Chapter 11: Tale of a Fallen Hero
Kyoto, Japan. Sometime between IX and X Centuries:
Kyosuke was certainly impressed. He had already been told about the beauty of the Imperial Palace, but this was too much. It was bigger than any house he'd been in, beautifully decorated with many vases, sculptures, paintings, candelabrum and other pieces of the finest craft.
"Don't stare and drool, Kysosuke-kun. I know the greatness of this place may overwhelm you, but you wouldn't make a good impression acting like that," his companion said. He was a man much older than him, maybe in his late forties or early fifties, with short black hair that was starting to turn gray, a mustache and a goatee.
"I'm sorry, sensei. It's just… I couldn't imagine that such a place could exist," Kyosuke apologized.
For all his life, Kyosuke had an austere life. His rough childhood forced him to conform to life with as little struggle as possible, and while the rest of the soldiers of his battalion under the High Shogun Yoshinoya of the Taira Clan usually complained about the awful barracks they lived in, for Kyosuke it was all he needed. Still, it was hard to believe that such a big and luxurious palace, that could house dozens of people, was reserved for the Emperor, his wife, and his six sons and daughters.
Kyosuke was Yoshinoya's best soldier. He was such a skilled fighter that the Shogun took him as a personal pupil, not only training him in the art of battle, but as well as other subjects such as philosophy, religion, history and diplomacy. Yoshinoya deeply believed that a true warrior was also an educated man who knew to use his brain before his sword.
Plus, Kyosuke was extremely attractive. He had recently become thirty-one, but he didn't look older than twenty. He was tall and slender, with brown eyes and long black hair that he usually had tied in a ponytail. His companions told him that there were hundreds of girls (many of them being part of rich and influential noble families) interested in marrying him. But Kyosuke's only love was his katana.
And now, he was about to meet the Emperor himself, who was a personal friend of his sensei. Yoshinoya have talked a lot with the Emperor about a "young prodigy" he had, and the Emperor had interest in him. There were rumors that, when Yoshinoya finally retired, Kyosuke would take his mantle.
"Remember the protocol, Kyosuke-kun. Bow before the Emperor the moment you see him, and stay that way until he tells you to stand up. Do not speak until he speaks you, and when you address him, remember to do so by the proper title. Do you understand?" Yoshinoya asked.
"I do, sensei," Kyosuke said, rolling his eyes, before adding, "I got it the first ten times you told me."
Yoshinoya knew that, while his student was a swordsman like no other, he lacked a lot in other respects. Kyosuke already had quite a history of disrespecting feudal lords and other nobles by being too casual with them. Maybe it was Yoshinoya's fault, for allowing him to act casually in his presence.
Finally, they reached the throne room, an immense chamber just as magnificently decorated as the rest of the palace, filled with servants that would attend the Emperor and his family, many royal guards that watched over the Imperial Family every second, and at the end of the room, sitting in a throne, the Emperor himself.
Yoshinoya and Kyosuke bowed before him just as the former had said. The Emperor, with a bright smile on his face, got up from his throne and went to salute his friend.
"Stand up, my dear guests," The Emperor said.
"Your Imperial Highness," Yoshinoya said as he stood up.
"Ah, Yoshinoya-san, why don't you come to visit me more often? I miss those times when you were my personal bodyguard."
"With all due respect, Your Highness, but I serve you better by securing your reign out there, than protecting your life within the safe walls of this palace."
By the Emperor's attitude, it was obvious that he and Yoshinoya were close friends, but the Shogun refused to address his Emperor with less respect than a man of his position deserved.
"Now that you mention that, sometimes I wish that somebody tried an attempt against my life. You know, to have some excitement in my life."
"With all due respect Your Highness, you shouldn't wish such a thing."
"Ha! You say that because you already got your dose of action out there. If you were in my shoes you would think otherwise," The Emperor said. Then he turned at Kyosuke and asked, "So, he's the boy you constantly brag about? What's your name?"
