Without I realized, a year has passed. Time went by so fast, huh?

I’ve been went through many hardships with them… but it was fun

Ciel was very scared of the outside world, I tried to leave her once but she cried so loud that I actually feel guilty. So, I was stuck with her until I forced her to go outside many times.

I have to admit, when I first met her, I’m not interested with her at all… but after spending couple months around her, she’s quite interesting actually. Especially her personality, sometimes she can be a very fierce woman and sometimes, she can be very gentle too.

Everyday I took her outside with force to get her used to the environment. It was pretty tough and… lots of fighting, but finally, for christ sake, she’s finally get used to it.

Sometimes I have to drag her by force or throw her out far away into the horizon, and she always ran back to the mansion while crying. I feel a bit guilty, but it’s for her own sake too.

Why am I helping her?

…

Maybe because she resembles the old me a lot… I don’t even…

While I was trying to get Ciel leaves the house, Ren is… well, Ren is just being Ren. He’s mostly spending his time sleeping back then. Just Ren being a badass I guess.

I took me 6 months to get her outside the mansion willingly. She asked me once, ‘Why are you keep forcing me to go out!?’ and I just replied ‘Because I can’t just leave you behind like it was nothing.’. I still remember her expression, she looked sad and happy and the same time.

And finally, after 6 months of boredom, I… We can continue our journey.

I’ve never found a city or a village, it’s pretty weird if you think about it.

Ciel’s family was murdered 9 years ago by humans, so they must be living quite nearby but there’s no such thing in this forest.

Which means those humans were hunting for them. It was an expedition to hunt vampires and they completed their objective… almost. However, all of that was just a theory. It doesn’t really matter anymore.

We’ve been walking through the forest almost a year now, but we haven’t found any highway or anything like that… we don’t even know where we are going.

The monsters we’ve encountered weren’t a threat at all, it was just green lions and horned eagles… even Ren can handle those bunch of freaks by himself.

After walking for months, I’ve finally found something new.

A beach...

I thought I was dreaming, I see seagulls, sea waves, sands, even some fishes. It’s so beautiful.

The sea stretches into the horizon, giant dolphins swimming skillfully, the sun is setting and slowly, it’s going dark.

Ren and Ciel was so excited, they are running by the seashore followed by the sound of her charming laugh and Ren’s bark.

It’s pretty beautiful indeed, but what’s so funny?

I followed them from behind while walking slowly, enjoying the scenery of the sunset. This isn’t something that I get to see everyday.

“Len~! C’mon! Let’s play!”

She yelled at me while splashing the sea water around.

Her face glowed red as the sunset shone on her face. She’s looking at me with warm eyes and a big smile plastered on her face, somehow, seeing her being happy makes me calm… It’s something that I can’t describe with simple words…

“You’ve never seen a beach before?”

I asked her while walking behind her.

“No! This is my first time seeing the ‘real’ beach!”

“Haha, well, me too, I guess… So, what do you think about it?”

“I think this is very amazing~!”

She puts her hands up to the sky and walking while spinning her body around. Her eyes were gleaming with happiness while Ren is busy chasing his own tail. Recently he’s been doing this quite often.

I’ve walked more than half a year and fought a countless monsters just to see a beach… totally worth it.

“Hey Ciel…”

“Yes?”

She stopped splashing water and looking at me with her innocent eyes while tilting her head.

“Is your name really just ‘Ciel’? Don’t you have a surname or something?”

I remember from books and movies about vampires always having a really long ridiculous surname.

“Well, what about you? Tell me yours first!”

She said with a playful tone.

“You know I can’t…”

“Then I won’t tell you!”

And she ran away while laughing cheerfully. That girl sure is a wonder.

She ‘won’t’ tell me huh? So she does have one.

I kinda wish that we can live peacefully without worries like this forever. But I know life isn’t that simple, there’s no such thing as forever.

And unfortunately, this ‘Peacefulness’ is about to end.

Suddenly, out of nowhere I sense an ominous feeling. It’s not a monster nor a human…

It’s coming from the woods, his aura is very strong.

If I’m a human, I would be drenched by cold sweat by now.

I can feel he’s getting closer and closer. Is he aiming for us on purpose?

…

I see a silhouette emerged from the woods… it’s…

A Demon.

I see a Demon.

His head is a goat, it’s upside down with two horns, upper body of a human while the other is a goat, sharp long nails, red shining eyes, and a pair of black wings.

He is a Demon, I’m sure as hell.

Ciel and Ren ran back to me, they looked confused as I am. I can see fear in Ciel’s eyes and Ren is growling.

The Demon looked at me in the eyes, then he stopped moving… not even an inch. Why I can’t hear his footsteps? I can’t sense him at all.

What? What the hell does that thing wants from me?

His appearance looks very bizarre and creepy, what kind of monster is that?

“Ciel, do you anything about that thing?”

“N-no… I’ve never seen or heard anything about this… creature.”

