The field descended into chaos.
Kaito lay motionless in the grass, his hand clutching his chest, his breathing shallow. His classmates turned toward him in shock, some already running over, others frozen in place.
But one person didn't move.
The girl.
The quiet one from class.
She stood near the edge of the field — on the far side, near the corner by the school building.
Her eyes were wide, locked on Kaito. Her usual calm was gone, replaced with something raw — fear, confusion… something more.
Then it happened.
The ground hummed.
Lines of golden and crimson light slithered through the grass like cracks in reality itself.
Not a small glow — not a simple flare under one person.
A magic circle.
Enormous. Ancient. Glowing.
It erupted across the entire field, enveloping the students, the goalposts, the benches — everything.
Whispers broke into gasps.
"What is that…?!"
"It's some kind of symbol—!"
The temperature dropped. A pressure filled the air, heavy like water.
Then:
ROOOOOAAAAAAARRRRRRRR!!
The roar shook everything — the bleachers, the trees, even the breath in their lungs.
Several students fell to their knees. Some screamed and covered their ears.
From the center of the circle, smoke billowed up, black and thick, reaching into the sky like the birth of a nightmare.
Mr. Hayashi came sprinting from the school, his voice cutting through the noise.
"Kaito! Get the nurse! Call the office—NOW!"
He froze mid-run as the smoke thinned—
And something stepped out.
Red. Towering. Twisted.
A monster.
Its skin was the color of fresh blood. Horns spiraled from its head. Two massive swords hung from its claws. Veins pulsed with crimson fire.
Its eyes glowed — not with light, but with rage.
It let out a growl that rattled teeth.
Then it moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
The first sword swing cracked the ground. The shockwave blasted outward — glass exploded from the school's windows. Dust flew.
"RUN!" Mr. Hayashi shouted. "GET TO THE BUILDING! GO!"
Students screamed. Some bolted immediately. Others tripped over each other in blind panic.
Haruto dropped beside Kaito, eyes wide. "Come on, man. Wake up!"
"Help me lift him!" Mr. Hayashi ordered. Together, they pulled Kaito from the grass.
The monster stepped forward.
SLASH.
A student too slow to run — gone. Blood sprayed.
SLASH.
Another scream. A limp body hit the ground.
The red aura surrounding the monster thickened — filled with hate, hunger, and bloodlust. The air vibrated with violence.
Students cried. Crawled. Shoved each other.
Some didn't make it.
Blood began to paint the grass.
And then—
Behind the monster, tucked near the corner of the field where the school building stood…
She stood.
The girl. Still. Silent.
Everyone else was gone — safe or running.
She hadn't moved. Her legs wouldn't listen.
A scream echoed.
A student, caught in the edge of a blast, was thrown toward her. His body hit the ground just feet away — blood splattering across the grass.
His arm rolled unnaturally. His eyes were wide and glassy.
Dead.
The girl stared.
Frozen.
Trembling.
Her breath hitched. Her legs gave out.
She fell to her knees, hands shaking, eyes locked on the blood seeping through the grass.
Mr. Hayashi turned — and saw her.
His eyes widened.
"YOU—! RUN!! GET UP AND RUN!!"
But it was too late.
The monster heard her fall.
It paused mid-step.
Its ears twitched.
And then it turned.
Slowly.
Its head shifted.
Those glowing red eyes locked onto her.
Its lips peeled back into something like a grin.
Rage.
Hunger.
Bloodlust.
It crouched—
And leapt.
BOOM!
The ground where it stood cracked under the force.
The monster soared through the air like a cannonball, landing just feet away from the girl.
She looked up.
Eyes wide.
One single tear fell down her cheek.
The shadow of the monster loomed over her.
Its sword raised.
she screamed inside,"Move. Move. MOVE!" , but her legs felt like stone.
And—
SLAM.
End of Chapter