"My name is Kyosuke, Your Imperial Highness. Let me add that I am immensely honored by your presence," Kyosuke said with artificial politeness. He was obviously not used to talking in such a way.
"I see. You know Yoshinoya-san, he looks too young to be your successor, regardless of how skilled he is in battle."
"He's older than he looks, Your Highness. He's past thirty already, and has plenty of experience, both as a warrior and as tactician. I believe he will be a worthy successor," the old samurai said.
"I will take your word for it. Say boy, are you married?" The Emperor asked.
"I'm afraid not, Your Highness," Kyosuke replied.
"Excellent! What do you say about marrying one of my daughters? The eldest one is already betrothed, but when the youngest one reaches womanhood, you will marry her. I'm sure she will be a real beauty, just like her mother. So what do you say?"
"It would be an honor, Your Highness. But maybe we should also ask her opinion. I don't want any woman to marry me against her will."
Yoshinoya's eyes looked like they were going to come out of their sockets when the old samurai heard what his student was saying. Fortunately, the Emperor simply burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha! Ask for her opinion, he says! You never told me that your student was such a comedian besides a fine warrior!" The Emperor said between laughs, "Hehe, it's obvious that being in the battlefield and away from civilization for so much time has disconnected you from the world. Boy, you don't need to ask a woman permission for anything. If I allow you to marry my daughter, then she has no option but to obey. So, are you going to marry my daughter or not?"
"As I said before, it will be an honor, Your Highness," Kyosuke replied.
"Perfect! I'm sure my daughter will be exhilarated when I tell her the news! Now, I'm sorry to say that I cannot dedicate more time to you, but this Empire won't govern itself. And Yoshinoya, it is your Emperor's will that you come to see him more often! Wars and battles aren't an excuse!" The Emperor said before leaving with a couple of counselors.
Kyosuke, noticing that he almost screwed up before, turned to Yoshinoya and said, "I'm sorry, sensei. I embarrassed you in front of the Emperor."
Yoshinoya appeared like he was about to reprimand him, but in the end he didn't. "I guess it's my fault for not telling you about that properly. The Emperor is right, a life far away from the cities and towns of our Empire can't be good. There's a reason why I want you to be more educated than the average soldier. When you take my place as the High Shogun, you will have to be very careful about what you say."
"Don't worry, sensei. It won't happen again."
"I'm sure it won't. We should be thankful, that slip could have turned out much worse. Come, I think I need some fresh air."
"Me too, sensei."
They exited the palace and went to their usual sparring spot, at the top of a low grassy hill. After an hour or so trading sword swings, they decided to rest. Yoshinoya decided to strike up some conversation.
"So, what do you think about the Emperor, Kyosuke-kun? Now you can talk unrestricted, nobody will hear you."
"To be fair, I wasn't impressed. He isn't what I was expecting."
"And what were you expecting, may I ask?"
"Well, it's a bit complicated to put it with words, sensei. The Emperor is the most powerful man of Japan. Thousands of brave and skilled warriors serve him, willing to give his life for him. I expected him to look… less mundane. He didn't look different than the head of any noble house. I expected him to irradiate an aura of power; that his mere presence would force me to bow before him, to make me rejoice the fact that he allowed me to be in his presence… but none of that happened. Master, why is he the Emperor?"
"You should know already. Because his father before him was the Emperor."
"And why was his father the Emperor?" Kyosuke said. Feeling that he would get the same answer, he changed his question, "One of his ancestors was the first Emperor, right? So, why was that man the Emperor?"
Yoshinoya shot his student a reprising look. "Have you forgotten your history lessons so easily?"
"You know me, sensei. I prefer the sword over the books."
