The night spread deep across the jungle, silent except for the whisper of insects and the crunch of leaves underfoot.
Yochiro and Tonakama were walking back through the dense woods after their battle, their silhouettes barely visible beneath the towering trees. The moonlight struggled to pierce through the thick canopy, turning everything into shades of shadow.
Far away and above them, hidden among the highest branches, two red eyes opened slowly.
They gleamed faintly — watching.
The creature crouched there silently, its sharp claws gripping the bark. Its breath was heavy and slow, almost blending with the rustle of the leaves. From that distance, it had seen everything — the fight, the humans,and their strength
A crooked smile spread across its face.
"Haa haa... so those humans are really powerful," it whispered in a hoarse, broken voice.
"And they look… delicious. Especially that small boy. His meat looks soft… haa haa..."
It tilted its head, eyes glowing brighter as it licked the air like tasting their scent.
"My eyes are watching you... everywhere..." the demon hissed softly, the sound slipping through the trees like poison.
Then — with a thunderous crack — it leapt from the treetop.
The impact shook the ground, snapping roots and bending trees outward from the force. Dust and leaves scattered as the forest trembled beneath its landing.
When the rumbling faded, hundreds of demons appeared from the shadows, kneeling on the forest floor before it — silent, waiting, trembling with dark hunger.
The red-eyed demon spread its arms wide and laughed.
"Ready, my sons?" it growled.
"Ready for destruction? My heart is begging to destroy a village tonight. To eat humans... I love their screams."
A wave of snarls and laughter echoed from the horde — hundreds of voices overlapping in one horrifying sound.
The jungle that had been peaceful moments ago now pulsed with a wicked energy.
Far away, Yochiro and Tonakama walked on, unaware that in the shadows behind them, something monstrous had already set its eyes upon them.
After a long walk through the silent woods, Yochiro and Tonakama finally reached their cave.
The night air was cold, their footsteps slow and heavy. Without saying a word, they placed their swords beside them and lay down.
Exhaustion wrapped around them like a blanket, and within moments… both were asleep.
Next day
The morning light was still dim when Tonakama opened his eyes. The cave was quiet, the air cool and filled with the faint scent of stone and damp moss.
He turned his head — the spot beside him was empty.
"…Where did that boy go ?" he muttered under his breath.
Tonakama quickly stood up, wrapped his cloak around his shoulders, and stepped outside. The forest was still veiled in soft gray mist, and the faint rustling of leaves filled the silence.
That's when he saw him.
Yochiro was sitting quietly in front of a small grave on the right side of the cave. His posture was straight, his head bowed slightly, lips moving as he whispered something under his breath. His expression was unreadable — calm, emotionless, yet carrying something deep that couldn't be seen from the surface.
Tonakama stopped at a distance, watching silently.
The boy didn't even notice him; he was completely absorbed in what he was saying.
After a few moments, Yochiro slowly opened his eyes. He lowered his hands, stood up, and turned. His expression didn't change — still calm, still mysterious.
When his gaze met Tonakama's, the old man finally spoke.
> Tonakama: "Boy, it's time for your training — the next phase."
Yochiro nodded silently.
As Tonakama looked at him, a thought crossed his mind.
Now it's more important for me to understand the connection between that cave… and that grave. Who exactly is buried there? What does that place mean to him?
But he didn't ask. Not yet.
---
The two of them stood in the empty clearing outside the cave. The ground was rough and scarred — a battlefield that had seen countless hours of training. The wind passed through the trees, carrying the faint echo of distant birds.
Tonakama faced Yochiro, his expression firm but calm.
> Tonakama: "Now your skills have improved much more than before. I saw it when you fought that demons — your reaction, your control, your killing instinct."
He paused, tapping the ground with his wooden staff. "So now, it's time to move on — to new techniques, and to strategy."
Yochiro remained silent, waiting for tonakama's next words.
Tonakama's voice grew deeper, more serious.
