In a distant countryside, far from cities and crowded roads, there was a small wooden house surrounded by wide fields and tall grass. The wind moved gently across the land, and at night the stars were clear and bright. It was a quiet place, the kind of place where days passed slowly and peacefully.
A family lived there.
They were not rich, and their life was simple, but they were happy.
The father's name was Ryo. He was a strong man with calm eyes and rough hands, shaped by years of work. He spoke little, but when he did, his words were steady and warm. He worked hard every day so his family would never lack food or safety.
The mother's name was Rena. She was gentle and kind, with a quiet strength that held the family together. She smiled often, and her voice always carried comfort. No matter how tired she was, she never failed to care for those she loved.
And between them was their only child.
Kiyo.
Kiyo was ten years old.
He was a good boy, kind, caring, and thoughtful beyond his age. He helped his parents without being asked. He listened when they spoke. He worked hard and did his best in everything he did. To his parents, he was their greatest treasure.
Every morning, the family ate together. Every evening, they shared stories before sleeping. Laughter filled their home, and love lived in every corner.
None of them knew that this peace was about to end.
---
That day had started like any other.
The sun rose slowly over the fields. Ryo went out early to work. Rena prepared food and cleaned the house. Kiyo helped where he could, then later went out to run an errand, carrying food that would become their dinner.
While Kiyo was away, something changed.
Ryo stopped what he was doing.
Rena felt it too.
The air felt heavy. The wind stopped. The world seemed to hold its breath.
They looked at each other, and without speaking, they understood.
Something was wrong.
Then it happened.
The space near their home twisted, as if the air itself was being torn apart. A dark portal opened, wide and unnatural. From it came creatures that did not belong to this world.
Demons.
Their bodies were large and cruel. Their eyes burned with hunger. Their weapons were sharp and stained with blood.
They had come from another world.
They had come for one reason.
Ryo moved in front of Rena without hesitation.
Rena stood her ground beside him.
Their son was not home.
That was the only mercy that moment gave them.
Without words, they prepared to fight.
The demons attacked.
Steel clashed. Blood spilled. Ryo fought with strength born from love and fear. Rena fought with everything she had, protecting the house, protecting their child, even though he was not there.
But the demons were many.
And then, footsteps echoed down the path.
Kiyo was coming home.
He walked toward the house, holding the food carefully so it would not spill. He was thinking about nothing more than dinner, about sitting with his parents, about another normal night.
Then he saw it.
The ground was stained red.
The house was damaged.
And in front of it.
His parents.
Covered in blood.
Fighting monsters.
Kiyo froze.
His heart stopped.
"Papa!" he screamed.
Ryo heard his voice.
In that single moment, Ryo turned.
He saw his son.
Fear filled his eyes, not for himself, but for Kiyo.
"Run!" Ryo shouted with all his strength.
That moment was enough.
A demon took advantage of the opening.
A blade pierced Ryo's body.
Ryo gasped, pain tearing through him, but he did not fall right away.
"Rena!" he shouted. "Run! Take Kiyo and escape!"
Before Kiyo could move, before he could even understand, the Demon General stepped forward.
With cold power, he struck Ryo down.
Kiyo watched his father fall.
Watched his father die.
The world shattered.
Rena did not think.
She ran to Kiyo, grabbed him, and turned away.
They fled.
Behind them, the Demon General raised his voice.
"Kill the child."
The command echoed like a curse.
The demons chased them.
They ran through the fields, breath heavy, fear pressing down on them.
"Mama!" Kiyo cried as they ran. "What's happening?"
Rena's grip tightened.
"They want to kill you," she said.
Kiyo's chest hurt.
"Why?" he asked. "Why me?"
Rena opened her mouth to answer.
And then pain struck her.
An arrow pierced her body.
Blood spilled.
She stumbled but did not fall.
Even wounded, even bleeding, she forced herself to move.
With trembling hands, Rena gathered her strength and opened a portal in front of them. Light twisted and formed a path away from the demons.
"Run, Kiyo!" she shouted.
But Kiyo hesitated.
He looked back.
The demons were close.
Then a voice spoke.
"Give me the child," said the Demon General. "And I will bring you back to life."
Rena recognized him.
"Asmodeus," she said.
Her voice was steady despite her pain.
"I'm not a fool," she continued. "You will never take my child."
The demons charged.
Rena stepped in front of Kiyo.
She was stabbed.
Her body weakened further.
Kiyo screamed.
Tears fell.
The portal flickered.
"It's closing," Rena said weakly. "Run."
Kiyo shook his head.
"No!"
Driven by love, by fear, by anger, he grabbed a weapon from the ground.
He wanted to fight.
He wanted to save her.
But before he could move.
A hand grabbed him.
Someone stepped out of the portal.
"Stop," said a deep voice.
Kiyo turned.
It was an old man.
His grandfather.
Sidero.
Sidero looked at Rena, pain filling his face.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I came too late."
"Grandfather!" Kiyo cried. "Help Mama!"
But Rena shook her head.
"Go," she said. "Take him and go."
She looked at Kiyo one last time.
"Kiyo," she said softly. "Remember this. Your father and I love you more than anything."
Before anyone could move.
Rena was beheaded.
Kiyo screamed.
His voice broke.
His world ended.
Sidero pulled him into the portal.
The light closed.
The demons were left behind.
And the quiet countryside was silent once more.
Kiyo cried in his grandfather's arms.
He had lost everything.
And his journey had begun.