Keywords

Name: Daniel

Eye Colour: Heterochromia iridium

[Green on the left and red on right]

Hair Colour (h/c): Jet Black with a little bit of red shining

Favorite Food (Fav/f): Grilled Chicken

Favorite Drink (Fav/d): Coke

Favorite Colour (f/c) : Red

Italics: Talking in mind or thinking.

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Pain, hunger, and cold—these are the only sensations I know. How long has it been since I felt warmth? The memory is fading, lost in the endless suffering. Now, I lie here in a pool of my own blood, barely clinging to life.

Suddenly, a voice breaks through the haze.

"Do you want the power to leave this place?" A mysterious girl asks.

My voice, weak and trembling, manages to respond. "Y-Yeah... I-I want to... get out... of th...is pl...ace..."

Darkness overtakes me before I can finish. My vision fades, and I black out completely.

Flashback

In a dimly lit room, where the moon's pale light barely filters through cracked and broken windows, I lie on the cold, hard floor. My prison is shrouded in eternal darkness.

I'm just a helpless seven-year-old boy, lying in a pool of my own blood, beaten by the two people who should have protected me—my 'father' Zeoticus and my older 'brother' Sirzechs.

"Get up, you useless trash! Make us some food, you faggot!" Zeoticus barks at me, his voice dripping with venom.

"O...kay..." I try to comply, struggling to rise. But before I can, Sirzechs kicks me back down, laughing cruelly.

"Hahaha! Look at you, crawling like the pathetic insect you are, cocksucker! Get up, you worthless piece of shit... oh wait, you can't? Boohoo! Hahahaha!"

Their laughter echoes in my ears as they leave me behind, a broken shell of a child. But one day... one day, I will have my revenge.

"I... will... g-get out of here... and make you pay..." I whisper, my voice barely audible.

With no other choice, I force myself to stand, clutching my bleeding stomach as I stumble toward the kitchen. My 'prison' is far from the kitchen, and I have to drag myself up the long, winding staircase that feels like a mountain. As I pass through the hallway, the maids and butlers whisper and sneer at me.

"Look at that child. So filthy... disgusting," one butler says with a sneer.

"Yeah, how did they even let him into this place?" a maid agrees, wrinkling her nose.

"He's probably the son of a human whore," another butler adds with a smirk. "Just a worthless bastard."

They all nod in agreement, their expressions twisted with contempt.

These so-called 'servants'—no, they don't even deserve that title—are nothing but self-important brats who think they run the place. If I ever get the chance, I'll repay them with a basket of poisonous fruit, delivered weekly with a note that reads: 'FUCK YOU.'

But for now, I keep moving, ignoring their taunts. They have no idea who I am. They don't know the truth. My mother was kidnapped and raped, and I was the result. The moment I was born, I became their punching bag, their target for every bit of frustration and rage. To them, I'm just an object. But I know better. When there's a will, there's a way. One day, someone will come to save me from this madhouse. I just have to wait.

After what feels like an eternity, I finally reach the kitchen. The whispers and stares fade as I begin my task, preparing food for the people who despise me. Once I'm done, I'm ordered back to my 'room'—my prison. But as I enter, Sirzechs and Rias burst through the door.

"Be honored, you filthy insect! You're about to be my target practice!" Rias sneers, her eyes alight with cruel delight.

She wastes no time, striking me down with her Power of Destruction. The force of her attack sends me crashing to the ground. The smell... it's unbearable. Rias reeks of lust and corruption, and no amount of expensive soap can mask it.

Hours pass, and Rias finally runs out of mana. Sirzechs applauds her with a sickening grin. "Good job, Rei-Rei! Now, let's get out of here. This place reeks."

"Of course, brother," she says, glancing at me with disdain before leaving.

Present Time – Daniel's POV (Mindscape)

I wake up in a vast field of grass, confused and disoriented.

"Where am I? Did I die?" I ask myself, looking around frantically. That's when I see her—a girl, sitting on a fallen tree, calmly eating biscuits. She has short black hair, black eyes, and wears a black uniform with a red tie and a mini-skirt. A black sword rests beside her.

"No, you're not dead," she says, her voice cutting through the confusion. "You're in your mindscape or dream. Call it whatever you want."

