Prologue - The Night of Ashes

The night had fallen upon the small village of Küngsta like a shroud of terror. The sky, streaked with silent lightning, momentarily illuminated the chaos below. Houses, consumed by flames, collapsed one after another, leaving behind only charred silhouettes. In the alleys, bodies lay scattered—some already lifeless, others gasping their final breaths, their souls carried away by the smoke.The wind carried ashes and distant screams, while the ground trembled under the steps of a monstrous entity.

Amidst the ruins, a young woman clutched her two children against her with desperate strength. Yahiko, barely three years old, and Fumi, just one, clung to her, unaware of the danger looming over them. Her gaze remained fixed on the man standing before them.

Motionless, he was the last barrier between his family and the advancing shadow.

The ground was riddled with craters, strewn with fragments of wood and stone. Everywhere, debris bore witness to the brutal battle.

Before the man stood a massive silhouette, both human and monstrous. The creature, towering over two meters, radiated an overwhelming presence. Its ashen-gray skin was marbled with dark veins pulsing with an ominous energy. Its incandescent red eyes gleamed with a savage hunger, craving destruction.

Its body was covered in an ivory exoskeleton, perfectly molding its form. Yet this "carapace" was stained with blood and dirt, cracked in places—a testament to the relentless battle unfolding at that very moment.

Its fingers extended into razor-sharp claws, their blackened nails resembling forged metal. Its jaw, unnaturally wide, revealed elongated fangs, while the thick musculature of its neck hinted at an abnormal strength.

When it spoke, its voice resonated with an eerie depth, as if multiple beings were speaking in unison—an unsettling echo between man and monster.

This hybrid appearance made it all the more terrifying. It was neither fully human nor fully beast, but something in between—a living symbol of corruption and raw power.

The man standing before it was of average height and build, dressed simply in a lightweight black tunic, worn from battle. It concealed a lean yet well-defined musculature.His disheveled black hair, piercing and focused gaze, and unwavering posture gave him the air of a seasoned warrior.

His tanned skin, marred with scars, bore the weight of years of hardship. Though breathless and weary, he faced his adversary with an unshaken calm.

The Yokaï wavered slightly before locking its incandescent gaze onto the man. A cruel smile stretched across its lips, revealing jagged fangs.

Despite the visible wounds on its body and its labored breathing, it still exuded a menacing aura.A rictus stretched further across its face, and it spoke in a hoarse voice:

"I was not lied to… I am pleasantly surprised. You truly are one of the most powerful… A 'Guardian' who far surpasses the legends told about him."

Its voice rumbled like distant thunder.

"However, it is too late. Even if I were to die tonight, do you really think it would matter? He is coming back soon."

The man reacted instinctively, clenching his fists. His pupils contracted, and his body tensed as a faint aura began to envelop him.It rippled around him, a blend of light and almost imperceptible vibrations.

His deep, sharp voice shattered the oppressive silence:

"Who sent you here? How did you know about my family?"

The Yokaï let out a raspy laugh, its fangs glinting under the flickering flames.

"Do you really think you can stop what has already begun?"

Without warning, the aura around the man intensified, sharpening until it molded perfectly to his body. Then, in a single breath, he vanished—his silhouette dissolving like a mirage.A fraction of a second later, he reappeared, mere inches from the demon's face.

The creature's eyes widened in shock, unable to follow such speed.

Acting purely on instinct, the monster retaliated. Its right arm swung a powerful hook, an energy wave trailing behind it, slicing through the air with brutal force.

But the man, moving with supernatural fluidity, ducked just enough to evade the strike—his movement so precise it seemed measured to the millimeter.

In a flash, he countered.

His fist plunged into the monster's right flank, shattering its bone armor for good. His strike pierced through the carapace, sinking deep—precisely at the liver.

The impact unleashed a shockwave so powerful that villagers hiding dozens of meters away were sent tumbling, the flames flickering violently under the force.

The Yokaï spat out a torrent of blackened blood, its knees slamming heavily into the ground.

Silence fell, broken only by the creature's ragged breathing. Unable to rise, its body convulsed in agony.

The man towered over it, his gaze unwavering, his eyes burning with a deadly light.

"It's over."

His voice, though calm, carried an unshakable authority.

The Yokaï, still on its knees, struggled to lift its head. A thin line of black dust began peeling from its ear, the telltale sign of its essence unraveling.A monstrous smile spread across its face.

"It doesn't matter what you do… He is coming, and nothing will stop him… not even you!"

It had no time to say more.

Its body dissolved into a swirling mass of dark smoke, spiraling like black sand before vanishing completely into the air.

The man remained motionless for a moment, his fists still clenched. He breathed heavily, his gaze fixed on the spot where the Yokaï had faded. His tattered clothes bore witness to the relentless battles he had fought that night.

He staggered slightly but quickly steadied himself.

Finally, he turned, his eyes falling upon his family.

With slow, deliberate steps, he approached and knelt before his wife.

Despite the horror surrounding her, she remained steadfast, her gaze shining with a determination nearly equal to his.

He placed a hand on her face, his fingers gently brushing against her cheek.

"I must leave again. I'm sorry I can't stay."

She nodded without a word, a sad yet resolute smile illuminating her face.

"Do what you must."

The man turned his gaze toward his children. Yahiko was crying, his tiny fists clutching his mother's robe, while his younger sister, strangely serene, had fallen asleep despite the chaos.

He placed a gentle hand on his son's head. For the first time, his expression softened, all traces of hardness vanishing.

A luminous energy, almost soothing, gathered in his palm, enveloping the child's skull in a delicate glow.

"I'm sorry," he murmured."But you must not remember any of this."

The energy seeped into Yahiko, and slowly, his eyes closed, a faint smile forming on his lips.

When he awoke, he would have only one memory left: the image of a man standing between him and the darkness.

The man placed a final kiss on his wife, conveying his love in a simple "I love you." Then, he stood.

He turned away, his imposing figure rising one last time against the flickering glow of the flames.

And, in a single breath, he vanished as swiftly as he had arrived, leaving behind nothing but a whisper in the wind.

Beneath a sky where light and darkness still clashed, Yahiko, fast asleep, retained only one image from that tragic night: the silhouette of a man's back, forever etched into his mind.