Ran's feet hit hard ground, and he gasped for air. For a moment, everything around him blurred, his head spinning as if the world itself was shifting. When his vision finally cleared, he froze.
He was standing in the middle of a bustling market—unlike anything he had ever seen.
Flying postal boxes delivered mail to rooftops. Cars soared through the air like birds, their engines humming with a strange, unnatural energy. Shop windows displayed goods that seemed to defy physics—bottles that held swirling galaxies, cloaks that shimmered between colors, books floating above their shelves.
It was overwhelming.
But what disturbed him the most…
Everyone was staring at him.
Not with curiosity.
Not with friendliness.
But with suspicion.
With hostility.
"An intruder!" someone shouted.
Ran's heart dropped.
"Someone who doesn't belong here!"
Within seconds, police vehicles descended from the sky, sirens echoing loudly. Officers in strange uniforms, their faces hard and unforgiving, began searching through the crowd.
"Find the intruder!" a commanding voice rang out—it was John, the head of the police officers. "This person has entered our world without permission! Capture them!"
Without thinking, Ran bolted.
His heart pounded in his ears as he ran through the crowd, pushing past people, his mind blank with fear. He didn't know where he was going—only that he needed to get away.
Away from the authorities.
Away from those eyes.
His legs carried him toward a large stone building. Without slowing down, he rushed inside, gasping for breath.
The moment he stepped in, everything changed.
The chaos outside faded into silence.
Soft hymns echoed through the air. People knelt in prayer, their heads bowed. The building looked ancient—like an old monument—with cracks running along the walls and faded murals covering the stone.
Ran slowly moved forward, trying to calm his breathing. His eyes fell on the walls, where lines of text were written.
He stepped closer and began to read.
"Beware the Seven Destructive Demons."
His brow tightened.
"Should their blood be combined… should even a single drop of each be mixed together… a monster of pure destruction will be born."
A chill ran down his spine.
"This creature will bring devastation beyond measure… chaos beyond comprehension."
Ran swallowed hard.
"The fate of our world rests upon keeping these demons separated… their blood never united."
There were more warnings. More prayers. More desperate appeals.
But before he could read further—
The doors burst open.
A tall police officer with cold gray eyes stepped inside.
"Everyone out! Now!"
Panic spread instantly. People rushed toward the exit, fear filling the room.
Ran quickly slipped away from the crowd and moved toward the bathrooms. He entered a stall and locked it, his entire body trembling.
He stayed there in silence.
Minutes… or maybe hours… he couldn't tell.
His mind was filled with fear, confusion, and questions he couldn't answer.
Then—
A soft knock.
Ran froze.
"Come out," a gentle voice said.
A girl's voice.
"They're gone."
Slowly, Ran unlocked the door and stepped out.
Standing there was a girl about his age. She had long silky black hair tied into two braids that fell over her shoulders. Her eyes were sharp and intelligent, as if they could see right through him.
"Who are you?" Ran asked quietly.
"My name is Emma Rin," she replied calmly. "What's yours?"
"Ran… Ran Dalward."
Emma didn't waste time. She grabbed his hand.
"Come with me. Quickly, but quietly. We need to get you away from here."
She led him through back streets and narrow alleyways, moving carefully to avoid attention. After a while, they reached a small park surrounded by old trees.
Only then did she stop.
She turned toward him, studying him carefully.
"You're a child," she said. "And you're from another world."
Ran blinked in confusion.
"You have no magic."
"What do you mean I have no magic?" Ran asked, his voice filled with fear and confusion.
Emma's expression turned serious.
"This is the first time a child has come to our world who doesn't know any magic at all. Everyone here is born with magical ability. But you… you're different."
Ran felt his chest tighten.
"More than that," she continued, "the police are looking for you. I think they see you as a threat."
"I don't understand any of this," Ran said, his voice breaking slightly. "I came here through a book. A cursed book. Do you know how to get me back?"
Emma shook her head.
"No. I don't know anything about cursed books. But listen—we need to get you somewhere safe."
She took a step forward.
"Come with me to my house. Don't ask questions, just come. And keep your head down. If the police find you, they won't be gentle."
As they walked through the city, Ran noticed a large poster on the side of a building.
It showed a well-dressed man, standing confidently.
"Villim Rin has sponsored the education of one hundred young magicians. His generous gift will provide a year of tuition for deserving students."
Ran pointed toward it.
"Who is that?"
"My father," Emma said simply.
"He's very successful. Very rich. He owns property throughout the city."
She looked ahead.
"Come on. We're almost there."
Emma's house was enormous.
A massive mansion surrounded by perfectly maintained gardens stood before him. A large wrought-iron gate opened automatically as they approached.
A well-dressed man stepped forward.
He had neatly combed white hair, a well-groomed white beard and mustache, and sharp blue-gray eyes behind round, gold-rimmed glasses.
"Welcome, my lady," he said politely.
Then his gaze shifted to Ran.
"Who is this child?"
"Dad, this is Ran Dalward," Emma said.
Villim's expression changed instantly.
"Oh… is this the same child the police are looking for?"
"Dad, he's a good person," Emma said firmly. "More than that, I think he's the one who can save us. I've been reading about the Seven Demon Blood Theory. His blood is pure—I can feel it. He can help us."
Villim looked at her, clearly doubtful.
"You're telling me that this twelve-year-old boy is going to save us from a destructive monster?" he said slowly. "That's… ambitious."
He paused, then looked at Ran.
"But tell me, Emma—have you told him the truth? Have you told him what this task actually means?"
"Not yet," Emma admitted.
Villim turned toward Ran.
"Then listen carefully, boy."
His voice grew serious.
"The Seven Demon Blood Theory is not a game. It requires collecting blood from seven different demons—each one more dangerous than the last."
Ran stood still, listening.
"Once collected, these bloods must be combined with the blood of a single person."
Ran's throat went dry.
"That person's blood must be pure. If it is… that person becomes a force capable of stopping the destructive monster before it is born."
Ran hesitated before asking, "And if it's not pure?"
Villim's expression hardened.
"Then they become the monster themselves."
Emma quickly stepped forward.
"Please, Dad. Just check his blood. Please. Test him."
Villim stayed silent for a moment.
Then he nodded.
"Very well. Bring the boy to the medical examination room."
What happened next felt unreal.
Ran was taken to a clean, white room. A doctor in a white coat took a small sample of his blood and placed it under a strange device.
The room was silent.
Seconds passed.
Then the doctor looked up.
His face was filled with shock.
"This boy's blood…" he said slowly, "…is pure. Completely pure. I've never seen anything like it."
Villim's eyes widened.
He looked at Ran differently now.
Not with doubt.
But with recognition.
"With this," Villim said, his voice calm but firm, "everything changes."
He stepped closer.
"Boy, you will stay here with me. I will clear your name with the police."
Ran stood frozen.
"No more running. No more hiding."
A pause.
"But in exchange…"
Villim's gaze locked onto him.
"You will help us."
Ran's heart skipped a beat.
"You will help us stop the monster that threatens our world."