A cold night. Clouded sky. No stars.
Yuuta's footsteps echoed against the stone road, a simple bag on his back and a neutral expression on his face. He had just left the blacksmith his parents had told him about. A strange old man... but wise.
The gate to his house was slightly open.
Yuuta stopped.
— Huh... Dad always locks this gate at night.
He pushed it open. A long creak followed.The silence inside... felt wrong.
— Mom...? — he called out. No answer.
He stepped into the house.
And froze.
Blood.
Pools of blood on the floor. Fresh flesh torn apart. His mother and brother were nowhere to be seen.
— N-no... — he murmured, his eyes trembling.
— DAD!!!
Lying in a puddle of red, his father. Still breathing. Barely.
Yuuta fell to his knees.
— DAD!
The man slowly turned his eyes. A tear rolled down his cheek.
— Y-Yuuta... listen... the blacksmith... already knew... — This sword...
He lifted a katana, wrapped in blood-stained white cloth.
On one side of the blade was written: 烈 (Rettsu).On the other: 妖怪狩り (Yōkai-gari) — Yokai Slayer.
The blade glowed in Yuuta's hands. A strange warmth coursed through his arm. As if the metal... had accepted him.
His father's eyes closed.His breath stopped.
Silence.
Yuuta trembled. His vision blurred. The world spun. He grabbed the sword and ran.
No direction. No thought .Tears in his eyes. The blade in his hands.
He ran into the backyard. Collapsed to his knees, looking up at the sky. Tears fell into the grass. He was lost. Alone.
Yuuta stood and began running toward the road that led to the blacksmith. Still crying.
— My dad, my mom and my brother.. — He shouted, his voice shaky and exhausted.
On the road, Yuuta tripped over a thick branch.
A sound came from the bushes.
THUDD!!
He froze, trying to follow the sound with his eyes — But whatever it was... it was fast. He lost it in seconds.
Suddenly, something jumped at him.
A humanoid yokai. Its eyes were hollow and black. Skin rough and pale. Its clothes were torn and soaked in fresh blood.
It jumped with its mouth wide open, revealing four enormous fangs, and claws aimed straight for Yuuta's throat.
Yuuta froze for a second — But a memory came to him.
— Son… don't be afraid to fight. Or afraid during a fight. Fear is the greatest barrier to strength, victory, and survival. — His father's voice spoke calmly, serenely.
— And if you're attacked from above... Press your legs into the ground. Lock your hips forward. Tense your muscles. Hold your blade horizontally and block.
Then strike...