> Tonakama: "Remember this well, boy. Learning a new move is easy… but using it at the right time, and perfectly — that's what truly matters."
He smirked slightly. "Anyone can learn a thousand moves, but mastering even one? That's what makes you dangerous."
Tonakama took a step forward, his tone filled with authority.
> Tonakama: "Learn ten thousand moves — that's not the goal. Practice one move ten thousand times and master it. That's the goal. Because if you have ten thousand techniques but none perfected, they're useless. But a single perfected move that can shatter your opponent — that's true power."
The words hit like steel. Yochiro stood still, absorbing every syllable. The faint wind blew through his black hair, and for a moment, Tonakama saw that same silent determination that once burned in the eyes of great warriors.
____
> Tonakama: "Now… we'll find the weapon that truly belongs to you."
"You're good with the katana — no doubt. But we need to test all weapons. Who knows, maybe another weapon will suit your body and instincts even better."
Yochiro's gaze followed Tonakama hand. His face remained emotionless, but there was a quiet spark of curiosity in his eyes.
Tonakama folded his arms and spoke again.
> Tonakama: "Our goal isn't just to learn — it's to master. A weapon doesn't make the warrior… the warrior gives meaning to the weapon."
For a brief moment, silence returned between them.
The wind whispered through the trees. The faint sound of flowing water echoed from the nearby river.
Tonakama glanced once more at Yochiro, his thoughts unspoken.
That grave… that silence… and the way he trains — like someone chasing something he's already lost.
He exhaled slowly, forcing the thought away.
The morning breeze drifted softly across the clearing. Tonakama adjusted his katana, glancing at Yochiro — his black hair moving gently with the wind.
> Tonakama: "Get ready, boy. We're going to Takayama."
Yochiro blinked, slightly surprised.
> Yochiro: "Takayama? You mean… the same place where I fought that demon and saved the kid and his family?"
> Tonakama: "Yes. The same place."
Yochiro's eyes narrowed slightly.
> Yochiro: "But how do you know about that?"
Tonakama looked away, his expression unreadable.
> Tonakama: "You don't need to know that.
>"But why are we going there "
> Tonakama: "We're going there because you need weapons — different kinds to train you,"Because the next phase of your training is mastery, and to reach mastery you need a weapon that will become part of you."In Takayama, there live some secret craftsmens, some of the best in Japan." His weapons are said to be unmatched ."They make weapons from the highest-quality materials, so their weapons are three times stronger and more durable than ordinary ones."
"Yochiro got excited to hear that and asked, 'So why are we waiting? Let's go to takayama.
"I need a stronger weapon.
"Come on! Let's move
But Tonakama raised a hand.
> Tonakama: "Not yet. We'll go there at night."
Yochiro frowned.
> Yochiro: "At night? Why?"
Tonakama's eyes glinted faintly.
> Tonakama: "Because the craftsman lives there as a normal man, not as a smith. No one in the village knows who he truly is. If we go in daylight, we'll draw attention — and someone see us, it will cause them problems, so we shouldn't take any risks that harm them ."
Yochiro crossed his arms, curious.
> Yochiro: But why they hide their identity?"
Tonakama turned away, his tone suddenly calm and serious.
> Tonakama: "There's a very big reason behind it. I'll tell you later."
"But now the only thing we can do is wait for night."
Tonakama's stomach growled softly
Krrrrrrr!!!!
Tonakama said "My stomach's growling — I'm going into the jungle to find something to eat."
Yochiro, slightly annoyed, muttered, "This useless man is always hungry, no matter what."
---
Then they spent the day hunting deep in the forest. The air was thick with the scent of pine and earth. Eventually, they found a deer — swift, cautious, beautiful.
Yochiro's movements were sharp; one strike, clean and silent.
Later, as the sun began to fade, smoke rose from their small fire. The two sat across from each other, the roasted meat laid between them. Tonakama chewed slowly, eyes on the boy who ate in quiet focus.
