The first demon leapt from the darkness, landing before the wall of swordsmen with a deafening snarl.
It swung its claw downward, the force of it shaking the ground.
A swordsman caught the strike with his blade — sparks burst from the clash — but the sheer power threw him onto the ground.
The battle had begun.
The demons came in waves, dozens—no, hundreds—crashing against the steel wall. The swordsmen were greater in number, but not in strength. The demons tore through the line, sending bodies and blades flying. Screams echoed. Blood splashed against the crimson flowers decorating the streets.
The people trembled. Panic rippled through the crowd.
At the center of the chaos stood Leader Hiroshi Kagamitsu, his face tight with fear. Beside him, his trusted warrior Kino Maro, a tall swordsman with calm, determined eyes, gripped his katana.
"Kino!" Hiroshi shouted, his voice cracking under the roar of battle. "Protect my daughter—no matter what happens!"
Kino nodded sharply.
"Understood, my lord!"
Hiroshi turned to the terrified villagers.
"All of you, run to my house! Hurry!"
The people began rushing toward the large mansion that stood on the far end of the village — the Kagamitsu Residence, surrounded by scarlet flowers. The once beautiful petals now trembled under the weight of panic and ash.
Swordsmen tried desperately to block the demons, forming new lines as more villagers ran for safety. But the demons were relentless — they leapt over the blades, slashing at anyone they could reach.
Blood painted the streets. The cries of the wounded filled the air.
Hiroshi himself ran into the crowd, helping the elderly and children escape, not caring for his own safety.
Near the edge of the street, Fumiko Kagamitsu, the leader's daughter, screamed as a demon lunged at her.
But before the creature could strike—
Kino Maro appeared, his blade flashing. In one clean motion, he cut off the demon's arm.
Kino "You may be a demon, but as long as I'm here — you won't lay a finger on anyone!"
Four more demons surrounded him. Kino Maro exhaled sharply, standing firm.
Kino " Come on.… I'm ready. Demon — you've chosen the wrong place at the wrong time."
"I will not forgive you. Your punishment is death — and today you will die by my hand."
Then Kino attacked them and forced them back. The fight turned brutal. Kino struck at a demon and it blocked, but suddenly another demon rushed in and landed a heavy punch. Kino was slammed against the wall of a house; he rose again, thinking how strong the demons were. Then, at full speed, he charged a demon. The demon blocked with its claw, but Kino spun in the air and, with full force, severed the demon's head. Three were left.
Then—his eyes widened.
He saw eight demons rushing from behind, straight toward Fumiko.
Fumiko cried out, "Help me!"
Kino's heart pounded.
No… she's too far! I can't reach her in time!
A demon leapt at her—
And in a blinding flash—all eight demons' heads flew into the air.
Kino was shocked. He couldn't understand anything — the attack was so fast that he didn't even see it coming. In disbelief, he whispered,
> "What… what am I seeing? I'm struggling to fight just four demons, and that man—he cut down eight of them in a single strike… No… no, that can't be possible."
Kino stared in awe, his eyes wide, unable to believe what he had just witnessed.
A man now stood between Fumiko and death, his blade dripping with black blood.
"Are you alright?" he asked calmly. Then his voice rose powerfully, echoing through the chaos:
"There's no need to fear! The Living Legend has arrived.Demon, your time to die has come"
Everyone froze. Even Kino stared, speechless.
"That… how did he…?"
Before he could finish, a demon attacked him from behind.
But in a blur of motion, Tonakama appeared — his sword swung like lightning, cutting through the air. His strike sent the demon flying before it was sliced cleanly in half mid-air.
"Hey, swordsman" Tonakama shouted. "Why are you standing there like a statue? Protect the people!"
> "When your own people are on the battlefield, first try to save them. If you become trapped in mental confusion you will not be able to save others — in the end only corpses will remain. So go out with thought and plan. Put your life on the line to save people; that is a warrior's duty."
Tonakama's words hit Kino like a spark.All fear of foreign things vanished; only the burning desire to save his people remained.
Kino snapped to attention. "Yes, sir!"
In his mind he roared, This is the only thing that matters now.
Kino snapped back into motion.
"Yes, sir!"
The ground trembled under the storm of battle. Screams and steel clashed, filling the night with terror and fire. The once-peaceful village now burned like a field of torches.
Tonakama and Kino fought side by side, cutting through waves of demons, but there were too many. For every one they killed, five more crawled out from the dark.
A demon leaps through the smoke, its claws dripping black blood. Before it lands, Tonakama's blade flashes — one clean arc. The demon's head spins in the air like a burning ember before falling silent.
The battle raged. Swordsmen fell. Demons roared.
Near the front lines, a swordsman collapsed to his knees, blood dripping from his arm. His sword trembled in his hand.
"I… can't move anymore," he whispered.
Demon attacked toward him with his claw with force.
The swordsman said, "Looks like… this is my death."
But the blow stopped midair.
The swordsman looked up. A small hand gripped the demon's wrist.
A boy—Yochiro—stood before him.
The swordsman's eyes widened. "A kid… stopped that strike?"
Without hesitation, Yochiro pulled back his fist and drove it straight into the demon's stomach.
And with one brutal punch, his fist tore through the demon's stomach — the creature let out a guttural cry and collapsed instantly, dead before it hit the ground.
"Go," Yochiro said coldly. "You're injured. Get first aid."
"I will handle these demons. You just, for now, worry about yourself — you have been hurt very badly."
And before the swordsman could reply, Yochiro blurred forward — his speed like a storm.
He appeared before another demon, punched it once, then drew his katana from his back.
