Ten thousand years ago, the sky above this world was torn asunder by the devastating clash known as the "End War." It was a cosmic upheaval, a desperate struggle for survival as humanity, the cosmic entity, faced off against the Eklna Demons. These relentless beings, known across countless galaxies they had already brought to an end, sought to extinguish all life. The conflict concluded with a fragile truce, a long peace that had endured for 9,990 years. But now, with only ten years remaining before the truce's expiration, a sense of dread hovered over the land.
In the remote village of Ronda, life proceeded in its same, monotonous rhythm. The old wooden houses, built centuries ago in the style of bygone generations, huddled together, providing a meager sense of community and safety for those who lived within their walls. For twelve-year-old brothers Dante and Midoki, the concept of a looming apocalypse was just another story, a whisper from the past that they could barely comprehend.
Their days were defined by the rhythm of the farm, the sole inheritance left to them by their deceased father. They worked together with an uncanny synergy. Dante, with his slight build and swift movements, took charge of the sowing, his hands moving with incredible speed as he scattered seeds across the freshly turned earth. Midoki followed closely behind, his stronger frame easily handling the heavy shovel, methodically turning the soil to bury the seeds. "We show no mercy to this land!" Dante would sometimes call out, wiping sweat from his brow. Midoki would simply nod and continue, his focus unwavering as he later pushed the rickety wooden cart, filled to the brim with harvested produce.
Dante was responsible for selling the majority of their harvest in the village market, a bustling place where the aroma of grilled foods mingled with the sounds of commerce. Midoki, whose presence was often met with suspicious and wary glances from the other villagers, was tasked with taking the remaining portion of the harvest to the old wooden storehouse that sat next to their house, ensuring they always had a reserve for difficult times. Despite the mystery surrounding the villagers' dislike of Midoki, the brothers remained fiercely protective of one another.
Every evening around 8 p.m., as the sun dipped below the horizon, they returned to their home, a humble dwelling with an aging tiled roof. They would kick off their worn wooden sandals at the doorway and be greeted by the delicious aroma of dinner. Their elder sister, Serlo, would usually be seated near the cooking fire, her hands busy crafting useful household items from bamboo and wood. Serlo was known for her cleverness and her somewhat haughty demeanor, but her creations were invaluable in making their lives a little easier. Their mother, Kroya, her face etched with the worries and hardships of life, would have a large bowl of beans and fresh bread waiting for them on the simple table that rested on the straw mats covering the floor.
One evening, as they were eating, Dante, with his mouth half-full, said, "Mother, we earned a little extra today. The old man who lives near the bridge… he gives us a few coins every time we help him across. He always seems to be there at the exact time we are crossing, as if he's waiting for us."
Serlo, without looking up from her work, remarked in her usual condescending tone, "Perhaps he's simply a lonely old man. Helping the elderly is a sign of respect, Dante. Don't get carried away by your imagination."
Dante replied more seriously, "But Serlo, he lives near the Forbidden Mountain! He's so strange, always keeping his head down and speaking in riddles. Midoki feels it too, right?"
Midoki, continuing to chew his food thoughtfully, nodded slowly. "He never looks us in the eye… it's as if he's afraid of something."
Their mother, Kroya, suddenly stopped eating, her voice trembling slightly. "The Forbidden Mountain is a dangerous place. The only path that leads to it is heavily guarded, and not just by soldiers. There are stories about ancient curses and monstrous creatures that dwell there. Those who dare to enter are rarely seen again, and the few who do return are broken and silent, as if they have witnessed the terrors of the underworld itself. Promise me you will stay away from there and that strange old man."
Dante remained quiet, but a spark of curiosity ignited within him. "But... father went there once... and he came back," he murmured, almost to himself. "I don't want to spend my life like this, moving from the farm to the storehouse, never seeing anything beyond these mountains. I want to know what lies on the other side."
Later that night, as they lay on their thin mats on the floor of their dark room, Dante stared up at the wooden ceiling. "Twelve years of doing the same thing over and over. Plant, harvest, eat, sleep. Is this all there is to life? I remember father… he was smiling even as he was dying. He looked at me and said, (You are the Liberator, Dante.) What could he have meant? I will liberate myself from this mundane life, and I will liberate you, Midoki, from the cruel glances of these villagers."
A week passed, and Dante's curiosity and desire for adventure grew with each passing day. The old man continued to appear at the bridge, and the Forbidden Mountain seemed to exert a strange pull on him. One dark and moonless night, after an argument with his mother about the old man, Dante decided to take matters into his own hands and went to the farm, telling no one. The air was cool and crisp, and the surrounding forest, which separated his home from the fields, cast long, menacing shadows that seemed to dance in the moonlight. Dante began to whistle a simple tune to calm his nerves and ward off the solitude.
Then, he heard a sound… a distinct snap of a twig. (CRASHHH).
Dante froze. The sound of heavy footsteps followed. He quickened his pace, but the footsteps only seemed to draw closer. Suddenly, a creature with glowing eyes lunged at him from the shadows!
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
His terrified scream echoed through the silent forest, only to be answered by a familiar laugh. It was Midoki, who had followed him secretly.
"You're such a scaredy-cat, Dante!" Midoki exclaimed, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes.
They continued their way together towards the edge of the farm, and there, in the distance, silhouetted against the pale moonlight, they saw a solitary figure. The person was wearing a traditional, tattered "kimono," and their head was bowed, giving them a menacing appearance.
Dante called out, "Hey there! Are you alright? Do you need any help?"
Midoki added, "Sir! Excuse me!"... but there was no response.
Suddenly, the figure lifted their head and bolted towards them with incredible, unnatural speed. Their movements were a blur, and their face, visible for a fleeting moment, was a mask of cold fury. The figure held a strange, curved knife in their hand, and their eyes were locked on Midoki.
Midoki stumbled and fell hard. Dante scrambled to help him, but the mysterious assailant was faster. Before Dante could react, the figure delivered a powerful kick to his midsection, sending him sprawling.
"ARGHHHHH!"
Blood escaped his lips, and a wave of nausea washed over him as consciousness began to fade. The last image he saw before darkness enveloped him was the glint of the curved knife drawing dangerously close to Midoki's throat, and then... a dark, mysterious entity suddenly appeared and blocked the path of the attacker, cloaking the entire scene in blackness.