“I see…”

Shit, from his aura I can tell that he’s very strong… maybe even stronger than me.

Suddenly, The Demon screamed with his shrill voice.

His screams was so loud that even the seawater vibrated. Ciel and Ren covered their ears in pain, I can see blood flowing through their hands and cheeks. I’m a golem, his screams can’t do shit to me.

After a couple seconds, finally he stopped screaming. I asked Ciel and Ren about their ears and they answered that… they can’t hear anything. Their eardrums ruptured.

“Fucking hell!!”

I yelled angrily at him.

What the fuck does he wants with us!? What’s his purpose!?

I engulfed my body with my Soul Essence and charged toward him with all my might.

I punched him right in the face, he got blown away, somewhere… but I’m not done with him.

With my Soul Essence, I healed Ciel and Ren’s ears.

“I thought my head would explode when he screamed.”

I can see a lingering fear in her eyes.

Ren was kinda scared too, he’s not sure how to fight that thing…

Well, he’s messing with the wrong golem that’s for sure, I’m not letting him go.

Just as I was about to go after him, The Demon showed himself. He’s flying in the air with his creepy head.

There’s not even a scratch on his face, how tough is this guy!?

The Demon descended toward me, with his mouth he tried to bite me.

I jumped away, but he’s faster than I thought, my left leg… is destroyed! Crap!

If I’m going to fight, I’m gonna need my legs! What the heck I’m supposed to do now!?

Ciel summoned her Soul Weapon and slashed The Demon, but he avoided it. Ren tried to bite him too, but again, he avoided it.

Damn! He’s fast, he’s strong, and he have a pair of wings! How I’m supposed to fight this guy?

I gather my Soul Essence on my palm, making a ball of black flame.

Don’t get tricked it’s appearance, it’s just a ball of flame but it’s destructive power could blow up a two story buildings and its speed is equal to a .45 bullet.

However, he avoided it again! Well, the Black Bullet grazed his shoulder, but that’s it! Holy C-- does this thing have any weaknesses?

Alright then, I summoned a hundreds of Black Bullets and attacked him. Sometimes it grazed him, sometimes it doesn’t. Everytime he dodged, he’s getting closer to me, is he aiming for me? Why?

He’s just about 10 meters from me. I feel a bit panicked inside.

Ciel suddenly slashed him which caught him off guard. Black blood is coming out from his stomach, I can see a bit of his intestine. Shit, instant brain burn.

I focused my strength on my right foot and dashed at him. I gathered all my Soul Essence on my fist, I’ve never done this before, usually I would kill those monsters with raw strength, only… I don’t know how strong my punch would be when combined with my Soul Essence.

And then I punched his wound so strong that my right hand actually shattered.

He was blown away along with anything behind him. The ground, the trees, even some other monsters like green lions and horned eagles got blown away too. Dust and smokes everywhere, I can’t see clearly what happened to The Demon.

“That punch better be worth it…”

… Shit, I shouldn’t have said that should I?

Slowly, the smokes dissipated.

The Demon… is still alive.

He’s crawling on the ground while whimpering. His lower body is gone, I can see his intestine and organs scraping the ground. Another brain burn.

How can he’s still alive? How strong one can be?

His whimpers turned into screams, using his long sharp nails, he’s crawling toward me.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Why me? Did he got ordered by someone to kill me? Who? Why everything is so complicated?

Hm? Is that…? That is a monster core! It’s his core!

His screams finally stopped and slumped on the ground, dead.

Dammit, looking at his strength, his core must be pretty precious right? I guess sacrificing my arm is worth it after all.

“Ciel… can you grab that monster core? I need to recover my arm and leg…”

“Huh…? R-right!”

She looked dumbfounded for a second, didn’t she?

She walked carefully approaching that damned Demon, after confirming his death, Ciel gave me thumb up sign.

Just as she tried to grab the monster core, something that I didn’t expect happened.

The Demon, stabbed Ciel’s heart with his nails.

Huh?

What?

What just happened?

My mind goes blank.

The Demon… was supposed to be dead… right?

He stabbed her… heart? He’s still alive…?

No…

No.

No!!

Ciel was shocked, she tried to cut The Demon’s hand off with her Soul Weapon. However, her hands got chopped in half by his sharp nails.

“... Ahh~!!”

She screamed.

“Fuck!”

I cursed. What do I do? Ciel… What I’m supposed to do to save her!?

My mind fell in chaos and suddenly Ren ran toward The Demon.

“Ren!?”

What is he going to do!?

Ren bit his head, but The Demon ignored him like he wasn’t even there.

The Demon… he’s actually absorbing Ciel’s Soul Essence! Son of a-

“Fuck you! Let her go dammit! I will fucking kill you!!”

Ciel was struggling to escape, but she can’t because her hands is gone.

I feel anger boiled inside me. I screamed in despair, she was about to get killed while I’m just sitting on the ground! I have to do something!

