The morning air was cool, but Kajhunomo's thoughts were burning. He hadn't slept since last night's attack — the image of that shadow's white eyes and the mark glowing on his arm replayed again and again.
He sat on his bed, turning the small metal tag over in his hand. Division of Negativity and Magic – Sector 7.
Raizen's words echoed in his head.
> "If you want to protect others, come find me."
Kajhunomo exhaled deeply. "Guess I don't have much of a choice anymore."
He grabbed his jacket, stuffed the tag in his pocket, and stepped out into the early sunlight.
---
The Division's address led him to an old district of the city — an area most people avoided. The buildings were half broken, windows covered with dust, and the air felt unusually heavy.
As he walked deeper in, he noticed that people around him seemed slower, quieter, their eyes dim and unfocused. The negative aura was thick here — stronger than anywhere he'd been.
Finally, he stopped in front of a rundown warehouse. The number on the wall matched the one engraved on the tag: Sector 7.
"Figures," he muttered. "Secret organizations never have nice entrances."
He pushed the door open — it creaked loudly. Inside, darkness swallowed everything.
But then — a faint blue light appeared ahead. Kajhunomo followed it down a narrow corridor until he reached a large chamber.
And there he saw Raizen, standing in front of a glowing circle of runes.
"You came," Raizen said without turning.
Kajhunomo nodded cautiously. "You didn't exactly give me an option."
Raizen smirked. "True. But that choice you made — it means you've already taken your first step as a Slayer."
Kajhunomo looked around. The walls were lined with weapons, symbols, and strange artifacts pulsing with energy. "So this is... the Division of Negativity and Magic?"
Raizen turned, his eyes sharp. "Only one of its branches. This is where we train new Slayers to control their power before the darkness consumes them."
He gestured toward the glowing circle. "Step inside."
Kajhunomo hesitated. "What happens if I do?"
Raizen's smile widened slightly. "You'll see the truth."
Kajhunomo sighed. "You're not exactly reassuring, you know."
Still, he stepped into the circle.
Instantly, the world shifted. The ground beneath him vanished, replaced by swirling black clouds and streams of light. He was floating — no, falling — through a sea of memories, emotions, and voices.
> "Negativity is born from the heart."
"Magic is the soul's way of fighting it."
"You are the bridge between both."
Kajhunomo gasped as images flashed — a ruined city, crying children, warriors battling shadows. Then, a glowing blue flame appeared before him.
> "Kajhunomo… accept the curse and command it."
His hand reached out instinctively — the flame touched his mark, and light exploded around him.
When he opened his eyes again, he was back in the chamber, panting, sweat dripping from his face.
Raizen watched calmly. "You survived the Awakening Test. Not bad."
Kajhunomo blinked. "Awakening Test? That's what that was?"
Raizen chuckled. "If your mind had broken, your body would've been consumed by Negativity. Consider yourself lucky."
Kajhunomo glared. "A little warning would've been nice."
Raizen shrugged. "You're alive. That's all that matters. Now... look at your arm."
Kajhunomo did — the mark that had appeared last night had changed. It now glowed brighter, forming a spiral surrounded by symbols.
Raizen explained, "That's your Negativity Seal. It allows you to convert negative energy into your own power — but lose control, and it will devour you."
Kajhunomo clenched his fist. "So it's both a weapon and a curse."
"Exactly," Raizen said. "And to master it, you'll need to train under the Division's combat and magic instructors."
He motioned to a door on the far side of the chamber. "Go. The others are waiting."
Kajhunomo hesitated. "Others? You mean I'm not the only one?"
Raizen's eyes gleamed. "No. There are eleven more."
Kajhunomo froze. "Twelve... warriors?"
Raizen smiled faintly. "That's right. Twelve Negativity Slayers — chosen to protect humanity."
The name rang in Kajhunomo's chest like a heartbeat.
> Twelve Slayers…
He took a deep breath and stepped through the door.
---
The room beyond was massive — a training hall filled with glowing symbols and suspended platforms. Several figures stood there, all around his age, wearing dark uniforms marked with the Division emblem.
One girl turned as Kajhunomo entered. Her silver hair shimmered under the blue light. "A new recruit?" she asked.
Another boy smirked. "Looks weak. Hope he doesn't die during training."
Kajhunomo's eye twitched. "Nice to meet you too."
A calm female voice spoke from the center of the room. "Enough talk."
Everyone turned toward the woman standing at the front — tall, dressed in black armor with a staff glowing at the tip. Her presence alone felt heavy, suffocating even.
"I am Shizura, your instructor," she said coldly. "If you want to survive, you'll follow every order I give. Fail — and the curses will eat your soul before you graduate."
Kajhunomo gulped quietly.
This woman… she's terrifying.
Shizura's gaze fell on him. "You — the one Raizen brought. Step forward."
He obeyed, standing at attention.
"Your aura is unstable," she said. "Show me your mark."
He raised his arm, the glowing seal visible.
The room went silent.
Shizura's eyes widened slightly. "A Spiral Seal… rare." She turned to the others. "He's the twelfth one."
Murmurs spread across the hall.
"The twelfth?"
"Isn't that the cursed number?"
"So the prophecy was real…"
Kajhunomo frowned. "Prophecy?"
Shizura looked at him with a mix of caution and curiosity. "The Twelve Slayers of Negativity — when gathered, they will decide the fate of both worlds. Light or Darkness."
Kajhunomo's heart pounded. "You mean... this was all planned?"
"Perhaps," she said. "Or perhaps fate chose you for another reason."
Raizen's voice echoed from behind. "Either way, training begins now."
Shizura nodded. "Prepare yourselves, Slayers. From today onward... you fight not just demons, but your own hearts."
Kajhunomo tightened his fist, feeling the seal pulse under his skin. The path ahead was dark — but his resolve was brighter.
> "No matter what happens," he whispered, "I'll protect them all."
And with that, the first day of his true journey began.