The rain had already drenched Mirai's face. At that moment, the atmosphere became silent, and only the sound of raindrops could be heard. The wind began to blow faster. Step by step, her feet moved forward with all their strength, leaving footprints behind. The blood from her wounds was still vividly felt, flowing out and falling together with the rain. Mirai, a shrine maiden, a woman with a gentle yet strong heart, with beautiful eyes, now had to go through all of this.
Upon arriving at the first gate, she fixed her sharp gaze on the shrine at the top of the hill. Her first step landed firmly on the first stair. She ran with all her might, ignoring the explosions, the screams, the scattering debris, the blazing fire from the explosions, and the rumbling thunder—she paid them no mind. The aura of wandering spirits surrounded the hill, flying and wailing. But Mirai did not care; her focus was only on the shrine, where she thought of only the beautiful memories—the smiles of her younger brother, her grandmother, Kelfin, and the white fox.
When she was only thirty steps away from the shrine, her legs could no longer move. She coughed up blood, her eyes became drowsy, and she slowly fell backward. But someone caught her. When she turned around, Mirai's tear-streaked face looked up as she lightly pounded the chest of the person holding her. She was sad, but she smiled.
Kelfin was beside her.
Kelfin gently wiped away Mirai's tears with his right hand. He wanted to erase her sadness. With his hand, Kelfin brushed away Mirai's tears.
Mirai could only be stunned and look at Kelfin.
"I'm here," Kelfin said.
"Kelfin… my grandmother… my brother… please, help them," Mirai said weakly.
"Yes, I will. But for now, I will protect you, so leave it to me," Kelfin replied.
Kelfin removed his kimono jacket and placed it over Mirai's shoulders. Then, without hesitation, he carried Mirai on his back. With Kelfin's actions, Mirai's face became very calm and somewhat relieved.
But… Kelfin's attention shifted back to those in front of him, at the shrine. Something big was happening. The black spirit aura was not just circling the hill—they seemed to be drawn toward it. Kelfin also noticed something else: near the shrine's entrance, blood was pouring out from inside. It was heavy, flowing down the steps. He narrowed his eyes toward it, braced himself, and stepped forward.
The sounds of an intense battle could be heard—roars, strange noises.
The screams of people echoed. From the shrine gate, many human body parts were scattered. They realized these were some of the villagers they had seen before.
Neither Mirai nor Kelfin uttered a single word. They stood frozen, processing everything that was happening. When they reached the front of the shrine gate, they were shocked.
They saw Mirai's grandmother fighting against a woman, as well as several villagers who had turned into black cocoons, along with some terrifying creatures. She fought alone with a spear. Kelfin was stunned in disbelief. Despite her old age, the grandmother moved swiftly, her movements flawless, leaving no gaps as she fought them. Suddenly, the woman fighting her laughed and looked toward them.
"Grandmother!?" Mirai called out.
"Mirai… Kelfin, run…!" the grandmother shouted.
"Kekekeke."
A monster rushed toward them at great speed, swinging its claws through the rain, the wind pressure slicing close to their faces. And from afar, something shot rapidly toward them, striking the monster's chest—right in its heart. The grandmother had thrown her spear, saving them.
"Mirai! Kelfin! Run!" she shouted, slashing her own palm to open a portal. From within the portal, a monster emerged—one Kelfin had seen before, but never this massive. The sound of a roar, shattering glass, and the deep resonance of gamelan music filled the air. From the portal as large as the shrine itself, a sharp-clawed hand reached out, its eyes glowing in the darkness. The surrounding aura became intensely heavy.
Then the grandmother spoke, "For the last time, come forth… Chimera."
For a brief moment, she remembered the first time she summoned Chimera when she was young.
Meanwhile, the woman who was her enemy only grinned, laughing eerily. "Finally, you're taking this seriously, Fuyumi!!!" She pulled out an object and dripped her blood into it. The man with the dog collar who had been lying lifeless beside her suddenly convulsed, possessed. From his mouth, black fluid gushed out, and another portal opened. Then the woman spoke, "This time, only one of us will walk away from here alive…" Manticore." Unlike Chimera, this one was slightly different, with the body of a lion, the tail of a scorpion, and a human woman's face. It laughed eerily, its voice unnerving.
Manticore roared, its sharp fangs tearing into the earth, creating deep cracks. Chimera glared back, flames rising from its mouth.
Seeing the dire situation, Mirai's grandmother immediately rushed toward Kelfin and Mirai, shielding them with Chimera walking close beside her.
"Moei… this is not what's best… this is not what we were meant to—"
"Then what!? Then what, Fuyumi!?"
Kelfin was slightly shocked, realizing the grandmother knew that person. In a low voice, he said, "Moei…" Then suddenly, Mirai spoke, "Kelfin… put me down. I can stand now. That woman in front of us… is my grandmother's sister." Kelfin was shocked, as if unable to believe it. "But why does she look so young…" Mirai remained silent.
Suddenly, the monster behind Moei moved forward to attack, shaking the ground, while Chimera responded in kind. They exchanged blows, unleashing fire, destroying the earth and the shrine. The grandmother raised a barrier to protect them, while Moei smeared blood on her palm, forming a symbol with her bloodied hands.
The moment Manticore's fangs sank into Chimera's flesh, a black-and-blue energy explosion erupted into the air, shattering the trees around them. The air trembled violently, making the other monsters retreat in fear. This was not just an ordinary battle—it was a war between giants that should never have taken place in the human world.
