The village of Aetherium stood at the edge of the Elemental Realms, nestled beneath a sky perpetually alive with storm clouds. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and the winds howled, but the people of Aetherium were used to it. Raiden Kurogane had always felt a strange connection to the storms. Growing up here, he learned to listen to the storm's whispers, its fury, its rhythm. He had always known he was different, that there was more to his life than the simple existence of his village. But despite his potential, Raiden's power had yet to reveal itself in full.
He spent his days helping in the village, dreaming of becoming a warrior who could protect Aetherium, just as the legends of old warriors had inspired him. But those dreams felt far away. Despite the storm brewing inside him, Raiden was nothing special. He had always been just another young man in a world filled with prodigies, elemental manipulators, and seasoned fighters.
But today—today was different.
The wind picked up suddenly, cutting through the trees, and making the air crackle with an unsettling energy. Raiden's pulse quickened. Something was coming. A presence unlike anything he'd ever felt before.
His childhood friend, Kira Tetsuya, appeared beside him, her eyes wide with alarm. They had grown up together in Aetherium, inseparable since they were children. Kira was a healer, always calm, always the voice of reason when Raiden's impulsive nature got the best of him. She had always been there to keep him grounded, to make him think before acting. But today, even Kira seemed anxious.
"What's happening, Raiden?" she asked, her voice tense.
Raiden looked toward the horizon, where the storm clouds darkened even further, swirling ominously above the village. His heart raced. He could feel it in the air—the storm wasn't just a weather pattern. It was something much worse. The sky seemed to pulse with malice.
"I don't know," he muttered. "But it's not good."
Raiden and Kira were still standing in the village square when the first wave of invaders struck. The ground trembled violently, shaking the very earth beneath their feet. Raiden spun around to see the village gates explode open, splintering under the force of an unnatural explosion. Shadows poured into the village—clad in dark, menacing armor, with symbols Raiden didn't recognize emblazoned on their chests.
"They're here," Raiden breathed. "Malakar's elite soldiers."
Kira grabbed his arm, her eyes wide with fear. "We have to get to safety, now!"
But Raiden couldn't just run. Not when Aetherium, his home, was being attacked. Not when his friends, and his family, were in danger. He could hear the villagers screaming, the clash of weapons echoing through the air. Without thinking, Raiden broke free from Kira's grip and charged toward the chaos.
"Kira, stay behind me!" he shouted as he sprinted toward the fight.
He had always dreamed of calling down lightning, of unleashing the storms that surged through his veins. This was his chance. The storm would be his weapon.
He raised his hand, focusing on the electricity that seemed to hum in the air around him. The storm responded as if it recognized Raiden's intent. The wind whipped around him, and with a sudden, desperate shout, Raiden released the energy, his hand crackling with uncontrolled lightning.
The bolt of lightning struck, but it was wild, uncontrolled. It barely grazed the nearest soldier, who only laughed. The soldier's armor absorbed the hit, leaving him unharmed.
Raiden gasped, a mix of fear and frustration flooding him. This was supposed to be his moment. The power within him should have been enough. But it was weak, not the raging storm he had imagined.
"You're nothing," the soldier sneered, his voice cold and cruel. "Just another child playing at being a warrior."
Before Raiden could react, the soldier lunged forward, swinging a sword with deadly precision. The blade connected, cutting into Raiden's side. He grunted, stumbling back as blood poured from the wound. His vision blurred, and the world around him began to spin.
Raiden staggered, his body growing heavy from the wound. His breathing was labored, but through the haze of pain, he saw Kira in the distance, struggling against the grasp of another soldier. Her hands were bound, and the blade of the soldier was pressed to her throat.
"Kira!" Raiden shouted, his voice raw with panic. His vision darkened, but his resolve hardened.
He couldn't lose her. Not like this. He couldn't let this be the end.
Summoning the last of his strength, Raiden charged again, ignoring the pain that flared with each step. The storm inside him surged—he felt a rush of energy unlike anything he had ever known, a desperate surge of power.
"I won't fail," Raiden muttered to himself.
But as he neared Kira, the soldier holding her twisted his blade, preparing to strike.
Raiden reached out with trembling hands, focusing everything he had left into one last burst of lightning.
A flash of light illuminated the battlefield.
The world went still.
Raiden's body collided with the soldier holding Kira. For a moment, everything seemed to blur together—the storm, the lightning, the clash of steel—but Raiden's vision was fading. He could feel the surge of energy coursing through him, but it wasn't enough. He wasn't strong enough.
With his last breath, Raiden pushed Kira out of harm's way.
She screamed his name, but Raiden could barely hear it through the roaring storm. His heart stopped, and his body crumpled to the ground, the world around him fading into nothing.