Although the festive atmosphere had just begun, with families happily gathered together... it was quickly replaced by an unexpected storm.
A week later, news spread everywhere about the expansion of the demons, causing the border defenses to collapse. Young and old alike were sent to the perilous battlefield to protect their homeland.
The future generations, not yet adults, had to relocate to safer places and change their names to start new lives in a foreign land.
Even this might cause them to forget their birth names.
At Thach Anh's house, she stood beside her eight-year-old sister, Thach Thao, waiting outside. Their parents had packed their belongings into a large backpack for the two children to carry. Huli jumped inside the backpack, only her head sticking out. Their mother then put electronic name tags on them, displaying their new names.
"From now on, you two must obey your elders, understand?" - Mom Thuy
"Do we have to go?" - Thach Thao
"It's for your safety. You must listen to your older sister." - Mom Thuy
"And you must protect your younger sister, understand?" - Dad Son
"I understand." - Thach Anh nodded
"From now on, forget your old names. Remember, you have new names. A new identity." - Dad Son
"So, will we ever see each other again?" - Thach Anh asked anxiously
"Hopefully, fate will bring us together again." - Mom Thuy
Hearing this, they didn't ask any more questions. A horse's neigh echoed, and a silver-haired horse galloped towards them and stopped. This was one of the Cloud Horses owned by their grandparents' family. It could transform into a bracelet when not in use.
The father lifted his youngest daughter onto the horse, then lifted his older daughter to sit behind her younger sister.
"You must leave towards the North. My friend will come to meet you there. Remember, no matter what happens, don't fight recklessly; run away." - Dad Son
Just then, a loud roar echoed from afar. The horse reacted with fear, neighing and galloping away. Thach Anh turned around and saw her parents still watching from afar until a demon in the shape of a rhinoceros pierced through the apartment building. Her parents then turned to confront the demon.
Then the ground shook and rose up, obscuring the two important figures.
Thach Anh closed her eyes, gripping the reins tightly as she rode north. The horse galloped at 70-88 km/h, nimbly dodging obstacles that suddenly appeared on the road.
Her younger sister, frightened, clung tightly to the horse, and Thach Anh also clung tightly to her. Along the way, demons appeared, attacking the people. The monks used their elemental powers to fight back, but the demons' attack was so sudden they couldn't react in time.
Screams mingled with explosions, causing Thach Thao to cry out in fear.
"Waaaah!" - Thach Thao
"No, no, no. Shhh, it's alright, I'm here." - Thach Anh, bewildered, tried to comfort her.
The fox jumped out of the backpack and landed on her younger sister's head, covering her ears so the child wouldn't hear the chaos outside.
"Little one, watch out!" - Huli shouted.
The building collapsed in front of them. Thach Anh, startled, extended her hands forward, and metal gathered, cutting a path for the horse to gallop through. Then, various things flew towards her, and she swung her hands, using metal to cut through the obstacles. Cars, trees, even chunks of concrete broken off from a building.
Suddenly, a monster in the form of a giant worm emerged from the ground. Fortunately, two monks nearby used earth and fire elements to defeat the monster with a single blow.
"Thank you!" - Thach Anh shouted.
"Quick, run to safety!" - The earth monk said
Just a second later, the monk was attacked by a tiger demon, screaming in despair, causing Thach Anh to close her eyes in fear to avoid witnessing the horror.
The horse ran relentlessly until the road ahead collapsed, revealing rising molten lava beneath. Thach Anh pulled the reins, and the horse turned in another direction.
The blue sky was now stained blood red, and ahead, a black rain fell—not ordinary raindrops, but thick, sticky, black raindrops with a pungent smell of death.
"What is this? It's disgusting!"
"Quick, find some shelter!"
Huli looked up at Thach Anh with a serious expression.
"Quick, put up the shield! Don't let these raindrops touch you!" - Huli
Immediately, Thach Anh stretched the iron piece, making it thin enough to shield the horse from the black rain. The sound of raindrops pattering...
"What are they?" - Thach Anh
"They are the blood of demons. When you come into contact with them, two things happen: firstly, you'll be corrupted and die; secondly, you'll become a deranged demon." - Huli
And indeed, just as Huli said, those who were soaked by the black rain screamed in agony. Some were transformed into demons, while most collapsed and died after being drenched in the black rain.
The people who had transformed into demons turned towards them, frightening Thach Anh. The fox clawed fiercely at the horse, causing it to cry out and accelerate, running faster to escape the black rain.
Suddenly, a dark figure leaped forward, catching her off guard. Huli opened her mouth and spewed a flame, sending the demon tumbling backward in pain.
The horse galloped out of the black rain, only partially escaping danger, as the demons were chasing them.
"What should I do?" - Thach Anh asked anxiously.
"Do what you've been taught!" - Huli shouted.
"Alright, control the horse." - Thach Anh replied.
Turning around, Thach Anh focused on the approaching demons. With a wave of her hand, a piece of metal transformed into a slightly curved blade, flying through the crowd and slicing each demon one by one. Each demon struck was instantly killed.
The more demons rushed forward, the more slashes the sword's trajectory produced. However, the more slashes there were, the more frightened she became, for these demons were once human, and now destroying them was no different from taking human lives.
A chill and nausea welled up in her throat, causing her mind to become hazy, her vision blurring slightly.
"Sister!" - Thach Thao
Her younger sister's scream brought her back to her senses, but a demon lunged at her, its attack almost reaching her. She could hear the sound of her own heartbeat.
The beating grew louder and louder, as if it could explode at any moment.
A pattern appeared on her face, and her eyes glowed with a golden light. Straining with all her might, she charged towards the horde of monsters, but immediately, golden-yellow liquid shot out from all directions, striking them. Those following behind braked to avoid recklessly charging headlong into their deaths.
The horse galloped into the mountains, and as darkness fell and it began to rain, they sought shelter in a cave.
After a long journey, her younger sister had fallen asleep, while the older sister sat listlessly, staring at the crackling firewood before her. The dark liquid on her hands had dried, leaving a sticky residue.
She hugged her legs and buried her face in them, seeking a sense of small comfort. Normally, her parents would comfort her, but now they weren't there, and the feeling was strangely frightening.
"Mom... Dad..." - Thach Thao sobbed.
Her younger sister was whimpering in her sleep, tears still streaming down her face. Thach Anh gently patted her little body, and her sister calmed down a bit.
Of course she would cry. Her younger sister was so young, yet she had to be separated from her parents and even experience things that children shouldn't see.
But there was no turning back now. Her family had all been separated; she only hoped that fate would bring them together as soon as possible.
"Huli." - Thach Anh
The fox, basking in the firewood, lifted its head to look at its owner.
"What's wrong?" - Huli
"From now on, the name 'Thach Anh' will temporarily cease to exist. Please call me by my new name..." - Thach Anh hesitated.
She truly didn't want to forget her old name, because it was the name her parents gave her at birth. But... for the sake of living, perhaps this was the best way.
"Ruan... Ruan Shi Ying. That's my new name." - Shi Ying