Chapter 4: The Chosen Victim
In the aftermath of the demon lord's demise and the subsequent extinction of his kin, the world struggled to find its footing amidst the ashes of a bygone era. Amidst this turmoil, a child named Horikita emerged—an unwitting product of forbidden union between human and demon bloodlines. Unaware of her true heritage, Horikita found solace in the embrace of normalcy, forging a life alongside her husband Akitsu, blissfully ignorant of the tumult that lay dormant within her lineage.
Their union bore fruit in the form of a son named Sora—a beacon of innocence and joy in a world plagued by shadows. As Sora's eighth birthday approached, the night sky shimmered with celestial splendor, a fitting backdrop for a celebration filled with laughter and merriment. Though the family lacked wealth, their hearts overflowed with love and contentment, their humble abode illuminated by the warmth of familial bonds.
Yet, amidst the revelry, fate lurked in the shadows, weaving a sinister web of intrigue and deception. Unbeknownst to Sora, the heavens had chosen him as a pawn in a divine machination—an unwitting vessel for the manifestation of darkness.
As the festivities drew to a close and Sora made his wish upon the flickering candles of his birthday cake, the tendrils of destiny tightened their grip, ensnaring him in a cruel twist of fate. In the dead of night, as slumber claimed the world in its embrace, Sora awoke to the ominous stirrings of foreboding.
Venturing into the darkness, guided by the urgent call of nature, Sora stumbled upon a scene of unspeakable horror—an intruder, shrouded in shadow, stood poised over the prone forms of his parents, their lifeblood staining the floor in stark testament to the brutality of the night.
In the agonizing moments that followed, Sora bore witness to the cruel hand of fate, as the mysterious assailant delivered a chilling ultimatum—a harbinger of despair, whispering promises of darkness and vengeance in the hollow chambers of his shattered innocence.
With a swift disappearance into the night, the figure left behind naught but shattered dreams and shattered lives, leaving Sora to grapple with the cruel reality of his newfound orphanhood. Desperate and alone, Sora's cries for help echoed through the silent halls of his home, falling upon deaf ears as death's cold embrace claimed his loved ones.
Haunted by visions of loss and betrayal, Sora vowed vengeance upon the shadowy specter that had stolen his family from him. With resolve forged in the crucible of grief, he embarked upon a quest for justice, his path fraught with peril and uncertainty.
As dawn broke upon a world steeped in turmoil, Sora's journey began—a lone figure amidst the chaos, driven by the flames of vengeance that burned within his heart. With each step, he edged closer to the truth, unraveling the tangled threads of conspiracy that bound him to a destiny forged in blood and shadows.
In the depths of despair, hope flickered like a dying ember, a beacon of light amidst the encroaching darkness. With allies at his side and justice as his guide, Sora vowed to confront the darkness that lurked within and without, his quest for retribution a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming adversity.