In a world ravaged by darkness and chaos, a lone figure stood tall amidst the carnage, his sword ablaze with righteous fury. His name was Arthur, once hailed as the hero who vanquished the Demon Lord and saved the realm from certain doom.
But victory came at a steep price.
Betrayed by those he swore to protect, Arthur found himself standing trial before the very kings and queens he had fought to defend. Accused of wielding his power for personal gain, he faced condemnation and scorn from those he once called allies.
Desperate to regain their trust, Arthur relinquished his hard-earned abilities, surrendering the source of his strength to appease the fearful masses. Yet even this sacrifice was not enough to quell their suspicions or soothe their wounded pride, a threat, that's what he was to them, the very person who risked their lives to save them from darkness was now in trial.
Branded a villain in the eyes of the world, Arthur became a pariah, ostracized by society and forsaken by his own family. In a cruel twist of fate, it was they who ultimately sealed his fate, their hands stained with the blood of the hero they once revered.
"Why, did I do something wrong?" Arthur asked himself as he sat at the corner of his house, a warm sensation filling his space and drenching his cloath. "Did I deserve this" looking at his blood filled hands, his gaze focused on his own family holding knives, his father and brothers ready to finish him off while his mother shielded the younger one from the view.
"I..." the word caught in his throat as tears streamed down his face.
"I.. I'm sorry"
*Thud*
a heavy object made contact with his head, the floor stained with blood as half his view was covered in blood, the hateful faces of his family now the last thing he sees.
"Don't worry, I won't let you die like that" A voice?
"A blinding light that soothed his fears, let me take you to a new world, a place me and you can be together."
As Arthur's consciousness faded into oblivion, a fleeting sense of disorientation gripped him, like a ship lost in a tempestuous sea. His final moments were a blur of memories and regrets, swallowed by the void of his own making.
In the darkness, a voice whispered, barely audible amidst the chaos of his thoughts. "We'll be together soon," it murmured, a cryptic promise that lingered in the depths of his mind. And with a surge of unseen energy, Arthur felt himself being pulled into the unknown, a journey beyond the confines of time and space.
*****
Blinking rapidly, Haruto struggled to make sense of his surroundings. The faces hovering above him were unfamiliar, their expressions a mix of concern and curiosity. Panic surged within him as he tried to move, only to find his limbs unresponsive. It felt like a nightmare, one he couldn't wake up from, as the realization dawned that he was no longer himself.
Opening his eyes, he was met with a cluster of smiling faces, "..." trying to take seemed to be futile, he was awake, aware of what's around him yet, he could speak, his body not moving to his will, the confusion and fear felt at the moment, the sense of helpleness the only thing he could do was cry as the women placed him next to someone on the bed.
'Please tell me where I am' Arthur tried screaming.
'Hey, can you hear me, don't ignore me dammit !!!'
'HELP ME!!!!'
The thunder outside reaching a fever peaks, a storm signifying the rebirth of a king.
"My dear Haruto" The mother said, her face strained and exhausted. amidst the chaos and uncertainty, Haruto found solace in the presence of the woman who had brought him into this world.
Amidst the chaos of his awakening, a voice whispered in the recesses of Haruto's mind, its words a haunting echo. "Embrace your destiny, Haruto, grow strong and find me my love" it murmured, a promise tinged with uncertainty. And as the storm raged outside, lightning illuminating the room in brief flashes, Haruto couldn't shake the feeling that his journey was just beginning.
* 15 YEARS LATER*
In the heart of the Jigoku Clan's territory, a sprawling training ground stretched out beneath the watchful gaze of towering mountains. Here, amidst the rugged terrain and swirling mists, children of the Jigoku Clan gathered to hone their skills in the martial arts and master the ancient techniques passed down through generations.
Dressed in attire befitting their fierce reputation, the young warriors of the Jigoku Clan wore sleek, form-fitting uniforms adorned with motifs of fire and shadow. Their outfits, crafted from durable fabrics and reinforced with lightweight armor, provided both protection and freedom of movement, essential for the rigorous training ahead.
The uniformity of their attire belied the individuality of each young warrior, their unique talents and personalities shining through as they prepared to face the challenges that lay ahead. Some bore the scars of past battles, a testament to their resilience and determination, while others radiated an aura of quiet confidence, their eyes ablaze with the fire of ambition.
Under the guidance of seasoned instructors, the children of the Jigoku Clan engaged in a variety of training exercises, from rigorous sparring sessions to meditation practices designed to sharpen their focus and discipline.
'It has been 15 years since I was reborn here, I have my memories of the past life' a bitter taste rushed his mouth as he remembered.
15 years old Haruto Arata, the only boy to have white hair among his peers, despite his small body and young appearance his hair could have him mistakened to be an old dwarf man.
Sitting in a single line, children from the jigoku clan, meditated, their legs closed and postures that rivaled royalty. While a fine muscle toned man went around them, an iron rode in his hand, his attire was different not as fine fit, bit didn't get in the way of his swift movements.
'These past fifteen years have been tough, the jigoku clan, a clan considered to be one of the most powerful when it came to the use of the abilities, mostly the jigoku eyes, a signature trait of the clan, eyes said to have the power to control the flow of energy'
'By the time I was ten, I have been attending everyday in hopes to awaken the jigoku eyes, but to no avail, some of our peers have awakened them already and some are even younger.. lord Ido, the clan's crown prince only eleven and has already achieved the second stage of the jigoku eyes.'
'The leader of the clan is a man named Bloodfire, his level of mastery inmartial arts and chi far surpass some of the leaders from other clan, his achievements were recognized by the emperor and he was put to the test of his ability... he had to bring down eight dragons from the northern territory and he would be awarded a seat in the council of elders'
'It is said, that he achieved this task in only four days time, and when he came back, he had unlocked a new level in his jigoku, now he is one of the elders that govern this world they hold power second only to the emperor himself. And that man is my father' Haruto thought as his white hair danced in the wind.
His thoughts interrupted by the sudden thrashing as a metal pipe bashed his side.
"Posture! and I thought I told you to clear you mind,"
*Thwack*
" I never said you could slum down, get back up and into position" The man said as he continuously hit Haruto forcing hi to grit the pain and get back into meditation.
The smell of the earth mixing with his sweat, the sand dried his eyes and caused them to sting, but if he were to scratch them he would surely receive another beating.
The swirling sand reminded him of the desert, this place was high upin the mountains, the wind blew relentlessly and the sand was brutal. The sound of sneazing and coughing filled the grounds followed by thud of a beating.
"You must channel your inner energyif you hope to unlock the jigoku eyes, the instructor said, it wasn't hard to miss that he himself had unlocked his, the areal around his pupil was white but everything from the iris to the pupil was either black or red, a thick line around the Iris followed by a red that crept up the pupil in a delicate pattern.
"Everyone has their own jigoku eye pattern, one that is unique to them!" The instructor yelled, his spit landing on the meditating children beneath him.
"The jigoku has five levels of mastery, and each level reflects who you are as an individual, the pattern is determined by your desire and your elemental attribute... STAND UP!" He commanded.