The sun was just beginning to rise, casting pale orange light over the jagged peaks of the Japanese Alps. Ayumi had been preparing for this hike for months, her excitement bubbling over as she approached the foot of the mountain. A seasoned hiker, she had climbed various mountains around the world, but something about this one—*Mount Kurozumi*—had always intrigued her. The lore, the history, the warnings of dangerous weather and treacherous paths, all of it drew her in like a magnet.
She wasn't the only one. Tourists from all over Japan and beyond were gathered at the trailhead, adjusting their backpacks, tightening their boots, and mentally preparing for the trek ahead. Ayumi wasn't concerned. She was strong, confident, and had mapped out her route in advance. She wasn't just here to hike—she was here to prove to herself that she could conquer the mountain.
The path started off easy enough, winding through thick forests of pine and cedar trees. Birds called from the canopy above, and the faint rustling of the wind through the leaves gave the impression of peace, of solitude. She moved forward at a steady pace, the scent of earth and moss filling her lungs with each breath. The mountain was alive in a way that she had not experienced before, an ancient energy that made her feel both insignificant and connected to something larger than herself.
Hours passed, and the air grew colder as Ayumi ascended. The trees began to thin out, replaced by rocky cliffs and snow-covered ridges. She paused at a lookout point to catch her breath, taking in the breathtaking view of the surrounding peaks. But something was wrong.
The wind had changed direction. There was a strange heaviness in the air, like the mountain itself was holding its breath. The silence was oppressive. No birds, no rustling leaves.
Ayumi looked around, sensing something was amiss. That's when she heard it—a distant, guttural growl. She froze, heart pounding in her chest, her senses alert.
The sound was faint at first, barely audible, but it grew louder with every passing moment. It was accompanied by a sickening squelching sound, like something wet and heavy was being torn apart.
Suddenly, a scream shattered the air. A man, his voice filled with terror, echoed through the mountainside. Ayumi's blood ran cold. She instinctively crouched low, her body going on high alert. The scream cut off abruptly, replaced by the sound of crunching bones and wet slurping noises.
*What was that?*
Ayumi quickly grabbed her pack and made her way toward the noise, her mind screaming at her to turn back, to run. But her curiosity got the better of her. She pushed on, following the sounds through the thickening mist that had started to creep down the mountain.
As she rounded a bend in the path, her eyes widened in horror. The sight before her was like something from a nightmare. A massive creature, easily over ten feet tall, loomed in the clearing ahead. Its body was covered in matted, patchy fur, and its skin was an unnatural shade of pale gray. Its face—if you could call it a face—was distorted, with tusks protruding from its jaw and eyes that burned with a deep, bloodshot red. The creature was hunched over, its enormous claws digging into the body of a hiker, tearing into his chest with grotesque precision. His legs were twisted at odd angles, his face frozen in an expression of terror. The creature's jaw unhinged, devouring the man's flesh, a sickening sound of bone cracking and sinew tearing.
Ayumi gasped, her hand flying to her mouth to stifle the scream that threatened to escape.
The oni paused mid-chew, its glowing eyes snapping toward her. Its head cocked to the side, and it let out a low, rumbling growl, its lips curling back to reveal rows of jagged teeth, slick with the blood of its prey.
Without thinking, Ayumi turned and bolted, her breath coming in sharp gasps as she sprinted down the path. The snow crunched beneath her boots, her body protesting the effort. She could feel the oni's presence behind her, the ground vibrating with its heavy steps. The sound of its growls and the wet slurping noises grew louder with each passing moment.
She looked over her shoulder and saw the oni gaining on her, its massive form moving with unnatural speed for its size. She pushed harder, forcing her legs to carry her faster, but the mountain was steep, and the terrain was treacherous.
She stumbled, losing her footing as she slid on the ice. Before she could regain her balance, a sharp pain shot through her body. She looked down to see one of the oni's claws had slashed across her side, tearing through her jacket and skin. Blood pooled beneath her, and a scream tore from her throat.
The oni moved faster now, a terrifying roar echoing through the air as it closed in on her. Ayumi tried to crawl away, but she was too weak, her strength draining with every second.
The last thing she saw before the oni's shadow engulfed her was the bloody, twisted remains of the hikers it had consumed. And then, with a sickening crack, it grabbed her by the back of her neck, lifting her from the ground.
---
The pain was unbearable as the oni's claws dug into her skin. Ayumi screamed, but the creature's massive hands were like iron, holding her still.
It dragged her toward the edge of a cliff where a fire burned brightly, a pit of red coals dancing with hunger. She could see what it had done to its previous victims—skin peeled back from their bodies, their entrails spilling out like ribbons. Her mind raced with the realization of what was happening, but her body was too numb to move.
The oni threw her onto the ground, its claws scraping against the rock as it loomed over her. She could smell its foul breath, hot and rancid, as it leaned in closer.
*This is it.*
Ayumi's eyes filled with tears, but she refused to let them fall. She wasn't going to die like this—not without a fight.
She reached into her pack, her trembling hands pulling out a small knife she had packed for self-defense. It was a pathetic weapon against such a beast, but it was all she had left.
With a burst of desperation, Ayumi lunged forward, slashing the knife across the oni's arm. It barely scratched the surface of its thick skin, but the oni roared in fury, knocking her back with one swift blow.
The force of the hit left her gasping for breath, her vision blurring. But before she could recover, the oni's claws closed around her body, lifting her once more. This time, there was no escape.
With a sickening crack, Ayumi's flesh was torn from her bones. She felt her skin peel away, the sensation like fire racing through her veins. She screamed, but the oni was relentless, its jaws snapping down, devouring her piece by piece.
---
By the time Ayumi's body lay lifeless on the cold mountain side, the sun had begun to set, casting the landscape in an eerie red glow. The oni, its hunger momentarily sated, stood over her remains, its blood-soaked claws dripping as it let out a low, satisfied growl.
The mountain remained silent, save for the occasional rustling of the wind through the trees. The only evidence of Ayumi's passing was the bloodstains that would slowly be covered by the falling snow.
And as the darkness settled in, the oni turned and disappeared into the mountain, its hunger not yet fully quenched, its eyes glowing like embers in the night.