Chapter 1: The Boy Who Saw Destruction!
Legends are not born overnight. The mysteries of humanity have lied dormant for a hundred millennia. Few brave souls have went after the secrets of the unseen Stratus World, but unfortunately have been lost to time. A new breed of humans with powers emerged five thousand years ago, known as Stratified Humans. Many of these humans have went on to form their own colonies based on geographical plains known as regions. The region of Afterdark, is the most prominent plain, holding the original warrior who ascended to the sky and became a powerful deity. Time passed, a new hero emerges as the story begins!
Scene goes to an academy. A young boy, about sixteen is seen sitting in a classroom. The boy's shoulder length blonde hair starts to blow as a wind enters the classroom from the window. The boy is seen writing notes down. Suddenly, he notices eyes fall on him.
"You're really in the zone today, Mike. We've only got twenty minutes left in today's lecture." said a guy with short blonde hair. "Are you sure you can make it?"
"Haven't you noticed, Holon?" asked Mike as he kept writing. "There's another presence here."
"I swear you're paranoid." said Holon as he looked at Mike. "There's no such thing as ghosts."
"It's not a ghost." said Mike as he stopped writing. "It's something darker…"
"I've heard about it." said a voice as Holon and Mike turned around.
A guy with straight black hair and pale skin approaches the two students.
"Gaia, what is it?" asked Holon. "Could you actually know what this thing is?"
"Some of the Captains have said the presence is caused by the influx of Precipe in the area." said Gaia. "The Administration might be issuing a curfew soon if the demons continue to appear at night."
"That's stupid." said a girl with brownish-red hair. "You really believe those things are a problem?"
"Stay over there and mind your business, Ayako." said Holon. "This isn't your concern."
"Why you…" said Ayako as she clenched her fist.
"She's right." said Mike. "I feel that it's something other than the Precipe."
"How can you be so sure?" asked Holon. "For all we know, that might be the only thing."
"Whatever it is, I plan on finding out tonight." said Mike as the school bell rung.
"Mike…" thought Holon. "What are you really planning on doing?"
Scene goes to sunset. Mike is seen walking alongside a riverfront. A short-haired boy wearing a white jacket and a girl with blonde streaks in her hair are seen walking towards Mike.
"You're here after all, Mike." said the blonde-haired boy in the jacket. "How was the Academy?"
"It was fine. Piccadily-sensei just went over how different elemental natures work. We're supposed to start learning our natures tomorrow." said Mike. "To be honest, it's a waste."
"Father sent you to the Academy to become a Captain." said the girl. "You have it in you like we did. Don't forget who you are, you're a member of the Sawa Clan."
"Sabrina." said the boy. "I refuse to push off Father's expectations on Mike. He still has time left."
"Kir." said Mike. "I don't plan on becoming a Captain just yet. Not until I'm ready to prove it."
"Even so, you're still a child." said a voice. "Rushing to become a Captain is a waste."
A short woman with long blonde hair and a white jacket appears. A green katana with a cloverleaf-shaped hilt is seen strapped to her back. Mike immediately clenches his fist.
"Captain Clover, have you also came to greet Mike?" asked Sabrina as she looked at her.
"What the hell are you doing here, munchkin?" asked Mike as he smirked at her.
"I'll burn you if you ever say that again, you twerp!" exclaimed Clover.
"Nicole, he's my brother. You can't just burn him." said Kir as he looked at her.
"Even so, he's still a smart mouth." said Clover. "I guess you don't respect authority, do you?"
"I don't think you're an authority figure." said Mike. "I could take you on easily."
"Enough. Both of you." said Kir. "Mike, don't you have somewhere to be?"
"Not really." said Mike as he looked at the group.
"The sun is going down. Head home." said Kir. "There's a reason why we're here."
"That's right. The three of them are all Captain-level." thought Mike. "Which means…"
Scene goes to a blue house in a suburban neighborhood. Mike is seen entering the house. As he does, he takes off his shoes at the door. A small Pomerian pup appears to greet him. Mike pets the dog. As he does, a woman with purple hair and a black robe is seen walking into the room.
"You're late, Mike Sawa." said the woman as she looked at him.
"Kusanagi-sensei. What's going on? Where are Mother and Father?" asked Mike.
"All the Captains have been ordered to take watch over Yura tonight." said Kusanagi.
"But you're a Captain, and you're here." said Mike as he looked at her.
"I've made a special request to the Head Commander to take care of my family." said Kusanagi.
"In other words, you're here to babysit me." said Mike as he stared at her.
"You should be happy. At least you aren't eating dinner alone tonight." said Kusanagi.
The dog wags its tail and looks at Mike. A black cat is seen lying on the sofa.
"With those two, I don't think I ever eat dinner alone." said Mike. "The girls join in."
