The sun hung low, its golden light filtering through the dense canopy of the forest. Shadows stretched long between the ancient trees, mingling with the scent of pine, wet earth, and faint smoke from distant hearths. Haruto Kagutsuchi's boots crunched softly on the leaf-strewn path, his katana strapped securely to his back. Every step carried the weight of the past two years—two years of endless swings, training, sweat, and the memory of his parents.
This is it, he thought. The trial. If I succeed, I walk the path Father once walked… the path Mother believed in.
The forest seemed unusually silent for this hour. Even the birds, which normally chattered endlessly, had stilled. The wind whispered through the branches, almost as if warning him to pay attention. Haruto's fingers instinctively brushed the hilt of his katana, the familiar chill of metal grounding him.
A sudden scream shattered the quiet—a high-pitched, desperate wail of terror that echoed through the forest. Haruto's heart leapt into his throat. Without thinking, he sprinted forward, dodging roots and rocks with practiced ease.
When he burst into a small clearing, the source of the scream became horrifyingly clear. Three children—two boys and a girl—huddled behind a middle-aged man. His shirt was torn and stained with blood, gashes running along his arms and shoulders. In front of them loomed a demon, grotesque and gray, with sinewy muscle rippling beneath its stretched skin. Its elongated jaw opened, revealing rows of serrated teeth, and its claws dug into the dirt as it advanced.
"Stay back! Don't come closer!" the man shouted, trying to shield the children with his body.
Haruto's hand closed around his katana. "I… I won't let it hurt them," he said, his voice steady, though adrenaline coursed through his veins.
The demon's eyes snapped toward him, glowing crimson in the dim light. It hissed, claws scraping the ground as it advanced. Haruto shifted into a defensive stance, muscles coiled.
This is it… it's no big deal. I can do it.
But before he could move, a streak of lightning tore through the air, faster than his eyes could track. The bolt was followed by a blinding slash that cut through the demon's neck in a single, precise motion. Sparks danced across the blade, and a thunderous roar of energy erupted from it, sending the demon's body crashing to the dirt before turning into ashes.
Haruto staggered back, blinking.
A young man stood where the demon had fallen. His hair bristled with static, faint arcs of electricity crackling across his arms and shoulders. His gaze was sharp and confident, scanning the clearing with the precision of a predator.
"Are you okay?" the man asked, voice calm but commanding.
The middle-aged man, panting heavily, staggered forward. "Yes… thanks to you." His hands shook as he reached for his shirt. "I… I didn't think… we would survive…"
Haruto finally found his voice. "Who… who are you?"
The young man sheathed his blade, electricity arcing faintly as it hissed out. "Name's Raiden Tatsuo. I'm a Thunder Art user, on my way to the Demon Hunter Order's trial. And you are?"
"I'm Haruto Kagutsuchi," Haruto replied, bowing slightly. "I was… I was on my way there too."
Raiden's lips curved into a faint smirk. "Lucky timing. If you don't mind, let's go together."
Haruto nooded in approval.
The man who had protected the children coughed, blood staining his lips. "My name is Masaru. And these are my children—Souta, Mika, and little Hana. You saved our lives. How… how can we ever repay you?"
Raiden shook his head. "Just stay alive. That's enough."
Haruto looked at the children. Their eyes were wide, still filled with fear, but also awe. "We… we were lucky," he said softly. "I couldn't have saved them on time."
Hana, the youngest, tugged at his sleeve. "Thank you, mister! You're so strong!"
Souta grinned, still trembling. "Yeah! That was amazing! You cut the monster… like lightning!"
Raiden let out a quiet laugh, turning to Haruto. "See? Sometimes people give you thanks in ways you don't expect."
Haruto's face flushed slightly. "I… I am glad that you all are alright."
Masaru coughed again, struggling to stand. "You must rest. Thank you… truly. I didn't think anyone could save us. We'll never forget this."
Raiden glanced at Haruto. "Come on. We need to keep moving. The trial won't wait for good intentions."
Haruto nodded, casting one last look at the children and Masaru. "Be careful… and stay together."
Masaru nodded, tears brimming in his eyes. "We will. And we'll tell everyone… your names. You are heroes for us."
The forest path stretched before them as dusk deepened into twilight. Haruto followed Raiden, his mind still racing from the encounter. That demon… I was ready to fight, but it wasn't enough. Raiden… he's fast, strong. He fights like lightning itself.