"One day I will finally make you understand the importance of knowledge and wisdom," the old samurai said, and sighed, "Before Japan was the glorious Empire it is today, it was composed of many clans in disarray that constantly fought for supremacy. Until one day, the gods sent a harbinger of peace to us. His name was Ninigini-no-Mikoto, grandson of the goddess Amaterasu, sent to pacify the clans and unite them in a single Empire. Amaterasu gave him three celestial gifts, one for each of the three primary virtues every Emperor has to possess – the Sword of Kusanagi, which represented valor, the mirror Yata no Kagami, which represented wisdom, and the jewel Yasanaki no Magatama, which represented benevolence. Those three gifts are the regalia of the Emperor, and their possession is what grants a man the dominion of Japan."
"So, if somebody stole those treasures, that person would be the new Emperor?"
"Of course not, Kyosuke-kun. The gifts were also the proof that the Emperor and his lineage were chosen by the gods. Merely stealing them wouldn't change that. In fact, it would probably corrupt their divine power."
"Sensei, the first Emperor ended the war of the clans and created a glorious Empire. But what have his descendants done to deserve their position?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"I'm saying that the Emperor is Emperor because he had the luck to be born into the Imperial Family. He did nothing to earn such a title."
"Watch your tongue, my disciple. Such words could be considered treason. The clans swore loyalty to the first Emperor, as well as his descendants. That's why we must serve them!"
"But… but that goes against everything you taught me, sensei! You always told me about self-sacrifice and hard work to reach my goals. Just like you! You were the bastard son of a peasant, yet look at where you are now! And we must serve a common man for no reason?"
"He's the Emperor, not a common man! And that's the only reason we need to serve him!" Yoshinoya exploded. He breathed heavily, trying to calm himself, and said, "This conversation is over. Meet me tomorrow at dawn at the barracks. I will assign you a mission of utter importance."
And Yoshinoya left. The next day would be the last day he would see his student.
Ten Years Later:
Yoshinoya was looking at the valley that soon would be a battlefield. Behind him there were two thousand of his best warriors. He wondered if that would be enough for the fight that was about to happen.
"There they are," one of his samurai informed him.
Yoshinoya narrowed his eyes, and indeed saw somebody at the other side of the valley, a small group no bigger than twenty-five people.
"My lord, are these Shadowkhan that powerful? Because I don't know how twenty men hope to stand against the Empire's finest army," the samurai commented.
"Yes. Yes they are," Yoshinoya said with a sad tone, "Prepare my horse. I'll meet his leader and offer him the terms of surrender."
"My lord, they won't accept them."
"I know. But it's what my duty demands."
The old Shogun rode his horse to the middle of the valley. Despite the trip taking no longer than five minutes, it seemed like days for Yoshinoya. After a few moments, a pool of darkness appeared before him, and from that pool a man emerged. Yoshinoya's steed reared up when the Shadowkhan appeared, unnerved by the demon's presence.
"Yoshinoya-sensei. It has been some time, hasn't it?" Kyosuke said, "I see some gray in your hair. The years haven't been kind to you."
"Your betrayal caused me more pain than a thousand katanas," Yoshinoya said, sounding half-spiteful and half-sorrowful, "And I'm not the only one who has changed, Kyosuke-kun."
"It's Kyosuke the Dark Champion now. You know, I never got the chance to thank you for sending me to spy on the Shadowkhan. They opened my eyes, and made me realize my potential. And such potential won't be wasted serving a man that did nothing to get what he has."
Kyosuke still looked like a twenty year old despite being past forty. However, his skin was now blue, his eyes solid red, and his hair, still long and tied in a ponytail, was white as snow. He was wearing black leather armor that covered his whole body, leaving only the head exposed, a silver chest plate over the leather armor, and gauntlets and boots of the same color. There was a katana on his back, a small black buckler attached to his belt, and a magatama jewel hanging from his neck.
"Let me guess, you're about to offer me terms of surrender, aren't you? Always by the book, Yoshinoya-sensei. Come on then, let's get this over with."
