Dream:

In the hallway of an unremarkable Japanese house, a little boy stood poised like a vigilant cat. He wore a red t-shirt that hung loosely over his slightly baggy trousers. His eyes, narrowed and intense, betrayed a readiness to pounce at any moment. The cause of his restlessness remained a mystery, yet an undeniable ear-to-ear smile graced his youthful face, hinting at some unseen excitement brewing within him.

click

"Ma-ma!!"

As soon as the door clicked, the little boy's anticipation turned into action. He bolted forward, his small legs moving with a surprising speed, and leapt into the arms of a woman who seemed to be in her thirties. She had long, shiny black hair that cascaded down her back like a silken waterfall. Her small, snowy white earrings caught the light, gleaming like pearls under the soothing moonlight. Her deep bluish eyes sparkled with warmth and kindness, reminiscent of a fairy's enchanting gaze. Her pink lips, not second to the color of fresh cherries, curved into a radiant smile as she caught the boy in a loving embrace. She held him close, her presence exuding a comforting and serene aura that made the little boy's excitement and joy all the more palpable.

"K-a-it-o M-my lit-little sweet-heart"

Even before he landed in her arms, she caught him and squeezed him between her hands and bosom, a very big smile on her face. She lowered her head and kissed his forehead for a long second. Slowly, she lowered her body and put Kaito on his own feet.

"Mom, mama, Mmmmaaaammmaaaa!"

Kaito's excitement overflowed as he clung to his mother, his voice filled with pure joy. But as his feet touched the ground, a strange sensation washed over him. The world around him seemed to wobble, and he felt an unsettling emptiness beneath his feet.

Suddenly, everything went black. Panic surged through him as he felt himself falling into an abyss. His heart pounded, and a cold sweat broke out on his skin. He reached out, trying to grasp something, anything. His mother was still visible, standing on an invisible platform above him, her arms outstretched in a desperate attempt to reach him.

"Mom!" he cried, trying to catch her hands, but his fingers went right through hers as if she were a ghost. He began to fall, and the platform where his mother stood grew distant, shrouded in darkness.

"Kkkk-aaaa-ii-tttt-oooooo..."

His mother's voice reached him, distorted and distant, filled with desperate anguish. She knelt on the platform, shouting his name, her eyes wide with terror. Suddenly, a figure appeared beside her—the Wretched Hero. With a swift, brutal motion, he separated her head from her body and stood on her lifeless back.

Kaito's scream caught in his throat as he saw his mother's head, her mouth still open from screaming, her eyes filled with despair, fall beside him into the abyss. He didn't know how, he didn't know why, but he saw it all—her face frozen in agony, her soul ravaged by the devil hero's power, and the never-ending descent into darkness and despair. The platform vanished from view, leaving him alone in the suffocating blackness, his heart shattered by the horror he had witnessed.

Suddenly, a chilling, maniacal laughter echoed through the void, resonating with a sinister glee that sent shivers down Kaito's spine. "Hahahahahaha—Oh, the joy, the sheer ecstasy of killing, devouring, tormenting, annihilating these so-called divinities, these righteous fools—Hahahahaha—There is nothing sweeter than watching their hope shatter, their spirits break—Hahahaha—To drag them into the depths of despair after dangling a sliver of salvation just out of reach—Hahahaha."

Kaito's mind froze, not because of the brutality, cruelty, or sheer beastliness, but because of one simple word: 'fun.'

'Just... just for... fun. All this, my mother,' Kaito thought. The realization hit him like a hammer, and a cold, paralyzing dread filled his entire being. He felt a wave of nausea, his stomach churning with the horrific truth. As he processed this unbearable reality, he turned his head towards his mother's head, which was now falling a bit apart from him, tumbling slowly through the dark abyss. Her eyes were no longer filled with despair but rather with a serene expression, as if she was glad that their sacrifices weren't for naught.

'For... for... fun? All this?' His vision became blurry as his eyes welled up with tears. Desperation clawed at his heart. He tried to reach out, to grasp some part of her, but the void between them only grew wider. Suddenly, he saw her lips moving, silently forming words that pierced through the darkness. "Stay alive... I will be waiting for you at the end of... this... world." Her voice was silent, yet he was certain he heard her, her final words echoing in his mind.

But then, in the next moment, her head was enveloped in a dark, black-purplish fire that began to devour her. The flames licked and twisted, consuming her completely.

"...Nnnnnooooo... Mmmmaaaaaammmmmaaaaaaaa... No-oo-ooo..." he screamed, his voice raw and filled with a pain so deep it felt like his soul was being torn apart. He shouted with all his might, hoping against hope that she might hear him, that she might somehow return to him, to embrace him once more. He yearned for the warmth of her arms, the comforting presence of his family, the simple joy of sitting together during dinner, with her feeding him with her own hands.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Present:

In the midst of a vast forest, the air grew heavy as dark clouds gathered overhead. The once serene canopy, composed of towering oaks, maples, and pines, shifted and rustled as the wind picked up, its whispers growing louder with each passing moment. The vibrant green leaves, now muted under the impending storm, swayed anxiously as if sensing the change in the atmosphere.