She's... beautiful. "Who are you?" I manage to ask.

She giggles, clearly amused. "My name is Kurome. And thank you for the compliment, Dan."

Wait, she can read my thoughts? This is awkward. "So... you can read my mind?"

"Sure can. I live inside your soul and mind," she replies nonchalantly.

"I see... So, what exactly are you?"

"I'm what you people call a Sacred Gear," she says, matter-of-factly.

My heart races with excitement. "Really?! I have a Sacred Gear? What can you do?"

"Slow down, Dan," she chuckles. "I can summon the dead that I've killed."

Her words send a chill down my spine, but I waste no time. I drop to my knees, bowing my head. "Please, lend me your strength and power so I can escape this madhouse!"

Tears stream down my face as I feel her arms wrap around me in a comforting embrace.

"Shhh, stop crying. Big boys don't cry, right? Of course, I'll lend you my strength, Dan. You don't deserve this kind of life."

For the first time in years, I feel warmth. Real warmth. The last time I felt this way was when my mother was alive. I was three years old then, and I've been lost ever since she died. But now, in Kurome's embrace, I feel safe. I promise, Mom, even if it's with my dying breath, I'll avenge us both. Watch as your Danny rises to the top, above all. Daniel Howard won't give up until those who wronged us are lying in a pool of their own blood, begging for mercy. And I'll show them none.

Kurome pulls back, looking into my eyes. "Such determination. That's why I chose you. Now, it's time for you to wake up. At midnight, in the real world, will be your best chance to escape."

"I understand, sensei..." I say, feeling a pang of sadness as the embrace ends.

She smiles. "Don't worry. I'll give you another hug once you've escaped and found a safe place, okay?"

"Okay," I nod, feeling a surge of hope.

"I'll train you to unleash hell, Daniel Howard, son of Mary Howard. Now, wake up."

Her form fades, and I find myself back in my prison.

Real World

I wake up, her voice still echoing in my mind. "Now, Dan, call the name of my blade. You should know it by now."

Without hesitation, I whisper, "Yatsufusa! I summon you!"

A katana materializes in my right hand, its blade gleaming under the moonlight. I draw it from its scabbard, awestruck by its beauty and power.

"Now, Dan, raise your katana and call upon the name: Apeman," Kurome's voice instructs.

"Come, obey my command, Apeman! Rise and serve me!" I shout.

A massive hand bursts through the ground, followed by the hulking form of an ape-like creature, towering over me.

"Order him to destroy the wall where the window is placed," Kurome instructs.

"Apeman, destroy that wall!" I command.

The creature obeys, smashing the wall with a powerful punch, creating a large opening. He then scoops me up, holding me securely against his chest as he bashes through the remaining walls and leaps to the ground below.

We land safely. I can't believe it. I'm finally free.

"Is this real? Am I really free?" I whisper, overwhelmed by the emotions surging through me.

"Yes, you're free, but the journey of Daniel Howard has just begun. We're still in the Gremory Domain. We're not safe until we're far from here," Kurome warns.

"Right... Apeman, pick me up again. Let's get out of here!" I order.

The creature grunts in acknowledgment, and we sprint into the night, leaving my prison behind.

Gremory Castle's POV

The sound of the wall collapsing echoed through the castle, waking several people from their sleep. They hurried to Daniel's cell, alarmed by the noise.

Sirzechs, his face twisted with rage, stormed towards the cell. "What the hell is that son of a whore doing in the middle of the night?! The next time I see him, I'll tear him apart piece by piece!"

He arrives at the cell, only to find the wall shattered. His eyes widen in disbelief.

Venelana's POV

Venelana Gremory entered the ruined cell, her eyes widening at the gaping hole in the wall. She was a woman known for her composure, but the sight before her sent a chill down her spine. The fact that her son, Daniel, had somehow managed to escape his confinement, was unthinkable.

Venelana: "How... how could this have happened?"

Her voice trembled with a mixture of disbelief and anger. She had always seen Daniel as weak and insignificant—a mistake that needed to be hidden away. But now, this mistake had grown claws.

Zeoticus: "This is impossible! He must have had help. There's no way that little bastard could've done this on his own!"