After a long silence, Tonakama finally spoke — his voice deeper than usual.
> Tonakama: "Hey, boy. Tell me something."
Yochiro looked up and asked ' what ' .
> Tonakama: "What's the real reason you want to become strong? What's the thing that drives you?"
Yochiro's voice came out calm but cold.
> Yochiro: "It's simple. I'll kill all the demons. Every single one. Not even one will be left alive."For that… I need to get stronger — as strong as I possibly can," Yochiro said , his eyes burning with determination.
Tonakama's eyes sharpened slightly as he watched him.
He says it so casually… but there's something behind that tone. Something burning deep inside.
> Tonakama: "I see…"
He looked at the fire, thinking.
I need to observe him more closely.
Then he spoke again, carefully.
> Tonakama: "So tell me, boy. Why do you hate demons that much?"
Yochiro's hand clenched around his knee, and his eyes grew darker.
> Yochiro: "Are you mad? Why shouldn't I hate them? They kill humans without reason — even those who've done nothing wrong. Humans live every day in fear of demons… I'll destroy that fear. I'll finish them all."
Tonakama studied him in silence. The flames flickered between them, painting their faces in red and gold.
After a moment, Tonakama smiled faintly.
> Tonakama: "If I told you my goal is the same as yours, would you believe me?"
Yochiro looked at him, mildly surprised.
> Tonakama: "But right now, we're far from that goal. The demons are stronger than you think."
Yochiro's eyes flashed.
> Yochiro: "They're strong, but not stronger than me."
Tonakama's expression hardened instantly.
> Tonakama: "You're still far from reality, boy. The demons you killed was nothing but a regular's one — the lowest kind. You haven't seen the real horrors yet."
Yochiro tilted his head slightly,
> Yochiro: "Then what do you mean by 'real horrors'?"
Tonakama leaned back, his tone grave.
> Tonakama: "There are many kinds of demons, and each one stronger than the last."We divided them into four categories," Tonakama said firmly.
First are the Normal Demons — the ones like we fought in that village. "They are the weakest type of demons — they don't have any special abilities. Their strength is about three times greater than that of a normal human."
He picked up a stick and began drawing rough shapes in the dirt.
> Tonakama: "Next are the Abnormal Demons — stronger, faster, more vicious."They're out of their minds — they enjoy killing humans, and sometimes even attack each other. Not even other demons are safe from these abnormal ones.They almost twice as powerful as the normal kind."
Yochiro listened silently, eyes fixed on the dirt drawing.
> Tonakama: "Then come the High-Class Demons. They are real threat — commanding hundreds of lower demons."Their power is insane — they are the true demons. If they attack a village, it's impossible for anything to survive. Their strength is on another level. Some possess special abilities — some can regenerate, some can breathe fire, and some rely purely on raw strength. But even that raw power isn't ordinary — they are almost ten times stronger than an abnormal demon.". Remember when we first met, and we fought that demon leading the others?"
> Yochiro: "Yes. I remember. He was strong.
Tonakama nodded.
> Tonakama: "He was a High-Class Demon. But even he isn't the real threat.There is something beyond even that."
Yochiro's eyes narrowed slightly.
> Yochiro: "Then what is?"
Tonakama's voice lowered, his tone carrying a quiet dread.
> Tonakama: "The true danger… lies with the Chaos Demons."
He stopped speaking for a moment, the forest suddenly feeling colder, heavier. The fire cracked softly between them.
Tonakama looked at the night sky, then back at Yochiro.
> Tonakama: "Those demons don't follow rules. They're born from pure darkness — ancient creatures that existed long before humans knew fear. Their power is so vast that even other demons bow to them. "They can regenerate their body parts within seconds. They destroy everything that stands in their path — they were born to bring ruin. Their presence alone feels like death walking on earth. Their power is far beyond that of a high-level demon. someone I know told me... if a high-level demon kills one hundred thousand people, he transforms into something far worse — a Chaos Demon."
