116 years ago.
Chest rising and falling at a rapid pace. Heart heavy and filled with grief. Teeth chattering with an un-uniform pace, eyes wide and bloodshot with tears falling down. Head spinning, causing confusion- Ridan's grip was getting looser with every passing moment. How many hours had passed? He could not tell. The sun was bright red to him, everything was red… the body of his fallen master laid not far on the training field. A sight Ridan would glance over every now and then, his lips pressing together as he held back cries.
"Now, would you look at that!" A cheerful voice chirped. Ridan stood on guard, knees trembling as he was on the verge of falling down. "Where's the rest of your people? I heard there were five! But I only see one…" Ridan's hands shook with rage and fear. He didn't want to die, but he knew no amount of treatment could save him now, he was starting to accept that. He was blinded in one eye, scalp bloodied due to chunks of his hair being forcefully ripped out, his stomach penetrated— it was only time before he dropped dead. His sword was chipped and his core was damaged, causing him to be unable to draw energy from the elements around him to fight back. No way he could survive this. Although he was afraid, he felt as if this was deserving. This is what he had coming, karma had finally come to get him. But why come for his master? The young ones in the sect who can barley comprehend evil? This was his own karma, not theirs. Yet just like always, he seemed to put those around him in danger.
The cheery voice spoke again, causing Ridan to snap out of his daze. "Seriously. Where's the rest?" The onis which had raided the dojo looked barbaric and ugly. The one speaking had obsidian like skin with spiky hair pulled back into a small ponytail. Accompanied with gold bangles and ragged pants. "Go on, speak human!" The oni said with a smile, it made Ridan's blood boil— such heartless creatures! Not a hint of emotion was present on their face despite shedding blood and causing destruction! The oni on his right, slightly shorter, rolled his eyes before shouting in unfamiliar tongue. He had a braid being held together by a silver bangle. He seemed to have more scars than the other despite appearing to be the weaker one. There were too many… his now deceased master had done a good number on them while Ridan had only killed two. He was much weaker than these creatures in this state. Had his brother and sect siblings been here, no doubt Ridan wouldn't have gotten hurt— or their master wouldn't have died. Exept they weren't here, he was alone in this.
The Onis scattered, they had red and blue colored skin with matted black hair. So ugly… only two reminded. The ones with obsidian skin. Ridan felt as if his body was burning all over, like salt was being poured on his open wounds. It was faint compared to the rest but he felt his chin being gently pinched by a cold rough hand, his head being forced to look up at the grotesque creatures by the Oni on the right. "Tell—" he paused. Ridan lost most of his vision, but he could see a hint of surprise on the Onis face. "Tell us where the scrolls are." He said after a pregnant pause in a demanding tone, Ridan could pick up an accent in his voice. He tried to speak but all that came out was a wheeze. A blow to the throat was followed as Ridan was let go. He lifted his trembling hand to his throat, falling backwards. "Dagan– this one is useless— he can't even speak!" Yelled out the one responsible for delivering the blow. "Don't get your panties twisted brother! He can't speak but he point, go on! Point human!" Said Dagan with a grin, showing yellow teeth. Ridan looked up and shook his head with a glare. "…" The grin fell as the Oni lifted a fist, "whatever. We'll just look for it ourselves."
Ridan's face was met with the fist, he let out a cry as his head was thrown to the side, he felt his jaw dislocated. Dagan fisted his hair and started shaking his head back and forth out of anger, the Oni yelled in anger, demanding to know where the scrolls were. He sounded desperate. He felt bruises being formed as he felt more blows move from his chest to his stomach. His ribs ached and all he could do was clench his teeth hard, occasionally letting out a wail when the Oni would claw on his body. He watched as the areas was he hid Dong and the rest of the children was being burned down, watching as the Oni played like children while his home was being destroyed. He yelled for them to stop, begged, cried. But he was hit to the ground as the Oni left, he didn't want to kill Ridan, he planned to take him back home. He would do anything to know.
The Oni had come for power, a way to make them stronger. A technique anyone can learn— however, the core of the body being damaged, can cause the ability to be unable to use. Ridan had been injured before this, he refused to accept help from his brother out of self hatred. Ridan was born sickly, the technique has the ability to heal any wounds and make powerful blasts, but there are some things that can't be healed. Ridan was forced to fight powerless, only being able to wield Now he could be hiding with the rest but he needed to make sure the Oni wouldn't find them. He needed to make sure they didn't find Dong. It was his responsibility as the senior to keep them safe. But deep down he, he knew he left out of his own selfishness, perhaps he could pay his debt and die. He could die making it seem like he was noble. Even in such a dark time, Ridan could not stop his own self-absorption. Perhaps he wanted his story to be remembered as a hero. Is that so wrong? He ignored the small voices yelling at him.
Despite the situation, he can't help but groan at the stupidity of the onis— had it not occurred to them that they wouldn't have written down the techniques in scrolls? Only people who knew how to unlock the full potential of the technique were him and his master. If Ridan could have the ability to pity the onis for anything, it would be their lack of logical thinking. What's the point of having all the power if you have the intelligence of a moth?
Ridan's knew theses were his last moments. He was bloody, his body hurt inside and out. If it wasn't the wounds that would kill him, it would be himself. He was on his bruised knees, a pathetic sight. Ridan had lost himself, he could barley breathe as he ranted.
"Forgive me… forgive me please— my fault, my fault!" His voice cracked as he wailed, voice filled with grief. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry— please!" He yelled as he begged for forgiveness, that was what he thought. But in his heart he was begging for help, he wanted his brother. He didn't really want to die, he was scared. As he realized he didn't actually want to die. He didn't— he wasn't ready! He looked around desperately, coughing and whimpering like a damn dog. His throat felt like it was being held together by barn wires. His heart a bleed with heartache, he wish it would stop. Never had he wanted to feel this pain again. It hurts.
In the end, Ridan had died of heartbreak.
The Oni with golden bangles started to grow frustrated. "Where the hell are those scrolls?!" He yelled. "Dagan," spoke the other, his brother Derrick. "Calm yourself—" Dagan didn't let his brother finish, "Shut up! Shut up— I have wasted so many hours of my life coming here! So many hours planning this raid! And you all are so incompetent that you can't even find simple paper?!" Dagan took a breath as he chewed on his bangles. A small nudge was felt on his ankle, he looked down and saw the head of his brother next to it.
Dagan had no time to process when he fell to the ground, losing balance as his foot had been cut off. "Augh!" He cried out, never had he felt such pains before. He turned over, and for the first time, he felt true fear. His brother had just been murdered. A man wearing vibrant robes stood gripped on Dagan with great force, he was breathing hard and biting down even harder as he drew blood on his own lip. His hands shook— not with fear but with rage. Dagan could tell the man was using all his will to keep it together, he knew he was in grave danger, the pain in his foot faded out as the thumping in his heart pounded like drums in his ears. Dagan was born with a lack of fear. He didn't know what was wrong with him, he assumed it had something to do with his Oni blood, but even the regular ones felt fear, not like he wanted to feel fear— he just wanted to know why. "What…" Dagan wanted to know everything, he wanted to know why to his birth, why to his lack of fear, why he was so weak, and right now he wanted to know why he was so terrified. This very moment, Dagan felt true fear, he was trembling, his heart was about to burst, his breathing stopped, his eyes started to shake. With a hitched breath the man spoke, fingers digging through the Onis tough skin.
"Where is he. Where's my brother."