[Note from the Author]: This story may begin with a darker tone, but don't be fooled — the soul of this series is pure Shonen.
Genre: Dark Shonen, Dark Fantasy, Supernatural, Comedy, Adventure, Action, Mystery, War.
I polish my writing using AI tools to keep the reading experience smooth and exciting.
So welcome to a world full of danger, emotion, and insane battles. Get ready for The Last Curse — your next obsession.
Scene 1: The Awakening
Two men, each carrying a fire torch, cautiously explored the dark halls of an abandoned castle. One of them, visibly nervous, kept glancing over his shoulder, while the other walked ahead with greedy excitement in his eyes.
"T-this place gives me chills... We should leave," the timid one whispered.
The second man scoffed. "Yeah, it's creepy—but it's also ancient. Which means treasure. Lots of it."
"No treasure's worth dying for."
"Oh, relax. The Demon King's been sealed for centuries. And besides, it was Lord Shinjiro who sealed him—there's no way he could ever come back. Plus, our teammates are searching the outer halls."
Their path led them to a towering gate—its design twisted, ominous.
"There it is," the greedy man grinned. "The door to the Throne Room. Where the Demon King is sealed."
He chuckled and nudged the other. "Come on, help me open it."
The nervous man hesitated. "Whatever happens... you're responsible."
"Yeah, yeah. Blame me all you want. Let's open it."
They pushed the gate open. Inside, seated atop the throne, was a terrifying figure.
A devil.
A crown rested upon his head. His body was encased in a hardened stone-like material, as if time itself had tried to bury him. Though shaped like a human, he had long horns, and clawed hands that were disturbingly human.
The timid man gasped. "W-w-we shouldn't be here! He's horrifying!"
The greedy one gave a sinister grin. "So this is him… the King of All Demons and Devils. The legends don't do him justice."
Suddenly, the first man spotted something glowing beside the throne.
"Look! Something's glowing over there!"
The second man followed his gaze. Crackling with energy, a luminous stone pulsed with power.
His eyes widened. "A Magical Stone...!"
He ran toward it.
"No, stop! Don't go near it!"
But the man was already in front of it, mesmerized.
"This... this could make us rich."
He reached out.
"We could sell this and—"
SFX: "Bzzzt!"
"Tzzt!" he yelped, pulling his hand back as sharp energy sliced across his palm, drawing blood.
The first man rushed over. "I told you not to touch it! Now look at your hand!"
Blood dripped from the wound... and a single drop fell onto the devil's stony hand.
Cracks began forming.
"We need to tell the others! We could take this and get rich!"
As they turned to leave—
The nervous man stopped.
His eyes locked onto the throne
.
Empty.
"W-where did he go?!"
The other spun around. His face went pale.
A low, chilling laugh echoed through the room.
Unknown (evil laugh): "Huh..hah…hah…hah hah hahh—Haah! Hahahahahah!!"
Wings burst from the shadows—unfolding with an unnatural crackle. The Devil appeared in front of them, laughing maniacally.
"Finally… Finally… Aaaahh!! hahahah.. Finally!! I will wipe out all of you filthy humans! One by one—I'll hunt you all down!"
Both men dropped to their knees, prostrating in sheer terror.
"P-please forgive us! We didn't mean to enter—please spare us!"
The Devil's glowing eyes fixated on the greedy one.
"You said… Shinjiro sealed me? Huh-huh-huh-huh.. hah-hah-hah-hah-hah haaahhahahahah!!"
"I-I was wrong! It was all my idea! I planned everything—I disrespected you! I'll do anything! Just spare me!!"
"On one condition."
"A-anything! I'll do whatever you say!"
"I've been sitting here for 2,000 years... I'm hungry. Give me your head."
The timid man remained frozen, staring downward, traumatized.
The greedy man, trembling, pulled out a knife. Without another word, he decapitated himself.
His lifeless body fell beside his companion, blood pooling beneath him.
