Origins! Everyone has at least one origin. It is through these stories that we see what defines the heroes that we know of this day and age. But, it's also important to take a look at those who are in the making. A tale about a young boy who wishes to become something of a...heroic.
We open to the mountains high up to see a small torn up village where people were working hard either with needs like farming while others...trained to fight.
These people are known as the Black Spider Tribe, a small band that used to be notorious in the past for being killers and mercenaries. But thanks to history, these people have faded into legend and live cut off from the rest of the world.
Now we see our main hero of the hour, running across the streets as he was slipping by people undetected as he wore a mischievous grin on his face.
"Heh. Making it through once again." Zexi smiled before being picked up by his shirt by a taller boy.
"Skipping training again, runt?" he asked.
"Put me down, Zalt. That stuff is boring." Zexi said struggling.
"You know dad isn't going to go easy on you when he finds out." Zalt said.
"I know. Train hard so the tribe can reclaim their place as rulers of the underground. I don't wanna do that stuff." Zexi said before a punch to the face.
"Its stuff like that that's gonna get you in major trouble one day." Zalt said before they heard a rumble throughout the city. "Earthquake? Weird. Its too early for that sea…" Zalt began before seeing he was only holding the shirt. "Damn it, Zexi!"
Zexi was laughing as he was on the outskirts of town. He then stopped before seeing a huge crater. He slowly approached it and in the center was a young girl. "Huh?" he said sliding down to her side as he poked at her. She soon woke up before screaming and punching him.
"No more! Please no more of those bears!" she said.
"Ow! What the hell? You just socked me!" Zexi said.
"Well excuse me, but we are in the middle of…." she began before looking around. "Where...Am I even in Japan?"
"Japan? What's that? These are the Null Mountains. Wait, are you...an outlander? Someone not from the mountains?" Zexi asked.
"Uh yeah...so, this place isn't being affected by the Tragedy?" she asked.
"Tragedy? Don't even know the world. You're on Black Spider Tribe territory. My name is Zexi." he said.
"Uh...Harumi." she said as they shook hands. "Guess this world is like my hero."
"Hero?" Zexi asked.
"Its someone or something that can save another's life." Harumi said.
"Whoa. That sounds so cool!" Zexi said before being hit by a rock from behind as Zalt was standing at the edge.
"There you are! I thought I would find you on the outskirts here." Zalt said.
"Dang it Zalt! I'm just chatting with my new friend!" Zexi shouted.
"An outworlder?" Zalt said in shock as she walked over to Harumi and grabbed her by her shirt. "Sorry, but you gotta find some other place to beg. We don't allow outworlders in our town." he said dragging her off.
"H-hey! What do you think you're doing?!" Harumi asked.
"I'm tossing you off the mountain. If we let an outworlder like you in, its gonna cause trouble for everyone." Zalt said.
"Y-you don't understand! It's not what you think!" Harumi said.
"Oh, then what is it then?" Zalt asked holding her up.
"I was in Japan, taking cover from those robot bears and despair imbued people, and the next thing I know, I'm here." Harumi said. "I woke up in a crater. I don't even know how I got here."
"You speak a lotta strange things." Zalt said dangling her over a cliff. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't throw you off right now."
"You can't cause..." Zexi said trying to think of something. "She wants to join the tribe!"
"Zexi, what are you doing?" Harumi asks in a whispering tone.
"Saving your skin." Zexi whispered. "Look, apparently the outside world has changed since those years ago. She knows about the outside worlds and their technology. She even knew about our tribe. If we let her join, maybe we can be more prepared for when we rise back up."
Zalt looked skeptical before looking at Harumi. "Is this true?" he asked.
"Y-yes." Harumi said, playing along with Zexi's story.
Zalt sighed as he tossed her onto the ground. "Dad is gonna give you an earful for this brat." he said to Zexi.
"What else is new?" Zexi smiled as Zalt was headed back.
"You better hurry up then. Its your turn for work." Zalt said.
"Got it!" Zexi said smiling. "Hey, you alright?"
"Yes." Harumi said. "Is he always like this?"
"Yeah. He takes our tribes rules very seriously. But, he is older. That's my big brother after all." Zexi said smiling.
Harumi giggles a bit at that. "Strange. My brother is never that uptight."
"Huh? Isn't being all serious what older siblings do? Its how I have always seen it." Zexi said.
"Technically, yes." Harumi said. "But my brother is always so optimistic about everything. I guess it just comes with that energy he has."
"He sounds cool. Well, a shame I'll never meet him." Zexi said. "Now hurry up. If we're late, all we'll be eating are the scraps."
