The sun hung low over Kaigenshiro, casting long shadows across the training grounds. Aster Malrick stood firm, his imposing frame clad in worn battle armor, arms crossed as his sharp eyes scanned Ren and Aria.
"It's time for your training," Malrick began, his voice like steel scraping against stone. "In Kaigenshiro, we take everything seriously. No games. No hesitation. Unless you're among the 'High Hopes,' you earn every breath through sweat and discipline. Now show me your stance."
Without a moment's pause, Aria smirked and twirled her blade, the glint of metal catching the light as she lunged forward confidently. "This is my stance, darling," she said with a wink, her posture elegant yet lethal.
Sir Malrick didn't flinch. His gaze shifted to Ren. "And yours, son?"
Ren unsheathed his sword slowly, eyes widening as he examined the blade. "It looks… different," he muttered, noticing the faint pulse of crimson where the demon tattoo etched itself into the metal. He gripped it tightly. "This is… my stance."
Malrick raised a brow. "One-handed grip, huh? Most men use two because of the impact."
Ren shrugged. "Guess I'm not most men."
The commander gave a grim nod before pressing a hidden switch. With a mechanical whir, several low-tier demons emerged from trapdoors in the ground, snarling and seething.
"Your objective is simple," he said. "Kill them and strike the bell at the top of that wall. Speed and precision. Show me you're worth training."
Ren blinked. "Wait, we're just jumping right into it?"
"Get to it, boy!" Malrick barked, voice like thunder.
Ren turned to Aria to ask if she was ready, but she was already gone. In a flash, she danced through the swarm, slicing with grace and ferocity. "Don't talk so much, baby," she called over her shoulder, laughing.
Ren took a breath and stepped forward, cutting down four demons in quick succession with clean, smooth arcs. His blade hummed with strange energy as it absorbed the corrupted blood.
Malrick narrowed his eyes, intrigued. "This kid…"
Aria's eyes blazed orange. Holding her knife in reverse grip, it shimmered, expanding into a massive twin-edged blade. "Divine Waltz of Blessed Carnage," she cried, and her blade fanned out, slicing through demons in a brilliant arc. "Now this is fun!"
But before she could revel in her moment, Ren shot past her moving in slow motion, his right eye glowing red, trails of fragment light weaving from his skin.
"What the hell…" Aria gasped, stunned.
Ren, propelled by a sudden surge, leapt toward the final demon, cleaving it apart and landing a final strike against the bell at the wall's peak just as Aria's thrown blade met it at the same time. The bell rang clear and loud.
Ren blinked, regaining awareness. "I… did it."
A voice echoed in his mind. We did it.
Ren staggered, clutching his head. "Shut up… stop talking to me…"
Malrick stepped forward, nodding. "Good work. Both of you showed real potential." He looked around at the blood-slick ground. "Helper unit, get down here! Clean this mess now."
He turned to Ren and Aria. "Rest up. We move to the next stage soon." With that, he walked off, boots echoing against the stone floor.
Ren collapsed, breathing heavily. "I'm so tired…"
Aria sauntered over, sitting casually in his lap. "What was that red glow in your eye, boy?" she asked, brushing sweat from her forehead. "You felt… different."
Ren hesitated. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"You sure?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "Are you still my Ren?"
He avoided her gaze. "Of course I am." He gently pushed her off and sat up again.
She sighed and walked off, swaying confidently, brushing her hair aside as her curvy figure faded into the hall.
Ren sat alone, shadows creeping in around him. Thoughts twisted in his mind. I hope they don't know… I hope they never find out I'm…
Suddenly, everything went black.
In that darkness, a red silhouette sat beside him a feminine figure, older, yet eerily similar in presence.
Why fight it?" she purred, her voice velvety with darkness. "Just join us. It's not so bad on our side."
Ren clenched his fists. "Why do you keep haunting me?" he growled, grabbing her neck in rage. "If I hear your voice again I'll kill you myself."
She laughed. Her form dissolved into smoke, revealing a beautiful woman mature, alluring, and terrifying. "I've been inside you since the day they dragged you out of Hell," she whispered. "You can try to be good but I'm the god they prayed away. And you? You were born for this."
Ren let her go, trembling, as her laughter echoed inside his skull. Alone again, he gripped his hair, trembling.
"I'm not a demon," he whispered, tears welling up. "I'm not a demon…"
A gentle voice broke the silence.
"Hey… are you okay?"
A girl around his age stood nearby. Her presence was soft, soothing.
Ren didn't answer. He just mumbled incoherently, trying to push the darkness back.
She sat beside him, calm. "If you're feeling heavy inside… you don't have to carry it alone."
Ren lowered his hands, face shadowed by his hair. "If a demon sat beside you and told you it could kill you… would you stay?"
She smiled softly. "If it had a good heart… then yes. I'd trust it."
His eyes widened. Tears slipped down his face. "It's a metaphor. I'm sorry…"
He stood up slowly. "Thanks."
She stood too. "What's your name?"
"Ren Akagawa," he replied, wiping his eyes. "And you?"
She smiled it's Yuna Hoshizora