A low rumble of thunder rolled through the forest, a distant growl that promised more to come. The scent of damp earth and pine needles filled the air, rich and heady, mingling with the sharp tang of ozone. As the first raindrops began to fall, they pattered softly against the leaves and forest floor, creating a rhythmic, almost soothing sound.

The rain intensified, transforming the gentle patter into a steady drumming. Droplets cascaded from leaf to leaf, creating intricate patterns of movement before splashing onto the ground. The forest floor, blanketed in a thick carpet of fallen leaves and undergrowth, absorbed the rain greedily, the thirsty earth softening into mud.

Amidst the downpour, the trees stood resolute. The mighty oaks, with their gnarled trunks and sprawling branches, provided shelter for the smaller flora and fauna. Delicate ferns unfurled their fronds, eagerly drinking in the moisture, while clusters of wildflowers added spots of color to the otherwise green and brown landscape.

Suddenly, a brilliant flash of lightning split the sky, illuminating the forest in a stark, electric light. For a brief moment, every detail was thrown into sharp relief: the intricate patterns of the bark, the glistening raindrops clinging to leaves, the startled flight of a bird seeking refuge. The light vanished as quickly as it appeared, leaving behind the echoing roar of thunder that seemed to shake the very ground.

The storm raged on, with lightning striking sporadically, each bolt accompanied by a booming clap of thunder. The forest was alive with the sounds of nature's fury, yet there was a strange, almost primal beauty to it all. The rain, now a relentless torrent, created rivulets that flowed down the slopes, forming temporary streams that gurgled and splashed as they made their way through the underbrush.

Despite the chaos above, the forest thrived in the rain. The leaves glistened with newfound freshness, their colors deepened by the moisture. The animals, though hidden, moved quietly through the undergrowth, seeking shelter and waiting for the storm to pass. The trees, steadfast and ancient, stood as silent witnesses to the raw power of the storm, their roots anchored deep in the nourishing earth.

In the heart of the ancient forest, a small clearing existed, a rare open space amidst the towering trees. Here, the ground was covered with a thick carpet of lush, green grass, gently swaying under the relentless downpour. The sky above was a swirling tempest of dark clouds, punctuated by flashes of lightning and the deafening roar of thunder.

In the center of this clearing lay a boy, around twelve years old, his small body motionless and soaked by the violent rain. His clothes clung to him, drenched through, and his hair was plastered to his forehead. Each raindrop fell with the force of a hammer, drenching him further, yet he remained still, unconscious and unaware of the storm's fury.

Just a few steps away from him, something extraordinary stood out against the otherwise natural surroundings. A glowing stone, about the height of a kneeling human, emitted a soft, ethereal light that cut through the gloom. The stone seemed to pulse with a faint, inner life, casting an otherworldly glow across the clearing.

As time passed, the light from the stone began to fade, revealing the figure of someone kneeling beside it. Clad in dark blue cloth that clung to their form, the figure's presence became clearer. They knelt with a knightly grace, their head bowed as if in reverence or deep contemplation. The rain pounded against their cloth, yet they remained unmoving, a solemn guardian in the heart of the storm.

Gradually, the glowing stone's radiance diminished, and the figure's features grew more distinct. Their cloth shimmered with the wetness of the rain, but the darkness of the fabric contrasted starkly against the surrounding greenery. The figure's presence, once ethereal and indistinct, now became solid and real, their form a protective sentinel beside the unconscious boy.

The storm raged on, but in this small clearing, an aura of quiet intensity prevailed with the boy, still laying motionless.

Slowly, the figure stood. Her silver hair, tinged with gold, cascaded down her back like a waterfall of liquid moonlight, catching the faintest glimmers of light in the darkened clearing. Each strand seemed to shimmer with a life of its own, creating a halo effect around her, reminiscent of a celestial being.

Her eyes were a striking violet, glowing with an inner luminescence that pierced through the gloom. They held an intensity that was both fierce and compassionate, hinting at her dual nature. The depths of her eyes seemed to draw in the light, reflecting it back with a mesmerizing brilliance, much like amethyst gemstones catching the sun.

Her face was a portrait of perfect symmetry, with high cheekbones and a delicate jawline that gave her an air of regal elegance. Her skin was smooth and flawless, with a porcelain-like quality that seemed to glow from within. Her lips were full and inviting, painted a deep, natural rose that contrasted beautifully against her fair complexion.

Her figure was statuesque, with a tall and graceful build that conveyed both strength and femininity. Clad in a dark blue maid's uniform that clung to her form, it accentuated her curves in a way that was both modest and alluring. The fabric shimmered with the wetness of the rain, but it was the way it hugged her body that emphasized her athletic grace and latent power. Her bosom was full yet proportionate, adding to her striking silhouette without overshadowing her overall elegance.

Her human ears were delicately shaped, their natural pink hue contrasting subtly with her silver hair. As she stood, the rain pounded against her, but her poise remained unshaken. Her long, fluffy tail, visible beneath her uniform, the fur glistening with raindrops. It was a symbol of her mystical nature, blending seamlessly with her humanoid beauty.

Her aura was one of undeniable strength and serene confidence. Despite the storm's fury, there was a calm about her that seemed to command the very elements to take heed.