"So, have you been practicing?" asked Kusanagi. "I've wanted to see how far you got."
"Take me outside and I'll show you." said Mike as he looked at her.
"Fine. But if anything happens, it was your idea." said Kusanagi as she looked at him.
Scene goes to the backyard. Mike is seen facing a wooden target. Kusanagi looks at him.
"Anytime now, Mike Sawa." said Kusanagi. "The longer we're here, the more likely we'll get hurt."
Mike starts to charge up his energy. As he does, his brown eyes start to glow white. An immense pressure starts to form around him. Kusanagi's eyes widened.
"Mike, lower your power now!" exclaimed Kusanagi. "You're gonna attract them here!"
A dark figure with glowing white eyes and the body of a snake for a tail appears before Mike. The creature reaches towards Mike. As it does, the crackling sound of fire is heard. Mike's right fist catches on fire as he goes to charge the monster and punches it in the face.
"What the-?!" thought Kusanagi as the monster smacked into the ground viciously.
Mike's eyes started to turn back to normal as he looked at Kusanagi.
"How did I do?" asked Mike as he looked to her for approval.
"What have I told you about using that dark energy. You know your father has forbidden you from using it." said Kusanagi. "If you use too much of it, you'll go insane."
"Actually, he's doing just fine." said a voice. "I wouldn't have found this place if he hadn't."
Kusanagi's eyes widened. A woman with long blonde hair and crimson eyes is seen hovering over the house. The woman looks at Mike and smirks.
"Well, I'll be damned. You really are Heron Sawa's son." said the woman. "Perhaps, you'll make an excellent trophy when I kill you."
"K-Kill me?" said Mike. "Just who are you? I've never seen anything like those eyes before!"
"Those who see these eyes normally die, kid." said the woman. "That's how it goes."
"You shouldn't be here! Are you the one causing the influx of Precipe?" asked Kusanagi.
"The people need to learn to remember their god." said the woman. "Ignorance is immediate grounds for punishment by death."
The woman drops down to the ground. She starts to approach Mike. Kusanagi goes to draw her blade. Mike stands there, frozen as the immense power of the woman immobilizes him.
"So be it. Mike, get out of here now and run!" exclaimed Kusanagi. "This woman is too strong."
The woman finally stops, feet away from Mike. She looks into his eyes. Kusanagi immediately charges towards her and goes to slash the woman. Suddenly, her body is slashed. Blood splashes onto the ground. The woman is seen holding a sword in her hand. Kusanagi falls to the ground, bleeding out profusely. Mike's eyes turn white. A rush of energy comes over him.
"Hehe! Another one!" said the woman. "How about we spar now, kid?!"
The energy starts to take a red and black presence on. The woman's eyes instantly widened.
"What? What in the hell is this power?!" exclaimed the woman. "You're a-!"
Mike immediately takes Kusanagi's sword and clashes with the woman. A rush of energy is dispelled as Mike continues to clash ferociously with the woman. Scene changes to the riverfront. Kir, Sabrina, and Clover stop in their tracks as a strange presence is felt in the air.
"This is it! The demon's finally emerged! We gotta find it now!" exclaimed Kir.
A man with medium length blonde hair and a woman with long black hair appear before them. Kir and Sabrina look at the two.
"Mother…" said Kir. "Father…"
"You all stay here. Leave this to us." said the woman. "Something wicked is up ahead."
"Let's get there quickly, Solana." said the man as the two vanished.
Scene goes to the house. Mike's eyes appear to be crimson like the woman's. The two people arrive at the house and quickly draw their swords. As they do, they see Mike and the woman in the air, clashing.
"Mike!" exclaimed the man. "What are you doing out of the house?!"
"Heron, look! Mikoto's been injured!" exclaimed Solana as she sees Kusanagi.
"Son of a bitch!" exclaimed Heron as he drew his sword and went towards the woman.
The woman dodges Mike's sword and grabs his face, tossing him into the ground. The man clashes blades with the woman. Mike is seen struggling to get up from the impact. Solana runs over to him.
"Son, are you o-!" said Solana as she noticed his eyes. "What on earth happened to you?"
Scene goes back to Heron and the woman in the sky.
"Long time no see, Heron Sawa." said the woman as she smirked.
"It's been awhile, Kimberly. Have you decided to finally take me on for real?" said Heron.
"Your son has quite the fight in him." said Kimberly. "He was even more amusing than that student of yours, Heron."
"That's because my son is no ordinary child." said Heron. "You shouldn't underestimate the Sawa Clan."
"Even so, he possesses far more than Sawa blood." said Kimberly. "He possesses it."
Solana looks in to Mike's eyes. Mike gets up and tries to rush towards Kimberly. As he does, Solana grabs his arm and pulls him back.
