Where Legends Are Chosen

Sumire narrowed her eyes, scanning the empty clearing. (Did they get kidnapped? No… they were just here a moment ago.)

Kenzo’s calm voice interrupted her thoughts. “He’s safe. At our house.”

“Oh, I see.” Sumire exhaled in relief. “He’s not that injured. You don’t have to treat him.”

Kenzo blinked in surprise. (The Blood Warrior!) “Why?”

“He just needs to drink a bit of blood,” she said nonchalantly. “His body will do the rest.”

Kenzo’s eyes widened. (Just as I thought!) “That’s… good to hear. Come, let’s go.”

They returned to Kenzo’s house. Inside, Kaminari lay unconscious, his body resting beside two swords of blood still slowly dripping blood onto the floor.

Far away, in a palace shrouded in darkness, Kuroshin sat still, eyes closed as thunder rumbled in the skies above.

“I can feel it,” he said, voice like cold iron. “An impurity has entered this land. It shall be obliterated.”

Back in the village, Sumire approached the swords and carefully lifted one, allowing three drops of blood to fall into Kaminari’s mouth. She set the sword down and stood back.

“There. He’ll be back to his usual self soon.”

Moments later, Kaminari stirred. His lips moved.

“M-Mmm…” he muttered before suddenly bolting upright, grabbing his sword. “Gentle Slash Wave!”

A crimson wave burst from his blade, slicing through what remained of the house’s broken terrace and blasting skyward.

Villagers scrambled behind Sumire for protection.

“I smell blood!” Kaminari sniffed. “Oh… it’s coming from me.”

“DON’T SCARE PEOPLE!” Sumire shouted, flustered.

“I had a strange dream,” Kaminari muttered. “Two people were fighting… Their battle sent waves of aura like… like it was between everything and nothing.”

Sumire blinked. “That’s… weird.”

A villager suddenly threw a newspaper through the doorway. “Kenzo-sama! Read the headlines!”

Kenzo caught it and read aloud. “Today’s trending news… The right-hand man of Kuroshin-sama, Lord Ryujin, was slain by a god.”

Kaminari blinked. “Ryujin? Who’s that?”

Kenzo’s voice lowered. “A demon… Famous for his ability to disappear without a trace. He was known as ‘Ryujin the Ghost.’”

Sumire sighed (Like father like son.) she folded her arms. “Ash aura. Giant scythe. Always looks like he’s cosplaying a Gothic farmer.”

"Eh?"

Sumire grins and hits kaminari "Come on! The guy who looks like a cursed reaper who got rejected from the Grim Reaper auditions"

Kaminari calculates. “Grim Reaper? Bald guy? Great skin? Oh! That muscular guy!”

Sumire facepalmed. “He’s a skeleton, Kaminari.”

“Right. I meant… a muscular guy who hasn’t eaten in 2,000 years.”

Sumire sighed deeply. “He’s dead, Kaminari.”

Kenzo stood. “Kaminari. Sumire. Come with me to the forest. I need to speak with you. Alone.”

Kaminari raised an eyebrow. “This wasteland has forests?”

Sumire nudged him. “Not Earth, remember?”

Kenzo stopped between the forest.

“You have the legendary Blood Aura, don’t you?” Kenzo asked.

Kaminari nodded. “Yeah, so what?”

“That aura… It’s both revered and feared in Kuroshima. Let me explain why. That warrior named Hiroshi remember? He too wielded the Blood Aura.”

Kaminari’s eyes widened. “My aura? Wait… That reminds me of something.”

A memory flickered in Kaminari’s mind      {Chapter 6} 

The Devil King hesitated. “O-Okay, fine. What’s the color of your aura right now?”

“Red,” Kaminari said, unsure. “But… sometimes it’s black.”

“Ah!” The Devil King gasped. “A friend of mine had that once. Nearly a century ago. Blood manipulation powers.”

The memory faded, and Kaminari blinked, the present flooding back into focus.

Kaminari exhaled. (So… he was talking about Hiroshi.)

Kenzo continued. “In the demon world, demons are far weaker than devils. Now Hiroshi was a devil. They called him ‘The Warrior of Blood.’ He wore a mask. Used a sword. And before he died, he entrusted them to me. Told me to give them to someone worthy.”

