Far beyond the reach of mortal stars, buried deep within the swirling chaos of crimson skies and obsidian spires, the Demon Realm throbbed with a low, restless pulse.
The Demon Throne, carved from dragon bones and cursed iron, loomed at the heart of a palace that screamed of nightmares. The atmosphere was thick with magic—dense, choking, and blood-slick.
On the throne, slouched with contemptuous ease, sat the Demon King Tale—his horns long and jagged, crown ablaze with violet flames, and fingers resting lightly on the hilt of a massive double-bladed scythe. His golden irises flickered with lazy calculation.
Below him knelt a lone figure, one leg bent, head bowed low.
"You summoned me, My King?"
"Rise, Commander Vicky," Tale said, voice like grinding steel wrapped in silk. "We have… a situation."
Vicky stood.
He was tall, sharp-featured, and carried himself with the composure of a seasoned killer. Twin daggers of black flame hovered at his hips, dormant but hungry.
"A soul from the Other World has landed in the Human Realm."
Vicky's brow twitched.
"She was not summoned by our magic," Tale continued. "She came by fate's mistake. A rift no one detected until too late. And now… that fragile anomaly breathes the air of Kymo Village—that quaint speck with a Hunter Academy. I sense a relic's pulse around her. One... that should not have awakened."
Vicky's crimson eyes glinted with quiet interest.
"Is it… her?"
"Uncertain," the Demon King said. "But if the legends are true—if she is the one that holds the Black Phoenix's Shadow, our kind could fall into extinction. That system—if it's awakened fully—would rival even my throne."
Silence stretched between them.
Then, Vicky smirked. "Orders?"
"Infiltrate. Eliminate."
"As you command."
Tale waved a hand. A swirling portal of hellfire and runes bloomed into existence, distorting the air with a shrieking hiss.
"One more thing, Vicky," the King added.
The commander turned.
"Disguise yourself. You are to walk among them—learn, observe, and strike only when certain. We do not wish another repeat of the last disaster."
Vicky chuckled. "Oh, I'll be charming. Humans are drawn to what they don't understand."
Then, without another word, he stepped into the portal.
—Kymo Village, Human Realm—
The air was crisp, touched by the scent of evening markets and distant training grounds. Lanterns flickered on, illuminating stone paths with soft orange glow.
And then—
BOOM.
A burst of energy rippled through the edge of the village, unnoticed by most.
From the shimmer of the air, a figure emerged—a tall young man with spiky red hair, glowing crimson eyes dulled to amber, wearing a black coat, a white shirt, and long boots. His skin glowed faintly before stabilizing into full human form.
He staggered slightly as he adjusted to gravity.
"Hnngh. Earth gravity sucks," he muttered, stretching his arms.
He blinked around at the peaceful village.
So… this is the human world.
Chatter echoed from the academy gates. Students passed by in uniforms, laughing, sparring, rushing to and fro with gear strapped to their backs.
Vicky smirked.
So fragile. So oblivious. Yet this is the world that hides our threat?
He pulled a forged ID scroll from his coat—a replica, crafted by dark arts, that would register him as a transfer student from the Empire's outer cities.
Name: DevAge: Undefined (apparent)Affiliation: Hunter Academy, Class 1-A
How quaint.
With that, he marched forward, his boots echoing softly against the cobblestone.
That girl... whoever she is... if she really holds the Black Phoenix inside her…
A flicker of flame danced in his eye.
Then I'll burn her before she awakens it.