The sun was at its highest point, and the cool air of the valley hit my face as I struck the dry tree trunk again and again.
My knuckles burned, but I didn't stop. Sweat dripped down my forehead, mixing with the dirt on my hands. Every punch I threw was a reminder of what happened that morning in the dojo.
— "Kamimizu, next time warn us before you blow us all to pieces!" —one of the students yelled at me when I tried using magic.
I can't blame them… it was a disaster. I tried to conjure a simple spark of crimson magic, but ended up causing an explosion that almost destroyed half of the dojo. It's not the first time something like this has happened, and it won't be the last.
— "You're a danger, Jiro."
— "How do you expect to protect anyone if you can't even control your own magic?"
The words still echoed in my mind as I threw another punch, harder than the last. It's not that it bothers me what they say; I'm used to being underestimated.
What bothers me is that they're right. I'm not the most talented in the dojo. No matter how much I try, I always end up messing things up.
I paused for a moment to catch my breath. In front of me, the landscape stretched out in all directions: a green valley that seemed endless, with a nearby waterfall whose water crashed forcefully against the rocks. This was my secret place, the only one where I could train in peace without anyone laughing at me.
— "Training alone again, Kamimizu?"
I quickly turned around when I heard the voice. It was Ryoku, one of the dojo's top students, and for some reason, he always had something to say to me. He leaned against a tree, crossing his arms and looking at me with that arrogant smile I hated so much.
— "What do you want, Ryoku?" —I replied, trying to sound indifferent.
— "Nothing, just came to see how the 'great hero' trains secretly after another disaster. You know? Maybe you should quit. Not everyone is cut out to be a warrior."
I ignored his words and focused again on my punches. He kept watching me for a few seconds before turning away.
— "Do whatever you want, but don't think training more will make you better than the others. Talent is everything."
When he finally left, I collapsed onto the ground, exhausted. I looked at my hands, covered in small cuts and scrapes. Maybe Ryoku was right. Maybe there was no point in trying if I would never be like him, but... I can't give up.
— "Talent can open a door, Jiro, but only constant effort will let you cross it."
My grandfather's words came back to my mind. His teachings have always kept me going, even in the worst moments. I'm not the strongest, but I can keep training. I'm not the most talented, but I can keep trying.
I stood up, clenched my fists, and walked toward the waterfall. I took off my shirt and stepped under the cold water. The impact was brutal, but I was used to it. This was my special training, something I had learned on my own. If I can't improve my magic, at least I can strengthen my body.
As the water hit my back, I closed my eyes and thought about my father. I always wonder what he would have said if he were here. Would he be proud of me? Would he tell me I'm wasting my time? I don't know. I just know I have to keep going, no matter what.
The sound of the waterfall was deafening, but somehow, it also brought me peace. This was my refuge, the place where I could be myself without anyone judging me.
— "One day, I'll be strong."
— "And I'll be able to find my father."
I didn't say it out loud, but I felt it in every strike of water against my skin. One day, when I truly need it, I'll be strong enough to protect those I care about.
After training for hours, I sat on a flat rock near the waterfall, letting the sound of the water calm me a bit. The sky was beginning to turn shades of orange, signaling the sunset.
With the cold wind brushing my face, I took from my pocket a small carved figure: a warrior holding an imposing spear, with a fierce expression full of determination.
"Raizen Tenkuma…" I murmured as I gazed at the figure, as if naming him would summon his spirit.
Since I was little, I have heard stories about him. My grandfather used to tell me how this legendary hero, half-human and half-Oni, became the greatest hope of all worlds during an age of darkness.
"Do you know why they called him the Crimson Oni?" my grandfather once asked me, with that deep and wise voice he always had when talking about important things.
"Because he used crimson magic?" I answered excitedly, as any child would.
"Not just because of that. Raizen wielded such immense power that his very presence could turn the sky blood red in the midst of battle. But beyond his strength, what made him special was his indomitable heart. He never backed down, he never gave up, no matter how powerful his enemy was."
