Inside the Sacred Gear's hidden realm, time did not move as it did in the mortal world. Here, everything shimmered in a twilight hue: a vast expanse of golden sky streaked with silver clouds, the horizon painted as though dusk and dawn had been stitched together. Light and shadow wove endlessly into one another, creating a balance so seamless it was almost dreamlike.
In the center of this celestial expanse stood two figures.
One blazed like a sun given form—Seraphis, the Solar Spirit. Her golden hair cascaded like fire, bronzed skin glowing faintly with radiant warmth, her amber eyes protective and steady. At her side lingered Seleneia, the Moon Spirit. Ethereal and cool, her silver hair spilled like liquid starlight, and her pale-blue eyes shimmered with tender calm. Together, they embodied the eternal balance of light and shadow.
And together, they watched their wielder.
A luminous projection shimmered before them, revealing the outside world. Within its glowing pane, Amane Aoi wandered the streets of Kuoh, his small frame wrapped in casual clothes, golden hair swaying as he hummed softly.
The two spirits gazed at him with adoration that bordered on reverence.
"He looks so carefree," Seleneia whispered, lips curving into a smile filled with quiet love as Aoi bowed politely to an elderly woman who mistook him for a girl.
Seraphis's laugh was soft, low, and warm. "Carefree, gentle… so very precious. That smile of his could light the entire world if only he knew."
Aoi stopped at a vending machine, tapping his chin cutely as he debated between choices. He puffed his cheeks in indecision before finally pressing a button. The sight drew a ripple of laughter from both spirits—not mocking, but delighted.
"Adorable," Seleneia cooed, pressing her hands over her chest. "Even the way he chooses a drink makes my heart ache with fondness."
Seraphis's amber eyes softened as she watched him take his first sip, lips curling faintly. "Every little thing he does makes me want to shield him from everything cruel in this world."
But then her smile faded. Her body stilled.
"…Wait."
The air within the Sacred Gear Realm shifted. A subtle vibration thrummed through the twilight expanse, faint at first, then heavier.
Both spirits stiffened.
"…Do you feel it?" Seleneia whispered.
Seraphis's gaze sharpened, her tone turning grave. "A disturbance. The stench of corruption. Something vile approaches."
It came like a tide seeping inward—faint but unmistakable. A miasma of hunger and malice, a predator's intent threading through the distance, slowly but surely moving closer.
Seleneia pressed her hand against her heart, her pale face tightening. "It's reaching for him. Whoever—whatever—it is, they've fixed on our Aoi."
Their projection flickered to show him once more, still blissfully unaware, sipping at his drink and smiling in satisfaction. The innocence in his expression cut deeply against the dark aura drawing nearer.
The two spirits exchanged a glance, their worry unspoken but heavy.
"We can't manifest," Seraphis said, voice rough with frustration. "Not unless he awakens us."
"And awakening us in such a moment…" Seleneia's voice trembled. "It will hurt him. The strain will scar his body, maybe even his soul. Yet without us…"
Silence fell.
All they could do was hope. Hope that their beloved master would sense the danger in time, hope that he would call to them. And yet the thought of him suffering—even for a heartbeat—twisted in their chests like a blade.
"…Aoi," Seleneia whispered, as though her voice might pierce the veil and reach him. "Please… notice us."
The shadows of Kuoh stirred elsewhere.
The rogue devil moved like a predator unchained, its hulking form slinking through narrow alleys as it trailed the faint scent it had marked. Drool dripped from its jaws, spattering the cracked pavement below.
"So close… so sweet…" The guttural rasp slithered from its throat as its glowing eyes locked onto its prey's lingering trail. "A young one… untouched… the smell of purity… it will taste… exquisite."
It licked its fangs with a jagged tongue, saliva stringing between teeth. Each breath made its hunger more unbearable, its body trembling with anticipation.
The closer it drew, the more rabid its muttering became. "Sweet… soft… blood like nectar… flesh like honey… I'll devour her slowly…"
It pressed forward, the sound of its claws scraping against walls, leaving deep, jagged scars in the stone. With each low growl, the promise of carnage thickened in the air.
