[Thunder Village Alley]
In a narrow alley of Thunder Village, where the night hides between the old brick walls, a gentle breeze drifted through, carrying the scent of earth and dew. The place was wrapped in tense silence, shadows flickering lightly with each gust of wind.
A mysterious figure appeared, cloaked in a heavy robe that covered his entire body, his hood drawn tight, leaving part of his face hidden in the darkness—as if the night itself hid within him. His steps were quiet and measured, walking the fine line between danger and secrecy.
Opposite him, Kazuma and Rin walked side by side, their steps in sync, eyes scanning relentlessly, jumping from shadow to shadow. They spoke in low voices, full of caution and anticipation, the surrounding atmosphere thick with hidden tension.
Suddenly, Kazuma lunged quickly to the left, his eyes piercing the darkness, sensing something unseen. In a shocking instant, he collided with a solid object without warning. He stumbled backward, falling to the ground, raising a small cloud of dust that smelled of damp earth.
He raised his right hand to the back of his head, pain flashing across his features, and shouted sharply, frustrated:
"Can't you watch where you're going? Be more careful!"
Rin stepped forward quickly, bending over him with concern, her eyes searching his face for any signs of injury.
The mysterious man approached slowly, pushing his hood back. His face was revealed—strikingly handsome, with an unusual beauty in this dim alley.
His hazel eyes radiated warmth in the cold night, and his blue hair stood like a crown challenging the sky.
He bowed politely, extending his left hand toward Kazuma as a silent apology. His voice was soft, tinged with a light melody of regret:
"Sorry, I wasn't paying attention."
Kazuma held his hand calmly, returning the courtesy:
"It's fine, and I'm sorry for shouting at you."
The stranger smiled quietly, raising his right index finger in a gesture mixing caution and friendliness, then pressed his teeth lightly in suppressed tension.
He spoke in a low voice, carrying the innocence of youth and the weight of responsibility:
"My name is Hiden. I'm fifteen years old."
Kazuma smiled warmly:
"Nice to meet you. I'm Kazuma."
Rin smiled gently, placing her right hand on her chest:
"And I'm Rin. Glad to meet you."
Hiden bowed his head modestly:
"The honor is mine… truly."
---
[Scene in the Garden]
The camera slowly moved through the scattered flowers decorating the garden with their enchanting colors. The gray stone paths carried the elegance of time, while sunlight gently filtered through, as if whispering secrets from a forgotten era. The place pulsed with quiet life—people moved lightly along the paths, their laughter muted, voices like a warm breeze in the air. On the left, chairs lined up along the path stood like silent guardians of nature's harmony.
In the heart of the garden, they sat together—Kazuma in the center, Rin beside him, and Hiden next to them. Behind them, intertwined tree branches whispered along with the birds' songs, as if composing the symphony of life itself. Kazuma sat steady, his short legs not reaching the ground, palms resting on either side, his expression a mix of patience and vigilance. To his left, Hiden sat composed, legs crossed, hands on his lap, eyes focused forward with calm determination.
In a low, clear voice, Hiden began:
"I come from a district called Kimura… a unified clan, strong and unyielding."
A brief silence followed. Kazuma looked at him with steady eyes:
"And what do they want from you?"
Hiden replied sharply, his voice unwavering:
"There is someone in my family named Aiden—my elder brother by four years. He was assigned to lead the clan after my father stepped down."
He looked at Kazuma and Rin, his words planting seeds of tension:
"But the real problem isn't this… they want me dead."
Kazuma and Rin's eyes widened in disbelief.
Hiden continued, his voice steady yet filled with a mix of bitterness and strength:
"Yes, you heard right. My family is nothing but a group of drug dealers and dangerous criminals—with Aiden at the top."
Kazuma let out a cold laugh, tinged with a hint of sarcasm:
"How wonderful… your brother must be strong, especially if he's a criminal."
But his expression soon changed, and a deep, philosophical look appeared on his face:
"But when you think about it… killing people without reason is an unbearable injustice."
Rin looked at him curiously:
"Do you really think that way?"
Kazuma smiled faintly, his hand slightly trembling on the bench, as if contemplating life's contradictions—the balance of strength and mercy, darkness and light.
With narrow eyes and a confident gaze, Kazuma spoke quietly but with weight:
"Maybe Aiden killed some people… but sometimes, people deserve it. Sometimes life demands that kind of justice."
Hiden remained still, pressing his palms to his thighs, his heavy robe flowing smoothly. He smiled tensely, closed his eyes for a moment, and replied in a calm, reflective tone:
"My brother Aiden does not kill for the sake of killing. He seeks something deeper… he wants to understand the reason for our existence, the meaning of the life we live."
The scene gradually faded to black. Glowing words appeared:
Now, we move to the Kimura Clan.
---
[Kimura Clan Hall]
Darkness lifted to reveal a grand hall, its floor covered with an endless red carpet shimmering under the warm sunlight streaming through a large north-facing window. On the right, an elegant emerald green sofa faced another on the left, harmonizing with the décor.
On the western side, Aiden stood, radiating calm authority. His sleek black hair was combed back meticulously, and his dark eyes were sharp and unwavering. A knife-shaped scar marked his left cheek—a memory etched in time. His pale skin reflected the daylight clearly.
