The sky was unusually dim that morning. A thick layer of clouds cloaked the sun, casting a pale gray light over the city. Kai Hitari stepped out of his house and immediately felt the shift in the atmosphere. The air was colder, but not naturally—something supernatural lingered.
He tightened his grip on the leather strap of his bag and walked toward school. His sword, Tenrai, strapped to his back under the disguise of a violin case, vibrated subtly, as if whispering a warning. He was not alone in sensing the disturbance.
As he crossed the gates of Azuma High, he noticed students huddled together, whispering with anxiety on their faces. Some were staring at their phones, others were checking the rooftops, as though expecting something to leap out of the shadows.
"Did you hear?" a boy murmured to his friend. "Another sighting near the western district. Something huge. They say it just stood there, staring."
Kai's eyes narrowed. His heart beat a little faster. Sightings meant danger. But what concerned him more was the silence that followed. Creatures usually attacked. If one had only stared… it was sending a message.
He entered the main building quietly, trying not to attract attention. But it was already too late. Since the zombie attack weeks ago, Kai's photo had gone viral. Students recognized him instantly.
"Hey, that's him," someone whispered. "The guy who took down all those zombies. Alone."
Herin Rai approached him in the corridor, holding a thick book close to her chest. "You felt it too, didn't you?"
Kai nodded, eyes calm but alert. "Shadow energy. Faint, but deep. Something's watching us."
They walked together down the hallway, past the nervous chatter, toward their classroom. Neither spoke, but a mutual understanding flowed between them. Something big was coming.
During class, Kai couldn't focus. Tenrai pulsed under his desk. He glanced at the windows often, eyes flickering toward the horizon. Whatever was out there… it wasn't finished.
At lunch, he quietly left school. Herin, as always, followed him without asking. She didn't need a reason. She knew Kai wouldn't act unless it was serious.
The two made their way through back alleys and deserted streets, following the dark, magnetic pull of something unnatural. The closer they got, the heavier the air became.
Finally, they reached it: an abandoned warehouse near the outskirts of the city. Its windows were shattered, walls covered in graffiti, the door hanging crookedly.
Kai paused at the entrance. "Stay behind me."
Herin didn't argue. She simply nodded and stepped back. She had seen enough to trust his instincts.
The warehouse interior was eerily quiet. Dust danced in the light filtering through broken windows. A metallic stench hung in the air—iron, rust… and blood.
Then they saw it. Emerging from the shadows like smoke rising from the ground—it was massive. At least ten feet tall. Its body was composed of black mist wrapped around sharp, metallic bones. Its eyes were two glowing red orbs burning with hate.
Kai immediately unsheathed Tenrai. The sword hummed with energy, reacting to the dark force before him. The creature hissed—no mouth moved, yet the sound rang in their minds like a siren of death.
Without hesitation, the creature lunged.
Kai met it head-on. His sword clashed against its clawed limbs, sending sparks flying. Herin watched from behind a pillar, heart pounding, fists clenched.
The shadow creature was fast—faster than anything Kai had faced before. Its attacks were erratic, almost ghostlike. It phased in and out of physical form, making it nearly impossible to land a clean strike.
But Kai was relentless. He fought with precise technique and brutal force, pushing the creature back step by step.
Herin noticed something. "There! On its chest!" she shouted. "There's a mark—like a rune. It's glowing!"
Kai glanced at it mid-swing and understood. That was its core—its weak point. Destroy that, and the creature would fall.
He took a deep breath, channeled energy through Tenrai, and charged. The creature screamed and tried to block, but it was too late.
Kai leapt high, twisted midair, and brought Tenrai down with a burst of light straight into the creature's chest. The blade pierced the rune—and everything exploded in black mist.
When the dust settled, only ashes remained. Kai dropped to one knee, panting. Tenrai dimmed, its job done… for now.
Herin ran to his side. "You okay?"
Kai nodded slowly. "That thing… wasn't just a monster. It was a scout."
"A scout?" Herin repeated, eyes widening.
"Yes," Kai said grimly. "Which means a bigger one is coming."
They looked at the ashes together, silent. The war wasn't over. It had only just begun.