One year ago, Akira Walker fell into a hole and found himself in a shadow world. The world is much like ours, with the same places and buildings, but the world is rife with magic and danger. After a brutal introduction to the world, Akira learns he can use Shadow, a powerful but unstable form of magic. While he explores this new world and the limits of his powers, someone in the Real World is killing people with Shadow.
At risk for exposure or attacks, and in seek of revenge, Akira uses his wit and guile to create a network of informers and comrades to hunt the serial killer. He continues to keep his secrets and live his normal life, but finds himself changing into someone cold-blooded and dark, filled with shadows. As he struggles to solve the mystery and come to terms with his new self, Light magicians and the police stand in his way. Akira becomes entangled in battles, using his wit, sword skills, and magic to protect himself, his identity, and his family. However, he is betrayed and arrested for the murders. As an escaped prisoner, Akira works against time to find out the devastating truth.
They're the strongest combatants in Japan. The ones with far more talented gifts than the average person; most being non-human. They all live separate lives, knowing each other at different degrees by attending the same high school.
Everything changes when Akira Haruno, the sociopathic heiress of a wealthy real estate company kidnaps them and forces them into participating in her trials. She is in love with one of the hostages, and wants him, most of all.
That's not the real motive. Her father, Darius Haruno, wants to make the hostages his army - his soldiers - and use their skills, abilities and weaponry to aid him in dictating the world. If they try to escape, he'll kill them and all of their loved ones, including their fellow hostages. Told from the perspective of Emiko Hana, a sharp-tongued vampire with a lonely, desensitized high school life and dark past. Her and the other hostages must work together, discovering more about each other's pasts, and also more about themselves.
Let the trials begin, freaks.