Yuzuki ran through the vast forests of Kugutsu, his body exhausted and wounded, yet driven by an unshakable determination. The trees blurred past as he fled from the warriors of the Salt Clan, who now hunted him like an animal.
The blood on his skin and clothes told the tale of recent battles, but Yuzuki's eyes still burned with a dark intensity.
As he ran, the voices of the executioners echoed in the distance.
The whispers of Mao in his mind were relentless, as if the demon were savoring every moment of the chase.
Mao (mocking tone): "Do you really think you can escape them? You're a fool, Yuzuki. They won't stop until they see your lifeless body. Perhaps it's better to surrender and spare yourself the pain... or I could help you."
Yuzuki shook his head, trying to block out the words that corroded him from within. He knew Mao's influence was like poison, seeping deeper into his mind with every moment of weakness.
Yuzuki (thinking, angry): "I don't need your mercy. I'll find a way to end this—end them."
Suddenly, he stopped as he heard footsteps nearby. With a swift movement, Yuzuki climbed up a tall tree, hiding among the branches as the Salt Clan enforcers passed just below. He held his breath, the weight of tension pressing down on him. Each second felt like an eternity as the hunters scanned the area.
Shio (leader of the enforcers, with authority): "He's close. We can't let him escape. Spread out and look for signs of his passage."
Yuzuki watched as the warriors dispersed, but his heart sank at the realization of their tracking skill. Even with his newfound powers, he knew he couldn't face them directly. He needed a plan. Silently gliding through the branches, Yuzuki made his way toward a nearby river he remembered.
The water could mask his scent and confuse the trackers. When he reached the bank, he dove in without hesitation, letting the current carry him as he tried to stay submerged. The icy water wrapped around him, bringing a momentary relief to his wounds—but also reminding him of the weight of his situation as he drifted downstream.
"I have to reach Pangeia soon..."
His hand trembled, and his eyes glowed red with despair, Yuzuki struggling to calm his heart. He couldn't just keep running. He needed allies, a strategy, a way to face the Salt Clan—and the growing power of Mao within him.
Finally, upon reaching a calmer section of the river, Yuzuki emerged from the water and collapsed to his knees on the bank. Gasping for breath, he looked up at the dark sky, where the full moon shone brightly. And in that moment, he felt something different.
A presence—
But not of Mao, nor of the Salt Clan.
The Arrival of Akari
As he tried to recover, Yuzuki heard soft footsteps coming from the direction opposite the forest. Lifting his head cautiously, he saw a tall woman wearing a black cloak adorned with symbols he recognized as belonging to the ancient family of the Alcali Clan—a family he believed to be extinct.
Akari (calm, but firm): "Kanji Yuzuki. You've been fighting alone for too long. It's time to change that."
Yuzuki clenched his fists reflexively, still suspicious. The memory of betrayals and disguised hunters was still fresh in his mind.
Yuzuki (suspicious): "Who are you? And how do you know my name?"
Akari (calmly): "My name is Akari. I am the last of my family. They were all destroyed by the king. I know what you've done to get here, I know what you carry inside you, Yuzuki, and I know what the Salt Clan is planning. I'm here to help you."
Yuzuki hesitated. The mention of the Salt Clan and the power of Mao was too accurate to be a coincidence. Still, trusting someone was not an easy choice.
Mao (in his mind, with disdain): "She's lying—just like all the others. You don't need her, Yuzuki. We can handle this alone."
Ignoring Mao, Yuzuki looked into Akari's eyes. They showed no signs of deceit, only determination and a shadow of sorrow—like someone who had already lost everything.
Yuzuki (still wary): "If you can really help me, then prove it."
Akari gave a slight smile.
Akari: "Before you even ask, I found you using my ability. The Alcali are masters at what they do. I'm the best tracker in my clan—and on the entire island. Now come with me. There's something you need to see."
Yuzuki (thinking): "The Alcali Clan is one of the three main clans on the island.
They were one of the oldest and most influential—but also the one plagued most by internal betrayal. If I'm not mistaken, Alkaraz is the clan's leader..."
Yuzuki glanced at Akari with suspicion, but with no other options, he followed her.
The Truth About Yuzuki's Family
Led by Akari, Yuzuki arrived at a hidden cave nestled between the hills. Inside, the walls were covered with ancient inscriptions—seals of the three main clans—telling tales of sacrifice and dark pacts. In the center stood an altar stained with dried blood, surrounded by unlit torches and a silence that pierced the spine.
Akari: "This is where the Kings of Kugutsu performed the rituals that forged their pact with Mao. It was here that he sacrificed his own people to obtain absolute power. And among them... was your family, Yuzuki."
Her words fell like thunder. Yuzuki felt his knees weaken, the world around him spinning. He had known his family had been victims of that terrible ritual, but hearing the truth spoken aloud brought back a wave of unbearable pain.
Yuzuki (in a whisper): "My family... they were killed as offerings... all for this power."
Akari (empathetically): "Yes. The Salt, Alcali, and Lead clans—all lapdogs of the King—oversaw everything. But you still have a choice, Yuzuki. You can use the power within you to destroy this cycle of death and suffering. Or you can let it consume you."
Yuzuki (tired): "You know the true origin of Kugutsu? Akari, you seem so young—seventeen, maybe. I'm thirty. I know how this country was founded. The Yuzuki bloodline has been here since the beginning."
Akari clenched her fists and looked at him.
Akari: "The first human to forge pacts with demons lived on this island a thousand years ago. He created the first rituals—the foundations of our abilities."
Yuzuki: "Akari, some of what you say is true. But not all of it."
Yuzuki: "Kugutsu is an isolated island, far from the continent of Pangeia. But it's more than just a patch of land—it's a place where supernatural forces and ancient traditions converge. The island gets its name from what defines us: the Kugutsu."
Yuzuki: "Listen carefully, Akari. The Kugutsu are demons sealed inside humans, controlled like puppets by their hosts. These demons can manifest physically outside the host's body, becoming living weapons. But this ability doesn't come for free. It requires sealing rituals—each with a specific purpose—and the process is dangerous, both physically and spiritually."
Akari: "I don't have a Kugutsu. My parents were against the ritual."
Yuzuki (firmly): "Then your parents were good people, Akari."
Yuzuki: "Understand this: Kugutsus aren't just weapons or tools. They're sentient. They have personalities. Emotions. And they can influence the thoughts of their hosts."
Akari and Yuzuki looked around. The walls of the cave were lined with the crests of the island's many clans.
Yuzuki: "The clans matter, Akari. If you want to defeat the enemy, you must understand the history. The clans of Kugutsu have a legitimate method for creating Kugutsu. They split their own souls to give life to these demons—without sacrificing others. This method preserves harmony between host and Kugutsu."
At that moment, Akari realized Yuzuki was no desperate survivor blindly stumbling through fate. He was prepared. He carried knowledge and conviction. And he had been waiting for this moment.
Yuzuki's Decision
The revelation about his family reignited a fire within Yuzuki. He couldn't change the past—but he could use his pain to fight back. Looking at Akari, he gave a slight nod.
Yuzuki: "I've been planning this for a long time. I know what this power means... I know it's wrong. But for one to rise, many must fall."
Yuzuki: "Teach me how to fight. Not just against the Salt Clan—but against the fate of our people... against the king himself."
Akari nodded, understanding that this moment marked the beginning of something greater. Together, they left the cave, as the distant sound of Hunters echoed through the hills once more.
Yuzuki's journey was far from over—but now, he was no longer alone.