DMC: Being a demon hunter in Japan is not easy

"What do you think of the view?"

"Since when is just seeing snow everywhere considered a view?"

"Technically, it should count, right?"

"Hmm, good point. Still, it's a pretty boring view."

"Got to agree with that."

Their conversations revolved around simple topics to pass the time since staring at an endless white landscape wasn't exactly inspiring.

A few minutes had passed since they arrived at what looked like the North Pole. Both were currently riding on Kurox, heading toward the Santa village they'd spotted on the horizon.

"That was faster than I expected."

It didn't take long at all—they had already reached their destination.

How did they know?

In front of them stood a giant arch with the words: Santa Claus Village.

"Seriously? Santa's village has a huge sign that literally says 'Santa Claus Village'?" Shizuka tilted her head.

"I doubt they get many visitors, so why not?"

"Fair enough."

With nothing stopping them, they climbed off Kurox and stepped into the village.

Santa Claus Village was a one-of-a-kind place, like something out of a dream. The streets were blanketed in a soft layer of snow, glimmering under the winter sun, creating a serene, white canvas. The houses, with perfectly aligned roofs dusted in melting snow, had wooden façades painted in festive shades of red, green, and white. Each home featured round windows with red curtains, adding a cozy touch. On the doors, wreaths of fir adorned with gold and red ribbons brought warmth to the frosty scene.

At the heart of the village was a grand plaza dominated by an enormous Christmas tree. It was dazzling, with twinkling lights adorning every branch, golden ribbons cascading like waterfalls, and a shining star crowning its peak. Surrounding it were wooden benches, offering spots to sit and admire the magical sight while snow gently continued to fall. Old-fashioned streetlights cast a golden glow, enveloping the area in a warm, inviting ambiance.

The village's main streets were lined with small shops, each brimming with bright lights, garlands, and festive decorations hanging in their windows. The rustic, postcard-perfect buildings, some with charming wooden balconies, featured additional holiday embellishments like snowmen, glittering stars, and fluttering red ribbons.

Every corner of the village had something special—a peek of a red curtain here, a whimsical snow sculpture there. Though snow blanketed everything, the vibrant lights and festive adornments made it feel anything but cold, as though Christmas itself infused every inch of the place.

It was lively, almost as if out of a fairy tale… except for one problem.

"By the way, the security here is terrible."

"Now that you mention it, this place is completely deserted."

Shizuka had expected to see Santa's elves or the reindeer that pulled his sleigh, but all she found was an empty village.

"Maybe they're on a lunch break?"

"All of them at the same time?"

"I don't know elf customs."

"I feel like asking you this is pointless…"

They kept walking. Despite the vibrant decorations, the streets were eerily empty.

"Maybe the elves are on strike?"

Desmon stepped inside one of the houses, but they found no one there.

"With Christmas just around the corner, where do you think Santa's helpers could be?" Shizuka raised an eyebrow, having already figured out the answer.

"At a bar, drinking punch?"

"As if that's even possible!"

"Fine, fine, I give up. Where are those elves?"

"At Santa's workshop." She replied confidently, as if it was the most obvious answer in the world.

Desmon followed Shizuka's gaze toward a massive workshop nestled in the farthest corner of the village.

"I've got to admit, elves are creatures that even work on Christmas…"

"Of course, they work on Christmas!"

"I see… Santa Claus exploits them. Maybe he does deserve a slash to the throat…"

Shizuka let out a sigh, choosing not to bother figuring out whether Desmon was serious or not. With their destination in sight, the two started walking toward the gift factory.

"Ladies first?"

"Don't start acting chivalrous now." She said with a shrug.

With no one around to stop them, they pushed open the enormous factory doors and stepped inside.

Santa Claus's factory stood towering before them, an awe-inspiring sight. A massive brick building with large windows that let sunlight stream in, illuminating everything in its path. The walls were adorned with garlands and twinkling lights, while snow gently rested on the roof, creating a picture-perfect winter scene. The air was filled with a warm aroma of wood, spices, and sweets, mingling with the constant hum of activity.

Inside the factory, everything seemed meticulously organized. Conveyor belts moved swiftly, carrying toys in every direction. Large work tables filled the space, where artisans skillfully assembled and painted dolls, trains, and teddy bears. Sewing machines, carpentry benches, and painting stations were arranged with precision, forming a symphony of motion and sound.

