a reoccurring dream where I am in some sort of temple. Some weird structures cracked and heavy lightning and fire. As soon as I go back to sleep, it’s not long before the dream comes back to haunt me. Every time I heard a strange voice, almost like it was calling out to me.”

Gramps’ sight gazed over the blue pond; Though he seemed to have a concerned face, he laughed it off as something out of a fantasy.

“You should drink some of my signature tea tonight before going to sleep. No doubt that with that you will have a peaceful night.”

“Okay, if you say so. Now let’s finish eating. I must head back to the village. The day has just started, and I got to take advantage of the sun!”

Eating together with him that morning made me think back to the times Gramps told us goodnight stories. Always being so creative and using props such as the broken sword he had hanging in the wall or pretending he could fly. Akari and I always dismissed him as a crazy man searching for flying pigs. We were certain he was nuts, but we enjoyed his company anyways.

After eating, gramps and I headed back to the village. Although he had gone fishing, he insisted on accompanying me back even though he didn’t catch a single fish.

We went our separate ways as he headed back home, it was time for me to go to work at Mr. Yogushige’s. It’s only part time serving ramen, but I enjoyed helping him.

Once I arrived at Mr. Yogushige’s, I went to greet him at the back while he was still preparing to open the restaurant.

“Good morning, Mr. Yogushige!”

“Good morning, Hayato. Beautiful day today, isn’t it?”

“Sure thing. Are we ready for today? The towns are filled with people; it’s bound to be a long day today!”

“That is right kid. Let no one leave this town without having Mr. Yogushige’s special ramen! They’re bound to come back after they have a taste of heaven itself!”

That day I worked extra hard as I needed to put in a few extra hours at the restaurant. I got used to giving Akari presents every few months and I wanted to get her a new ribbon. I gave her the one she had been wearing quite a while back and she refused to change it, claiming it’s special since I had given it to her.

The day went on normally. Everyone went home earlier that day, even Mr. Yogushige. I stayed late closing and cleaning the place. After a while I realized how late it was. I had to hurry or else I would get a scolding from Akari.

As I made my way home, the streets were empty, quiet and cold. It was odd, even at night the village was always bright. Something wasn’t right. My right eye started to sting badly. Moments after, the ground started to shake violently. Cracks began to show, and civilians filled the streets with fear running as fast as they could. The sky turned red, as if the heavens themselves started to bleed.

Over the horizon, an angry blotch of orange and black was blooming. The hungry color of a massive fire started to spread, with thick columns of smoke clawing, spreading through the village.

Waves of people came my way, not concerning themselves with anything but their own safety. I struggled to get by, and I fell to the ground as the stampede of people just kept on running over me.

I got stepped on my left hand, nearly breaking it. By the time I had gotten up, I realized how injured I was, and an icy shock rippled through me, instantly squeezing the air from my lungs.

The quiet night vanished. All that mattered, all that was real, was the terrible spectacle of destruction. I had to get home.

The thought wasn’t a whisper; it was a desperate shout inside my head. My body didn’t wait for permission, nor did it care for my injuries. I pushed myself, the streets were blazing hot, with structures falling as the fire ate away at the wood.

As I got closer to the house, I heard loud screeches. These weren’t the noises of any house being burned down, nor were they of any animal I had ever heard before. Even though fear started to suffocate me, I begged my body to move. No words or thoughts seeped into my mind. I just focused on what mattered the most to me.

“Akari... Gramps... where are you!? I hope you are both safe!”

As I arrived at the house, there was nothing but fire. It was hard to breathe but I could not stop.

I entered the house, desperately searching for someone, with hopes they had the chance to escape before the place caught on fire.

“Akari! Gramps! Is anyone Here!?”

I got no response...but I kept looking.

First floor, nothing there. Second floor, nothing there. I couldn’t stop coughing as my lungs were invaded by smoke.

The back garden, nothing there. I had cleared the house, and no one was there.

“It seems they weren’t here when it started. Thank goodness! I need to get out of here, find them, and head to safety.”