"First of all, you will return the stolen Sacred Treasures. Second, you and your followers will surrender yourselves to the Emperor, and you will be judged for all your crimes against the Empire. The Emperor will decide what sentence fits you best. Do you accept the terms of surrender?"
"You should know the answer. Here are my terms – first, you and your forces will surrender to us. As a gesture of kindness, and in honor to you, my mentor, you will all be spared. Then, the Emperor will abdicate the throne, and will send letters to all the governors of the prefectures that must be read to the people in public, admitting that he isn't worthy of being the ruler of the Empire. Then the Emperor will declare the Brotherhood of Shadows the new rulers of Japan. All the people who support the new order will be spared. All opposition will be killed. Do you accept the terms of surrender?"
"The answer is no," was Yoshinoya's firm answer.
"Why do you do this, Yoshinoya-sensei? He's not worth of your loyalty. The Emperor is probably now drinking tea and walking carefree through the gardens of his palace while he sent you here to die in his name. Please sensei, don't do it."
"I taught you the value of hard work and sacrifice. My greatest failure is that I wasn't able to teach you to understand the value of loyalty and honor." Kyosuke frowned at his mentor's answer.
"Then go back with your men, and admire this beautiful day, for it will be your last," Kyosuke said in a menacing and spiteful tone, before vanishing into a shadow.
The Dark Champion appeared before his men, and said three words that would mark the beginning of a cruel battle.
"Summon the shadows."
On his way back, Yoshinoya thought of all the events that had happened in the past decade. He sent Kyosuke to infiltrate the Brotherhood of Shadows, so he could destroy them from the inside. However, Kyosuke decided to become one of them. He learned their dark arts, and rose to the position of leader in almost no time. Finally, he revealed his treason by stealing the Scared Treasures. Thanks to his apprentice, the Brotherhood rose to become a threat for the whole country, a threat that had to be stopped. But even if his former apprentice turned the Brotherhood into a superpower, he had still failed to lead them in a successful campaign of conquest.
However, things changed in the past year. The Shadowkhan's attacks had become much more effective and ruthless. Rumors said that the Brotherhood had made a deal with a race of demons that were helping them to claim Japan. The Kiso Valley was the only thing that stopped them from marching into Kyoto and claiming the Empire as theirs. They had to be stopped, no matter how many men would die today.
"General Sakuragi, are the monks in position?" Yoshonoya asked.
"Yes my lord. They will enter the battle as soon you command it," the samurai named Sakuragi replied.
"And the shinobi?"
"We believe they haven't been spotted yet."
"Good. The holy men and the assassins are our only chances at victory here."
Sakuragi narrowed his eyes. "What's that?"
Yoshinoya turned around to see what had caught his subordinate's attention. On the other side of the valley, something akin to a black blot was spreading. Soon, everyone realized that the black blot was actually a horde of demonic creatures being summoned by the Shadowkhan. The combined power of twenty of them could already summon a massive army. The Shadowkhan army was moving forward, charging against them. The Shadowkhan wizards and Kyosuke stayed in the back, managing their troops.
"They're advancing. Which are your orders?" Sakuragi asked.
"Our troops will charge as well," Yoshinoya ordered.
"But… with all due respect, my lord, that's an awful decision. We still have the high ground. We should let them come and let the archers decimate them before engaging them in direct combat."
"Thanks for your input, Sakuragi-san, but that strategy won't work on the Shadowkhan. Now order a charge."
"But… many of our men will die!"
Yoshinoya turned at him with a stern expression in his eyes. "I know. All of us will die today. But our deaths won't be in vain if we can save the Empire. Now order that charge."
The human and Shadowkhan armies clashed, engaging in a brutal melee. Yoshinoya himself decided to lead his men from the front, and the brave samurai weren't afraid of the monstrous creatures the Shadowkhan wizards had conjured. But valor alone wasn't going to win the battle, and the Shogun knew this.
"Now is the time! The monks and the ninjas must act now!" Yoshinoya shouted.