Shelves packed with ready-to-wrap toys lined the walls: rag dolls, bicycles, stuffed animals, and wooden trains, all organized by color and size. In one corner, a large machine wrapped presents in shiny paper and colorful ribbons, producing perfectly decorated packages. Everything operated flawlessly, like a well-oiled machine that never stopped.

The walls were decorated with festive murals of reindeer, Christmas trees, and shining stars, infusing the space with a sense of endless joy. The large windows let in light that reflected off the falling snow outside. In some corners of the factory, soft Christmas music played in the background, completing the festive atmosphere.

And yet...

"I'm starting to think the elves really went on strike."

...the place was utterly empty.

"This is seriously weird…"

They continued exploring the factory's interior, but they didn't find anyone.

Before giving up, Desmon caught sight of a small figure in a strangely unlit area.

"Better ask that little guy what's going on here."

"Oh! You found an elf? I wanna see!" Shizuka exclaimed, her mood instantly lifted like a child's.

At last, having found one of Santa's helpers, it was just a matter of time before they'd meet the man in red himself, right?

As they stepped into the dimly lit area where the elf stood, a spotlight turned on, shining directly on the figure, who had his back to them.

What other creature but an elf would wear a red-and-green outfit paired with a hat that covered most of his head?

"Hey, little guy, take us to your leader." Desmon said, grinning with a menacing edge.

"When did you turn into an alien?"

"That movie last night was awesome."

"It really was, super entertaining."

Desmon's comment brought Shizuka back to the film they'd watched together the night before. Both walked toward the elf in high spirits, exuding confidence.

"Hey, didn't you hear me? Do I need to teach you a lesson?"

"Stop trying to intimidate the elf!"

Shizuka stepped forward first, crouching and placing a hand gently on the elf's shoulder.

-I wonder if he'll look just like the descriptions in books and movies. Should I take a picture?-

She couldn't have been more excited to meet an elf.

"Hi there, could you tell us where Santa Claus is? We somehow ended up here…" Shizuka said kindly.

When the elf didn't respond, Shizuka lightly shook him, making the small figure turn around.

In an instant, Desmon's hand shot up to cover Shizuka's eyes, shielding her from the horrific sight before them. Whatever had been done to the elf's face could only have been born of an unimaginable hatred.

The elf's grotesque visage was revealed, a horrifying blend of cruelty and suffering. His features had been deliberately mutilated, erasing any trace of the inherent beauty his kind was known for. His eyes, sunken and hollow, looked as though they'd been torn out and replaced with voids that consumed all light. His skin was torn and crudely stitched back together in chaotic patterns, scars crisscrossing his face like a macabre tapestry.

His hair, once soft and gleaming, was now charred and matted, as if partially burned. The elf's iconic pointed ears had been hacked away, their jagged edges raw and bloodied. At the center of his forehead, an empty hole gaped—a gruesome cavity where it seemed his very brain had been ripped from his skull.

-Oi, oi, what the hell is this?

As Desmon kept his hand over Shizuka's eyes, she tried to protest.

"Desmon, what are you...?"

"Don't look." He ordered firmly. "This isn't something you want to see."

For the first time, Desmon's tone was serious, devoid of his usual lively and teasing demeanor.

"What's going on?"

"Something—or someone—decided to vent their wrath on the elf's face." He replied flatly.

"Is it that grotesque?"

"Worse than anything you've ever seen."

"Thanks…"

Shizuka turned away, avoiding the horrifying crime scene inflicted on the poor elf.

"Let's get out of here."

Desmon took her hand and began leading the way out. However, as they left the area where the elf was, the once-vibrant appearance of the factory had transformed entirely.

Santa Claus's workshop, once alive with the cheerful bustle of toy-making and laughter, now stood as a massive ruin, a shadow of its former self. Its towering brick walls were marred with deep cracks, like unhealed scars. The snow that once adorned the entrance was now dirty, mixed with debris and dust. The large wooden doors, which had previously opened with a welcoming creak, now hung broken from their hinges, like colossal, lifeless teeth.

The air felt unnatural, laden with the heavy stench of decay. The conveyor belts that once hummed with activity, carrying freshly crafted toys, were now rusted, cloaked in cobwebs and dust. Shelves that had been filled with dolls, wooden trains, and teddy bears were empty or shattered, with splintered wood and metal shards littering the floor.

