The slight creak of the wood beneath his body was the first thing Ryu felt upon waking. He slowly opened his eyes, finding himself lying on a small bed with clean sheets. The rustic wooden ceiling stretched above him, and the walls of the room were simple, made of planks that allowed rays of light to seep through the cracks.
He blinked, confused. He didn't feel any pain, and the wounds he clearly remembered were no longer there.
"Where... am I? What happened?" he murmured, slowly sitting up as he glanced around.
Memories flooded back like an unleashed storm: the brutal demon attack, the searing heat, the muffled screams, the darkness that consumed everything... and then, silence.
"The only thing I remember... is that a demon attacked me," he whispered to himself, placing a hand on his chest.
Then, the air in front of him began to distort. A crimson whirlpool appeared from nowhere, spinning intensely as though tearing the fabric of space. Ryu took a step back, bewildered, as a red portal opened in the air. From within it emerged a female figure with an imposing presence.
Her black hair, as dark as the abyss, fell to her waist, and her crimson eyes glowed with an unnatural intensity. Every step she took seemed to resonate in the room, as if her very existence altered the atmosphere.
"You're finally awake... human," the young woman said, a mysterious smile curving her lips.
Ryu tensed immediately. This girl wasn't normal, and neither was the way she arrived.
"And you... who are you?" he asked, trying to keep his composure.
The stranger crossed her arms and looked at him with an air of calm superiority.
"My name is Yuki. I'm the one who brought you to this world."
Ryu blinked, processing those words.
"I'm Ryu Tatzuki... wait, did you say 'this world'? What do you mean?" he frowned, his tone filled with disbelief.
Yuki fixed her gaze on him. For a moment, Ryu felt as if his thoughts were laid bare before her crimson eyes.
"I mean that you're no longer in your world. You're now in mine."
The words hit his mind like a bell. Ryu stood up abruptly, swaying slightly.
"Another world...? But I can go back, right? I can go home?"
She shrugged nonchalantly, as if the fate of his existence mattered little.
"I can take you back if that's what you want."
Ryu lowered his gaze. The face of his mother, the smile of his friends... all of that mixed with memories of his uncontrollable rage, the black fire coming out of his body, the fearful screams he had caused.
"No... I don't want to go back," he murmured, clenching his fists. "I'm afraid of losing control and hurting the people I love. It's better for me to stay here... where I can't hurt anyone."
A silence fell between them. Yuki observed him without saying a word, her crimson eyes shining with an emotion difficult to decipher: curiosity? Compassion? Interest?
Finally, a faint smile appeared on her face.
"Then... welcome to your new home, human."
The breeze entered through the open window, bringing with it the scent of wet wood and the distant murmur of nature. Ryu, still confused but calmer, shifted his gaze to Yuki, who was now sitting on a nearby table, watching him with her crimson eyes.
"Hey... by the way," he said, somewhat nervously. "Can I live with you? I... don't know anyone here."
Yuki looked at him in silence for a moment, as if evaluating his intentions. Finally, she nodded slightly.
"Sure. You can stay here with me."
Ryu let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank you..."
She narrowed her eyes, a somewhat mischievous smile on her lips.
"You want to ask me something, don't you?"
Ryu nodded.
"Yes."
"And what's it about?"
The young man took a deep breath, determined.
"I want you to teach me how to use my powers."
For a moment, the atmosphere tensed. Yuki looked at him intently, her expression unreadable.
"And why should I teach you?"
"Because... if you don't, I might hurt someone," he answered honestly.
She raised an eyebrow.
"And do you think I care about that?"
"Yes."
A sarcastic chuckle escaped Yuki's lips.
"Well, you're wrong. I don't care about people... and especially not humans."
Ryu's heart skipped a beat, but he didn't give up. His eyes burned with determination.
"Then... if you're not going to help me... I have an idea. How about we have a fight?"
Yuki looked at him with a mix of amusement and surprise.
"A fight?"
"Yes. If I manage to land a hit... you'll train me."
She narrowed her eyes, intrigued.
"And what do I get if you don't succeed?"
"I'll do whatever you want. Forever."
Yuki's smile widened, filled with a dangerous energy.
"Seems like a fair deal... Now follow me. I don't want to destroy this place."
They left the cabin and walked to a clearing surrounded by trees. The wind blew gently, making Yuki's hair dance like a black flame. She took a combat stance with an elegant and confident posture. Ryu, his heart racing, mimicked her stance.
"Are you ready, human?" she asked, her voice challenging.
"Yes," he replied, clenching his fists.
"Then... attack me."
Ryu charged forward with everything he had. Blow after blow, straight, spinning, in a straight line... but Yuki dodged with supernatural grace, as if she knew exactly what he would do before he did it.
"I'm not giving up!" Ryu shouted, frustrated.
