After talking a little about Akilos, we return to Sazaki, who went to the city to sell the gold he found and use the money to buy food and the antidote that would cure his mother.
He first sold the gold to a merchant specialized in gold and obtained a large amount of money that would allow him to afford food for many months. Then he bought food, and after that, he began searching for the antidote that cures most diseases, the Antidote of Afola. It is said to be a divine antidote, a mercy from God in a world full of evil, wars, and corruption. This is what people believed.
Sazaki searched with great difficulty for the antidote in the markets of the city, and finally, he found it with great hardship. He bought it for his mother. Sazaki had not felt such happiness since his mother fell ill and the deadly disease tightened its grip on her.
On his way back to the village, Sazaki coincidentally met his close friends, Selena and Kuroshi. They were the same age as him.
Selena said:
"Hi Sazaki, we haven't seen you for a while. We knocked on your door yesterday, but you weren't there. We were worried about you."
Kuroshi said jokingly:
"You mean you were worried about him, not me. This bastard doesn't want to see us anymore."
Selena became shy, and her face turned red. She was a blonde girl with blue eyes, very pale and beautiful.
Sazaki replied:
"Hi, my friends. I'm sorry. You know my mother is sick, and I have to take care of her, prepare food for her, and change her clothes, everything."
Selena said:
"But you know, Sazaki, we are your friends. We can help you and stand by your side at any moment."
Kuroshi added:
"This bastard thinks we are an obstacle in his way. Hey, Kuroshi, don't forget you have friends you can rely on. We are by your side too."
Sazaki smiled and said:
"I truly thank you. Your moral support is enough for me, my friends."
Kuroshi then asked:
"What is that you are carrying besides vegetables and food?"
Sazaki answered:
"It is the Antidote of Afola. I will take it to my mother to cure her."
Selena said happily:
"That's good news! But where did you get the money, Sazaki?"
Sazaki replied:
"Do you remember how I used to go to the mountains searching for gold and mining? I finally got lucky and found it."
Kuroshi laughed:
"You bastard, you really found it? Hahaha! I thought you were just a fool, but you're cunning, you devil. I'm happy for you, Sazaki. Finally, luck smiled upon you. Come on, let's go back to the village. It seems your mother is waiting for you, and you want to hurry."
Sazaki said:
"Yes, let's go back to the village, and you can eat something with me at home."
Selena said:
"Don't worry, I will prepare food for you, and you focus on giving the antidote to your mother, Sazaki."
Sazaki replied:
"Yes, let's go."
Sazaki and his two friends returned to the village, heading toward his house, which was an hour away from the city. When they reached halfway, suddenly they heard a sound like thunder in many places. Sazaki and his friends were terrified.
Kuroshi said:
"What is that sound? It seems like it came from the village, and it was also heard in many other places."
Sazaki replied:
"I don't know, but it doesn't sound good. Let's hurry to the village."
They rushed toward the village. Suddenly, they saw a small gate open—it was a gate to the demon world. A few demons came out and started killing those near the gate, spreading chaos in the village. About twenty demons came out. The screams of fear filled the village. Some people came out with swords to fight them and tried to kill them. The demons were weak, and shortly after they came out, the gate closed within a minute in the depth of the night.
Sazaki rushed to his house, while his friends hurried to their homes to check on their parents.
Sazaki approached his house and found the door open. He quickly entered.
He saw the demon feeding on his mother while she was still alive, eating from her wounded arms and legs as she screamed and cried from pain and suffering.
Sazaki was overwhelmed with fear and shock at the horrifying sight. Suddenly, he grabbed the sword he had found to kill the demon.
The demon left his mother, stood up, and said while laughing, with her blood still in his mouth:
"How dare you interrupt me while I am eating this delicious meal?"
Sazaki shouted angrily:
"That's my mother! Get away from her! I will cut you into pieces now! I will not spare you, demon!"
The demon laughed and said:
"How will you kill me? I cannot sense any mana or aura from you, weak human."
Sazaki swung the sword to strike the demon, but the demon easily blocked it and struck Sazaki on the head, throwing him violently against the wall. The demon was strong compared to Sazaki.
His mother said:
"Run, Sazaki… save yourself… I have been as good as dead for a long time."
The demon looked at her and kicked her face:
"Be quiet, human. Who told you to speak? You are my food."
Sazaki looked at the scene, filled with anger. How could he not, as he watched his mother's dignity being trampled before him, watched her being eaten while he could do nothing?
He felt weakness and humiliation. Anger consumed him—anger at himself and at the demon.
He reached out toward the sword and said:
"Where are you, Darkiros? Where is the promise you made to me to fight the demons together? Help me… help my mother…"
He said it while crying, calling upon the Dark King, Darkiros…
But there was no response...