It was night.
Snow was falling quietly.
The forest was silent.
Inside a dark cave, Mass sat on the ground, trembling from the cold. His body shook violently, and his face was filled with fear and tension.
Slowly, he turned around.
Behind him—
A giant bear stood there.
It had white fur, glowing red eyes, and a massive body around 2–3 meters tall.
Mass froze.
Mass:
"C-can't be… a Giant Bear?!"
The monster suddenly moved.
Mass tried to crawl backward in panic—
But the Giant Bear grabbed his head with its massive claw.
Mass:
"H-ha—!"
The bear slammed him violently against the cave wall.
BANG!
Again.
BANG!
Again.
BANG!
Blood splattered across the stone wall.
Mass:
"Agh—!! AAAAA!!"
The bear roared loudly.
Giant Bear:
"ROAAAR!"
It smashed Mass against the wall five or six times before finally stopping.
Mass's head was now completely covered in blood.
Blood dripped down the wall and spread across the cave floor.
The bear stared at him for a moment.
Then it grabbed his head again and dragged his body deeper into the cave.
His body scraped across the ground.
Soon they disappeared into the darkness.
Deeper inside the cave—
The Giant Bear appeared again.
But this time it wasn't alone.
There were five other Giant Bears.
Scattered around the cave were artifacts, bronze coins, silver coins, gold coins, and even swords and armor.
Mass slowly opened his eyes.
His vision was blurry.
Mass (thinking):
"Ah… my head…"
His gaze slowly moved across the cave.
Artifacts. Coins. Weapons.
Mass (thinking softly):
"What… the hell…"
Suddenly—
The Giant Bear threw him onto the ground.
Then it walked over to the other bears.
The monsters began making strange sounds at each other.
Of course—
It was impossible for Mass to understand what they were saying.
Mass lay on the ground in a terribly injured state.
His eyes were barely open.
Blood kept flowing from his head.
Saliva dripped from the corner of his mouth.
His breathing became weaker.
Mass (thinking):
"A… am I going to die…?"
"Mom… Dad…"
Tears mixed with blood on his face.
Mass (trembling):
"I'm sorry…"
"I couldn't become a popular adventurer…"
"I couldn't protect you… or the village…"
"And now… I'm going to die too…"
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry…"
His eyes blinked weakly.
Then he noticed something.
Among the artifacts and coins—
There was one object slightly different from the others.
It was closer to him.
Mass (thinking):
"W… what is that…?"
With trembling hands, Mass slowly reached toward it.
His fingers finally grabbed it.
It was a whistle.
Mass pulled it closer to himself.
But at that moment—
Two Giant Bears approached him.
One of them grabbed Mass's body and lifted him into the air.
Mass:
"Agh…!"
The second bear grabbed one of his legs.
Then—
CRACK!
It ripped the leg off.
Mass:
"AAAAAAGHHHH!!!"
The bear immediately began eating the severed leg.
Mass (thinking in horror):
"No… way…!"
Pain overwhelmed his body.
But Mass suddenly noticed the whistle still in his hand.
Slowly—
With the last bit of strength he had—
He brought the whistle to his mouth.
And blew it.
The moment the whistle sounded—
A bright light burst out from it.
Then the light vanished.
In the next instant—
Both Giant Bears holding Mass were suddenly cut into countless pieces.
Their bodies fell apart onto the ground.
A figure appeared.
Someone was holding Mass with one arm.
He was an Oni.
Suddenly—
Around 50 Oni warriors appeared inside the cave.
Mass's eyes widened.
Mass (thinking):
"O… Oni?!"
The remaining Giant Bears roared and attacked.
But—
One Oni stepped forward.
With a single movement of his katana, he sliced the remaining bears into small pieces.
Blood splashed across the cave.
The battle ended instantly.
The Oni surrounded Mass protectively.
The Oni who was holding him carefully placed him on the ground.
Mass (weakly):
"W… what…?"
The same Oni knelt before him.
Oni:
"Milord. I am Ninda, head of the Sword Unit."
Mass's voice was fading.
Mass:
"Heh… an ancient extinct race… the Oni…"
"How interesting…"
"But… my time has come…"
"I'm going to die…"
Ninda immediately shook his head.
Ninda:
"No, Milord!"
"I will not let you die!"
He quickly picked up the whistle from the ground.
Then he placed it between Mass's lips.
Ninda:
"Milord… please blow the whistle one more time!"
