The year was 1791.
Snow rested heavy on the tree branches, the forest silent and cold.
A young man walked alone, his long black hair tied in a loose ponytail.
His white kimono and black hakama brushed against his katana as he moved.
"Arashi Takamura," the someone said,
then continued. "A warrior who had been alone his whole life. No parents."
A sudden memory. He stood in an orphanage, staring at empty walls
"No friends."
Another memory showed him watching the other children play, untouched by their laughter.
"No one to play with, it was as if he were invisible to the naked eye."
A final memory flashed. He stood alone as people walked past without noticing.
"And now he was just surviving alone in the forest… I like to call him the Lone Survivor."
Arashi walked up to a statue resembling a person and knelt, hands pressed together in prayer.
"But he had faith in someone, someone who made him feel less lonely,"
the person continued, "And that someone is me… Susanoo no Mikoto, otherwise known as the God of Storms."
Arashi closed his eyes and whispered, "O Susanoo, Lord of the Roaring Tempest, Master of the Untamed Sea, hear my voice amidst the gale. I offer my heart to your chaos, my will to your fury. Let the winds howl through me, let the lightning dance in my soul. Grant me the spark of greatness, that I may wield the storm's might and prove my courage in your name. Rage with me, O Storm God, and let your will be done."
Lightning shaped like a tall human figure appeared.
Susanoo looked directly at the audience. Then looked down on arashi
"Why is he praying? Susanoo said "You might wonder. Well, I cannot tell you exactly why, but I do know he wants strength. You see, by believing in a god, your human capabilities increase, making you much stronger than before. And if that god accepts you, you gain a power beyond comprehension, a power tied to the god's own essence."
He paused
"But why me?"
"Why Susanoo?"
"Well, it is obvious right?"
"Because I am great!"
He chuckled slightly
"Nah, just kidding."
"I dont know why exactly. But I think he likes my ways, my courage."
Susanoo expression shifted
"If so, why have I not accepted him?"
"Well, I am trying to see if he is worthy of my power."
A loud thump echoed from the distance. Arashi opened his eyes and turned.
Multiple massive red orcs approached.
"And we will see if he truly is," Susanoo said.
"Oh, and one more thing. There are demons in this world. Pretty obvious, really. If there are gods, there are demons.
"If there is good, there is evil."
"But never mind that. Let us see what he is capable of."
Arashi hid behind a tree, keeping an eye on the orcs.
His back pressed against the trunk, he muttered,
"Shit," he muttered.
He paused.
"There are too many of them."
He glanced the other way just as a giant club smashed toward him.
Arashi raised his blade and blocked it, but the force sent him flying into a nearby tree.
Branches sprinkled, snow pouring like rain.
Susanoo, shocked, muttered, "He blocked i-" before being cut off as a slash appeared on the orc's neck.
The orc's eyes widened in disbelief as it clutched its neck, blood covering its hands.
Before it could react, its hand was cut off. In an instant, Arashi blitzed in front of the orc, back turned, and looked over his shoulder.
"You should not attack so recklessly."
He severed the orc's head in one clean stroke.
"Impressive, but there is more, Arashi," Susanoo said as more red orcs surrounded him.
"This could be messy," Arashi muttered.
One orc slammed its club into the ground.
Arashi dodged and slashed the arm holding it.
Another orc swung.
He dodged again and leapt toward it.
Midair, another club came from the side.
Arashi noticed too late.
He was struck and sent crashing to the ground.
He groaned, touching his bleeding head.
The remaining orcs rushed him.
Arashi leapt high, flipping through the air. His blade cut one down before he landed lightly on his toes.
Another orc charged, trying to crush him with its body.
Arashi blocked it.
Two more came from behind, their clubs raised.
Arashi stood still.
Only his eyes were visible.
Empty. Focused.
He turned and cut both heads in a single motion. Blood splattered across his clothes.
He faced forward again.
Then he moved.
A blur.
One by one, the orcs fell.
Silence returned to the forest.
Every last one lay defeated.
Susanoo stared, speechless.
Then he began to clap.
"So… is he worth it?" a voice asked.
Susanoo glanced to the side.
Sun Wukong, the Monkey King stood there.
"Sun Wukong! How long were you there?" Susanoo asked
"Oh, I do not know. Long enough to hear you talk to yourself," Wukong replied.
Susanoo shrugged, a slight blush on his face.
"What are you even doing here?"
"Just seeing what you are up to."
Susanoo's eyebrows twitched.
"So you already found yours?"
"I would not say that," Wukong said. "But I have my eye on someone."
"His name?"
"Kaito. Kaito Hou."
"So… what is so special about him?"
"I do not know," Wukong said. "He just seems like fun."
The scene shifted to a bustling village near a grand kingdom.
A young rebel caused chaos. Only his silhouette could be seen.
"He steals for fun," Wukong said.
Susanoo chuckled.
"Like you did back in the day."
Wukong looked down.
"Yeah…"
Back in the village, the figure moved through the crowd, stealing with ease.
Slowly, details appeared.
A lean body.
Sharp teeth.
Yellow eyes.
"He also has white hair," Wukong added.
Susanoo turned sharply.
"What…?"
The figure's hair became clear.
White.
"It is true," Wukong said.
Susanoo muttered, "That rebel has white hair."
Kaito ran through the streets, knights chasing him. A grin stretched across his face.
"Believe it or not, Mikoto…" Wukong said.
Kaito turned into an alley.
Trapped.
Knights closed in.
He ran, kicked off the wall, and launched himself onto the rooftops.
He sprinted across them with ease.
He stopped and shouted, "All of you who live in Shuraia Village, remember my name!"
Wukong spoke at the same time.
"If you do not believe it, just remember his name…"
Both voices rang out together.
"KAITO HOU!"
"Kaito Hou!"
Susanoo let out a quiet chuckle.
"Then remember the Lone Survivor… Arashi Takamura."
Lightning surrounded Arashi. His hair and clothes lifted as he looked down, the storm swirling around him.
Arashi had finally been accepted.
Sun Wukong smirked
Then vanished.
To be continued