One of his horsemen nodded, and retreated back to communicate his lord's orders.
Back at the other side of the valley, Kyosuke and his fellow Shadowkhan were contemplating the battle unfolding. Their Shadowkhan minions clearly dominated the battlefield. Moral was high among the dark wizards.
"They're falling like flies. You were right, Kyosuke-sama, you didn't even need to summon your own Shadowhan," one of the Shadowkhan wizards said.
"This is too easy. I don't think we're even going to need Tarakudo's help," another one of the Shadowkhan mages said.
"Don't understimate Yoshinoya. If he decided to face us it is because he has a plan he believes can grant him victory. He's the most cunning and skilled warrior I have had the honor to meet," Kyosuke said in a chiding tone, "It's a pity it had to end this way."
Suddenly, the loud sound of a horn blew across the valley.
"What's that? Are they finally retiring?" another Shadowkhan said.
"No, that's not their signal to retreat, that means…"
Kyosuke didn't have the time to finish when two other Shadowkhan wizards revealed short swords hidden under their sleeves and cut their partners' throats, causing a chunk of the Shadowkhan army to vanish.
"What are you doing?" another Shadowkhan said before a shuriken to his head ended his life.
"ASSASSINS!" Kyosuke yelled as he unsheathed his katana.
The Shadowkhan began to flee. Unlike Kyosuke who was well versed in both fighting and magic, they were pure wizards, not trained in the art of combat, and were vulnerable to the ninjas. Kyosuke killed the shinobi fairly easily, and upon checking their corpses, he saw that they had painted their skin blue to blend with the other mages. How in the world could they be fooled by such an idiotic trick? Even if the ambushing ninjas were dead, Kyosuke's comrades didn't stop their retreat. They probably feared for more assassins hidden near them.
"No! Come back! Don't enter the battlefield! That's what he wants!"
Kyosuke felt that things were going to get worse, and he was right. He felt a wave of good chi coursing through the valley, causing the Shadowkhan to slowly vanish. He quickly spotted a group of men in robes, probably monks or priests, constantly singing holy chants that were amplified by huge metallic cones. This didn't look good for the Shadowkhan.
"Keep fighting! Tarakudo will come, sooner or later!" Kyosuke said as he joined the fight.
However, the battle was already lost. There was no sign of Tarakudo, their army of Shadowkhan was vastly reduced, and became smaller whenever a wizard was killed. If he summoned his Shadowkhan… no, that would change nothing. Besides, the chants of the monks had greatly weakened his magic power.
Then he saw it – Yoshinoya, fighting Shadowkhan while barking orders to his men. If he killed the enemy's hero, he would strike a crippling blow against them.
"SENSEI!" Kyosuke bellowed.
Yoshinoya turned around to see the angry face of his former apprentice. Even if he didn't say anything else, the challenge was clear.
Master and apprentice engaged in a duel. Kyosuke didn't use any of his remaining power, since he still felt that his master deserved to die honorably, not by some dirty magic trick. Kyosuke was confident in his skills, and besides, Yoshinoya was old and well past his prime. However, soon he found that his master didn't show any signs of fatigue. In fact, every second he seemed to grow more powerful. Kyosuke was beginning to doubt his chances of winning, and that was his doom, since his movements became slower and sloppier. With a swift move, Yoshinoya buried his katana into his apprentice's gut.
"I'm sorry, Kyosuke-kun. I didn't want it to end this way," Yoshinoya said with tears in his eyes.
The Shadowkhan witnessed Kyosuke being struck down by Yoshinoya, and panicked. They could only think of their own survival. In their disarray, they were easy prey to the blades of the samurai and ninjas. The battle was over; the Shadowkhan had been defeated.
"Sensei… you… you won," Kyosuke said from the ground.