“You mean…” Kaminari said. “You’re giving me the mask and sword?”

Sumire scowled. “Kaminari! That’s rude—”

Kenzo chuckled. “It’s alright. He’s right. Come, follow me.”

Far away inside a castle.

Thunder cracked across the skies as Kuroshin sat still, cloaked in darkness.

“They are here. Execute Kenzo. Let the world know what happens to traitors.”

A cloaked devil bowed. “Yes, Kuroshin-sama. What of Ryujin’s sister?”

“Let her live a little longer,” he ordered. “You—go stop him.”

Kenzo stopped in a desolate area.

“What is this place?” Kaminari asked.

“Wait.” Kenzo bent down and drew a symbol on the ground. “Lord Earth, become my master… Fulfill my desire. Open your mouth.”

The earth rumbled. The soil split. A hidden staircase revealed itself.

Kaminari gaped. “What the hell? Was this place airstriked?”

“Come,” Kenzo said, descending.

Torches lit themselves as they walked.

Sumire shivered. “This place is creepy.” She instinctively placed a hand on Kaminari’s shoulder, resting her chin there.

Kaminari turned toward her. Their faces were inches apart.

“You fought the Delta Army and now you’re acting silly?”

Sumire flushed bright red. “(So close!)” She pulled back, flustered and pink-cheeked.

“We’re here,” Kenzo said solemnly. “The place where Hiroshi hid his relics.”

Kaminari frowned. “So… why such high security?”

Kenzo’s eyes hardened. “Hiroshi once challenged every major power in our country. He even nearly killed Kuroshin.”

kaminari and sumire shocked badly

Sumire gasped. “He almost… killed him?”

Kaminari clenched his fists. “That’s just insane… I’m not even his half, no even less than that.”

Sumire pointed at the stone tombs lining the cave walls. “What are these graves?”

“They’re the remains of those who failed.”

“Failed?”

Kenzo nodded. “Only one with a pure heart can claim the relics. If not… they die by electrocution.”

Sumire’s jaw dropped. “Then we don’t need this mask and sword!”

Kaminari stepped forward. “What happens if I try?”

Kenzo looked into his eyes. “If your heart is pure… you’ll gain control over the wild aura. But if not it will electrocute you and—”

“I die,” Kaminari finished. 

“But this is important to defeat Kuroshin. Remember, this isn’t just your fate anymore. It’s the fate of this entire country. What do you think? can you do it?” Asked Kenzo

“I'm not afraid of suffering—I'm terrified of staying powerless!”

Kaminari stared at the mask before him, the weight of fate pressing heavy on his shoulders.

(So this is a test I have to pass if I want to live.) he thought. ( But death… I’ve seen things far worse than death. I have to do this—because of a promise.)

Beside him, Sumire stood silent, her head lowered in sorrow. He glanced at her, then turned his eyes forward.

"Sumire," he said quietly. "You know... I once made a promise to myself. That if I ever got powers... I’d use them to protect the weak. If I don’t do this, I’ll lose a reason to live."

His gaze softened as a quiet smile crossed his lips.
(Maybe the heavens really did hear my voice. To think... I actually gained power. This journey—
It’s been unbelievable.)

Sumire stared at him, sorrowful. “No… Find another way. Please. Is it really wise decision to put your life on the line? It will pain a lot and I can't see you in pain.”

Kaminari replied, "Pain? My entire life has been pain. If agony is my ticket to saving everyone else, then make it hurt more!"

Kenzo stepped forward. “So… what’s your decision?”

“I’m ready.”

Sumire’s voice trembled. “Don’t die… stupid.”

“Put your hands in,” Kenzo said softly. “Let’s see the fate of the nation.”

Kaminari walked forward, took a deep breath and touched the blood mask.

The moment his fingers made contact, blinding bolts of electricity surged from the relic, engulfing his arms. He screamed, unable to let go. Rocks cracked, the very ground shaking.

“KAMINARI!” Kenzo yelled.

The electricity intensified—wild, chaotic, and merciless.

Kaminari’s body trembled, unable to move.

“YOU CAN’T STOP ME WITH JUST PAIN—I WAS BORN FROM IT!” Shouted Kaminari

The lightning surges violently, shattering the limits of Kaminari's power.

—To be continued.