Kyu
Death and rot consumed the air. Little Kyu trembled. Horrified and anguished tears streamed down his face, painfully carving through dried dirt and blood.
It was true. Those fools had really done it, their heresy was no lie. They've spat on the gods. They've betrayed the nation, the very one they were sworn to serve and protect. The child watched helplessly, paralyzed on the ground, as demonic forces razed the village, slaughtering everyone. Hate and rage burnt within him like the very flames that filled every inch of his sight before him.
Even his young eyes could see the truth, peer through their bullshit. Monsters. They'd betrayed him, they'd betrayed everyone. He scanned the carnage surrounding him, a canvas of death. Monsters straight from hell, mangled corpses, smoking blood, fire and rot replacing water and air … screams of those having their life ripped from their mutilated bodies. All caused by their own rulers. The very warriors meant to protect and lead them.
Kyu's teeth clenched together so violently they threatened to crack. Traitorous bastards. They deserved death. No, eternal damnation, to suffer in the deepest abyss of hell. How many have been lives stolen? How many more would be butchered?
Further cries erupted, dragging across the air and Kyu's body like a dull, rusty knife. Begging for help, from the gods from anyone. Calling out for someone to save them. Helplessly, Kyu listened as the screams abruptly cut off and were replaced by a demonic roar. Even at seven years old, Kyu was no fool, he was under no delusion that he could do anything to stop this. He couldn't even escape his own fate here. All little Kyu could do was pray. Pray that someone would rise up and oppose those foul creatures. Pray that his country still could and would be saved. That Akuresh will be saved.
The ground trembled, like a titan was approaching. Weakly and fearfully, Kyu craned his head to the right to greet the monstrous entity. A gigantic, horned, demonic abomination from the foul bowels of hell, its skin as crimson as blood and wings a pale flesh.
So this was the end.
Kyu's limp body began to uncontrollably quake, his eyes quivered and bulged from their sockets. The demon raised an axe of crooked obsidian, the size of a man. What had they done bringing forth a monster like this into reality. How was Akuresh ever meant to fight against a monster like this?
Powerless. Useless. They were the only thoughts that crossed the young boy's mind as his murder approached. Out of everything he'd done and after everything that had happened to him, that was his only regret. Not being strong enough.
With hate, fear and regret in his heart, Kyu reluctantly closed his eyes and prepared for death.
'The false emperor be damned.'
As Kyu embraced darkness everything went silent, all he could hear was the crackling of flames decimating the lives and stories of hundreds. He waited. Death never came. Kyu kept waiting and waiting but still death never descended upon the boy.
Suddenly cries and roars erupted across the hellscape. They were of no human. His eyes crept upon. Then they shot wide. The demon was dead before him, its head cut from its body and collapsed on the bloodied, scorched grass before him. The demonic cries continued to echo across the village, overshadowing the destruction like an angelic melody. Something was killing the demons. No someone was butchering them, like they had the innocent people of this village. Such a being existed?
After not even a few minutes the screams of death stopped and Kyu saw his saviour. His heart raced, his eyes watered and trembled. He knew what this being was, every child knew the legends. They still lived. The samurai of Akuresh.
An unfathomably long, curved blade was held in the gigantic man's hand its blade coated in writhing darkness. Kyu could practically sense the power and Retsu oozing from the sword.
'A kaezium blade,' Kyu realised. Weapons that could harness the Retsu and be imbued with the power of the gods.
He glanced up at the warrior and his heart practically stopped. They were real, the legends were true. Godlike warriors who could truly wield Retsu and the elements. Fight with unfathomable power. The pride of Akuresh, their true protectors and warriors. The samurai had returned.
Kyu eyes scanned around, the samurai had truly killed all the demonic forces. Alone. Hope brewed in the core of Kyu's soul and the embers of life began to stoke inside him.
The darkness faded from the kaezium blade and the samurai sheathed his sword across his back. He approached the boy, falling calmly to a knee. Kyu raised his gaze to meet the man's. Could he too achieve such a power.
Ten years later
Kyu waited in the shadows, revelling in the darkness. Then the call came. The Rebellion needed him. With a cold grin, the samurai claimed his sword, tying the sheath upon his waist as he set off to purge the corruption from his home. No matter how many attacks it took, no matter how many creatures and lives he had to take he would save Akuresh. He would banish the traitors and place the true heir upon the throne.