Meanwhile, Aoi walked with a spring in his step, utterly unaware of the monster stalking him.
The path led him to a small park nestled between rows of trees. He paused at the entrance, ruby eyes widening with delight as he took in the sight: a slide gleaming under the sunlight, swings swaying gently in the breeze, a rusted jungle gym, and a simple pull-up bar.
His face brightened instantly.
"It's been years since I played with these…" he whispered, voice tinged with childlike wonder.
Inside the Sacred Gear realm, the two spirits melted at the sight.
"Look at him," Seleneia murmured, her eyes misting. "He's glowing. Just being near such simple joys fills him with light."
Seraphis's gaze softened, a smile touching her lips. "Even the smallest happiness becomes radiant because it's his. I want to protect this joy forever."
Aoi approached the slide first, climbing the ladder with a faint laugh before sliding down, golden hair fluttering as his laughter rang through the park. Next came the swings, where he swayed back and forth, sneakers brushing the dirt. Finally, he approached the pull-up bar.
"…Might as well try…" he whispered softly, gripping the metal with delicate hands.
He pulled once. His arms trembled. His body barely lifted. He puffed his cheeks, ruby eyes narrowing in determination. Again, and again, and again—until at last he dangled helplessly, legs kicking faintly before he dropped back down with a small huff.
Seleneia pressed her hand to her lips, tears of affection shimmering in her eyes. "Oh, Aoi… even when he struggles, he's so beautiful."
Seraphis's expression was gentle, her amber eyes filled with pride. "His strength isn't in his arms. It's in his heart. That's why he shines so brightly."
Aoi simply sat down on a nearby bench, cheeks flushed and chest rising with light breaths. Yet his smile was wide, bright, unbothered by failure.
"That was fun…" he whispered, eyes sparkling. "It's been so long since I could play like that."
He reached into his sling bag, pulling out a water bottle. Beads of sweat clung to his temples, catching the sunlight like jewels as he drank. Afterward, he leaned back, exhaling in contentment, a picture of pure peace.
Inside the Sacred Gear realm, the atmosphere shifted again.
Both spirits stiffened. The aura from before surged stronger now, crawling across the tether that bound Aoi's soul.
"It's here," Seraphis hissed, her tone sharp with protective rage. "The predator draws near."
Seleneia's hands curled against her chest, her face pale with dread as she turned to the projection. The view shifted to show the rogue devil lumbering through the trees not far from the park. Its fangs glistened, saliva dripping freely as its gaze locked onto the golden-haired youth resting peacefully on the bench.
"…It found him," Seleneia whispered, her voice breaking.
Seraphis's eyes burned, her fists clenching. "And we cannot strike. Not unless he calls to us."
Their hearts ached with fury and helplessness. All they could do was watch. All they could do was hope.
The peaceful quiet of the park was fractured by a single sound.
Crunch.
Aoi blinked, ruby eyes fluttering open at the sound of footsteps breaking through the grass. He turned his head slowly, tilting it in innocent curiosity.
A towering figure stood before him.
Aoi blinked again, tilting his head further, his lips parting. "…A cosplay?" His voice was soft, puzzled. Rising carefully from the bench, he folded his hands politely before him. "Um… hello. Did you need something?"
The beast said nothing.
Drool spilled from its jaws, dripping onto the dirt. Its claws flexed. A low growl rattled from its throat, shaking the air.
Aoi's smile faltered. He took a small step back, throat bobbing nervously. "…Y-You're… very convincing. That costume is so real…"
The rogue devil lunged.
Its claw wrapped around his slender throat, lifting him effortlessly into the air. Aoi gasped, ruby eyes wide in shock as his sneakers kicked helplessly above the ground.
"W-What—!?" His voice broke as he clawed weakly at the grip. "Why are you—nghhh!—doing this—!?"
The beast's growl deepened, its jagged grin widening as it squeezed tighter.
Aoi's breath came ragged, broken, his small hands trembling against the monster's arm. Panic surged, tears spilling as he struggled for air, his delicate chest convulsing.