"Yes, I did win. Yet victory has never tasted so sour before. Kyosuke, your betrayal… it saddened me beyond anything you can imagine. You had everything… you had such a promising future… yet you let the Shadowkhan to feed your ambition and poison your mind with their ideas… why did you do it, Kyosuke?"
"Sensei… kill me now… please… I deserve to die with honor…" Kyosuke pleaded.
Yoshinoya grabbed his katana, ready to strike his apprentice down, until a thought crossed his mind. Much to Kyosuke's surprise, he sheathed his katana.
"Kyosuke died a long time ago. The creature at my feet deserves no such honor. Even being devoured by the crows will be better than you deserve," Yoshinoya said in an angry tone as he left the battlefield.
"Sensei! SENSEI!" Kyosuke yelled with all his might.
Three hours later:
Twilight had fallen over the Kiso Valley, heralding the incoming night. Kyosuke was still lying on the ground, remembering how his master denied him an honorable death before being stripped of the Dark Treasures, and left him to die by his wounds.
"How could he? How could he do this to me!?" Was all that Kyosuke could think for the past hours, waiting for death to claim him.
He felt a pair of strong arms lifting him. However, he soon realized that they weren't spirits that were there to take him to the afterlife, but two demons, one with yellow skin and wings, and another one with a purple face, fangs, and horns.
"It's a miracle he's still alive," Kyosuke heard a voice saying.
"Don't underestimate the strength of the Shadowkhan, General Ikazuki. Despite this one being a failure beyond redemption, he's still a formidable warrior."
Kyosuke did recognize that voice.
"Tarakudo!" the Dark Champion said.
Floating in front of him was the head of a red skinned demon, grinning at the fallen Shadowkhan, as if enjoying his misery.
"Tarakudo… why did you abandon us? You… we could have won…"
"Let me think…" Tarakudo said as he pretended to be deep in thought, "Let me answer you with another question. Why did you expect me to show up?"
"Because… because we're allies… we made a deal…"
"Allies! Guess that changes everything. Thanks for reminding me. Now, since I didn't come to your rescue… what happened?"
"We… lost… we lost!" Kyosuke said in anger. What kind of game was this mad demon playing?
"That's right. You lost. Yet you had a power the enemy didn't have. You outnumbered them. They were at a clear disadvantage. Yet you lost to them. Why did you lose to them?" Tarakudo asked. But before Kyosuke could reply, he said, "Because you're weak. That's why you lost.
"You speak of deals and alliances, but what did you have to offer? You're not worthy of being our allies. You discovered a great power, but had no idea how to properly use it. You would be nothing but a burden for the forces of darkness. But don't worry – we will carry on. This world will be covered in Shadows."
"You… you… TRAITOR!" Kyosuke bellowed as a shockwave pushed the Oni holding him aside. The Dark Champion floated in front of Tarakudo, as a strong wind began to blow and his body crackled with purple sparks. The other Oni adopted fighting stances, but Tarakudo calmed them down.
"Don't be afraid, he can't hurt us. Despite this impressive demonstration, this 'Champion' is minutes away from being a corpse," Tarakudo calmly said.
And he was right. The outburst of anger and hate had briefly boosted his dark power, but whatever he did, he would instantly die afterwards. Kyosuke only saw a viable course of action.
"Do you think you can do this to me!? Stealing our power and then backstab me? No! This is not my end! My body may fail, but my spirit will live for revenge! I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE!"
Tarakudo and Kyosuke were both engulfed by a black tornado of dirt and sand. The Oni King tried to spot his former ally, but he was nowhere to be seen. He prepared himself for a possible attack, when he finally saw him.
A huge, black wraith with red eyes, staring into the eyes of the Oni King, as he said two words…
Fear me…
And for a fraction of a second, Tarakudo, Lord of All Oni and King of the Shadowkhan, felt terror inside him.
When the tornado dispelled, only Tarakudo remained. The ghost was gone.
"Master Tarakudo?" Ikazuki asked. "Are you… are you okay?"
