Kurata and Aoiro were only infants when their mother died, but their father, Hikari, had vowed to raise them as warriors—symbols of resistance against the brutal regime that controls slavery, The Rikuro. As the years passed, the boys grew strong, their powers maturing with each day, but so did the weight of their destiny.
At the age of five, both brothers began to show signs of their inherited powers. The first time Kurata's black lightning sparked from his hand, it set a tree ablaze in their backyard. Aoiro, with his blue lightning, followed shortly after, showing more control and precision.
From that moment, Hikari's teachings grew strict. They trained in remote fields far from the prying eyes of the Rikuro's soldiers, where the brothers learned the basics of their powers.
- The first lesson was learning to control the raw energy surging through their veins. Hikari taught them meditation techniques, showing them how to channel their lightning into precise strikes rather than letting it explode recklessly.
- Hikari drilled in them that power without discipline was more dangerous than any weapon. The boys would spend hours balancing their bodies on narrow logs, using their powers to maintain stability while being struck by Hikari's blows. One fall would lead to starting all over again.
- Beyond their powers, Hikari trained them in the art of swordsmanship and hand-to-hand combat. He believed that if their powers ever failed them, they needed to rely on their skills. Kurata preferred brute strength, while Aoiro's movements were fluid, relying on speed and precision.
The Bonds of Brotherhood
As they grew older, the brothers' personalities became more distinct.
- Kurata was aggressive and hot-headed, often letting his emotions guide him in battle. His black lightning crackled with unpredictable intensity, growing stronger whenever his anger flared.
- Aoiro was calm, calculating, and more in tune with the flow of his energy. His blue lightning was refined, slicing through targets with deadly precision. He often acted as the voice of reason when Kurata's temper got the better of him.
Despite their differences, the brothers shared a strong bond. They were each other's only family, aside from their father, and their loyalty to one another was unbreakable. The more they trained, the more they pushed each other, competing fiercely but always looking out for one another.
By the time they reached their teenage years, the brothers had begun mastering advanced techniques:
- Kurata's Black Lightning: His power became more destructive, and he learned to create devastating attacks like the Black Storm, a barrage of lightning bolts that could obliterate anything in its path. His training also allowed him to harness his lightning as armor, making his body resistant to physical strikes.
- Aoiro's Blue Lightning: Aoiro focused on speed and precision. He developed techniques like the Blue Phantom Step, allowing him to move so quickly that he left afterimages, confusing enemies. His mastery also let him summon bolts of lightning from the sky, using the environment to his advantage.
As their power grew, so did the pressure to live up to their father's expectations. Hikari constantly reminded them of their destiny: to free the world from slavery and bring down the Rikuro.
But the weight of their father's expectations began to wear on them.
One night, during an intense training session, Kurata lashed out. His black lightning struck a tree, splitting it in two. "What if we're not strong enough?!" he shouted, fists crackling with energy. "What if we can't stop them?!"
Aoiro, standing beside him, remained calm as ever. "We have to be. We have no choice."
Hikari watched from a distance, his heart heavy. He knew the burden he had placed on them, but he also knew there was no other way. The world was cruel, and the only way to change it was through power.
By their mid-twenties, Kurata and Aoiro had become formidable warriors. Hikari began taking them on missions, testing their abilities in real combat. They freed small villages from oppressive lords, dismantled slave trades, and slowly gained a reputation as the "Lightning Twins."
- Hikari's final lessons were not about power but about strategy. He taught them to think several moves ahead, to never rush into battle without a plan. The Rikuro were not just powerful—they were ancient, cunning, and ruthless. The brothers needed to be more than just warriors. They needed to be tacticians.
Kurata and Aoiro learned to analyze their enemies, finding weaknesses and exploiting them. They used their lightning in ways that would surprise their foes, striking with precision and retreating before their enemies even knew what hit them.
But even as they prepared for their eventual assault on the Rikuro, Hikari knew that this battle would not be easy. One day, while watching the brothers spar, he felt a sense of dread. The Rikuro had been alive since the creation of the world, and he feared that even his sons' incredible power might not be enough.
"We've done all we can," he muttered under his breath. "The rest is up to them."
Little did he know that this battle would change everything—not just for Kurata and Aoiro, but for the world.