Inside the Sacred Gear realm, chaos erupted.
"Aoi!" Seleneia's voice broke into a scream, her normally serene tone laced with panic. She pressed desperately against the projection, as if she could shatter the barrier with her hands alone. "Please, breathe! Please hold on!"
"Let him go!" Seraphis roared, her voice shaking the heavens of their twilight world. The golden fire of her hair flared, burning with wrath and terror. "If you harm him—!" She stopped, teeth grinding. "Damn it, he needs us! Aoi, call us!"
The projection shimmered with Aoi's struggling form, the sound of his choking filling the sacred space like poison. His face flushed red, tears streaking down his cheeks as his body flailed weakly.
Seleneia's pale-blue eyes overflowed with anguish. "He doesn't know how! He's never awakened us—he doesn't understand!"
Seraphis slammed her fist into the air, the realm itself shuddering under her fury. "Then we'll make him understand. We'll reach him, no matter what it takes!"
Both spirits pressed their palms forward, pouring their essence into the tether that bound them to Aoi.
The twilight realm shivered violently, light spilling from their bodies in burning streams of gold and silver. The force of their desperation reached out across the void like twin hands clawing at the veil between worlds. Seraphis's voice broke with rare, naked fear, her amber eyes glowing wet with tears.
"Please, Aoi… please hear us! You are not alone—never alone!"
Seleneia's lips trembled as she added her own desperate plea. "We love you. We will always love you. Just reach for us, and we will protect you!"
On the park bench, suspended in the beast's grip, Aoi's vision blurred. The world narrowed to claws digging into his neck, the burn of his lungs starving for air, and the pounding of his terrified heart. His thoughts scrambled in panic.
'Why…? Why is this happening…? I don't… I don't want to die…'
And then—faint, but undeniable—he heard them.
'Aoi!' Seleneia's voice, breaking with desperation.
'We are here! Call to us!' Seraphis thundered, fierce and protective.
His ruby eyes widened faintly. 'Voices… again… like this morning…'
The beast squeezed harder, snarling in hunger, drool dripping onto his cheek. Aoi's small hands trembled, reaching instinctively toward the warmth that pulsed in his chest—the warmth tied to those voices.
'Please… save me… I don't want to die… I don't want to be alone…'
His lips parted, a broken gasp tearing free. "Help… me…"
The Sacred Gear realm erupted in light.
The twilight sky cracked open with blazing gold and shimmering silver as Seraphis and Seleneia's cries reached him. Their forms shone, their voices overlapping into a single command that echoed through Aoi's soul.
'Awaken us!'
The rogue devil froze mid-snarl as the fragile youth in its grip suddenly ignited with radiance. Golden and silver light burst from Aoi's body, flooding the park with brilliance. His ruby eyes flared, glowing like twin gems lit from within.
The beast recoiled, blinded, its growl breaking into a snarl of rage. And in that moment, Aoi's Sacred Gear awakened.
Behind him, a radiant sigil of overlapping sun and moon unfurled like twin halos, spinning slowly in harmony. From his back stretched wings of twilight—one of luminous gold, burning like dawn, the other of shimmering silver, flowing like starlight. The air trembled with raw energy as threads of light and shadow coiled around his slender form, weaving into a luminous armor that glowed faintly yet fiercely.
Then the power erupted outward. A violent gust of wind tore through the park, rattling trees and scattering leaves like a storm. The rogue devil howled as the force slammed into its body, hurling it back across the grass and smashing it into the ground far from where Aoi stood.
The air rang with the echo of the awakening, the park bathed in a storm of gold and silver light.
Aoi's small frame trembled as the radiance flickered around him. His lips parted in a ragged breath, ruby eyes wide as he stared at the glowing wings stretching from his back. "W-what… is this…?" he whispered, voice thin with awe and fear.
The warmth surged through his veins—vast and overwhelming, yet carrying a strange gentleness that wrapped around him like a lullaby. His heart pounded, his body too fragile to contain the torrent.
His knees buckled, his vision swam, and with one last, shuddering breath, Aoi collapsed to the ground as the twilight light dimmed softly around him.