A lone traveler garbed in a white kimono, and nothing else but a sword, his sandals, and a sun hat on his person, halts before reaching the top of a hill.
Ever hesitant to see what lay just ahead, Jack recalled the horrors he'd witnessed thus far, and with a deep breath braced himself for another vantage point overlooking a city held in the iron grip of the evil demon Aku or else one that lay in ruins after somehow evoking his wrath, which was by no means a difficult feat.
Instead, to the relief of the samurai who had grown somewhat pessimistic from his many experiences – never having any clue about what new trials awaited him at every wrinkle in the fabric of time – when he reached the top of the hill, a seemingly ordinary city sprawled out in view before him.
"No…it cannot be!" Samurai Jack could not help but exclaim aloud.
The city boasted several of the multi-story pagodas he had only ever seen before in his homeland, connected by a network of dirt roads that bustled with life and no indication of Aku's presence: not a single billboard announcing his supremeness, giant statue created in his image, or squad of sentry bots maintaining his control over the populace in sight.
A gentle breeze swept over Jack's face as he stood at the top of the hill stricken with disbelief, bringing with it his first whiff of this new destination. It smelled of recently cooked food, prompting the samurai to consider when was the last time he was graced with a hot meal.
The wind smelled of hope to the battle weary samurai, as well as garlic and melted if not slightly burned cheese over piping hot tomato sauce.