As I was about to get out a wall collapsed right in front of me. Blocking my way out but creating one as the gap in the house made a way through. As I stepped closer to the exit, I caught a glance of grampa’s old broken sword lying on the ground. It was always so important to him, so I took it with me before the place collapsed on itself.

I made it out, presumably safe; before realizing I had a piece of sharp wood pierced in my left thigh. I pulled it out and wrapped the injury tightly by ripping some cloth off.

While I was still wrapping my injury I heard a voice. It hit me suddenly. I recognized that voice. There was no mistaking it. It was Akari.

“Hayato! Hayato where are you!?”

Her voice was close; I had to find her. I got up with what I had left and started looking for her.

“Akari!? Akari, I’m here!”

We bumped into each other in a corner. She was with gramps; all covered in ash and some light burns. Relieved, I embraced them with all my strength.

“Thank goodness you’re safe. I couldn’t find you anywhere.”

“You too, Hayato. We couldn’t find you anywhere. You had us worried. What are you holding there? Is that ...?”

“Yeah, it’s the sword you use to tell us stories. I know it means something to you, so I took it before the house collapsed.”

“You needn’t take such risks boy, look at your leg. We should get out of here, and fast.”

Before long, the screeches returned, this time they were louder, angrier. The ground started to shake again. Whatever it was, we knew it wasn’t going to stop until everything ceased to exist.

We managed to maneuver through the tight alleyways. Trying as much as we could to avoid being on the main streets and crowded areas. Though our attempts were solid, they were brought to a halt when we came face to face, with a monster covered in flames.

“W-What the hell is that!?” Akari said, with a frightened voice I had never heard from her.

The air changed around us. It grew heavy, pressing against my chest until every bath felt like fire itself sliding into my lungs. From the haze of smoke and ember, it stepped forward.

At first, I thought it was a man. Tall, broad, upright, but no. No man carried that kind of weight and aura in his presence. Its body was a furnace wrapped in stone, fire seething through fissures that glowed brighter with each step. Its rocky limbs shifting, sparking like blades grinding together.

I saw its face. A jagged mask of blackened stone, veins of molten fire running through it. The slits on its face, diagonal and sharp, gleaming without any trace of humanity.

My heartbeat thrashed in my chest, each thud drowned by the roar of its flames. He began moving closer to us. My hand instinctively tightened around the sword I was carrying, though I didn’t have the courage to draw it. Gramps glanced at me and spoke.

“Hayato! Don’t. Make a run for it, now!”

As the creature lunged itself forward in our direction, gramps grabbed us and jumped into a building structure.

The roof cracked under the impact. Dust filled the air, blinding us for a moment. Akari had gone unconscious from all the smoke she had inhaled.

The sight of my injured sister made my heart drop.

“Gramps, we have to run!” I shouted.

Gramps turned his head slightly, giving me that same calm, infuriating smile he always had when he’d already made up his mind.

“No,” he said sharply. “You run. Take Akari and get out of here!”

“I’m not leaving you!” I yelled, grabbing his arm, my voice cracking.

He gripped my wrist – firm, unshaking. “Boy. Listen to me. Someday you’ll have kids and grandkids of your own, and you’ll understand. To be willing to give your own life for your loved ones will be second nature to you. Get out of here, now!”

The creature leaned closer, its deformed face half-lit by the burning sky. Its eyes were pits of molten amber, flickering with something that wasn’t hatred – but amusement.

“Prayers?” it questioned. “I’ve heard plenty of those while tearing through your kind. ‘Please, not my child!’ ... ‘Spare my home!’”
It tilted its head, grinning wider. “I always grant their wishes, in a way. They become part of me.”

“Hayato,” he said quietly. “Take Akari and run. Don’t stop. Don’t look back.”

“I’m not leaving you!”

He turned, eyes steady. “This isn’t your fight, boy.”

The creature’s voice slithered closer, almost whispering behind him.

“Yes... run, ‘Hayato’. Tell everyone the tale of how your hero was destroyed and consumed by my purifying flames!”

The creature’s massive hand reached in, wrapping around his entire body. Grampa grunted and groaned as the creature pulled him out of our cover. I could hear the bones cracking, the air leaving his lungs.

