Bhavna_Parmar_6586

Ryuji was born with a mark—a cursed brand tied to the demons that terrorize the land. Feared by his village and shunned as a monster, he struggles to suppress the dark power coursing through his veins. When the Akuma attack his home, he has no choice but to unleash the very force he’s been taught to fear.

Branded as a threat, Ryuji sets out on a journey to master his curse before it consumes him. Along the way, he encounters warriors, exorcists, and those who seek to either use him or destroy him. But as the line between man and demon blurs, Ryuji begins to question: is he fighting against the darkness—or becoming a part of it?

With ancient secrets unraveling and war on the horizon, Ryuji must make a choice—control the beast within or let it control him.

A tale of martial arts, demons, and an outcast’s battle for redemption begins!

Cursed Fangs: The Demon Within

Ryuji's body lay in the dirt, his blood seeping into the frost-covered ground. His vision blurred—dark shapes twisted at the edges of his mind, whispering, calling.

Akari's voice—sharp, desperate—cut through the fog.

His limbs refused to move. The pain from his wound wasn't just physical—it was inside him, deeper, spreading like poison.

"Damn it!" Akari pressed a hand against his wound, her fingers trembling. Her breath came out in quick gasps, visible in the cold night air.

She turned to where the hunter had vanished, her jaw clenched tight.

No answer. Only silence, broken by the distant howl of wind through the trees.

But she already knew—they weren't safe anymore.

The Hunter's Shadow

Ryuji didn't know how long he drifted in and out of consciousness. Every time he tried to focus, he saw him.

That smirk. Those inhuman eyes.

The words echoed in his head, sinking into his bones.

Not strong enough?

When he woke, he was inside a small wooden hut. The scent of damp wood and herbs filled his nose.

A fire crackled nearby, casting flickering shadows along the walls.

Akari sat beside him, her arms crossed. Her katana rested against the wall within reach—always ready.

"Where—" His voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.

"We're in the outskirts," she said, watching him carefully. "Somewhere safe… for now."

Ryuji tried to sit up, but his entire body screamed in protest. The pain wasn't just from the wound—the curse was still shifting inside him, like a beast stirring in its cage.

"I don't have time to rest." His voice was stronger this time, but Akari only narrowed her eyes.

"Oh? And what exactly do you plan to do? Chase after that bastard when you can't even stand?"

Her words cut deeper than the wound.

Ryuji exhaled slowly, forcing himself to think. The hunter wasn't an ordinary fighter.

His attacks were calculated. His movements flawless.

He knew about Ryuji's curse.

"You saw it, didn't you?" Ryuji finally asked. "When I fought him."

Then she nodded. "I did."

She had seen the way his power flared—dark, raw, uncontrolled.

And she had seen the hunter's expression when it happened.

As if he had been waiting for it.

A Storm on the Horizon

"That man…" Akari's voice was quieter now. "He wasn't trying to kill you, Ryuji."

"He could have killed you at any moment." She leaned forward slightly, her eyes intense. "But he didn't."

A cold realization settled in his chest.

The hunter had toyed with him. Measured him. Tested him.

Like a craftsman inspecting his unfinished work.

Ryuji forced himself to his feet. The pain surged, but he gritted his teeth.

"I need answers."* His voice was steady now. Stronger.

"And I know where to start."

Akari stared at him for a long moment. Then, with a sigh, she stood up as well.

She grabbed her katana and turned toward the door.

"Then let's move before he finds us first."*

Outside, the snow had begun to fall.

Somewhere in the distance, the hunter was waiting.

And Ryuji was done running.

The world was cold.