The village of Duskwood was a peaceful place nestled within the heart of a vast forest. It was small but lively, with farmers tending to their fields, children playing in the streets, and elders sharing stories by the fireside. Among the villagers was a young boy named Raizen. His life, though simple, was filled with love — the love of his mother, his father, and the warmth of his home.
Raizen's father, a skilled blacksmith, had crafted weapons for the village's defense, though the villagers had never needed them. Duskwood was isolated, protected by the thick woods that surrounded it, making it a place few travelers dared to venture. Raizen's mother, a healer, tended to the sick and wounded, her hands always gentle, her heart kind. The boy had always felt safe, surrounded by the love of his family and the peace of the village.
But that night, everything changed.
It began as a whisper in the wind, a strange feeling that hung in the air. The moon was hidden behind dark clouds, casting a veil of uncertainty over Duskwood. Raizen was in his room, staring out of the small window that faced the woods, when he heard it — the faintest sound of something crashing through the trees.
At first, he thought it was just a wild animal, but then the ground trembled beneath his feet. His heart raced as he ran out of his room and down the stairs. His parents were already in the main hall, both tense, their faces pale with fear.
"Raizen!" his father called, grabbing him by the shoulders. "Get to the cellar, now!"
Raizen didn't hesitate. He knew something was wrong, but he couldn't understand what. As he rushed toward the cellar, the doors of the house suddenly burst open with a deafening crash. The sky seemed to split open with the roar of thunder, and the very air became thick with an oppressive, unnatural heat.
From the darkness of the woods, they came — demons. Their monstrous forms, twisted and vile, emerged from the shadows, their eyes glowing with malice. They were led by a towering figure, a demon lord whose very presence seemed to crush the life from the air. The village stood no chance.
Raizen's father shoved him toward the cellar door, his voice trembling. "Stay down there, Raizen. Don't come out, no matter what!"
Raizen tried to protest, but his father was already turning, rushing toward the demons. "Protect your mother," he said. "You are the future of this village. I love you."
Raizen's mother, tears in her eyes, pulled him into a tight embrace. "No matter what happens, remember that we love you. Survive. Stay hidden. Please."
With that, the door slammed shut behind him.
In the darkness of the cellar, Raizen could hear the distant sounds of screams, the clash of steel, and the terrifying roar of the demon lord. His heart hammered in his chest as he pressed his ear to the cold stone wall, unable to tear his mind away from the chaos above.
Hours passed, though they felt like an eternity. The sounds above slowly grew quiet, and when Raizen finally dared to emerge from the cellar, the village was in ruins. The once-beautiful homes were now burning husks, the fields trampled underfoot. The stench of death hung heavy in the air.
Raizen stumbled through the wreckage, calling out for his parents, but there was no answer. His voice echoed back to him, hollow and empty.
It wasn't until he reached the center of the village that he saw them — his parents, lying motionless in the street, their blood staining the dirt. His mother, her healing hands now still, and his father, who had fought valiantly to protect the village, now nothing more than a casualty of war.
Raizen fell to his knees beside them, tears streaming down his face. He was a child no longer. The innocence of his youth had been shattered in an instant, replaced by a burning hatred, a fire that consumed him from within.
The demons had taken everything from him. His family. His home. His future.
But Raizen swore in that moment, through his grief and his pain, that he would make them pay. He would rise from the ashes of his fallen village and hunt down every last one of those monsters. He would become strong, stronger than anyone could imagine. And when he was ready, he would make the demons regret the day they had crossed him.
The boy who had once been weak, who had once relied on the protection of others, would become the very thing the demons feared. He would make them regret the day they destroyed Duskwood.
The path of vengeance had already begun.
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End of Chapter 1