With a flash, he sliced the demon's face apart, leapt into the air, and cut through two more — each strike almost perfect, precise, unstoppable.
Yochiro said ;
> "Alright — let's see. I will try what I learned from that mad swordsman. This demon is nothing. Watch how much my swordsmanship has improved."
The swordsmen around him stared, trembling.
"H-Haah?! How can a boy cut demons like paper!?"
Yochiro shouted, "Why are you standing there watching me!? Move! Fight with me if you can still stand!"
"Nothing will happen just by standing still!"
"If you intend to protect your people, then fight — there is no other path."There's only one way — fight!"
That call reignited their courage. The remaining swordsmen roared, charging back into battle alongside Yochiro and Tonakama.
For what felt like hours, steel clashed with claw.
The night burned red with fire and fury.
Finally—
Silence.
The last demon fell, its black blood soaking into the dirt.
Yochiro and Tonakama stood side by side, their blades dripping with demon blood.
The people stared at them in awe."All around them, the ground was littered with the corpses of demons."Then cheers erupted — tears, shouts, and gratitude filling the smoky air.
Leader Hiroshi walked forward, trembling, and knelt before them.
But Tonakama quickly placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You don't need to kneel," he said softly. "It's our duty. If we have the power to protect people, then that's what we do."
Hiroshi stood again, eyes full of respect.
"This is the greatest favor anyone has ever done for me," he said. "I owe you both my life."
"With respect, may I ask your names?"
Tonkama said loudly ; "Yes, of course. My name is Tonakama, the Living Legend… and this is my student, Yochiro.we are the Devil Destroyers."
Then a loud cheer erupted — a single name was chanted over and over:
> "Devil Destroyer! Devil Destroyer!"
The entire village echoed with the chant, everyone cheering them on.
Yochiro watched the scene, and something stirred deep within him. A warmth, a strange sense of pride and happiness, spread through his chest — it felt unexpectedly good.
Yochiro looked toward Tonakama with awe. Tonakama met his gaze and gave a faint, gentle smile
Then Hiroshi turned to his people and shouted, "Everyone! This was my mistake! I let myself be lost in joy and forgot your safety. Please, forgive me!"
But the people shouted back, "No, my lord! It's not your fault! You protected us even when you could have fled!"
Voices rose together:
" Devil destoryer Devil destoryer" and "Leader Hiroshi-sama! Hiroshi-sama!"
Their cheers echoed like thunder.
As the night calmed, Yochiro turned to Tonakama.
"Let's go," he said quietly. "Our work here is done."
But Hiroshi rushed to stop them.
"Wait! You protected us — now it's our duty to honor you. Please, come to my home. I have prepared a feast!"
Tonakama's eyes sparkled.
"Feast, huh? Don't mind if I do."
Inside the grand mansion, the table was filled with food — roasted fish, rice, miso soup, and sake. Tonakama ate like a starving bear, while Yochiro stared at him in silent disbelief.
Tonakama laughed. "Don't be shy, kid! This is like our home now!"
The leader joined in, smiling. "Yes, yes! Please eat freely!"
After the meal, Tonakama, Yochiro, Hiroshi, and Kino sit together.
Kino bowed deeply.
"Master Tonakama, your swordsmanship is legendary. I have never seen a swordsman as great as you before." Master"
Tonakama grinned. "Master, huh? Heh—yes, yes, that's me! Tonakama the Great!" . Not yet… You haven't even seen the true perfection of my swordsmanship."Then he started praising himself
Yochiro sighed, staring at him like he was the most annoying person alive.
Hiroshi smiled warmly.
"Please tell us, Tonakama-sama, where do you come from?"
Tonakama replied , "We live in a cave near the forest."
Hiroshi and Kino both gasped.
"A cave? Why live there?"
Tonakama laughed. ""I don't particularly like that place, but he is my student' place — so I will stay with him in the cave."
Hiroshi shouted loudly, his voice brimming with respect and excitement:
> Stay with us — I will consider this a great privilege!"
Kino immediately stepped forward, bowing slightly, his tone full of urgency and reverence:
> "Yes, Master! Please stay here so you can train us… Please, Master, stay!"
But yochiro asked "We respect your invitation, but we cannot stay here."
Tonakama looked at him in shock, his eyes wide. But then Yochiro saw him with anger. So tonakama said nothing, remaining silent.
Hiroshi said ' but why '.
Yochiro asked '"Because there is something in this cave that is most precious to me… I cannot leave it."
Hiroshi said "Then at least allow me to thank you. If you ever need anything, anything at all — I'll be there to help."
Yochiro and Tonakama bowed slightly, "yes ok"then they left the mansion.
When they reached the cave, Yochiro silently walked to the right side and bowed his head before a grave. He stood there for a long moment, eyes reflecting faint tears, before quietly entering his cave.
Tonakama watched from behind.
Every morning, he thought, he does the same — bows to that grave before anything else. Sometimes… I even see tears in his eyes.
He looked toward the moonlit cave, a heavy feeling in his chest.
What's the connection between that grave… and Yochiro Homurao?
Author's Note:!!!!
Dear Readers,
This chapter marks a turning point — where courage meets chaos and heroes rise from the shadows. Yochiro's true strength begins to reveal itself, not just in skill, but in heart. Tonakama's guidance, the villagers' courage, and the looming mystery of the grave all weave together to show that battles are fought not just with blades, but with willpower, loyalty, and sacrifice.
I hope you felt the tension, the fear, and the awe of that night. And while the demons are defeated, the story is far from over. There's a deeper connection waiting to be uncovered, a secret that will shape Yochiro's path forever.
Thank you for joining me on this journey — your imagination breathes life into these pages.
— Mushaim Ali