He wore a bright red open jacket matching his pants, shimmering like woven silk. Beneath it, a black shirt concealed the heat of his inner rage. Around his neck, a heavy chain held a demonic skull—symbol of dark realms and hidden secrets.
Despite the weight of his attire, his posture was unbreakable. His breathing felt like the pulse of an impending war, the air around him charged with tension. Every muscle movement hinted at an inevitable explosion.
In a dim room filled with the scent of dust, Aiden leaned back, one leg over the other, as if time had stopped. His piercing eyes slowly moved to the left, searching for something absent—or perhaps for a thought that could shake his soul.
The heavy creaking of a door broke the silence. A large man entered, his belly prominent as if weighed down by years, wearing a shiny blue robe that caught the faint light. This was Karo, father of Aiden and Hiden, each heavy step carrying the burden of anger and confusion, making the floor groan beneath his feet.
He stood before Aiden, his face tense with suppressed anger. Aiden spoke in a low, calm voice, discussing a distant idea—but his words carried a cold threat:
"If you came here, father…"
Karo's reply was sharp as a drawn sword:
"Have you found your brother?"
Aiden sighed calmly, resolute:
"I haven't. He knows how to escape… but he was never out of my reach. I know where he is."
Karo's voice rose with boiling accusation:
"And even though you know where he is, you sit here drinking?"
Aiden smiled sarcastically:
"And what else should I do… but wait?"
Karo stepped closer, his anger escalating:
"Are you mocking me, Aiden?"
Aiden swallowed his anger and returned to his icy calm:
"Wait, father… what's the hurry?"
---
[Arrival of Ai and Takiyora]
The room, filled with dust and heavy silence, changed with the arrival of Ai, her steps tense. Her dark skin gleamed in the dim light, her long golden hair flowing like a stream of shimmering light, and her black eyes as dark as a starless night. Anger radiated from her, as if embers burned within her chest.
She stepped forward quickly, her brows furrowed. Her voice trembled with suppressed rage:
"Why did you come?"
Aiden responded bitterly, words emerging from an old wound:
"Why did you come?"
Ai clenched her fists, trying to contain her storm:
"You don't like me, so why even talk to me?"
Then, with a sword-like gaze, she said:
"You truly are a monster in human skin…"
She paused, as if her words had drained some of her strength, then whispered bitterly:
"Do you really want to kill my brother?"
At that moment, another girl entered. Her warm brown skin glowed faintly, her braided hair tied carefully at the nape of her neck. Her blue eyes sparkled like a clear sea under the moonlight. She wore a black formal suit with a white tie, giving her an aura of seriousness and mystery.
Ai looked at her in surprise:
"And who are you?"
The girl bowed slightly, her voice calm and humble, carrying the weight of hidden truth:
"I'm the new attendant. My name is Takiyora."
Aiden smiled bitterly, as if her presence was just another annoyance:
"Exactly what I needed… another fool."
Takiyora's voice was calm but strong, her tone carrying the scars of the past:
"I am from the City of Destruction, which was completely wiped out three years ago."
Aiden's expression shifted slightly, a glimmer of interest in his eyes:
"So you're a survivor."
"I have traveled the world searching for my brother and sister," said Takiyora, trying to ignite a spark of hope amidst the ashes.
Aiden laughed bitterly again:
"And who is this brother? Should I know him?"
"I don't know his whereabouts," Takiyora said, sadness weighing her features. "But I heard he was affiliated with the Scorpion gang."
"I've never heard of them before," Aiden replied, his eyes darkening as if summoning shadows of the past.
"And I am also searching for my sister. She disappeared before the catastrophe," added Takiyora, her voice heavy with grief.
Tension rose—every word opening a new wound in the hearts present, transforming the room into a dramatic stage full of mystery, pain, and broken hopes.
Ai:
"And who destroyed your village?"
Takiyora's voice was calm but weighted, her eyes reflecting an unhealable wound:
"My city… was nothing but a pathetic canvas, completely erased to ashes by war when I was no older than ten. The cause? Only one man. His name… 'Jini'."
Her eyes flared with anger and the painful memory.
Ai (shocked):
"Jini?!"
The name seemed to tear her thoughts apart.
Takiyora:
"Yes… Jini. That cruel man—the strongest 'Shin' user in the entire world."
Her voice lowered to a cold whisper:
"I never knew why he destroyed our city… but if given the chance, I would have killed him myself."
Aiden listened, his eyes sparkling with challenge and mockery, then burst into loud laughter cutting through the silence.
Aiden:
"So what are you doing here then? What brought you?"
Takiyora replied with unwavering confidence, her smile steady as the mountains:
"Mr. Karo brought me… to be Ai's teacher and trainer."
Aiden exchanged a sarcastic glance, then laughed:
"No matter how much you train her, she will always be as weak as her teacher."
But Takiyora did not back down. She raised her head, closed her eyes with unshakable confidence.
Suddenly, a violet aura exploded from her body, wrapping from her head down to her ankles, like a living vein of power.
The air around her intensified, even the stars in the sky seemed to dim in her light.
Under the pale moonlight, the colors of the aura danced across her right hand, flowing like a wild sea.
She opened her glowing eyes, staring at Aiden, her voice firm as stone:
"I will be your trainer, Ai."