According to legend, centuries ago, beings from other dimensions suddenly appeared, bringing chaos and destruction with them. They were incomprehensible entities, with forms and powers beyond what any mortal could conceive.
They wanted to conquer everything that existed, from the lowest planes to the highest dimensions. No one could stand up to them... until Raizen appeared.
It was said that his spear, Kagutsuchi, was a weapon forged by the gods of fire and the dimensions themselves.
Capable of piercing not only the flesh of his enemies but also the very fabric of realities, allowing him to close portals and dimensional rifts. With this spear, Raizen fought for years, facing creatures that defied the logic of the world, and finally managed to restore peace to all dimensions.
"Raizen Tenkuma... the hero who saved all of creation," I whispered as my fingers traced the carved figure.
I don't know why, but every time I hear this story, I feel a special connection to him. It's not just admiration... it's as if there is something inside me telling me that this hero and I share more than it seems. My grandfather always said that ancient tales hold secrets that only a few can understand.
"I wish I could be like him…" I whispered, closing my eyes for a moment.
It's not that I want to be a hero just for the sake of it. I want to be strong, like Raizen, to protect those I love. I want to be able to face any danger, no matter how impossible it seems.
The sun finally disappeared behind the mountains, leaving the valley shrouded in shadows. I stood up and put the figure back in my pocket. Tomorrow, I'll train again.
The sun had already set, and the sky was tinted with a deep dark blue when I decided it was time to head home.
I was exhausted from training, but satisfied… at least today I hadn't caused any disasters, right? I chuckled a little at the thought.
As I walked along the valley path, a sudden tremor caused the ground to shake violently. I staggered, almost falling to the ground.
"What the hell...?" I said aloud, trying to keep my balance.
The tremor didn't last long, but the air around me felt strange, as if the entire world had held its breath for a moment.
I looked up towards the horizon, right in the direction of the great Kazekumo Mountain, a massive rocky formation that dominated the region with its imposing presence.
"What... is that?" I murmured, wide-eyed.
In front of Kazekumo, the sky tore open like a torn cloth. A gigantic, glowing, pulsating crack opened wide, emitting a blinding light that illuminated the entire land.
I could see how the nearby trees and fields were bathed in that unnatural glow. The air began to vibrate, and a strange buzzing filled my ears.
Suddenly, a quick flash shot out from inside the crack, as if something had been thrown towards the mountain.
The light crossed the sky in a blink, falling somewhere near the top of Kazekumo, leaving behind a reddish trail.
"That doesn't look like one of those phenomena!" I exclaimed loudly, clenching my fists as my heart pounded hard.
The strange thing was, unlike other times, no dimensional spirits or monsters attacked.
Everything had happened so quickly. As soon as the light fell, the crack began to close, fading slowly until the sky returned to normal.
Without thinking twice, I ran back to the village. When I arrived, everything was in a commotion. People were gathered in the town square, talking amongst themselves, clearly confused and scared.
"Did you see that?!" shouted an elderly man, gesturing with his hands.
"It was like a falling star!" answered a woman, holding her child.
"No, that wasn't a star, it was... something else. Something that came from somewhere else." Another villager joined the conversation, frowning.
"Do you think it's an omen?" asked an old woman, visibly worried.
"Nonsense! It was probably just some strange phenomenon. Nothing more," said a young man, trying to calm everyone down, though his voice trembled a bit.
I walked through the crowd, observing how everyone exchanged theories and speculations.
Some were scared, others were just curious, but what they all shared was the same question: "What was that?"
I approached my grandfather, who was standing in front of the dojo entrance, arms crossed, with a serious expression on his face.
"Grandpa, did you see it too?" I asked, still panting a little from the run. "Yes, I saw it... and it doesn't seem normal, Jiro. This time there are no monsters or spirits lurking."
Whatever it is, it's different from the phenomena we've encountered before." His voice was calm, but there was a spark of concern in his eyes.
"Do you think it has something to do with the legends?" I asked him, though in my mind I was already starting to form an idea. I couldn't stop thinking about Raizen Tenkuma and the stories about dimensional cracks he faced so long ago. Could it be possible that this had some connection to him?