The Devil casually lifted the severed head and began to devour it.
SFX:Wet crunches and bone-cracking noises—like a zombie feasting.
He spat out the scalp, which landed at the feet of the surviving man.
"Hey, you," the Devil called.
"Y-yes...?"
"Tell me... in this era, who is the strongest after me?"
"E-Einzuro Shinkami... He's from Shinjiro's clan. Einzuro is—Ehgh.."
SFX:A deep, slicing sound. Blood gushes from a horizontal slash across his lips.
"I didn't ask you to praise him."
The man, struggling through torn lips and bloodied tongue, tried to speak.
"A-aah... f-fforgive m-me... I-I didn't m-mean to—"
"You humans forget your place far too easily."
The Devil raised his hand and obliterated the wall behind the throne, revealing a massive exit to the outer castle.
He turned to leave.
The survivor crawled after him, bowing again.
"H-h-have y-you f-forgiven me...? C-can I g-go...?"
Without turning, the Devil smirked.
"You think I've forgiven you? That you can walk free? Heh. Let me do you a favor. Instead of dying alone... I'll let my pets enjoy you."
"A-as y-you w-wish..."
He flew off into the night.
Soon after, grotesque demons entered the throne room and began feasting.
The man didn't utter a single word. Tears streamed down his face.
He was devoured alive.
Scene 2: They're Watching
SFX: "Eeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"
From afar, two mysterious figures stood atop a ridge, watching the castle.
One had black smoke trailing from his body, with four glowing red eyes. The other had a shining magical stone embedded in his forehead.
Red-Eyed Figure: "He's returned."
Stone-Embedded Forehead (MS): "Yes... The end of this world draws near."
Scene 3: The Last Hunt
[A Few Months Ago…]
A woman was preparing her bow, katana, and arrows for a hunt. She walked over to gently wake up her son.
"Come on, Haruto! Time to get up—we're going hunting today. Hurry and get ready!"
A young boy stirred in bed, eyes lighting up with excitement.
"Really?! We're going today?! This is going to be so much fun! My first hunt!"
Minahira smiled warmly. "Yes! Now get dressed. I'll wait for you outside."
Haruto came running out shortly after, practically glowing with anticipation.
"Let's go, Mom! I'm ready! I'm gonna hunt for the first time! It's going to be awesome!"
As they made their way through the forest, Haruto glanced up at her.
"Mom... I've never seen Dad before. Who was he?"
Minahira's smile faded. Her gaze dropped to the ground.
"He was... a wonderful man. Strong. Kind. Brave."
"Then where is he now?"
Her lips trembled slightly. "He's... gone. Gone forever. He won't be coming back."
Before the air could grow heavier, Minahira's eyes caught movement between the trees.
"There! Our target—shoot it, Haruto!"
Haruto aimed and fired. The arrow sliced through the air and pierced the goat's skull perfectly.
Before they could celebrate—
Three hideous creatures lunged at them from the shadows. Demons. One had long, jagged nails. Another, rows of sharp teeth and twisted horns. The third had massive, leathery wings.
Minahira's expression turned serious as she grabbed Haruto's hand and ran.
"Come with me!"
The demons gave chase.
She pushed Haruto behind a thick bush.
"Stay here and wait for me. Don't move. If I'm late coming back… you run. Got it?"
"But Mom—"
"Promise me! If I say run, you run! Do you understand?"
"I promise! But... I'm scared. Please don't leave me... You'll come back, right?"
Minahira knelt and placed her katana in Haruto's trembling hands.
"Take this. Remember what I taught you."
He nodded, barely holding back tears.
She took his wooden training blade in exchange.
"Now stay hidden. I'll take care of them."
The demons were already near.
She nocked an arrow and fired, striking one in the eye. It shrieked.
One demon rushed past her toward Haruto's location, but she intercepted it, swinging her blade and shoving it aside.
"Go! Find a new hiding spot!"
Haruto obeyed and moved.