The walls, once bright with festive colors and decorations, were crumbling, exposing the building's decaying innards coated in a slick, black mold. Lights that once bathed the place in a golden warmth were extinguished, leaving the entire space consumed by shadows. A faint, foul odor, a blend of rot and abandonment, pervaded the air.

Scraps of wrapping paper and torn ribbons were scattered across the ground, crushed beneath the rubble. In one corner, an old music box, its cheerful melody now distorted and sluggish, emitted a haunting murmur that mixed eerily with the workshop's empty echoes. Santa Claus's workshop, once the heart of Christmas, had become a grim, hollow shell, teetering on the edge of oblivion.

"Tch, not exactly the kind of place you'd want to show the kids on Christmas," Desmon said, forcing a smirk.

Shizuka looked away briefly. The joyful atmosphere of the workshop had been shattered in an instant, replaced by a living nightmare.

"Yeah, I've had enough of this haunted factory! We're leaving!"

In a flash, Desmon scooped Shizuka into his arms and leapt onto Kurox, quickly leaving the factory behind.

But if the factory had changed, what about Santa's village?

Santa Claus's village, once a dreamlike place, was now drowned in a thick, oppressive silence. The streets, formerly blanketed in soft snow, were torn and jagged, strewn with chunks of ice and soil that formed a dark, muddy mess. The once-charming houses were now abandoned and crumbling, their roofs collapsed and walls fractured. Windows, once round and inviting, were shattered, letting the icy wind howl through the remnants, making the wood creak as if the village itself were in pain.

At the center, the Christmas tree that once sparkled with multicolored lights now stood wilted. Its branches were broken and bare, covered in a lifeless gray frost. The star that had crowned the top was gone, leaving a dark emptiness that seemed to consume any light around it. The benches in the square were shattered and overgrown with black moss, as though nature itself sought to claim them. The lamps that once cast a warm glow were extinguished, their long shadows resembling ghostly figures that seemed to writhe with an unnatural life.

The Christmas decorations that had once brought joy and vibrancy were gone. In their place hung scraps of torn ribbons and shattered ornaments, mocking remnants of what once was. Trees, stripped of leaves and life, stood like skeletons, their branches clawing at the gray sky as though grasping for a faint glimmer of hope that dared not show itself.

The wind blows fiercely, but there's no freshness to it. Instead, it carries a heavy air, laden with a distant whisper, as if the voices of those who once inhabited this village still linger, murmuring in the darkness. Everything is shrouded in a dense fog, and the only sound is the creaking of old wood and debris beneath the steps of anyone daring enough to venture near. The place feels cursed, as if death itself had walked its streets, leaving an indelible mark.

"I have to admit, Santa Claus is creepier than he looks."

Desmon jumped alongside Shizuka as a massive hole suddenly opened in the ground, nearly swallowing them whole.

"Is driving through the streets prohibited or something?"

The abrupt shift in their surroundings also caught Desmon off guard, as if the entire scene had been staged to strike at him mentally. So, he tried to say random things to clear his mind.

"It's fine, you can put me down. Something like this won't faze me!"

Shizuka gritted her teeth and shook her head.

If Desmon faltered, it was clear the mental impact on Shizuka was worse, but as an adult, the last thing she could do was panic.

"I thought you'd lose your mind."

"Don't underestimate me—I've been chased by a demon before." She replied confidently.

Desmon smirked, regaining his usual demeanor.

"Good to know, 'cause we've got company."

From the seemingly vacant and abandoned houses, a horde of elves began to emerge, looking just as terrifying as the one they'd encountered in the factory. However, these elves moved like zombies.

"When did this go from Christmas to Halloween? Oh well, time to start chopping off zombie elf heads!''

Desmon reached back for his sword, where it should have been, but no matter how much he searched for the hilt, his hand found nothing.

"Shizuka… have you seen Alastor? I'm pretty sure I had it before we fell…"

"You're just noticing that now?!"

"What can I say? I'm forgetful."

While in mid-air, when Desmon had reached for Shizuka, he had let go of Alastor. The devil arm was now lost somewhere in the endless snow.

"Guess I'll have to do it the old-fashioned way." He said with an arrogant grin.

The zombie elves wasted no time and launched themselves at Desmon.

Without hesitation, Desmon intercepted the first one with a punch imbued with demonic energy, obliterating its head, which disintegrated into a reddish dust.