Zeoticus, usually so confident in his brutal authority, was rattled. He turned to the guards who had arrived at the scene, barking orders at them.

Zeoticus: "Find him! Scour the entire estate! I want that brat brought back here in chains!"

The guards scattered, rushing out of the room with their orders. Venelana looked at the broken wall, her mind racing with the implications. If Daniel had truly escaped, it was more than just a breach of security—it was a threat to their entire family's reputation.

Venelana: "We need to cover this up. No one can know that he escaped. The other clans... they'll question our strength."

Zeoticus nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. His reputation as the head of the Gremory family was at stake. And so was the legacy of their bloodline.

Sirzechs: "I'll go after him myself."

Sirzechs, always eager to prove himself, stepped forward. His aura flared with power, his eyes glowing with a mixture of rage and anticipation. Venelana watched him, feeling a sense of unease. Sirzechs had always taken pleasure in tormenting Daniel, but this was different. This was no longer about teaching a lesson—this was about eliminating a threat.

Venelana: "Be careful, my son. We don't know what he's capable of now."

Sirzechs scoffed, a smirk playing on his lips.

Sirzechs: "He's still just a weakling, Mother. I'll bring him back... or I'll make sure he never threatens us again."

With that, Sirzechs turned and left, his presence leaving the room colder than before. Venelana stood there, staring at the destruction around her, feeling an unfamiliar sense of dread.

Daniel's POV

The cool night air whipped against Daniel's face as Apeman carried him through the dense forest surrounding the Gremory estate. The adrenaline pumping through his veins dulled the pain from his injuries, but the reality of his situation was beginning to sink in. He was finally free, but the Gremorys wouldn't let him go easily. They would come for him—of that, he had no doubt.

Daniel: "Kurome, what do we do now? They'll be after us soon."

He spoke aloud, trusting that Kurome could hear him within his mind.

Kurome: "Keep moving, Daniel. The forest will give us some cover, but we need to find a place to hide and recover. You're strong, but you're not ready to face them head-on... not yet."

Daniel nodded, understanding. The sense of warmth and security from Kurome's presence gave him strength. He had spent his entire life in darkness and pain, but now, with Kurome by his side, he felt a glimmer of hope.

Daniel: "I'll keep moving. I won't stop until I'm strong enough to make them pay."

His grip tightened around Yatsufusa. The sword pulsed with power, as if it could feel his resolve. Apeman grunted, picking up speed as they raced through the night.

Daniel: "I'll show them... I'll show them all what happens when you push a Howard too far."

The words hung in the air, a promise to himself and to his mother. He would rise above them all, no matter the cost.

Back at the Gremory Estate

Sirzechs stalked through the forest, his aura flaring as he scanned the area for any sign of Daniel. His frustration grew with each passing moment. The idea that the boy could slip through his fingers was infuriating.

Sirzechs: "Come out, you coward! You can't run from me forever!"

His voice echoed through the trees, but there was no response. The forest was silent, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind. Sirzechs' eyes narrowed. He wouldn't let Daniel escape—not after everything he had done to keep the boy in his place.

Sirzechs: "When I find you, I'll make you regret ever thinking you could defy us."

He continued forward, determined to track Daniel down. He couldn't allow this defiance to go unpunished—it was a matter of pride, of power. And Sirzechs wouldn't rest until he had crushed that last spark of hope in Daniel's eyes.

Daniel's POV

As the night wore on, Daniel and Apeman finally found a small cave hidden deep within the forest. It was damp and cold, but it would provide some shelter while he figured out his next move. Apeman set Daniel down gently before retreating back into the ground, awaiting his next command.

Kurome: "This will do for now. Rest, Daniel. You'll need your strength for what's to come."

Daniel leaned back against the rough stone wall of the cave, exhaustion washing over him. He knew Kurome was right—this was just the beginning of his journey. But for now, just being free was enough.

Daniel: "Thank you, Kurome... for everything."

A soft chuckle echoed in his mind.

Kurome: "Rest well, Daniel. When you wake, we'll start your training. And when you're ready... we'll show them what true power is."

Daniel closed his eyes, letting himself drift off into a deep sleep. For the first time in years, he felt safe. The nightmare wasn't over, but at least now, he had the strength to fight back.