Over the period of a few months, the two were training together and working together, becoming fast friends. Harumi had adapted well to being a member of the tribe and was quickly accustomed to their ways. Then soon came a day that would change the boys' life forever. On this day, in a small temple, the many people of the tribe had gathered as Zexi and Harumi were kneeling on their knees as an old man approached.
"Brother Zexi, Sister Harumi, the day has come. The day you both attain the mark of the spider. After this, you both will be treated like real adults. Brother Zexi, is there any considerate reason why you shouldn't be given the mark?" he asked.
"Not to my knowledge." Zexi said.
"I see. And what of you, Sister Harumi?" he asked.
"No, Elder." Harumi said.
"In that case, it is within my power, I induct you two ...as members of the Black Spider Tribe." he said putting paper onto their backs before quickly using a paintbrush on them before taking the paper off, revealing new spider marks on their backs. The two soon rose as they bowed and walked out. It was later in the old crater that Zexi was cheering about this.
"Yes! I never thought I would get my mark this soon!" Zexi cheered as Harumi watched.
"I am honored for this." Harumi said happily.
"Yeah. Its pretty big. Pretty soon, we can go on missions to the outworld. I've always wanted to see it." Zexi said.
"Sorry, but that won't happen." a voice said as three boys approached them.
"You three are...the ones that failed to get their mark this year." Zexi said.
"This isn't fair at all. You slack off all the time. And that girl, she's an outworlder. She shouldn't deserve to wear the mark." the leader said.
"Just because I'm an outworlder?" Harumi asked. "I suggest you watch your mouths, if you know what's good for you."
"You mouthing off to me?" he asked as he prepared a fist. But as he threw it, he looked in surprise to see he hit Zexi instead as he stood between Harumi and him. "Move it."
"I won't!" Zexi said.
"What the hell do you think you are?" he asked.
"I'm...A HERO!" Zexi shouted.
"Fine. Boys, take him…" the leader began before seeing his friends taken down. "What the…" he said in shock as an older boy stood over him.
"You really shouldn't...pick on people because they're different." he said punching the leader in the gut, knocking him out. "You kids alright?"
"Yeah." Zexi said before looking at the boy. He was older than both of them with a scarf and colorful attire. "Wait, are you an outworlder?"
"Yeah. I am. I came to these mountains to train while my friends wait for me." he said. "My name is Jexi."
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Harumi said. "I am Harumi Ishihara."
"And I'm Zexi." Zexi said.
"Zexi huh? I saw you defend this girl like that. Its not bad." Jexi said.
"Thanks but...how could you use an extra ability? These mountains make powers and abilities not used by the tribe not work." Zexi asked.
"Oh. I guess they never encountered a Color Fighter before." Jexi said showing a rainbow aura around his hands.
"Color Fighter?" Harumi asked. "I've never actually seen one in person."
"Color Fighting…" Zexi said amazed.
"Guess I should be going now." Jexi said turning to leave.
"Wait!" Zexi said. "Please...teach me how to use that!"
"Huh? Why do you wanna learn that?" Jexi asked.
"Because...I wanna...become a hero like the stories Harumi has told me." Zexi said.
"Zexi, are you sure about this?" Harumi asked.
Jexi smiled at this. "You wanna become a hero? I want you to do more than that. I want you to...try and surpass me and this big showoff I know."
"I can do that easily!" Zexi said as Jexi put a hand on Zexi's forehead as an aura surrounded him.
"Then let's start!" Jexi smiled.
A year was passing through like a lightning bolt as Jexi and Zexi trained one another as Harumi was watching with concern. They would hear tales of Jexi's travels as they happily latched onto every word. Even after Jexi had left, Zexi continued to become stronger. Soon, in the middle of a moonlit night, Zexi was packed up as Harumi saw him off.
"Well, guess this is it." Zexi said.
"Yeah. I hope you take care of yourself." Harumi said.
"Like there ever is a need to worry." Zexi said. "I'm gonna head out there and gather my own group. I'm gonna have like...ten people. Yeah, that's a good number. And I promise...you'll be the final one I recruit. That's a promise." he smiled.
Harumi nods at this. "I'll keep getting stronger on my end, too. Oh, and if you see my brother, tell him that I'm doing alright and that he doesn't have to worry about me."
"You got it!" Zexi shouted as he ran to the cliff and jumped right off as he fell. "I'll be sure to tell him. And with luck...I'll make sure you two see one another again!" he shouted disappearing between the trees down below.
Harumi smiles at that. "That Zexi, always so full of energy." Harumi then looks to the sky. "David...Wherever you are, please be safe."
And so began the tale of the hero known as Zexi. What sort of tale will he continue to weave? Only time can really tell us that.