Heavy rain poured over the now-ruined shrine. The ground was soaked in mud and blood, mixing into a crimson swamp. The stench of burning flesh filled the air, and in the distance, faint cries still lingered, as if death had yet to claim its final victim.
At that moment, Kelfin felt completely powerless. He could do nothing.
I felt like a burden, unable to help at all. Instead, we were making it harder for Grandma to fight freely. When I turned toward Mirai, I saw her looking at Grandma. Her gaze seemed to say something else, as if she knew something.
"Grandma… I can help… I will summon—" Mirai said.
"No… don't… You're not ready, Mirai…" (Grandma looked at her, gently stroking her granddaughter's hair.)
"Hayato… I have already sent him far away… toward the north… but something feels strange… That's why, Kelfin… please…"
"Hayato! He's alright, isn't he, Grandma?!" Mirai said anxiously.
"I will make sure of it," Kelfin replied. At that moment, Grandma turned toward me.
"Kelfin… I'm sorry, child. Because of us, you got involved in something you were never supposed to be a part of. This is my fault. Forgive me."
I was startled. I fell silent. I was sad…
"Grandma… I already consider you all as my family… Family means that no matter what happens, they will always be there, accompanying, laughing together, and crying together…"
She smiled. "Thank you, child. Hold on tight."
Suddenly, a large white four-eyed bird grabbed me and pulled me into the sky, leaving Mirai and Grandma behind. The two of them smiled at me.
…
…
…
Kelfin moved quickly toward the north, to the place Grandma had mentioned. As he looked around for Hayato's whereabouts, everything felt strangely off. Along the road, something didn't seem right. Then, suddenly, from a distance, he saw several unknown people armed with weapons and wearing masks. The bird immediately dived sharply, as if it knew where Hayato was.
"No… no!" Kelfin gasped. As I was about to land, someone shot an arrow straight at the bird's wing, making it lose control, and we crashed to the ground.
I quickly adjusted my position to brace for impact. I rolled over and immediately started running.
"Let him go…!! Let him go!!"
The masked figures were carrying an unconscious Hayato. But an arrow struck me—right in my chest. A searing heat burned through my heart, blood gushed like a river. My breaths became shallow, but my determination hadn't wavered. I refused to fall. For a moment, I froze. But then I forced myself to run again. Again and again, they targeted my arms and legs until I could no longer move. Blood poured from my wounds and my mouth…
"Damn it… I was so close…" I thought. I collapsed.
They paused for a moment, then turned away… adjusting their equipment… and began moving again… but one of them stopped and looked down. Noticing their comrade's hesitation, the others also halted… beneath the feet of the person carrying Hayato…
There… under his foot, Kelfin was gripping onto his leg…
One of them drew a katana, ready to cut Kelfin down. "Shall I end your suffering?"
Suddenly, his companion spoke. "No need. Look at him."
Kelfin collapsed to the ground, his gaze hollow and empty.
Seeing this, they turned away… walking further… briefly glancing at a shrine in utter chaos… surrounded by lightning and cracks forming in the sky, with an ear-piercing sound emerging from within.
…
…
…
The sound of raindrops…
The sound of raindrops…
Kelfin, his blood still dripping from his mouth and stomach. His body was weakening, but… his eyes grew darker.
In his desperation, his head throbbed violently… as if it was about to explode.
His vision started to change…
In his mind, there was only the image of a person he didn't recognize…
Yet he felt as if he knew them very well.
He felt as if they were the place where his heart could be at peace.
But he couldn't remember who they were.
Suddenly, his vision shifted—he saw a small child crying in the endless darkness.
Kelfin tried to look closer, but the child's sobbing turned into uncontrollable hysteria. It made Kelfin's heart ache.
…
…
…
The child was pleading for help, but no one could save them.
Then, suddenly, the child grinned widely…
…
…
…
They started laughing strangely… sending chills down Kelfin's spine, filling him with fear.
"STOP!"
A voice echoed in the darkness…
[khekhekhe] It tore something apart.
"STOP!"
[khekhekhe] It stabbed something.
…
[khekhekhe] It laughed.
…
…
[khekhekhe]
…
…
[khekhekhe] It walked toward me.
…
…
[khekhekhe] Holding something in its hands.
…
…
[khekhekhe] It offered me its heart.
…
…
"PLEASE! STOP!" Kelfin screamed in terror.
"Please…"
Suddenly, everything became eerily silent. Only Kelfin's fading voice remained, growing fainter and fainter.
"##########"
"Who…? Whose name is that?" Kelfin murmured.
As Kelfin opened his eyes, he could no longer see the child. His surroundings were completely dark.
"Kelfinnnn!"
…
…
…
…
(A voice called my name, so close. And when I turned to my side…) I froze.
Right beside my face…
It whispered in the softest tone imaginable. I couldn't move, my body was paralyzed, my mind blank.
"KHI KHI KHI"
The child's face was horrifying.
Their face was covered in tears of blood.
And they smiled.
They leaned in closer to Kelfin and spoke a single word.
"...…"
Right before everything turned into a crimson darkness, Kelfin felt something strange. His body wasn't just in pain—it was as if something was crawling inside him, slipping through his open wounds and sinking into his very bones. For a moment, he felt cold. But in the next instant…
The world collapsed.
And then, there was only red blood.