Two years ago, a major gang war erupted.
The war was between Black Dragon and White Vow. It was a massacre; tons of people were killed, and both sides suffered greatly.
About three months before this, Keiji got angry. He said I was becoming my enemy.
"Jin, you've become what we've sworn to destroy."
He walked out… and formed White Vow. He swore he would crush me and he would kill me, like all the other monsters we crushed.
The day of the battle, all the Dragons wore our signature black button-down shirts, and the gold Dragon insignias all shone beautifully.
.
On the opposite side of the field was a wave of men in white jackets. Branded with the broken halo.
The fight broke out nearly instantly… Death swept the battlefield, and people died left and right. Pools of blood formed all over the place; no one was safe.
Eventually, the Dragons began to prove successful, and White Vow was forced to retreat.
"KURORYU JIN!!! I WILL NOT LOSE THIS BATTLE"
"It's not worth it, Keij. Retreat with your men."
Keiji pulled a gun, and everything blurred. I can't exactly remember what happened.
All I remember is the shots.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
"DAMMIT JIN"
"I'm sorry, Keiji… you left me no choice."
"I wasn't going to shoot you, YOU DAMN FOOL!"
Keiji collapsed at that moment, bleeding out in the middle of the street.
This moment changed everything I saw, something that made me the villain.
Keiji's jacket swung open, revealing that he was wearing our black uniform under the jacket.
"I'm sorr,y Keiji"
I took off my overcoat I had branded with the Dragon insignia, laying it over Keiji.
"Make sure to give it back to me in Hell, ok?"
"I-I p-p-promi-"
And just like that, Keiji was dead. His eyes turned white, gone like the wind.
It all happened because I couldn't contain my rage, the thirst… my hunger for power.
"Hey Jin… I got something for you."
Jin turns to Keiji, both of them standing now.
"I know I never finished my sentence back in Japan, but I still held onto this…"
Keiji pulls out a long overcoat, Black as night with the Black Dragon insignia embroidered in gold on the back. A phrase Jin claimed was written above the symbol.
"God Amongst Man"
Jin flips the coat, seeing his name and the title he gave himself written on the coat.
"King of Death"
"It's been ages since I've seen this."
Jin pulls off his suit coat, tossing it onto the counter, and pulls on the overcoat.
"The king of the underground, Kuroryu Jin, has returned," Keiji says, smiling, putting a hand on Jin's shoulder.
Jin smirks back.
"The king is dead, Keiji."
Keiji reaches into his pocket, pulling out a folded piece of paper.
"Jin, I want you to have this… It's a map, it has everything known to the Demon army marked on it."
"Everything the Demon army knows?"
"Long story short… I met the Demon Princess during an op. She gave me that in exchange for a pact to help end the war."
Jin smiles and chuckles a little.
"That sounds exactly like something that would happen to you."
"So Jin, I would like to know… where you headed?"
"I think I'm gonna go to the Dragon Spirits. I know I can't be one of them, but maybe I can get the help I need to fulfill a promise I made."
"As much as I admire the killer side of you, you were better before prison."
"Don't worry, I know."
Jin opens the door to the Bar… stopping and looking over his shoulder…
"I hope we meet again, Asano Keiji."
Jin turns back towards the open door and steps out.
Jin finds a crowd of people standing before the door. Whispers about a "real Dragon Spirit" being here.
Jin pushes his way into the small crowd when they all split and form a path to the street.
"What a weird bunch of people."
Jin looks at the map, a small magic indicator showing the direction he's facing.
"Leave it to Keiji to find something magical."
Jin turns right and starts walking North. Tons of merchants stop what they're doing and stare at Jin.
I guess silver hair and eyes are a curse if you're not a Dragon Spirit… and since I'm not a Dragon Spirit, I guess I am seen as a curse.
Whatever, that's not important. I am going to head to the Dragons… along the way,y I could hold to my promise and help people like a hero.
Grante, that's if I even run into someone who needs my help.
Suddenly, a small child runs full force into Jin. Jin stumbles slightly, but falls to the ground. Tears instantly stream from the kid.
"Hey there, little guy, it's all good, no need to cry."
Jin crouches down to the kid's level, offering a hand to help him stand up.
"What were you running from, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Well, you see, mister… the scary man at the big mansion took my mom and won't give her back."
"Is that so? How about I help you out? I'll take on the big, scary man and save your mom. Sounds good?"
"YAY! The silver guy is gonna save my momma!"
Jin smiles, standing up as a sense of pride washes over him for not acting irrationally.
"Lead the way, little man."
The two of them begin walking towards the northern end of the town. Jin takes note of all the carriages nearby as he plans to take one up north.
Jin and the boy make it to the edge of the town right at the footstones to the Mansion.
Not even I could afford something like this… and I was the king of the Shibuya underground.
"Say, kid, what's the guy's name again?"
The kid shrugs.
"I don't know, Momma says he's just a mean man I'll never worry about."
"All right then, how about you stay here and I'll bring your mom out in a minute."
"Are you sure, mister… what if there are multiple moms?"
"I guess I'll free everyone."
Jin steps up to the door, opening it slowly. A loud creek echoes through the front room.
Jin steps in, closing the door behind him.
"Jeez, talk about a rich guy."
Jin continues to walk around, not seeing a sign of life anywhere. Jin comes back around to the front when a sudden red glow illuminates the room.
"Holy shit… never thought I'd see something like this."
"WHO DARES ENTER MY MANOR!!!"
Jin pulls his blade, holding it in front of him. An older man appears before Jin, the aura flowing out of him.
"So where's that boy's mom?"
"I take many women as my slaves… so you'll have to be more specific."
Jin lifts his blade, pointing it directly at the man.
"Slavery is illegal and immoral where I come from."
"And what will you do about me having slaves?"
"You have been deemed guilty by the moral code of man… the innocent have sent me to diminish the evil in your soul."
"Well, young man, you have some nerve to strike a fight with me… you'll make a fine slave when this is over."
"Who said I would lose?"
"You are a cocky little shit, you know that?"
Jin's entire body and demeanor shift. His mind and body are entering a state he knows very well. His eyes make an icy stare, his face cold, his body unwavering, he's prepared to kill… the same as he had done before.
What is this? Calmness? Why am I calm? Is this… what I've been like? A calm, cold monster?