Since he was eleven, Kawagishi had been helping his father, Tanjuro, chop wood and steadfastly carrying the small bamboo shack as he accompanied him to sell charcoal. Later, when Tanjuro died early, not wanting to burden his younger siblings, Kawagishi took on all the heavy work by himself until they grew up. He also often ventured alone into the forest to gather fresh, tasty, non-poisonous wild fruits for his family.

  During these trips, Kawagishi encountered many fierce beasts—wild boars, mountain cats, and even packs of wolves. Yet, with the agility and strength he’d developed through hard work, as well as his innate combat instincts, he had never feared any of them. Only that otherworldly beast—a demon—had ever managed to overpower him, leaving him utterly helpless on the ground.

  “Let me see just how strong this demon’s body really is,” he thought. Clenching his fist, the sound of creaking wood accompanied his resolve. Even though he was starving and short on energy, he could still clearly feel the immense power within his body—the strength of a demon combined with the battle-hardened instincts he’d developed as a human. Kawagishi believed that an ordinary demon was well within his ability to handle.

  But little did he know, the demon he was about to face was far from ordinary.

  Following the scent, Kawagishi tracked it for about ten minutes until he stopped in front of a cave at the side of a mountain. The entrance was well concealed—hidden behind human-height shrubs and weeds—so under normal circumstances, he might never have found it. But the rich, sweet aroma of blood wafting from within shone like a bright candle in the dark, setting his eyes ablaze with hunger and nearly compelling him to charge straight in.

  Fortunately, after enduring the torment of his initial transformation, Kawagishi had developed enough mental fortitude to subdue his impulsive urge.

  "Judging by the claw marks around the entrance, this must be a bear’s den," he mused.

  "This demon must have stolen someone’s winter refuge—how despicable."

  In the forest, bears were once the creatures Kawagishi dreaded most. With their extraordinary sense of smell—capable of tracking scents for several kilometers—and their explosive speed and climbing ability, no one would willingly face such predators. In the past, he had encountered bears several times and had always kept his distance, awed by their strength. But when it came to demons—terrible aberrations that defied nature—even the mightiest of bears could only end up as victims.

  Though the moon shone brightly outside, its light failed to penetrate the cave. In Kawagishi’s eyes, the entrance of this bear’s den appeared as a ferocious beast with a bloodstained maw, waiting to devour its prey. Yet demons possess a cat-like night vision—just a hint of light is enough for them to see clearly. To him, the pitch-black interior of the cave was laid bare, with every crevice exposed and no secrets hidden.

  “A demon—if it weren’t for its twisted nature, its compulsive need to consume human flesh, and its inability to tolerate sunlight, it would truly be the perfect creature,” he thought.

  Deliberately slowing his breathing, Kawagishi stepped into the cave without hesitation. Though the entrance outside was narrow, just wide enough for one person, the passage gradually opened up into a spacious chamber. No wonder demons fought with bears over these dens—the interior was roomy and the entrance discreet enough to serve as a daytime refuge from the sun. A thought stirred within him: perhaps he could claim it for himself…

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  After venturing more than ten meters inside, where the scent of blood reached its overwhelming peak, Kawagishi halted. There, clearly in view, stood a hideous figure with its back turned to him, tearing apart a tattered corpse. Fresh blood, still steaming, oozed from the body—it had likely died only moments ago. The corpse lay sprawled, and the demon in front of it was greedily feasting at its midsection.

  From this angle, Kawagishi could clearly see the face on the corpse. It was that of a young child—no more than twelve or thirteen—whose small features were frozen in an expression of raw, desperate anguish. One could only imagine the despair and terror he had endured in his final moments.

  "Uninvited intruder, don’t you know you’re not allowed to trespass in someone else’s hunting ground?"

  Upon hearing the heavy breathing from behind, Black Wolf Fang ceased his feast. He picked up the freshly severed heart in his hand and, with a ferocious tone, addressed Kawagishi from behind. Like a wild beast, demons possess an acute sense of territoriality; having another demon intrude into his domain greatly displeased Black Wolf Fang.

  Kawagishi’s breathing grew even heavier, his gaze seemingly glued to the sumptuous corpse before him. The up-close, tantalizing aroma of blood was nearly overwhelming for his long-starved body. He needed a moment to steel himself against the lure of that fresh blood, to prevent his instincts from completely overtaking his rational mind once more.

  Turning around, Black Wolf Fang scrutinized Kawagishi and, with a note of surprise, asked, "Are you holding back?"

  Black Wolf Fang, though not overwhelmingly bulky, had a remarkably agile frame. His bare chest revealed lean, sinewy muscles laced with blue veins, and vicious claw marks marred both sides of his face. A simple strip of animal hide was tied around his waist, enhancing his aura of untamed strength. In his hand, he still gripped a pulsating heart, which made Kawagishi’s already ragged breathing even more pronounced.

  Kawagishi’s conflicted reaction piqued Black Wolf Fang’s curiosity.

  "So… you’re a newly turned demon with human memories, huh? It seems that esteemed man has been nearby. How I wish I could see him again—if only my strength were enough to follow at his side..."

  Extending the heart, Black Wolf Fang taunted, "Little demon, you must be starving. Come on over—if you take it, this heart is yours."

  Normally, demons are fiercely protective of their food, but Black Wolf Fang was in a playful mood. A newly turned demon was a rare sight indeed. It was obvious that Kawagishi craved the flesh, yet his lingering human memories held him back, causing him to hesitate in a manner that was almost laughable. Watching a newly turned demon wrestle with such inner conflict was, in Black Wolf Fang’s eyes, highly entertaining.

  But Black Wolf Fang was mistaken in one regard: Kawagishi wasn’t caught in a mere intellectual struggle—he was torn between his animalistic hunger and the last vestiges of human reason. The difference was profound.

  "Little demon, how long can you hold out?" Black Wolf Fang continued. A newly turned demon with human memories might struggle for a while, but soon their warped soul would drive them to gorge on flesh without restraint. Black Wolf Fang was convinced of this, for he had once been in that position himself—although he had only hesitated for less than thirty seconds before relinquishing to his baser nature and savoring human flesh with abandon. When a demon fully releases its malice, inflicting pain on the world and committing heinous acts, the thrill of doing evil becomes almost intoxicating!

  Eager to test Kawagishi’s resolve, Black Wolf Fang watched with growing amusement. To his delight, in less than thirty seconds, Kawagishi’s feet began to move. His eyes, red and resolute, locked onto the heart in Black Wolf Fang’s hand, and step by step he advanced toward him.

  Black Wolf Fang laughed heartily, "That’s the spirit! As a demon, feasting on human flesh is your birthright—why hesitate?" He added, "Come now, take this heart with your own hands, open your soul, and devour it."

  Although it might seem a pity to waste such a delicious heart, Black Wolf Fang was more eager to witness a demon’s transformation firsthand—much like watching his own metamorphosis back in the day.