A winged demon swooped down from the trees, claws ready. Minahira spun and fired another arrow—this time into its skull.
It began to regenerate.
"Tch… figures."
The three demons encircled her.
Suddenly, the one with sharp nails struck—piercing her abdomen clean through. Blood spilled from her lips.
Haruto, watching silently from afar, covered his mouth to stifle a scream.
Minahira gritted her teeth and reached behind her. With a fierce swing, she brought the wooden katana crashing against the demon's claws—shattering them.
The demon howled in pain.
As it tried to regenerate, it screamed again—the same area triggered intense pain.
Minahira (thinking):Their weapons... that's their weakness. The part of their body used to attack.
The winged demon flew at her again. She grabbed an arrow and stabbed it directly into its wing—piercing clean through.
The creature tumbled, grounded.
The final demon—the one with horns and sharp fangs—stepped forward.
But just then…
A stabbing pain flared in her side. Her eyes widened.
"No... This isn't just a wound—it's poison..."
She dropped to her knees, clutching her abdomen.
The nail demon slowly rose again and stalked toward Haruto's hiding spot.
"HAAARUTOOO!!! RUN!!!"
Haruto was frozen.
Haruto (thinking):What am I doing?! I have to help her—I can't just stand here! I can't let my mom die like this!
The demon crept closer.
The others turned toward Minahira, fighting amongst themselves over her wounded body.
One of them tore off her arm.
Minahira (suppressing a scream): "Eghmm..!"
She bit down, refusing to cry out. But her body was failing. Her breathing slowed. The poison was spreading.
Minahira (weakly): "Haruto... please... run...!"
Haruto (shaking):W-what should I do?! I—I can't—
[Flashback]
Minahira:Haruto! Promise me—if I say run, you run! Don't ever disobey me!
[Flashback Ends]
"Run...!"
Haruto's eyes brimmed with tears. He forced himself to his feet and ran, choking back sobs as the demon chased behind him.
"Mom... I swear... I'll avenge you! I'll kill every single one of them! Every last Demon and Devil!"
Scene 4: The Fated Encounter
Haruto stumbled out of the forest as night fell, the skies dark and silent. He dropped to the base of a large tree, exhausted, his katana clattering beside him.
Tears still wet on his cheeks.
The faint sound of hooves broke the stillness.
A man on horseback appeared.
Man on Horse: "Hey, kid! What are you doing out here?! It's almost night! You'll be demon food if you don't get out of here!"
Haruto, startled, grabbed his katana and lunged—striking in the signature Shinkami style.
The man swiftly dodged.
Man (thinking):That's the Shinkami fighting form…?
"Whoa! Easy! I'm not your enemy! What's your name, kid?"
Haruto hesitated. He didn't want to answer... but he had no one else. And this man didn't feel like a threat.
"...Haruto. Haruto Shinkami."
The man's eyes widened.
"Shinkami?! No way! I'm from the same clan! Name's Einzuro Shinkami."
"W-wait... really?"
"Yeah! I guess that makes us distant cousins! Anyway, it's getting dark. I should head back. You should too—demons don't wait."
He turned his horse.
"Wait!" Haruto called out.
"Hm?"
"Can I... come with you?"
Einzuro stopped. "Why? What happened?"
Haruto looked down.
"I don't know where my home is. I've lost everything. My mom... was killed. My dad's gone too."
Einzuro's face softened.
"...Alright. Then come with me. As your kin, it's my duty to protect you."
"Hop on."
Haruto climbed up behind him.
"Where are we going?"
"To the Stone Kingdom."
"You live in a kingdom?! Are you a king?!"
Einzuro burst out laughing.
"King? Nah! That's a low rank where I come from."
"Wait—what?!"
"Haha! You're too innocent, kid."
Einzuro (thinking):There's something about this child. I sensed it before I arrived... both Light and Dark auras. He's definitely worthy.
They rode toward the horizon—toward a kingdom unknown to Haruto.
His real journey had begun.