The year was 1560, a time of endless turmoil and strife in the land of Nihon. The Sengoku Period had plunged the nation into chaos, with clans waging relentless wars for power and territory. Amidst this backdrop, Ryuji's village lay nestled in a quiet valley, seemingly untouched by the conflicts raging beyond the horizon.
Ryuji's childhood friend, Shion, had always dreamt of becoming a samurai. Two years ago, she had been accepted into the prestigious samurai academy. On the day of her departure, she had met Ryuji by the river where they often played.
"Ryuji," she said, her voice filled with determination, "I promise I'll come back stronger. I'll protect our village and everyone we care about. Can you wait for me and when I return will you marry me?"
Ryuji blushed and nodded. "I will wait and I would love to marry you too, Shion. Come back soon."
Ryuji held onto that promise as he continued his peaceful life in the village, eagerly awaiting the day Aiko would return. But fate had other plans.
One fateful evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the village in a crimson glow, Ryuji heard frantic shouting. Rushing back, he found his father locked in a fierce battle against a monstrous demon, one of many that had begun to plague the land. Despite his father's bravery, he was no match for the demon's overwhelming strength. With a final, devastating blow, the demon struck him down.
"Father!" Ryuji cried, running to his side. His father's lifeless eyes stared up at the blood-red sky, a silent plea for justice.
Later that night, driven by grief and a burning desire for revenge, Ryuji wandered aimlessly through the forest. His mind was a whirlwind of emotions, unable to comprehend the enormity of his loss. As he stumbled through the trees, he suddenly came upon a strange sight—an injured demon, its form monstrous and terrifying, limping through the shadows. Its body was covered in deep wounds, and its eyes were filled with pain and desperation.
Before Ryuji could react, a group of other demons appeared, pursuing the injured one with ferocious determination. Their snarls and growls echoed through the forest, sending chills down Ryuji's spine.
Panic seized him, and he tried to run. But the injured demon, sensing his presence, lunged at him with its remaining strength. Its claw slashed across Ryuji's chest, searing pain engulfing him. He screamed and fell to the ground, his vision blurring. The last thing he saw before losing consciousness was the injured demon vanishing into the night, its pursuers hot on its trail.
When Ryuji awoke, he found himself in a dimly lit room, the scent of herbs and medicine filling the air. He realized he was in the med care wing of the samurai academy. His chest throbbed with pain, a bandage covering the wound. The ceiling above him was unfamiliar, and the sounds of distant training exercises filtered in from outside.
Groggily, he sat up, trying to piece together what had happened. The events of the previous night flooded back—his father's death, the demon attack, and the excruciating pain of the wound. Rage and sorrow intertwined within him, fueling his determination.
Ryuji clenched his fists, his resolve hardening. "I can't just rest. I need to avenge my father. I need to become stronger."
With a renewed sense of purpose, Ryuji rose from the bed, his movements slow and deliberate. He knew what he had to do. He would join the academy and train to become a samurai, no matter the cost. His father's death would not be in vain.
Days turned into weeks as Ryuji keep waiting until his wound healed. Though the scar on his chest remained a stark reminder of his encounter. His will was unyielding, driven by the memory of his father and the promise he had made to himself.
One evening he went to the med care office and ask her that he wanted to join the Samurai Academy and next day he enrolled and joined the Samurai Academy!
With this who knows what awaits for him.