Demon Heart ~ Rebirth of a Slayer

Awakening from the Darkness

As the sun dips below the horizon, painting the evening sky in hues of gold, I take a moment to savor the tranquility of this ordinary evening. It's the last day of high school, and I can't help but reflect on the journey that has brought me here. My name is Haruto Raikou.

"What a normal day. Now what am I gonna do-"

"AHHHHHHH...."

I whip my head toward the source of the piercing scream, and my heart drops. A group of shadowy figures looms over a girl, their hands gripping her as they attempt to drag her into a waiting van. That girl is none other than my friend and secret crush, Yuzuki.

I feel my adrenaline rushing, and I sprint at full speed. Launching myself into the air, I strike the face of the guy pulling her away.

"Are you okay, Yuzuki?" I ask, but she is still crying. "Just go! I'll handle this!" I don't know how those words came out of my mouth. I've never been in a fight before. What am I going to do?

The group seems shocked by my sudden attack, but their menacing expressions quickly return.

"Hey, kiddo, I'll give you one last chance: get the hell out of here, or else-"

"What are you gonna do, fat-ass?" I retort, feeling blood rush to my head. I glance back at Yuzuki, who has managed to run away. Thank goodness she escaped. But as I turn back, a fist crashes into my face. Everything blurs with the impact. I want to fight back, but no matter how hard I try, I can't focus. Suddenly, another punch hits me in the belly, and my legs give way beneath me. Punches and kicks rain down, and I feel the world slipping away.

Suddenly, the group jumps into the van and speeds off. I look up, relieved to see Yuzuki with a group of people. The attackers flee in panic.

My whole body feels light. I know this is the end. I hear voices around me. Some are calling for an ambulance. I look at my hands, bathed in my own blood. "It hurts. It hurts. Why is this not going to end soon?" Just then, Yuzuki takes my hand. I see her tear-streaked face, and it makes me smile.

"Why are you smiling, Haruto?" she asks, her voice quivering.

"It's been a long time since-" I cough. "We were friends. I always wanted to say this. I lov...e y-"

Everything goes silent, and my vision fades to black. I don't know what happened, but now I feel like a feather gliding through the wind.

"Did I really say it? Now what?"

I never thought I'd die this way. I don't even know if this is a dream or reality. Everything around me is dark. When I look down, there's nothing but a pure abyss. I don't see anything either, but it feels like I'm floating, like an astronaut in space.

"Now what am I going to-"

I suddenly feel warmth, like sunlight pouring over me. I open my eyes to find myself in a bed that isn't an ordinary hospital bed. I hear birds chirping and people chatting outside. I look around; the house's architecture is unfamiliar and somewhat old-fashioned. Suddenly, the door opens. A beautiful lady enters. I try to call her, but I can't tell if any sound is coming from my mouth. When she looks at me, I suddenly pass out.

"What's going on? Why is her dress unfamiliar? Am I really dreaming? Or am I really dead? What's happening?"

As I wake up again, my body feels heavy and unresponsive. I look everywhere, hoping it was all a dream, but then I see the lady sitting next to the bed.

"Miss..." I try to call her.

"Oh my! You're awake! Thank goodness!"

She helps me sit up against the soft fabric of the bed, raising my head and shoulders into the light. The warmth of the sun streams in, contrasting with the darkness I just escaped. I blink a few times, trying to clear the haze in my mind, and catch a glimpse of the beautiful lady standing beside me.

"Who are you? Where am I? What is this place?"

"Now, now, calm down," she says with a soothing voice and a beautiful smile.

"My name is Emiko. I'm the one treating the people in this village. Our hunters found you lying deep in the forest, unconscious. They brought you here. Now you are in my shop."

As she describes everything, I try to get up on my own.

"No, no, you can't get up right now; you are still healing," she insists.

I realize she's right, as I still don't have the strength to move my legs. I lie back down, trying to piece together what's going on. It seems I'm in a village. I don't know where, but the people seem nice. It's strange-though I died at 18, my body now feels like it belongs to someone who's 25. After a few days, my body was finally ready to walk around.

Just as I thought, this village is more like old villages in games. People seems normal but every time I look at them there is something I don't understand. With the sun shining brightly overhead, the village buzzes with energy. The sounds of the blacksmith striking iron, street vendors calling out to sell their goods to the villagers, and children playing in the streets surround me. It somehow makes me feel calm and happy, even though I still don't know where I am.

"Hey kiddo!" a sudden deep voice came behind me. As I turn around there is group of men coming at me.

"Look boys isn't that the kid we rescued from the forest?" man with a beard asks others while pointing me with his Claymore sword.

"how are ya kiddo? Everything fine?"

I don't know why they're calling me 'kid' or 'kiddo,' even though I have this body.

"I feels great thanks to the Lady Emiko. And thank you for saving me back there" I say, bowing to show my gratitude.

"Oh, its our job kiddo. By the way, how did you end up there deep in the forest? Do you remember anything?"

How can I say I was dead while trying to save a girl and ended up here? Will they believe me?

"No. Only thing I remember is my name: Haruto Raikou. I don't know how I ended up there"

"Now, now, kiddo-oh, what was the name again? Ah, right, Haruto! Don't think about it. Ya're safe now. It's getting dark; go back to Emiko's shop. If you need anything, ask her. She'll help ya. See ya!" he says as he and the group walk past me.

After they walk past me, I turn and begin making my way back to Emiko's shop. As the sun sets and dark spreads the everlasting energy of the village seems to fade. The vendors cleaning their stalls while others going back to their home. Everyone readying for a peaceful night. After few minutes I arrive at Emiko's Shop.

"Oh my, welcome, Haruto! How was your day? Did you enjoy our small village?" she says in her soothing voice as she arranges medicines on the shelf.

"Yeah, it was a nice journ-WAIT! I never told you my name! The only one I told was that big guy with the claymore sword. He went to the other side of the village, so there's no way you could have met him."

"What do you mean, Haruto? Can't you see my name and level above my head?" she asks, her face filled with curiosity.

Level? What is she talking about? I walked all around the village and didn't see anything like that. This world feels more and more like a game.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I don't see any level or name," I say, feeling my head spin. Levels? This is too much to process.

"That's strange... I never saw someone who can't see others levels and names. And come to think of it, I only see your name. And it didn't appear until a few days after we brought you to the village. Your level doesn't show a fixed number either-it changes every time," she says as she walking toward me.

" I... I... don't kno-" A loud, siren-like sound interrupts me, coming from outside. I hear people screaming and running past the shop. Then suddenly...