Next, he dodged an attack by leaning back gracefully, letting the elf's claws swipe through the air where his face had been. With a swift spin, he delivered a roundhouse kick to its chest, sending it crashing into two others approaching from behind. The trio collapsed to the ground like discarded corpses.

Another group of elves charged at him, but Desmon was ready. He leapt forward, spinning mid-air, and came down with a devastating strike to one of their skulls. The sheer force drove it into the ground as the others hesitated momentarily.

"Is that all you've got?" He taunted with a smirk.

He spun on his heel, his fists wrapped in demonic energy, delivering precise and lethal blows. Each strike shattered bone and flesh, leaving a trail of dismembered bodies in his wake.

It wasn't a battle; it was a one-sided massacre.

Before he could take a moment to consider if they'd make it back in time for Christmas, another pair of zombies attacked him from behind. Without flinching, Desmon dodged one and grabbed the arm of the other, twisting it violently and using it as a shield to block its companion. Flashing a cocky smile, he flung the elf into the air, slamming it into the ruins of a nearby house.

"Come on, come on! Don't make this boring!"

More zombie elves emerged, even from the ground, mimicking a horror movie scene. They all rushed him at once, trying to overwhelm him with sheer numbers.

Still, the young demon hunter didn't even flinch as he faced the swarm.

"Let's dance!"

Desmon placed a hand on the ground, and immediately his body began moving unpredictably. Each time he switched hands, his speed increased, his torso spinning so rapidly it became a blur. His legs shifted constantly, like a whirlwind tearing through the horde. Deadly kicks flew with surgical precision, taking down any elf foolish enough to come near, as if breakdancing in this forsaken place was the most natural thing in the world.

And in no time, all the elves had been wiped out by a young man who seemed more amused than terrified.

"Well, that was easier than I thought."

With no enemies left in sight, Desmon dusted off his hands like someone satisfied after exterminating a pesky infestation.

"I think I feel bad for the elves who just got obliterated while you danced..." Shizuka sounded concerned for a moment, but her worry faded as she watched Desmon gleefully take down the elves like it was some sort of game.

-Maybe I worried too much. Desmon seems to have everything under control...

"They were nothing special. Though, I still don't fully understand what's going on here. Did the zombie apocalypse hit Santa's village first? Who wished for a zombie outbreak as a gift? Oh, and by the way, do you have an Umbrella?"

-... Yeah, I was definitely an idiot for worrying too much…

Shizuka let out a sigh, though internally, she felt immense relief knowing that Desmon could handle the situation.

"Desmon, were those snowmen always there?" Shizuka pointed to the side of the street, where several snowmen stood piled together.

"Whoever made them has some serious issues..."

At first glance, they seemed like oversized, deformed snowmen, but that would be a grave mistake. These creatures weren't made of pure snow but frozen blood, giving them a translucent crimson hue that shimmered ominously under the dim light.

Their bodies were grotesque amalgamations of ice and flesh. Where one would expect soft, rounded curves, there were jagged, irregular edges, as though their very existence mocked what snowmen should be. Their disproportionately long arms ended in sharp, icy claws dripping with a dark liquid, seemingly eager to tear apart anything in their path.

Instead of cheerful faces with coal smiles and carrot noses, these abominations had grotesquely wide jaws, lined with razor-sharp teeth.

"I'm way too old to play with snowmen!"

The blood-and-flesh snowmen began to move toward them, albeit slowly, hopping awkwardly as they lacked legs.

Not waiting for them to get closer, Desmon intercepted one with a kick that instantly destroyed its head.

However, it didn't have the desired effect. The snowman simply scooped up some nearby snow with its claws, forming a new head.

"That could be a problem…"

The other snowmen began their assault, claws that seemed to freeze the air itself slashing toward Desmon.

-Time for a change of plans.

Desmon dodged their attacks with swift footwork until he leaped onto what used to be a Christmas tree.

"Borrowing this!"

Grabbing the tree by its base, he hoisted it effortlessly.

"Time to bat!"

Snowmen went flying through the air as Desmon swung the tree, sending them soaring in comical arcs.

In moments, the snowmen disappeared into the sky, leaving Desmon with several impressive home runs.

-Tch, at least let me catch my breath… Kurox.

The devil arm he summoned instantly closed the distance to strike the creature that appeared beside Shizuka. Wasting no time, Shizuka climbed on Kurox and returned to Desmon, as the creature wasn't alone.

