A Thousand Years AgoThe world trembled under crimson skies. Lightning tore across mountains while the oceans boiled from the heat of the Devil King's rage. His name was Akuma Ikari, the King of Devils and Lord of Wrath, a being born from chaos itself. Wherever he walked, life turned to ash. Villages vanished in his flames, and the earth screamed with pain.But against him rose five mighty warriors — the Sun Legend, the Water Legend, the Thunder Legend, the Wind Legend, and the Land Legend. Legends said they were blessed by the spirits of the elements themselves, their purpose to protect humanity from destruction.Together, they confronted Akuma on the highest peak — a mountain of black stone shaking beneath dark clouds."Akuma Ikari!" cried the Sun Legend, his sword glowing like the dawn. "Why are you killing so many innocent people? Do you even know the value of a single human soul?"The Devil King's wide grin glowed through the fire. "You fool. Souls mean nothing to me. It's their hearts I crave — hearts filled with agony, fear, and despair. That is real power, you f##king idiot!""You talk too much," the Thunder Legend growled, lightning crackling across his body. "Let's end him already!"The Water Legend raised her hand. "If we rush him now, he'll use his rage to destroy everything — even us. We must strike together."But Akuma roared, shaking the sky. "You can't stop me!"Black flames exploded around him. The Wind Legend countered instantly. "Wind Power: Fourth Technique — Storm Shatter!" he shouted, slicing through the inferno with high‑speed whirlwinds."Sun Power: Fifth Technique — Sun Dragon!" The Sun Legend's voice boomed as a blinding dragon of light burst forth from his sword, soaring through the clouds. It crashed down upon Akuma like a miniature sun.But the Devil King dodged, smirking. "Pathetic tricks!""Then take mine," bellowed the Thunder Legend. "Thunder Power: Third Technique — Thunder Strike!" A bolt of divine lightning speared from the heavens, striking Akuma head‑on.The ground cracked open. Lava shot upward as the Land Legend slammed his fist to the earth.
"Land Power: Second Technique — Rising Pillars!" Massive pillars of stone surged up, pinning the Devil King in place."Now!" cried the Sun Legend.All five legends formed the sacred seal, their elements shining together."By flame, storm, river, air, and earth — we bind the Devil King for a thousand years!"Light engulfed the world. Akuma roared in fury as the earth swallowed him whole, trapping him within a prison forged from pure energy and ancient will. The mountain hardened to crystal, sealing his cursed body deep beneath its surface.And so the Devil King fell silent. Centuries passed. Humanity forgot the war. The names of the Five Legends became bedtime stories passed from elders to children.A Thousand Years Later — Modern TokyoThe roar of engines now replaced the cries of battle. Tokyo's skyline shimmered under neon glow. People hurried through crowded streets, unaware that beneath their feet slept the embers of apocalypse.Yuto Hinata, a 20-year-old college student, hurried out of his tiny apartment, half asleep, one shoe untied, and late for class."Ah, I'm dead if I miss the bus again," he muttered, stuffing books into his bag. He scrambled down the stairs, caught the bus at the last second, and collapsed into a seat. His life was ordinary — classes, projects, late-night ramen, and the endless noise of the city.But deep under Tokyo, ancient chains began to crack.The ground rumbled softly. In a cavern lit by molten cracks of red light, the Devil King Akuma Ikari stirred. His prison glowed faintly, breaking apart piece by piece.A whisper curled through the darkness:
"After a thousand years… I breathe again."His hand, skeletal but mighty, burst through the seal. Dust and magic spilled across the cavern."They thought they sealed me forever…" he said, grinning. "Pathetic legends. My body is weak now, but I will rise again."He summoned his servants from the shadows — lesser devils, creatures with twisted limbs and burning eyes."Go," he commanded. "Feast upon humanity. Bring me the hearts of those above. I will drink their pain and rebuild my throne of wrath."The devils scattered, seeping like black smoke into Tokyo's underground tunnels.The Night of the FallEvening arrived. The city glowed with lights as Yuto trudged home from college. His muscles ached, and his mind was numb from lectures."I'm seriously too tired for life," he muttered, unlocking his apartment door. He tossed his bag onto the couch and fell into bed. "Just a few hours of sleep…"But peace never came.A sudden crack sounded somewhere in the apartment.Yuto's eyes opened. "What was that…?"He got up slowly, the sound coming again — a sharp scraping from the living room.He turned on the light. Nothing. The window curtains swayed gently. Maybe just the wind, he thought. But when he stepped closer, he froze.The glass had a hole — clean and circular, as if something had melted straight through it. Cold air poured in.Then came the voice.
Low, rough, and wrong. "Heart… beating… strong…"Yuto spun around. A tall, dark figure stepped out from the shadows near the window. Its body was misshapen, skin like liquid smoke, and two burning eyes glared from a face with no features."W-what the hell—!?" Yuto reached for a chair. "Get out before I call the police!"The creature tilted its head, grinning wide with jagged teeth that appeared where none had been a second earlier. "Police?" it hissed. "They can't save you. No one can. My master, Akuma Ikari, demands your heart."Yuto's pulse raced. "Akuma… who!?"The creature lunged. Its claw struck Yuto's chest with brutal force, sending him flying back into the wall. A sharp pain shot through his ribs.The devil laughed. "Weak… unworthy. But your fear will still taste sweet."It kicked again. The second blow smashed through the window. Yuto felt himself thrown backward into the night air.The glass burst around him. Shards sparkled like stars. The city rushed upward to meet him. Wind screamed past his ears.He didn't scream — he couldn't. Shock froze him. The lights of Tokyo blurred beneath him, swirling like a river of gold.This can't be real.He saw streetlights spinning, people far below, his apartment window growing smaller above. His body turned weightless.I'm falling. This is how it ends.