She looked at me in the eyes, I can see tears flowing down her cheeks and her lips is trembling. Slowly, she stopped moving.

No way. She died? Impossible.

Her innocent eyes… it’s dead… No…

There’s no more smiles, no more laughs, no more… everything. No…

“Don’t die on me dammit!!!”

I screamed at her, but she’s just staring at me lifelessly.

The Demon’s lower body has recovered completely, I think he looks stronger than before.

“Ah! Ren! Get back here!!”

I ordered Ren to go back but he won’t listen. He keeps biting his body, I can see some cracks on his teeth.

I see tears also flowing through his cheeks. With his bloodshot eyes, he roared.

“Ren stop it! Get back here at once!!”

Goddammit! Listen to me!

I shot my Black Bullet at him, I thought I could blown him away and buy some time… but he’s gotten stronger than before, there’s no scratch at all.

The Demon suddenly stabbed Ren’s heart, it happened so fast that I can’t see his movement.

No goddammit! No!

I dashed at him with my only right leg and tried to punch his face.

I’m going to make you suffer so much that you will regret to ever attacked me.

However, contrary to my expectation, he dodged my punch easily and kicked my abdomen. My lower body is destroyed, leaving only my upper body.

The Demon has absorbed Ren’s core… it was too late.

Why did he come? What does he want?

Ren and Ciel are dead.

Dammit… it was all my fault.

I’m the one who saved them and I’m the one who brought them to their doom.

Ren was about to be killed by a pink bear but I saved him and gave him a new life. I gave him power, he’s stronger than ever but still, he chose to follow me. He’s one of the best friend I’ve ever had in this damned world.

And Ciel... Her death… was totally my fault. I’m the one who brought her out here. I forced her to go to the outside world. It was me. It was all me.

If only… If only I didn’t bring her out here, maybe she could be still alive and kicking in the mansion. Maybe if only I never met her, if only I was strong enough, if only I have a chance…

For the past year, both of them has become my best friends.

They are the best thing ever happened to my life. Someone that I can trust, someone that trust me.

At first they are hating each other, they keep getting into troubles and fighting for no reason sometimes. But still, at the end, they ended up as best friend. They are my best friends.

I’m sorry.

I’m so sorry.

It was all my fault, I’m sorry.

I can’t avenge you, I’m powerless against this Demon… at least, we are going to die together.

The Demon stabbed my chest.

There’s no more reason to continue my journey. This is the end.

Slowly, my vision is getting blurry and my consciousness is starting to disappear.

...

‘You sure?’

I heard a voice. A boy. He sounds familiar.

‘It’s a bit early to give up right?’

I…

‘Len, this is just the end of the beginning.’

Beginning?

‘Is this what you want? Your comrades just died in front of you and you are just going to silently accept death?’

… What… do I do?

‘What do I do indeed, Len. What would YOU do?’

I… don’t know.

‘You already know the answer.’

I… do? But…

‘You always knew the answer, Len.’

I… always do?

I do…

I know…

I have… to fight.

I need to fight.

I must fight.

I will kill The Demon no matter what the cost!

‘Even if the cost is to sell your own soul to The Devil?’

I will!!

‘Then, you shall become The Devil himself.’

Become The Devil I shall.

‘This is… The End of the Beginning.’

Before I knew it, my whole body is covered by my own Soul Essence. However, it’s… much more stronger…

I punched his wrist and broke The Demon’s bone.

I can feel it… my strength and speed increased to a whole new level. How? It doesn’t matter. I just need to kill him, that’s all.

My body… I can feel it’s transforming.

My broken hands and legs has regenerated, but that’s not all.

It’s not a rock, it’s skin.

I have a flesh. I’m… no longer a golem.

I can taste, see, smell, and hear.

I can feel the sensation of touch, I can feel the cold of the night and the warm of the sun, I can… fight!!

My Soul Essence transformed into a sharp blade. It slashed The Demon’s arms and legs so fast, that he doesn’t even realize what just happened. My Soul Essence is much more stronger and thicker. I can do this. I can kill him!

The Demon can’t do anything. He’s just laying on the ground, helpless. He can retaliate no more.

And this time, for sure, I will kill him with one hit.

I gathered and focused all my Soul Essence on my fist, it took about 5 minutes to gather it completely.

This is it.

This is the moment that I’ve been waiting for.

Ciel… Ren… I’m sorry… I can’t bring the dead back to life…

I can’t even tell you how sorry I am.

But I will kill this Demon and avenge you guys.

This won’t change anything, I know.

However, I can’t continue living knowing this damned Demon still alive.

I will kill him with my own hand.

Finally, with my fist, I punched him in face and my consciousness faded as I saw everything was blown apart to pieces.

…

It seems… I will never find out her surname.

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This chapter concludes the Prologue.

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If you found any grammar mistakes, please do tell. I'm a human after all.