"Son! You must not go back into the fight. You're not in condition to." said Solana.
Mike does not respond. A fearful look comes over Solana. Solana starts to hug Mike.
"Son, listen to me. It's me, your mother." said Solana. "You have to come back from this darkness. You can't give in to it! You're stronger than this!"
Mike's eyes turn back to normal. As they do, he falls to the ground and passes out. Heron looks at Kimberly and then at Mike. Finally, he points his sword at her.
"You're gonna pay for what you did!" exclaimed Heron as he looked at her.
"My, what a disappointment. The boy can't even stand after using those eyes." said Kimberly. "and to think, I was starting to see his bloodline surfacing. Nevertheless, he's still weak compared to me. At his age, I had already slaughtered a whole empire with these eyes alone."
"My son is not like you!" exclaimed Heron as he rushed at Kimberly.
A shadowy figure appears and blocks Heron's attack. The figure is revealed to be a woman with hazel eyes and white hair. Heron looks at the woman as she grips tightly on his blade.
"What the hell are you doing back? I thought I finished you off years ago." said Heron.
"Your son has matured nicely. Activating the Ocularas isn't just an ordinary event." said the woman. "Even a scientist like me has to admit this evolution is noteworthy. Don't you think?"
"Callista, what are you doing here?" asked Kimberly as she looked at the woman.
"I came to observe things. People interest me, milady." said Callista.
"It doesn't matter." said Kimberly. "I was just about to leave."
"Hold it!" exclaimed Mike as he got up.
Everyone turns and looks at Mike. Heron and Solana's eyes widen.
"I haven't finished fighting you yet." said Mike as he clenched the sword.
"Son, this isn't your battle anymore." said Heron as he looked at Mike.
"Father… when did you-?" asked Mike as he saw Solana. "You too, Mother?"
"Your parents saved your life, boy. You should be grateful." said Callista.
"Aunt Callista?" said Mike. "Where the hell did you come from?"
"Everything happens for a reason, Mike." said Callista as she smirked. "In due time, we'll see what you transform into. Let's go, Kimberly-sama."
Callista and Kimberly start to walk away. As they do, Heron shoots out a barrage of fireballs from his hand. Callista turns around and swats them out with a swipe of her hand. Heron's eyes widened. Black eye markings appear around her eyes. Callista starts to smirk.
"This is what Mother was afraid of when she died. Me obtaining this power." said Callista.
Sabrina and Kir appear at the house. The three see Mike on the ground.
"What is this?!" thought Kir. "Did something happen? Not to mention, Mikoto-san is also injured…"
"Sabrina. Kir. You're also here…" said Callista. "How interesting…"
"Auntie…" said Sabrina as her eyes widened. "You're alive after all…"
"Stop calling her that." said Kir. "That woman is no longer a part of our family."
"You've finally learned to use Naturia, huh?" said Heron. "You're a menace to our clan."
"Milady, forgive me. I must tend to my brother." said Callista.
"No. You need not worry about him. Conserve your energy." said Kimberly.
A rift in the sky opens. The two women walk in. As it starts to close, the pupil in Mike's left eye turns red and black. The pupil in Kimberly's right eye forms the exact same way.
"What in the hell?" thought Mike. "She's screwing with me."
"Never forget the day I made you see." said Kimberly as the sky turned red.
Everyone appears to be zoned out, except for Mike and Kimberly. The two look at each other.
"Why can't they hear you? Why was I the only one to sense you earlier?" asked Mike.
The rift closes just after Kimberly smirks. Finally, the rift vanishes and Mike's eyes return to normal. Heron appears on the ground. He looks at Mike and Mikoto.
"It couldn't be helped…" said Heron. "I should have figured she was behind the influx…"
Kusanagi starts to get up. Solana and the others look at her. Black sludge starts to come from her mouth. Heron's eyes widened. Her sclera appeared black and her pupils are white.
"Everyone, move away from her!" exclaimed Heron as he went to grab his blade.
Kusanagi starts to walk towards Mike. She reaches her hands out to him. Heron stops in his tracks. Suddenly, Kusanagi goes to strike Mike. As she does, Mike's eyes turn white.
"So this is how it ends…" said Mike coldly as he held out Kusanagi's blade.
"Son!" exclaimed Heron as blood splashed onto the ground.
"What in the hell did he just do?!" thought Sabrina as her eyes widened.
"Mike…" said Kusanagi. "Th-thank… you…"
Mike is seen holding Kusanagi. The blade is seen embedded in her torso. Mike's eyes start to water. Rain starts to fall from the sky. Kusanagi falls to the ground with Mike. Heron and the others look at the two.
The skies weep as his blade takes the life of a cherished mentor. His pain resonates!
Chapter 1 END