Mass inhaled weakly.
When he exhaled—
The whistle sounded again.
The whistle glowed brightly once more.
Suddenly—
Another 50 Oni emerged from the light.
Among them were healing Oni.
They immediately surrounded Mass.
Within seconds—
His wounds began to heal.
Even his severed leg regenerated.
Mass slowly stood up.
He looked around in confusion.
Mass:
"Where… am I?"
Ninda:
"Milord! You have awakened!"
Mass blinked.
Mass:
"Hm… you…?"
Then he looked around.
There were dozens of Oni warriors surrounding him.
His eyes widened in shock.
Mass (thinking):
"So many Oni…!"
"They're an ancient race that was wiped out by the Ogres 1000 years ago…"
"What are they doing here…?!"
Another Oni stepped forward.
Kushi:
"Milord, I am Kushi, head of the Healing Squad."
Mass looked at her in confusion.
Mass:
"How… how did you…?"
Ninda answered.
Ninda:
"Thousands of years ago, we were sealed inside this whistle by the Ogre Lord."
"And today… you have freed us."
Kushi bowed deeply.
Kushi:
"Milord… we are your loyal servants."
"But we have one request."
Mass looked confused.
Mass:
"Request…?"
Kushi spoke with hopeful eyes.
Kushi:
"Please… free our families."
"Our Oni King, Oni Lords, Oni God, and Oni Goddess are still sealed inside the whistle."
Mass stared at them.
All the Oni looked at him with hopeful expressions.
Everyone:
"Please…"
Mass scratched his head awkwardly.
Mass:
"O… okay."
He raised the whistle again.
Then he began blowing it repeatedly.
One by one—
Different groups of Oni appeared.
Oni mages.
Oni blacksmiths.
Oni farmers.
Oni spies.
Oni assassins.
Oni maids.
Oni warriors.
Dark Oni.
Holy Oni.
Then—
The strongest beings appeared.
Seven Oni Princes.
One Oni King.
Three Oni Lords.
One Oni God.
One Oni Goddess.
Soon the cave became too crowded.
Mass had to step outside.
It was still night.
However—
The Oni Mages and Holy Oni used magic to stop the snow around the area.
Mass stood outside the cave.
In front of him—
Thousands of Oni were kneeling.
At the front stood the Oni Lords.
Behind them were the Oni King and Princes.
Behind them were thousands of other Oni.
On Mass's left side stood the Oni God.
On his right side stood the Oni Goddess.
Mass looked at them in disbelief.
Mass (thinking):
"W-wait…"
"Does that mean…"
"This entire army… belongs to me?"
"I'm the ruler of the Oni Army?!"
Suddenly the Oni Goddess spoke.
She had two purple horns, purple hair, and blue-black eyes.
She smiled beautifully.
Oni Goddess:
"Milord… may this humble servant know your beautiful name?"
Mass blinked.
Mass (thinking):
"She's… pretty…"
He cleared his throat.
Mass:
"My name is Mass."
The Oni God nodded.
Oni God:
"What a wonderful name… Mass."
Mass looked at them.
Mass:
"S-so tell me your names."
The Oni God spoke first.
Kazama:
"I am Kazama — God of Oni."
The goddess smiled.
Ichan:
"I am Ichan — Goddess of Oni."
The three Oni Lords stepped forward.
Akuma:
"I am Akuma, Oni Lord of Storm and Destruction."
Gorath:
"I am Gorath, Oni Lord of War and Brutality."
Zenkai:
"I am Zenkai, Oni Lord of Darkness and Ancient Wisdom."
Mass nodded slowly.
Then the king spoke.
Mago:
"I am Mago — King of Oni."
Ichan looked at Mass.
Ichan:
"Lord Mass… what is your command?"
Mass lowered his head.
His expression slowly changed.
A dark emotion filled his eyes.
Mass:
"My… command…"
His fists clenched.
Memories of the burning village flashed in his mind.
Mass:
"My family…"
"My villagers…"
"They were all killed."
"I don't know who did it."
His eyes burned with hatred.
Mass:
"But I will destroy the entire world if I have to."
"Those who killed my loved ones…"
"I will kill them."
Thousands of Oni remained kneeling before him.
Kazama and Ichan sat beside him respectfully.
Mass stood there like a ruler.
In his eyes—
Burned rage and revenge.
The cold night continued.
And the scene slowly faded into darkness.