"Damn it, every good memory I have of Christmas is being ruined by these things..." She complained, glaring at the scene ahead.

"Technically, they're just very twisted versions of Christmas icons."

"That's even worse..."

"Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer and friends, I charge you with traumatizing Shizuka! Do you have any defense?" Desmon said with a big smile.

In front of them stood a group of reindeer. Rudolph led the pack, but it was no longer the cheerful red-nosed guide of Christmas Eve. Its skin, tattered and worn, looked more like dry leather than fur, with patches of exposed flesh faintly pulsating as if alive. Its nose, once a symbol of hope, now emitted a sickly, pulsating glow like an incandescent tumor, casting writhing shadows along the walls.

Its eyes were dark, empty pits devoid of any kindness or life. Occasionally, a crimson glimmer flashed through Its sockets, as if something malevolent stirred behind them. Its antlers, which should have been majestic, were jagged and deformed, covered in frost that dripped a viscous, dark liquid.

The other reindeer were no less terrifying. Their skeletal bodies bore grotesquely protruding ribs beneath rotting skin, as if an eternal hunger was devouring them from within. Their legs, unnaturally long, ended in jagged, broken hooves that clicked against the icy ground, producing a sound reminiscent of nails scraping glass. Hanging from their jaws were shreds of blackened flesh, with yellowed, razor-sharp teeth clearly designed for tearing meat.

But strangely, unlike the other creatures, the reindeer merely stared at them, as if awaiting orders.

"Are reindeer one of those animals that don't see you if you don't move?"

"As if that were true…"

So far, the creatures that appeared hadn't been a match for Desmon. As always, he managed to overcome the demons that came after him… but everything has a limit.

Their cheerful, carefree banter was suddenly interrupted by an overwhelming demonic pressure that descended upon them.

The energy was so overwhelming it severed the connection between Desmon and Kurox, causing Shizuka to collapse to her knees, unable to stand.

Then, a sword landed just beside Desmon, grazing his cheek—a clear message that he could have been killed in an instant.

Under these circumstances, the best option was to move, but both were paralyzed by an intense, bone-deep cold that seemed to freeze them from the inside out. The silence that enveloped the area made it impossible to act.

Shizuka struggled to breathe, with intense pain assaulting every part of her body. Desmon experienced the same, though he could endure such levels of pain. Yet there was something he hadn't expected to feel again.

And that was… Fear.

His instincts screamed at him to flee—there was no way to defeat the creature watching them as if they were mere ants.

The demon's figure was tall and menacing, its body covered in fur as black as the void, concealing grotesque and powerful musculature. Its head bore a blend of goat-like and demonic features, with two massive, twisted horns worn down by time and hatred. Its glowing red eyes blazed like embers, and its mouth, filled with jagged teeth, housed a long, serpentine tongue that moved as if alive.

Its mere presence was enough to subdue both Desmon and Shizuka. The immense demonic pressure was incomparable to anything Desmon had ever faced.

Even so…

"You're just a worthless piece of crap demon!"

Desmon unleashed his own demonic energy, countering the creature's influence to some extent and breaking free from the oppressive weight on them.

This allowed Shizuka to breathe again, though her condition was far from ideal. Just a moment longer, and her body would have been destroyed from within. Still, she signaled with her hand for him not to worry.

Desmon focused on the demon once Shizuka reassured him she was fine. There wasn't much he could do for her anyway, and worrying about her condition would only distract him.

"Oh, interesting. So, you're just trash that can resist a little." The demon's voice echoed, though its mouth didn't move. Both of them heard the words as if they came from everywhere at once.

"Thanks for the compliment." Desmon replied, locking eyes with the demon. "Should I assume that if I manage to take you down, we'll be able to leave this place?" He asked, feigning confidence.

He had known from the start—there was no way to win this.

"This is my domain. You will not leave unless I allow it." The demon's voice was prominent but dispassionate, as though Desmon wasn't worth its time.

"Well, that makes things easier!" Desmon grabbed Alastor and pointed it at the demon.

His instincts told him there was no chance of victory. Even so, Desmon wasn't the type to stand still and be slaughtered.

The demon's grotesque face twisted into a macabre grin, as though it welcomed the opportunity for a bit of fun before delivering death to its nemesis.

For this demon's name was…

Krampus.