“Ah... such warmth,” it whispered. “The last defense of these weaklings.”

“STOP IT!” I screamed.

The creature’s grip tightened. Flames erupted from its arm, engulfing gramps entirely. The light was blinding, the sound unbearable – and in a blink, he was gone, reduced to ash that drifted upward like dying stars.

“See, child?” the creature said, turning toward me. “This is mercy. The world has no room for the old. Only gods shall remain. You should have listened to your old man and run from here while you had the chance.”

I froze – the smell of burning flesh, the echo of his voice, the weight of his sword in my hands. Something inside me cracked open.

The roar that tore out of my chest wasn’t human. The creature tilted its head, curious.

“Ah... that look. The same hatred that built this world. Not even the most innocent are excused from it.”

“Shut up...” I hissed.

The air shifted – the heat bending, the ground pulsing beneath me.

“I’ll tear you apart!”

The creature’s grin widened.

“Then come, little flame. Let me show you what the end of your world looks like.”

I left Akari safe covered in the building and went out to the street to face that monster. I prayed that when she woke up, she would be safe from it... and have a brother to take care of her. I drew the sword, and although it was broken, it gave me something to hold on to, to fuel my rage. My eyes filled with anger at the sight of my injured sister, and the thought of this monster putting her in further danger.

Harnessing my anger I shouted, my voice cutting through the roar of the fire, raw and sharp.

“You! I don’t care if you’re born of flame and stone, if you’re some demon or a monster from hell itself! I won’t run...I won’t bow. I would rather burn and die from exhaustion than watch you torment and bring suffering to my family. And If I collapse and die, I’ll make sure to take you to hell with me.”

I clenched the sword so hard I my hand began bleeding into the blade. I raised it, the steel catching the fire’s reflection, burning like a torch in the dark.

Even though I’ve always had confidence in my words, I was shaking and reeked of fear.

The creature was generating some kind of sound; sound, low and grating like stones grinding in a mill, emerged—it was laughter.

“Pathetic. Your spirit is strong, boy, but easily led by futile rage!”

I knew I couldn’t go forward without a strategy. We were playing the long game now, an endurance test.

The creature struck a pose of concentration, brought his palms together and let out a huge roar.

“Cursed Fire Technique - Firefly Swarm”

He smashed his right palm int the floor. In a second’s notice, it created cloud of fast-moving, tiny, burning sparks that went my way.

“What!?”

I jumped out of the way as fast as I could. I was left speechless.

“Dammit! What in the world was that!? When did creatures like this come into existence!?”

I knew my chances, but I still got up. Again, the monster brought in his hands in concentration, before letting out a huge roar.

His body began to let our steam. Whatever it was planning, I had to think fast. If I didn’t react accordingly, I would be turned into dust. Before it had time to start his attack, from the alleyway he got hit by a rock on the jaw. The throw was so hard it disrupted its concentration.

“What? Who is it? I thought no one was left in this area.”

The smoke in the alleyway cleared and I saw his face. It was another boy. He looked beat up by the fire, but he had a determined face trying to help

“Move! It’s dangerous to stay here!” I shouted at him.

“I could say the same thing to you! Move or you’ll be toast!”

I appreciated that he was trying to help, but I couldn't risk anyone else getting injured.

“If you want to help, go into that building and carry my sister out of here. Run as fast as you can and get out of here!” I hardly had any breath left, but I needed to get through to him. If I could hang on a little longer and get Akari to safety, I’d be happy.

The monster began to gather the fire around him. The flames have been put out, absorbing it all and concentrating it on his hands. He turned his attention to the other kid.

“Cursed Fire Art – Crimson Chains.”

“This is bad! He’s directly in his line of sight. If he’s struck with a direct hit, he’s as good as gone!

I tried to move, but my body had gone numb. There was someone in danger and I couldn’t do anything but watch. Right before the monster launched the attack, I felt something humid hit my hand.

“Huh? Water?”

It all happened in a blur; so fast I couldn’t keep up with it. I just saw shadows move.

“Water Art – Azure Fang.”