"So," Haruto said, breaking the silence, "you're going to the trial too?"
Raiden glanced at him, expression unreadable. "Yeah. My family has a history with the Order. I'm… trying to live up to it." He flexed his fingers, arcs of electricity crackling faintly across his knuckles. "And you, Haruto Kagutsuchi? Do you also have special reasons?"
He lifted one hand, studying the faint arcs of electricity dancing between his fingers. "The Thunder Arts run through my blood. But power alone doesn't make you worthy. I need to earn it myself."
Haruto looked ahead, the path curving gently through the trees. The soft crunch of their steps echoed faintly, blending with the whisper of wind brushing through the branches.
"And you, Haruto Kagutsuchi?" Raiden asked after a moment, his tone lighter now. "Do you also have special reasons?"
Haruto hesitated. The name Kagutsuchi carried weight—his father's name once stood tall among the Demon Hunters. But that name had also burned, just like their home, just like everything he had lost.
"Yes," Haruto finally said, his voice low but steady. "Just like you. I want to continue my father's legacy… and protect humanity."
For a few moments, neither spoke. The world around them quieted again, the sounds of the forest soft and distant, as if nature itself were listening. The fading sunlight painted Raiden's face in streaks of gold and shadow.
Raiden turned his head toward Haruto then, his expression brightening. "Now that's a great goal," he said, his voice ringing with quiet conviction. "Let's complete it together."
He extended his fist forward, lightning still faintly crackling around his knuckles.
Haruto blinked, surprised by the gesture, then smiled—a genuine, unguarded smile that hadn't graced his face in a long time. He reached out, his fist meeting Raiden's with a firm, resonant thud.
The faint shock of static jumped between them, a small spark dancing in the dim light—fleeting, but bright.
A breeze swept through the forest, rustling the treetops and scattering a swirl of leaves around them. The air carried a sense of purpose now, as if the forest itself acknowledged their vow.
Raiden grinned, stepping forward. "Come on, partner. The trial won't wait forever."
Haruto adjusted the strap of his katana, the steel at his back catching the fading sunlight one last time before the forest swallowed it whole. "Right behind you," he said.
Together, they continued down the winding path, the woods slowly opening up to reveal a faint glow in the distance—a cluster of lanterns marking the edge of civilization. Beyond it, the silhouette of a massive wooden mansion rose from the heart of the valley, surrounded by thick mist. The insignia of the Demon Hunter Order hung above its gates like a silent challenge.
Raiden walked ahead, his pace unhurried. "Here we are. The trial starts tonight. Once you step inside, there's no turning back."
Haruto's hand rested lightly on his katana. "I… I understand."
As they approached the wooden gates, they were greeted by a flurry of activity. Candidates were everywhere—stretching, sharpening blades, whispering, or pacing nervously. Haruto took in their appearances:
A girl with icy-blue hair adjusted the edge of her sword, her piercing gaze assessing the surroundings.
Another girl, hair decorated with petals, twirled her Katana gracefully, movements fluid and practiced.
A boy, older than Haruto earing a blue haori sharpening his blue sword exchanged glance with him.
Raiden leaned toward Haruto. "Those are some of the participants. You'll be working in groups soon. Remember names, remember styles—they might save your life… or challenge you."
Before Haruto could respond, a tall man emerged from the mansion's doorway, arms like iron and eyes as sharp as a hawk's. Behind him were a stern woman and a man with an unreadable expression.
"Welcome," the first instructor said, voice booming across the courtyard. "You are here because you have survived to this point. But potential alone does not make a hunter. You will face tests of knowledge, skill, endurance, and courage. Fail in any… and you leave."
The woman continued. "Inside, you will begin with written exams and physical trials. Then, the field trial begins. Three days in the mountains. You will fight real demons in groups. Cooperation is essential. Hesitate, fail to protect your teammates, or break the rules… and you will not finish."
Haruto's chest tightened. The weight of expectation pressed down on him. But beneath it, a steady flame stirred—a familiar warmth he had carried since his parents' death.
Raiden placed a hand on his shoulder. "First step: inside the mansion. The trials begin. Focus. Don't get distracted."
Haruto's heart raced, but the fire within him roared louder than fear. This is my path. I will not falter. I will protect, I will survive… and I will become a true Demon Hunter.
To be continued....