Shaman King: Darkness
Prologue
Night falls once more over the desert surrounding Patch Village, bringing with it a silence that comes so often with darkness. The village itself was just as quiet, and no sound could be heard, but the blow of the wind. But on the edge of the desert, on a range of high cliffs, there was definitely a commotion. The wind suddenly blew stronger, blowing sand into the air, and then a clang of metal and the sound of rocks tumbling soon came.
When the dust cleared, two figures stood on opposite ends of the cliff. One of them, a boy, then started to speak, "You think I get beaten that easily?" He said.
The boy was dark skinned and had curly hair, which he wore in an Afro. He had thick lips and wore a shirt with long zigzagging lines running around it. But noticeable among all were the sharp, black markings on his face, and long, metallic claws covering his right hand, emitting a bright gold aura.
The other figure, a young man just a year older than the boy, replied, "I don't think so, I know so." He had slightly long brown hair and blue eyes. He wore a long, black cloak that covered most of his body.
"Let's just see then." Said the first boy, and in a flash, he leapt into the air toward the other, who sidestepped and evaded the attack in a very effortless motion.
"Is that the best you can do?" Said the cloaked figure. The first boy leapt into the air again, and just like the first attack, he missed.
Then he rushed towards the other boy and started to attack furiously, but the other boy was too fast, evading each and every swipe before tripping him and throwing him into the cliff wall behind him. "HA! I thought you were a lot better, considering you're Yoh Asakura's friend. I didn't know he hanged around with loser shamans like you," Said the cloaked figure, "I mean I've beaten a lot of guys, but none of them are as weak as you!"
"Argh! Just who the hell do you think you are?!" Said the boy angrily.
"I'm a soul hunter, and that's all you need to know." Said the dark figure, and then he disappeared.
"Hey! Where'd you go?" said the boy, "Come out here you coward!"
"Hehehe, can't hit what you can't see eh?" Said the hunter, his voice coming from out of nowhere. "Doesn't work the other way around though."
"Huh? What do you mean? Come out now!" said the boy.
Then he heard a voice behind him say, "Already have." Then the hunter kicked him hard in the back. "Had enough?" He said.
The boy replied, "Ha! You wish. I was just warming up."
"Oh, so you're idea of warming up is getting beaten up? Well then, be my guest." Said the hunter in a mocking tone.
"You're so arrogant! If you're so great, why the hell do you keep disappearing? Fight fair." Said the boy.
"Fine, but don't go crying to your mommy like a little girl when I finish you." Said the hunter.
"Bring it on!" Shouted the boy.
Soon enough, the hunter threw away his cloak to reveal a bandaged right arm and rushed toward the boy. He hevily assaulted him with a flurry of punches and kicks. The boy was fast enough to parry the attack, but realized it was a trick, just as he was kicked hard on the chin and was sent flying towards the cliff wall once again. But the boy was still able to stand up, despite the fact that he had hit the wall so hard.
"Still wanna get hurt huh?" Said the hunter and then kicked him straight in the stomach. The boy was already starting to cough out blood. "Now I'd really love to keep beating you up, but unfortunately, I have other stuff to do, so I'll finish this already." Said the hunter.
Then he grabbed the boy and threw him into the middle part of the cliff. Then he raised his left hand and pointed it toward the boy. Suddenly shadows started to engulf the boy's body.
"Hey! What the hell is this?!" Said the boy. The only part of him that was left exposed were his face and chest. He struggled to break free but soon realized it was useless; he was done for.
"This won't hurt a bit.", said the hunter, who was now standing in front of the boy.He pulled out an odd-looking knife and slashed at the exposed chest of the boy, and the boy shouted in pain. "Sorry, I lied.", said the hunter.
A large white orb had ripped out from where he had slashed at the boy, and it hovered over him, murmuring unintellegible words. The hunter grabbed it and thrust it into a mortuary tablet that he had pulled out of his belt.He then waved his hand and the shadows surrounding the boy dissapeared, dropping the boy's lifeless body to the ground, the claws and face markings noticeably gone.
"Mission accomplished.", said the hunter. Moments later, an old man stepped out of the shadows, wearing a long black cloak like the hunter's. "Excellent work, your skills have greatly improved.", said the old man in approval. "Really? Because I thought my kicks needed a little work.", said the hunter.
"Well, enough talk, give me the tablet.", demanded the old man.
the hunter handed over the tablet and asked, "How many more do we need?"
"Quite a few, seeing as how the others collect souls at the same rate you do.", said the old man. "After they have finished harvesting the tributes, you are to retreive the last soul we need."
"Ok, but where do I find him?", said the hunter.
"I will give you Yoh Asakura's location in time.", said the old man.
"What about his brother's soul?", said the hunter.
"I will attend to him myself.", said the old man, "Soon, Hao will be reborn."
They were to busy talking to notice a golden sphere of energy streak away into the night.