Katsuki stepped into the dilapidated house, his footsteps barely making a sound on the worn wooden floorboards. The walls, once painted with vibrant colors, were now peeling and cracked, a testament to the hardships of the slum. "Mama, I'm going to play with Ren," he called, his voice full of the simple joy that only a child could possess.

His mother, her face lined with the exhaustion of endless toil, managed a gentle smile. "Alright, Katsuki," she replied softly. "But be sure to come back soon, okay?"

Katsuki nodded eagerly, his dark hair bouncing as he turned and dashed out the door, the world outside calling to him.

The slum where Katsuki and Ren lived was nestled near the edge of the kingdom, a place forgotten by the wealthy and the powerful. Here, poverty clung to every corner like a persistent shadow, but despite the lack of riches, the people found solace in each other. The closeness of their bonds was enough to keep despair at bay, if only just.

Katsuki raced through the narrow, twisting alleys, his breath coming in excited bursts as he approached the familiar spot where Ren waited. When he arrived, Ren was already there, his face lit up with a mischievous grin.

"Where were you?" Ren teased, crossing his arms. "I’ve been waiting for ages!"

"Sorry, Ren," Katsuki panted, catching his breath. "But forget about that—let's play!"

Ren’s eyes sparkled with excitement. "What should we play?"

"Let’s play tag!" Katsuki suggested, his grin matching Ren's.

"Alright," Ren laughed, "but you’re it!"

Without another word, Ren took off, his legs pumping as he darted through the labyrinth of alleyways. Katsuki was quick to follow, the thrill of the chase pushing him forward. Ren was fast, a blur of motion that seemed unstoppable, twisting and turning through the tight, cluttered paths of the slum.

As Ren rounded a corner, he suddenly slammed into something solid—a kingdom guard, dressed in his imposing armor. The guard had been patrolling the slum, his face a mask of disdain for the poverty-stricken area.

Ren crashed into him with enough force to send the man stumbling back. Furious, the guard regained his balance and glared down at the boy, his face twisted in anger. "You filthy little rat!" he snarled, his voice dripping with contempt. "How dare you touch me with your dirty hands!"

Ren's eyes widened in fear, his body trembling as he scrambled back. Katsuki, who had been following closely, skidded to a stop a few feet away, his heart pounding in his chest.

"I-I'm sorry, sir," Ren stammered, his voice shaking as he raised his hands in a gesture of apology. Katsuki stood frozen, his mind racing.

The guard’s lip curled in a sneer. "Sorry? If you’re really sorry, then get down on your knees and lick my boots clean."

Ren hesitated, tears welling up in his eyes as he slowly moved forward, hoping to appease the guard’s anger. But just as he reached the man, the guard drew his sword with a flash of steel and plunged it into Ren’s chest without hesitation.

Ren crumpled to the ground, his eyes wide with shock and pain, blood staining the dusty ground beneath him.

Katsuki’s breath caught in his throat. His best friend was lying there, bleeding, dying—and he had done nothing. The weight of it crushed him, and in that moment, he felt like a coward. I’m terrible, Katsuki thought, his feet rooted to the spot in fear. I’m not a good friend. How could I leave him behind? He’s my friend, but... but what about my life?

His body trembled with indecision, the desire to help warring with the instinct to survive. Before he could even process what he was doing, his legs moved on their own, and he turned and ran.

The guard noticed the boy fleeing and gave chase, his heavy boots pounding the ground as he pursued Katsuki through the narrow alleys. Katsuki ran faster than he ever had before, his breath ragged, tears blurring his vision. But the guard was relentless, and Katsuki soon found himself cornered in a dead-end alley, the walls closing in around him.

The guard approached slowly, a cruel smile spreading across his face as he raised his sword. "There’s nowhere left to run, boy," he hissed. "You’ll be joining your little friend soon enough."

Katsuki backed against the wall, his heart hammering in his chest. His mind was a whirlwind of fear, regret, and anger. I’m sorry, Ren, he thought, I’m so sorry...

...****************...

...****************...

Katsuki pressed his back against the cold, crumbling wall, his heart pounding as the royal guard slowly advanced. Each step the guard took felt like the tolling of a death bell, echoing in Katsuki's ears. The blade gleamed wickedly in the dim light as it rose, poised to strike. Katsuki’s breath caught in his throat, his legs trembling.

“I’m terrible. I’m not a good friend… How could I leave him behind? Ren… I’m sorry, but I don’t want to die,” Katsuki thought, guilt and fear swirling in his mind.

Just as the guard was about to bring his sword down, a sudden, immense aura washed over the alley. Katsuki barely had time to register the overwhelming pressure before his vision blurred, and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

The royal guard staggered, confusion gripping him as the powerful aura grew stronger. What is this? He struggled to stay upright, his body betraying him as he fell to his knees. Mustering all his strength, the guard forced himself to stand and looked up at the sky.

His eyes widened in shock and terror. The sky was filled with demons—dark, ominous figures, their numbers increasing by the second. Sweat poured down his face as he stared, unable to comprehend the horror above him.

Before he could react, a swift shadow moved through the air. In an instant, the guard’s head was severed from his body, falling to the ground with a sickening thud. His lifeless body crumpled beside it.

One of the demons descended, landing near Katsuki and the fallen guard. It moved closer, its dark, twisted form towering over the unconscious boy.

“Remember our mission. We have more important matters to attend to,” a deep, commanding voice echoed from above.

The demon hesitated, then unfurled its wings and ascended into the sky, joining the others as they flew toward the heart of the kingdom.

Meanwhile, the royal guards stationed at the kingdom's gates stared in disbelief at the approaching horde of creatures. They scrambled to alert the king, their voices filled with urgency and fear.

Inside the castle, the king’s face paled as he listened to the frantic reports. His mind raced. Demons? Here? How is this possible? He immediately issued an order: “Summon the commanders. We must prepare for battle.”

Back in the slums, fear gripped the hearts of the people as they huddled in their homes, praying for safety. The usually lively and resilient community now stood silent, their hope smothered by the ominous presence looming over the kingdom.

Katsuki’s mother had been frantically searching for her son when she stumbled upon the narrow alley where he lay. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw him motionless on the ground. She rushed to his side, shaking him gently.

“Katsuki… Katsuki, wake up,” she whispered, her voice trembling. When he didn’t respond, she scooped him up in her arms, cradling his limp body. Without a second thought, she hurried back to their small home, her mind consumed with fear for her son and the terrifying events unfolding around them.

...****************...