Arlind_Provoliu

For 6000 years, Hayato and Dark have been at war—not for glory or revenge, but because the world refuses to let them rest.

Once a half-demon boy, Hayato was doomed from birth. Betrayed by those he trusted, abandoned by his father, and forced to watch as his childhood friend, Dark, was taken from him. When Hayato’s father set their home ablaze in a final act of desperation, he thought he’d finally broken the boy. But fire does not kill demons.

Now, Hayato and Dark are not the same as they were. After centuries of survival, pain, and betrayal, they’ve become a force feared by gods, kings, and demons alike. Together, they fight to protect the graves of those they lost, the only thing that keeps them tethered to a world they no longer belong to.

But the war is far from over. The rulers of seven worlds are taking notice, and the past has a way of rising from the ashes.

Can Hayato and Dark ever escape the war they’re trapped in, or will they become the very monsters the world has always feared?

Skinhunger

The mountain air was cold, but Hayato's heart burned hotter than ever. With his master's final words echoing in his mind and the scars of her cruel training still fresh on his body, he stepped beyond the borders of her hidden domain—alone, determined, and not looking back.

He had one goal: find Kurai.She was still alive. Somewhere out there, she was fighting, surviving... or suffering. And Hayato couldn't sit still knowing that. He would burn the world down if it meant saving her.

The Blade of Parting

Before he left, Malenia stood in silence before him, something wrapped tightly in black silk in her hands.

"This blade isn't a gift," she said, not looking him in the eye. "It's a burden. One you're strong enough to carry—for now."

Hayato took the katana with a deep bow. It was light—almost too light—and yet something about it felt heavy… ancient. The hilt was worn, the edge unnaturally cold, and when he held it, the flame inside him flickered for just a moment.

"It has no name," Malenia said. "Names give things power. And that sword already has too much."

He strapped it to his back, unaware of the future it would carve—through demons, through fate, and through him.

The Journey Begins

With only that cursed sword and his will, Hayato traveled from village to village, each more broken than the last. Demonic attacks were becoming more frequent. People whispered of shadows devouring livestock, of children vanishing into the night, of strange markings burned into their homes.

And in every place he arrived, Hayato made it known:

"I'm no savior. But if demons haunt you, I'll send them screaming back to hell."

His fire wasn't strong enough yet to reduce them to ash like he wanted—but his swordsmanship, honed under Malenia's merciless hands, was enough to tear through them. Barely. His body ached every night, and more than once he passed out with wounds still bleeding. But the people remembered his name. Whispers began to spread.

"The black-haired swordsman with eyes like dying coals… he saved us.""He walks like a man possessed.""They say he's hunting someone. A girl…"

In the ruins of a city once proud, Hayato met his match—not in battle, but in purpose.

She stood alone atop a crumbled tower, demon blood dripping from her blade. Her armor was scorched, her eyes colder than winter. She didn't flinch as Hayato approached—only pointed her sword at his chest.

"Another bounty hunter?""No." Hayato smirked. "Just someone with a sword and a grudge."

They clashed once—just once, and it was enough to respect each other. Minamoto, a warrior of few words but many scars, had lost everything to demons. She fought not for vengeance, but to ensure others never knew her pain.

They didn't shake hands or make a pact. They just walked the same direction after that.

Together, Hayato and Minamoto became legends in whispers. One with fire in his soul, the other ice in her veins. Demons began to fear them. Survivors began to hope.

But every fire needs fuel, and Hayato's came from a place deeper than rage. Somewhere in the flames of every battle, he imagined Kurai—her voice, her smile… her screams. He knew his father, Shukaku, would use her as a pawn. But he didn't care. He'd fight the world to reach her.

And in the quiet of one night, as Minamoto cleaned her blade beneath the moon, she asked without looking at him:

"This girl you're searching for… is she worth all this blood?"

Hayato stared into the fire, his face lit like a demon's.

Somewhere deep in his pack, the katana pulsed—just once.

Chapter 4: Embers on the Wind