Grandpa fell silent for a moment, gazing towards Kazekumo Mountain, now shrouded in shadows. Finally, he sighed and looked at me seriously.
"Whatever it is, Jiro, don't get into trouble. This is no game."
"Of course, of course, I know!" I quickly responded, though deep down, a strange feeling told me this wasn't something I could ignore.
I returned home with my mother, but my mind kept racing. What was that light? And why didn't it seem like a common dimensional phenomenon?
That night, I could hardly sleep, my eyes fixed on the ceiling, my head full of questions. Something told me this was just the beginning of something much larger.
The dawn brought with it a strange silence. The fresh breeze of the valley had stopped, and the sky, usually clear and blue, was tinged with a dark red. Something was wrong.
—"Jiro! Wake up!" —my grandfather's voice thundered from the yard, pulling me out of sleep abruptly. I jumped up, half-asleep, and ran out without even putting on my haori properly.
Jiro: "What's going on, Grandpa? Why all the noise so early?"
My grandfather, Kamon Kamimizu, was an elderly man with a stern face, a long white beard, and muscles that still intimidated anyone.
He pointed toward the horizon, where a huge red crack cut across the sky near the great Kaigen Mountain. The crack twisted as if the sky itself was being torn apart, and from it emanated a dense, oppressive energy.
—"It's a Daiketsu… one of the greatest rifts in the void." —My grandfather's voice became grave—. "And this time, it seems it brought something more dangerous than ordinary monsters…"
Within minutes, the entire village was filled with screams and chaos. The villagers ran from one side to the other, while a group of guards armed with magical spears and enchanted swords headed toward the rift.
—"Stay in your homes!"
—"Don't approach the rift!" —the guards ordered, trying to control the curious crowd that gathered near the main square.
I stood quietly in a corner, uneasy. I knew Daiketsu were rare, but every time they appeared, they caused disasters.
Years ago, my grandfather and other masters of magical martial arts had to face a gigantic creature called Kuroten. The beast destroyed entire villages before it was defeated, and today it seemed something similar was about to happen.
Suddenly, a loud rumble shook the ground, followed by a deep roar that resonated throughout the valley.
From the rift emerged enormous, monstrous creatures, with bodies made of shadows and eyes glowing like burning embers. The villagers screamed and ran to take shelter.
Villager 1: —"Those things are going to destroy everything!"
Villager 2: —"Call more guards! We won't be able to stop them alone!"
I stood still, watching as the guards tried to contain the creatures, but the situation seemed to worsen. That's when something caught my attention: a group of children, too scared to move, was trapped near one of the beasts.
Jiro: (Thinking) —"I have to do something!"
Without thinking twice, I ran toward them. The beast raised one of its enormous legs, ready to crush them.
Jiro: —"Hey, move out of there!" —I shouted as I jumped forward. Without knowing exactly how, I concentrated all the energy I could and released it in a crimson flash.
The impact was enough to deflect the creature's attack, which took a few steps back in surprise. The children ran to a safe place, but now all attention was on me.
Jiro: (Scratching my head, nervous) —"Uh… sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt your attack and… cause problems…"
The guards and villagers looked at me as if I were crazy. The situation, which was already tense, became a bit comical due to my clumsiness, but before I could relax, a deep, firm voice resonated from the rift.
—"Interesting… a human and an Oni… fused in one body."
From the rift emerged a tall and elegant figure, covered by a black cloak that moved as if it were made of living shadows.
Its eyes glowed with a silver hue, and in its hand, it held a dark spear that emanated a terrifying energy. This being was not like the other monsters; it seemed intelligent and powerful. It was a Genshurei, a primordial spirit.
Genshurei: —"I didn't expect to find resistance so soon… but you…" —It pointed at me with the spear—, "are different. What's your name, boy?"
Jiro: (Swallowing) —"Uh… Jiro… Jiro Kamimizu…"
The Genshurei smiled in a way I didn't like at all.
—"Well, Nosy Child… let's see if you have what it takes to face the chaos that's coming."