High in the mountains of Minstrel winds wail acrossed cliffs and bare stone. Rain mixed with hail thrown from the dark skies above batters against the shingles on a Shaolin monastery. Thunder rolls across the peaks as a small rock slide crashes into a small lake nearby. A flash of lightning illuminates the outline of several robed figures stalking up the hill.

Inside men and women sit on the ground around a low lying table eating. One of the younger monks writes on a small piece of parchment in the corner. Candles flicker as a gust of wind throws open a pair of shutters. One of the monks hurriedly closes them, struggling against the wind. He wears a light purple robe lined with soft green. His shaved head bobs up and down as he writes until an older monk slaps the back of his head.

"Sorry Master." the child mumbles as he looks up at the old man who gives him a small smile. The child stills as he continues writing.

Suddenly a loud knock echos through the hall. The group of men look at each other in confusion, no one should be out this late. A monk cautiously moves towards the door. His hand rested on the handle for only a moment before an explosion burst the door open. The monk howled in pain as it scalded him before he could activate his aura. He slams into the table as arrows rained in, striking three of the monks and snapping off their aura. The monks jump to their feet prepared for combat.

In walks a single hooded figure, robbed in shadows. In his hands he clutched a sword that spewed flames that set the ground alight. The monks let loose a volley of various colored energy blasts from their hands. They did nothing. One pushed of with his back foot and leaped forward, crossing the room in seconds. The figure caught him face-to-palm, stopping him mid air. The monks body burst to life with a silver aura before being sucked into the figure's inky black void of a figure. The man drops the monk to the floor, lifeless.

The figure looked up at the monks, "Surrender now or be destroyed. It's your choice." He stared them down, gripping and releasing his hand on the hilt of his sword. The elder monk stepped forward and called out, "We will do no such thing! Surrender and you will die peacefully." The man visibly smiled under his hood.

"You don't know just how happy I am." And drew his sword back out.

He launched forward engaging all seven monks at once. He spun in midair slashing vertically with his sword to great distance. A monk in yellow robes dove forward attempting to tackle him, but he didn't move an inch. A wave of white aura had moved to his legs enhancing his strength monk stabbed with a glowing purple aura rapier that sunk hilt deep into the figures chest. The monk pulled back and realized his blade was gone. The robed man gave him a confident smirk, unaffected by the blow.

The figures sword slashed a crossed his unprepared form splattering blood across the walls. He tried to scream but only a wet gurgle left his slashed throat. He slammed to the ground in front of the young child, fear evident on his face.

The remaining four monks dashed forward surrounding him. They slowly circled him, all holding assorted blades weapons. The intruder swept his blade at men's feet, forcing them back. He spun and sunk his sword into the monk behind him who had been prepared to slice his exposed back. The weapon tearing through his aura and his flesh effortlessly.

Ripping the blade out he spun around the new corpse and propped it up for use as a shield. Two daggers jabbed into the lifeless mans shoulders where his murdered stood moments ago. The red blade flicked out from under the corpse's armpit and struck the second man between the ribs, shattering his aura. As he staggered back from the force the Master connected his blade with that of the assassin.

They locked blades for a mere second, the Master forcing down his blade with all his strength as the figure blocked with a mere one hand. With his free hand he withdrew a dagger from the depths of his cloak. He jabbed forward toward his exposed gut but was parried by the aura less monk.

The man ducked and rolled as a knife flew passed his head. He came up behind the two monks but before he could do any further damage a second knife struck Kim in the spine. A killing blow if the weapon had not shattered. He spun in rage, flying upwards with his sword. He slashed the monk who's aura had already been depleted vertically. He fell face first into the ground. Spinning his sword in a circular motion he blocked three more daggers. A flick of his wrist sent his own dagger into the man's gut, set to explode.

The man thought the place could use a bit more color.

The elder monk retreated into a narrow hallway, limiting movement. The man stalked in with his sword to his side. He jabbed but his blade was smacked aside by the Master's blade. He spun on his heels and stabbed from the opposite side. The attack struck true but failed to break the man's aura. The Master twirled his blade to meet that of his attacker, steel clashing against dust. The cloaked man shot his hand out and grabbed onto the other man's hand. The Master struggled to escape the man's vice hold on him. While he was distracted, the mystery figure slashed him across the chest, the blow raking through his aura shield. Knowing he was low on aura, the master activated his semblance.

Several ghost images flew outward from his body, each moving in different ways. The intruder moved to block one image only for the real master to strike him in the side. A strike from above masked a quick jab from below. For several minutes the master whittled down his aura, he slowly realized he was getting close, only a few more attacks and it was over. He decided that one strong blow would allow him to finish the fight faster. He grabbed his sword with two hands and cleaved strait down to the man. He stepped aside.

The sword stuck into the ground and stayed there. The man rolled over the Master's hunched back and placed him in a choke hold. The Master's throat was forced closed as he thrashed against the man. Out of aura and weak from fighting, he grew still. The man took his soul. He searched but never found the child, even after harvesting the other three monasteries nearby.

Several years later, an older child in lilac robes prepared for initiation...

RAIN chapter one