"It was nothing. Come, we still have to fix the mess these idiots caused," Tarakudo said as he and his Generals left.
…
The next year, the war with the Shadowkhan would come to an end. The Imperial forces defeated the Oni, sealing them inside magic masks. Tarakudo managed to steal his mask before they could use it on him, and without time to properly destroy it, he hid it in the Shadow Realm, where no human would go. Ironically, this was his doom, as his enemies decided that, since Tarakudo was in the Shadow Realm, that would be his prison for all eternity.
The Sacred Treasures were successfully retrieved, but the monks and priests were unable to purify them. The corruption was deep. Since they didn't want to destroy them, three monks took one treasure each and hid them far away from Japan, until one day they could find a way to restore them. Meanwhile, the Emperor ordered three replicas of the treasures to be made, in order to make his people think that the gods hadn't abandoned him.
Unfortunately, the location of the corrupted treasures was lost over time, and the replicas were accepted as the real ones.
Hong Kong, China. Sometime in the XII century:
From the balcony of his palace, the Emperor watched as one of his most trusted Generals led an army against him. The Emperor's guards fell under the blades of the enemy army. He should have known that this would happen. When his General returned from an expedition to Japan wielding a power to summon an infinite army, he swore that he would only use that power to expand the Emperor's domain, not to usurp it. But the general was using the power of a demon, and demons cannot be trusted. He knew that better than anyone. Still, he wasn't worried. At all.
He returned to the throne room. Soon his General would break in and demand the Emperor to surrender. Time passed. And passed. And passed. Until it finally happened. The doors of the throne room were torn apart, as an army of ninjas rushed inside. Still, they didn't attack him; they merely secured the area until their master arrived. Once the ninjas decided that it was safe for him to come in, a man wearing classical Chinese armor. But it wasn't a normal man – his head was that of a demon, with red skin, horns, long fangs and a wild black mane.
"General Xiao," Shendu said, "Although I presume that Xiao isn't there anymore, is he?"
"You're correct, Shendu," the Oni said, "I've never understood your kind, trying to control and subjugate humans through fear and brute force, when manipulating the darkness of their hearts is so much easy and effective."
"Typical of an Oni. To rule through fear is a testament of power. But I never expected that your race of lesser demons would understand."
"Lesser? How dare you-"
"What do you want?" Shendu interrupted.
"It isn't obvious? Your kingdom. All of it. Your siblings were sealed long ago; only you remain free. You are nothing but a relic of an ancient time. The age of the Demon Sorcerers is over. It's time for a new evil to take the mantle."
"Funny you say that, lesser demon – isn't your kind sealed away as well?" Shendu retorted.
"Yes, but their liberation will be easy – just like I possessed this unfortunate human, so too can they gain new hosts. Now Shendu, don't make things more difficult than they have to be and-"
The Oni was interrupted when two heat beams pierced his body, killing him instantly, causing all the Shadowkhan to disappear. Shendu got up from his throne and walked towards the corpse of his former General. He noticed that there was a mask over his face. The Oni was obviously sealed inside that mask. Shendu picked the mask up, and gave it a closer look.
"Interesting," was all that the dragon said.
Author's note: So here it is, the Phantom's origins. I'd like to credit the interludes detailing Tarakudo's backstory from the story Queen of All Oni, which were the inspiration for this chapter. I know this chapter was probably a bit weird to read, with so many original characters that won't appear again, as well as the abscence of Jade, Jackie, Tohru and the others. But don't worry, the next chapter will set the story back to its usual course.
Speaking of which, I'm afraid to announce that this was the last chapter I had already written, which means that I won't update once a week anymore, specially since I went back to college a couple weeks ago and I don't have as much spare time as during summer. Still, I'll try to finish the remaining three chapters as soon as possible.
So see you...whenever I finish the next chapter, that will be titled "The Dark Champion", because it will also focus on The Phantom as well. Meanwhile, don't forget to review!