But just as he attempted another blow, he felt a sharp impact on his stomach. The air left his lungs.
"So easy," Yuki commented, stepping back as he staggered.
Ryu held on as best as he could.
"I can still keep fighting..."
"Persistent," she said.
She showed no mercy. A series of precise hits struck him in the chest, arm, and leg. Ryu fell to his knees, gasping. Finally, he collapsed to the ground.
Yuki slowly approached, not lowering her guard. But at the last moment, Ryu opened his eyes and launched a desperate punch. She dodged it easily.
"You're a very interesting human," she whispered, kneeling beside him. "Just for that... I'll train you."
Ryu, barely conscious, smiled weakly.
"Really?"
"Yes. But remember: you'll do whatever I say. That was part of the deal, right?"
"I remember..."
Yuki offered him her hand. Ryu took it, and she helped him stand up with surprising gentleness.
"Stay still. I'm going to heal you."
"Alright…"
A green circle, glowing and filled with floating runes, appeared beneath Ryu's feet. The energy enveloped him, warm like a blanket in winter. His wounds began to close as if they had never existed.
Ryu looked at her, amazed.
"What was that?"
"Healing magic," Yuki replied, as if it were trivial. "Something that only exists in this world."
Ryu swallowed. At that moment, he realized he was just beginning to glimpse the secrets of this new world... and the power that slept within him.
Ryu continued to watch the green glow fading beneath his feet. The wounds that had made him writhe in pain just moments ago had completely disappeared. He felt brand new, as if his body had been reborn.
"So... if magic exists," he said, his eyes shining with excitement, "does that mean I can use it too?"
The thought flashed through his mind like a bolt of lightning: he imagined himself in a sleek suit, a cape billowing in the wind, his hands filled with magical energy as he saved villages, rescued people, and was cheered on as a hero. A sort of magical superhero.
Yuki raised an eyebrow, noticing the dreamy smile on his face.
"Well... you come from a world where magic doesn't exist, that's true," she said thoughtfully. "But you carry the power of a demon inside you. So yes, it's very likely you can use it."
"Really?!" Ryu's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm.
"But," Yuki added with a dangerous smile, "you'll need to train. A lot. Magic isn't something anyone can control without paying a price. If your mind isn't strong enough, it could consume you."
Ryu clenched his fists tightly, without hesitation.
"I don't care. I'll train as much as it takes. No matter how much it hurts... if it means I can protect others and control my power... then I'm ready!"
For the first time, Yuki looked at him with something that resembled approval. Her crimson eyes gleamed with a spark of interest.
"You've got guts, I'll admit that. Fine, then..." She turned gracefully and stretched as if she had just woken up. "Let's begin your training."
Ryu swallowed. Part of him felt excited... and another part, quite nervous.
"What kind of training does this girl have in mind...?"
"Follow me," Yuki said, turning around with her long dark hair flowing behind her. "We'll train in the forest. That way, no one will bother us."
Ryu nodded without thinking twice. He still had many doubts, many questions, but one certainty had settled in his heart: he wanted to learn how to control his power. And if that meant following a demonic girl into the deep forest... then so be it.
They walked among tall, leafy trees, with branches filtering the sunlight into golden beams. The whisper of the wind and the singing of birds created a peaceful atmosphere, although Ryu couldn't shake off a slight tension from being alone with Yuki in such a secluded place.
"This place is perfect," she said, stopping in a clearing surrounded by trees. "Now I'll teach you how to fight… because, honestly, you don't even know how."
Ryu looked away, a bit embarrassed.
"It's just… I've never really fought before. I always stay away from trouble. The closest I've been to a fight is in video games."
Yuki let out an exasperated sigh.
"I don't want to hear excuses," she said firmly, crossing her arms. "Get into a fighting stance. Now."
Ryu swallowed hard and raised his fists, imitating what he remembered from fighting games. Legs slightly apart, arms in front of his face. He wasn't sure if he was doing it right, but it was a start… right?
"Like this?" he asked uncertainly.
Yuki observed him in silence for a few seconds, one eyebrow slightly raised. Then she shook her head and sighed.
"You're doing it wrong," she said coldly. "That stance… you'd go down with the first hit."
Without another word, she stepped in front of him and assumed a firm and elegant posture. Her feet were planted solidly on the ground, one leg slightly back, arms raised with precision, ready to attack or defend. There was a mix of grace and danger in the way she moved.
"This is a real fighting stance."
Ryu watched her closely, trying to memorize every detail. Clumsily, he adjusted his feet, lowered his shoulders, and raised his arms to mimic her position.
"Like this? I think I got it…"
Yuki looked at him again, this time with a more satisfied expression.
"Much better."
A small smile appeared on Ryu's face. It was only the first step, but he already felt like he was starting to walk the right path.
Yuki crossed her arms, looking at Ryu with a serious expression.
