Panic spread through the town of Mount Mori.
People screamed and scattered. Bodies littered the streets—some lifeless, others missing limbs.
"Humans are weak creatures," the demon sneered as it fed on the corpse of a child.
"They exist only to be exterminated."
BAM!
Lucy appeared out of nowhere, catching the demon off guard.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"Yes. So you're a Saint too," Rin replied, wiping sweat from his face.
"Let's kick some demon butt."
"HAHAHAHA!"
The demon laughed loudly. "I like your courage, kids. I really do. Come at me with everything you've got—because I'm sending your bodies straight to Bellyland."
Both Lucy and Rin lunged forward at high speed.
Their attacks were blocked effortlessly—with a single arm.
BAM!
Rin was struck in the limbs and sent crashing through a wall.
Lucy seized the opening. She landed a clean hit, sending the demon skidding several meters back. Before it could recover, she tore off its left arm, launched the demon into the air, and slammed it straight into the ground.
"Are you okay, Rin?" Lucy asked.
"Yeah… I guess," he replied weakly.
"No, children," a voice whispered behind them.
"You can't afford distractions in battle."
"DEMON ART: DEMON SMASH!"
BOOM!
Lucy and Rin were blasted in opposite directions.
"Hmmm… this isn't interesting at all," the demon muttered, sitting casually on top of a pile of rubble as it stared at the massacre it had created.
"What a beautiful sight."
Sora woke with a sharp gasp.
His vision blurred. Red stains smeared the ground around him. Panic surged as he staggered upright, his heart hammering violently.
Then he saw her.
Beneath the twisted branches of a lone tree, his mother sat. Blood matted her hair, yet her eyes held only calm.
"Sora…" she called softly.
She pulled him onto her lap, resting his head against her shoulder. A gentle melody escaped her lips—his favorite lullaby. Her hand stroked his hair in slow, steady pats.
For a moment, the world faded.
The screams. The destruction.
Even the pain.
Everything melted into the warmth of her voice.
"Do you know something, Sora?" she said softly.
"When your father died, I thought the world had ended. But as time passed, I realized life is like a book. Every day is a new page. Every year, a new chapter."
She smiled faintly.
"Don't end your chapter here. Promise me you'll achieve all your dreams. And remember—smile in both good times and bad times."
"Mom, don't speak like that!" Sora cried, tears streaming down his face.
"I'll do something. I swear I will."
"I love you…"
Her voice faded.
She died with a gentle smile.
"What did you do?" Sora asked, his voice trembling with rage as he faced the demon.
A grin crept across its face.
"Are you blind, human?"
"I asked you a question," Sora said coldly, stepping forward.
"What do you gain from hunting humans?"
"Oh, I like your rage," the demon chuckled.
"But we hunt humans because it's simply… a thing we do."
Those words snapped something inside him.
BOOM.
Divine energy erupted from Sora's body.
"Hmmm… interesting," the demon muttered.
"A human with this kind of presence…"
The world slowed.
Sora's eyes glowed crimson—a glowing plus-shaped pupil forming within them.
In an instant, he vanished.
The demon barely had time to react before Sora appeared directly in front of it, staring straight through its eyes.
"Shit—what was that?" the demon thought, leaping backward.
"Too late."
BOOM!
Sora smashed it into the ground.
The demon charged in fury, but Sora struck first—six devastating blows to its limbs, sending it crashing through buildings. Before it could recover, Sora tore off its arm mid-air and pinned it to a wall using its own limb.
"You hunt humans for fun," Sora said calmly.
"I'll show you what fun is."
Each punch grew heavier than the last.
Golden energy engulfed his fist. His face was completely emotionless.
"Platinum Punch."
BOOM!
The impact unleashed shockwaves of radiant golden light.
The demon was vaporized into dust.
Sora dropped to one knee.
"This… was Mom's secret technique," he whispered, breaking down in tears.
"Sora!" Rin called out.
Sora turned—and gave a small, sarcastic smile.
"I'm sorry for your loss," Lucy said quietly, lowering her head.
Sora approached his mother's body, gently closing her eyes. Later, he buried her beside a church.
"So… where will you go now?" Lucy asked.
"I don't know yet," Soraa replied.
"But where are you heading?"
"The Saint Academy. It's located in the City of LAO."
"I'm joining," Sora said firmly.
"We can't let demons roam freely anymore. What about you, Rin? Are we getting revenge for Mom… or not?"
"I'm in, brother," Rin said, shaking his hand.
Sora clenched the chain his mother had given him.
"Watch out, demons," he thought.
I will send you all to extinction for this mistake.
"My lord," a man said, kneeling low before the shadowed throne. "We have found him."
Silence lingered—then a low chuckle echoed through the chamber.
"Excellent."
A pale hand emerged from the darkness and flicked forward. Several gemstones clattered across the stone floor, stopping at the servant's knees.
"Take your reward."
The man bowed deeply, trembling with gratitude. "Thank you, my lord!"
As the servant retreated, the dark figure leaned back, his grin barely visible beneath the hood.
"Great work…" he murmured. "Now… things are finally going to get interesting."