They're absolute monsters....
He didn't finish the sentence.
The wind howled quietly through the trees.
Yochiro didn't respond — his face calm, but his fists clenched.
Chaos Demons… I don't care what they are, he thought. If they threaten humanity, I'll destroy them too.
Tonakama glanced at him, A faint smile crossed his lips.
After a long discussion tonakama stood and said, "We're going to Takayama."
Yochiro . "Yes — I am ready for this,"
They slung their katanas over their shoulders and began walking toward Takayama.
The Calm village Before the Darkness
Then we see a village names hinokawa village.The sun was sinking behind the mountains, painting the sky in soft shades of amber and violet. The faint scent of wet earth and rice husks drifted through the narrow paths of Hinokawa Village, a quiet settlement nestled between forest and stream.
That evening, the air was filled with the music of daily life — gentle laughter, the clatter of wooden sandals, and the faraway rhythm of a blacksmith's hammer echoing across the hills.
Children ran through the dusty streets chasing dragonflies, their voices rising and falling like birdsong. Among them were two siblings — a boy and a girl — Ren and Aiko.
Ren was around ten, his short hair tied messily with a piece of straw rope. His little sister Aiko, barely seven, followed close behind, her tiny kimono sleeves fluttering like butterfly wings as she ran.
> "Wait, Ren!" she called, clutching a small wooden fox mask in her hand.
"You'll fall again!"
"No I won't!" he shouted, grinning as he jumped over a puddle.
They ran past the tea house, where the owner — an old woman named Obaa Chiyo — smiled and waved her fan at them.
> "Slow down, you two! You'll stir up all the dust before supper!"
"Sorry, Obaa-san!" Ren laughed as they sped away.
Down the path, the siblings stopped near the Hinokawa River. The setting sun shimmered on the water, turning it into gold. Aiko crouched down, trying to catch the reflection of her face in the stream.
> "Look, Ren! It's like I'm glowing!"
"That's just the sun, dummy," he teased, then added softly, "But yeah… it's pretty."
They sat there for a while, tossing pebbles and watching ripples spread over the surface. The sound of cicadas rose in the background — the song of the ending day.
Back in the village, the smell of cooking rice filled the air. Smoke curled from the rooftops, carrying the warmth of family and home. The villagers greeted one another as they passed — farmers returning from the fields, children fetching water, old men sharing quiet talk by the shrine.
Ren and Aiko's mother called from their small wooden house nearby.
> "Ren! Aiko! Dinner's ready! Come wash your hands!"
"Coming!" they shouted together, racing up the hill.
As they reached their home, they passed by the village shrine — an old torii gate leaning slightly to one side. Candles flickered before a stone fox statue, its features softened by age. The siblings stopped, pressing their palms together.
> Aiko whispered, "O-Inari-sama, please protect everyone in Hinokawa."
Ren smiled faintly, repeating after her, "Yeah… and keep the forest quiet tonight."
Their mother watched from the porch, smiling gently as the two prayed. The air around them was peaceful, filled with the low hum of insects and the faint rustle of leaves.
When night finally came, Hinokawa glowed under the soft lantern light. Families gathered around low tables, the sound of laughter and the clinking of bowls filling the homes. The shamisen from the tea house played a soft tune — old, nostalgic, and full of warmth.
Ren lay beside his sister, staring at the wooden ceiling as she drifted to sleep.
> "Hey, Aiko," he whispered, "when I grow up, I'm gonna be a swordsman. I'll protect everyone here."
"Really?" she mumbled sleepily. "Then I'll be the swordsman too.
"Heh… that sounds perfect."
Outside, the moonlight fell gently on the rooftops.
The wind stirred the trees — faint, almost cautious.
Beyond the forest edge, two crimson eyes opened in the darkness.
Watching...
The peace of Hinokawa Village lingered — fragile, beautiful, and unknowing of what was to come.