My name is Kamino Suzuma, from the Suzuma clan — one of the seven great families of Japan, sworn for centuries to hunt the monsters that once invaded our world.
Although humanity managed to defeat them and drive them into the shadows, some of those creatures still live among us, hiding in human form.
And my clan's duty has always been the same: to find them… and exterminate them.
But the truth is, I never learned any of my clan's arts.
I'm the third son — too far from inheritance, too far from attention.
Everyone sees me as the weak one, the unnecessary one.
Maybe that's why I hated going home every day.
A familiar voice broke my thoughts.
> "Kamino! Man, I've been looking for you!"
I turned and saw Hima running toward me, her long violet hair swaying in the wind, her blue eyes sparkling with life.
Behind her was Souta, with short black hair and confident eyes that hid a sharp intellect.
Souta grinned.
> "We heard the news, hero. Why didn't you tell us you're going to America?"
I froze.
> "Who… who said that?"
Souta chuckled, shoving his hands in his pockets.
> "The whole school's talking about it. Looks like you're finally famous."
I sighed.
> "I was just thinking about it. I haven't decided… and I'm not going."
Before I could finish, Hima threw herself at me, hugging tightly.
> "I was so worried you'd leave us…"
I couldn't reply — not because I was embarrassed, but because I saw someone walking behind her.
A boy carrying a book, head lowered, his features blurred as if wrapped in fog.
He passed by without looking at us, silent and quick, as if we didn't exist.
Hima turned toward him.
> "Hey! You bumped into me. At least say sorry!"
But he didn't respond. He just kept walking until he disappeared around the corner of the hallway.
I frowned.
> "Who's that?"
Souta lowered his voice.
> "They say he's a new transfer student. Weird guy. People say… creepy stuff about him. In his old school, a truck hit him — everyone saw it — and he died."
I blinked.
> "Died? And came back?"
Souta nodded slowly.
> "Not just that. He fell from the school rooftop once — stood up like nothing happened. Another time, he was electrocuted by a live wire — didn't even flinch."
Hima gasped.
> "That's impossible… so he's a monster!?"
Souta smiled faintly.
> "Maybe just rumors. You know how people exaggerate."
But deep down, something ancient stirred inside me — an instinct carried through generations of Suzuma blood.
If what they said was true…
maybe this was my chance to prove I wasn't just the useless third son.
Maybe this was my moment to make my father finally recognize me as one of the clan.
Before I could think further, the school bell rang.
Hima laughed.
> "Come on, Kamino! Don't start daydreaming now — the teacher will kill us if we're late!"
I smiled faintly.
> "Alright, alright… I'm coming."
The class felt endless, my mind spinning in circles.
The teacher's voice about literature and history faded into noise.
My eyes never left him — the new student.
Silent. Still. Like the world itself wasn't enough for him.
He never spoke, and even the teacher avoided calling on him — as if afraid to awaken something.
Then, without warning, he looked at me.
And smiled.
That smile — sharp, knowing — felt like it could read me.
As if saying, "You're watching, aren't you?"
Before I could react, the teacher slammed chalk against the board.
> "Kamino! What are you doing?! Pay attention!"
I forced myself to focus, but my eyes drifted back to the boy again and again.
When the final bell rang, I made a reckless decision — I'd follow him.
Hima and Souta were waiting at the door.
Hima asked softly,
> "What are you doing?"
Souta added,
> "He's not coming with us today. Said he has somewhere to go."
Hima tried to sound cheerful.
> "But we were going to get ramen!"
"I'll see you later," I said quickly, and ran off.
The hallways twisted like a maze as I followed his footsteps outside.
He walked into the old courtyard and then slipped into a narrow alley between two abandoned buildings.
The air there was damp, thick with the smell of iron and garbage.
My heart pounded harder with each step — something deep inside my blood whispered for me to move.
I entered the alley quietly… and then heard a voice behind me.
> "Welcome."
I turned.
He was standing in the shadows, smiling calmly.
> "Kamino Suzuma," he said my full name as if he had memorized the history of my clan.
How does he know…?
Then, in a low, commanding tone, he spoke:
> "Dominion of the Sovereign."
I didn't even have time to react.
Chains — black as midnight — burst from his hand, wrapping around my wrists and shoulders like iron thorns.
Pain surged instantly — it felt like my bones were being pierced from the inside.
> "What… what is this?!"
The chains tightened, and blood dripped from my fingers.
The boy's smile widened. He tilted his head.
> "Finally… Suzuma. I'll have my revenge — for the Aina family. I'm here to end what's left of you."
His words were cold, but his tone carried something else — power.
Then his body began to change.
He grew taller, his muscles twisting unnaturally, his face distorting like a mask peeling away.
My mind screamed the words I had only heard in the clan's forbidden texts:
"Dominion of the Sovereign" — a title only whispered among the highest-ranking monsters.
Something started draining me — not just my strength, but my very being.
My warmth, my weight, my presence — all fading away.
He spoke again, voice low and reverent:
> "Assimilation. The merging of bodies. I'll use your blood as my vessel — a Suzuma host will make me invincible."
Every word stabbed into my skull.
Pain burned through my chest.
Light strands rose from my skin — my life itself being drawn out.
> "This is bad!"
A shout cut through the air.
I turned — Souta.
He was running toward us, face covered in dust, holding what looked like a steel rod.
> "Run!" he yelled.
Then everything went black.
The sky darkened, and all I could hear was the sound of rain hitting the cold ground.
When I opened my eyes again, I saw flickering lights, the metallic scent of blood filling the air.
My body was heavy. The chains were broken, leaving black marks across my skin.
I looked around — no one.
The alley was empty, but signs of a fight were everywhere: shattered bricks, bloodstains, and a torn piece of school uniform.
> "Souta…?"
No answer.
I remembered the fangs, the blood, the chilling laughter.
My heart pounded violently.
The pain faded, replaced by a burning heat deep within my veins.
I raised my trembling hand — black lines snaked across my skin, moving like they were alive.
Then a whisper echoed inside my head — not human, more like a voice crawling through bone:
> "Where am I… Awaken…"
I screamed, collapsing to the ground, clutching my chest.
The feeling was unbearable — pain and ecstasy mixed together, as if something was rebuilding itself inside me.
Then… darkness again.
When I woke, I was in a hospital.
White walls. Faint lights.
Hima sat beside me, head resting on the table, asleep.
I tried to sit up, but my body refused to move.
A doctor entered, looking surprised.
> "You're lucky, kid. We found you unconscious in an alley near the school. You weren't breathing — then suddenly, your heart started beating again on its own."
I forced a weak smile.
> "And… Souta? Where is he?"
The doctor paused.
> "We didn't find anyone else there."
The world stopped.
Hima woke up, hearing his name. She rushed to me.
> "Kamino! What happened? We saw you lying there, covered in blood! Where's Souta?!"
I couldn't answer. Every attempt to speak sent stabbing pain through my skull.
Then I saw something — in the mirror beside the bed:
My eyes… had turned crimson red.
I froze, unable to breathe.
Something deep within me… had awakened.