"Now throw a punch," she ordered firmly.
Ryu nodded, stepped forward, and threw his fist into the air with force… though it didn't look very effective.
"Like this?" he asked, still unsure.
Yuki sighed in frustration and shook her head.
"You're doing it wrong," she said. "It's like this."
She took a step back, turned toward a group of nearby trees, and threw a powerful punch into the air. An invisible wave of energy burst from her fist, shaking the trees as if a gust of wind had exploded among them. The branches creaked and the leaves rustled violently.
Ryu's eyes widened in shock.
"Amazing! You're so strong…"
Yuki smiled proudly, placing a hand on her hip.
"Of course I am. After all, demons are incredibly powerful."
Ryu's smile vanished instantly. His body tensed, and he took a step back, visibly frightened.
"You said… demon? So you're a demon?"
Yuki brought a hand to her head and let out a nervous chuckle.
"Right, I forgot to mention that. Yes, I'm a demon."
Ryu stepped back several more times, as if ready to flee. The image of the demon that attacked him in his world flashed through his mind.
"So… you're like the demon who tried to kill me? Are you going to try to kill me too?"
Yuki looked at him calmly, not moving from her spot.
"Relax. I'm not like that wild demon. I can think," she replied in a soft but firm voice. "Besides, if I wanted to kill you… I would've done it already."
Ryu took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. Slowly, his tension eased and his muscles relaxed.
"That's true…" he murmured. "So you're not going to kill me. But… why not? I mean, demons kill humans, don't they?"
Yuki shrugged indifferently, as if the answer were obvious.
"Because I'm different. I only kill annoying people… or the ones I don't care about."
Ryu stared at her, surprised by the coldness in her tone. Before he could say anything else, Yuki added with an enigmatic smile:
"And you interest me. You're a human with demon powers… that's very rare."
"I see…" Ryu replied, lowering his gaze, still processing her words.
Yuki snapped her fingers and took a combat stance again, her expression returning to that of a strict instructor.
"Well, if you don't have any more questions, let's continue the training."
Ryu nodded, determination returning to his eyes.
"Yes, let's continue."
"Good," said Yuki, taking a step back. "Now try to throw a punch like mine. Focus on channeling your energy."
"Got it."
Ryu stepped back with one foot, clenched his fist, and threw a punch with all his strength. This time, a small wave of energy burst from his fist, slightly moving the air around him.
Yuki smiled with satisfaction.
"You're doing well for your first try. Now keep going."
Nodding, Ryu got back into position and kept throwing punch after punch. His breathing became heavier, but his resolve didn't waver. Each movement was more solid, more determined. Something inside him was beginning to awaken…
"Alright…" Ryu murmured, breathing hard. "I'll keep going."
With clenched fists, he kept striking the air. Each move shook his body, and though his technique wasn't perfect yet, it improved with every attempt.
"You're doing well, human," Yuki said, watching him with crossed arms and a faint approving smile on her lips.
Ryu continued for a few more punches, but soon his strength began to fade. His breathing grew heavier, and his body was drenched in sweat from the effort.
"I need… a break…" he panted. "Throwing so many punches is exhausting…"
Yuki looked at him with surprise, raising an eyebrow.
"You're out of energy already? But we've only just begun."
"It's just… I get tired quickly…"
The demon girl sighed in mild annoyance, but eventually nodded.
"Fine. Then rest—but only for five minutes."
"Alright," Ryu said, collapsing onto the grass as he took deep breaths.
Yuki turned and walked a few steps away, giving him her back.
"You better prepare yourself, because once your break is over, the real training begins. And I won't go easy on you."
Ryu's eyes widened. The training so far had already been hard—was that just the warm-up?
"Then… give me five more minutes to rest!" he begged desperately.
"I won't give you more time," Yuki said without turning around. "Make the most of what you've got."
Ryu sighed in resignation.
"Fine…"
As Ryu rested, his mind couldn't help but wander. He was trapped in an unknown world, far from home, surrounded by a landscape he'd never seen before. At his side, Yuki, the demon girl, watched him with a serious expression, as if the time he spent resting was a needless luxury.
What have I gotten myself into? Ryu thought, closing his eyes and letting the cool air brush against his face. I'm stuck in this world, and this demon woman isn't just training me—she's training me to death!
A shiver ran down his spine as he imagined what awaited him when his break ended. Every punch, every session, felt like it was pushing him closer to a battle he wasn't sure he could win.
Why am I here? Why do I have these demon powers? Confusion swelled inside him, but something within told him he had to keep going, that he had to face all of this, even if he didn't understand why.
He glanced at Yuki. She was so calm, so confident, as if training a human like him was just a minor distraction in her day.
I have no other choice… Ryu thought, taking a deep breath. I have to keep going, even if I have no idea what the hell is going on.