Angel of Death-Part 1: The Beginning-Chapter 1: Humble Beginnings and the Tournament’s 1st Round
#1 of Angel of Death
Angel of Death Part 1: The Beginning Chapter 1: Humble Beginnings and the Tournament's 1st Round __________________________________________________________________________________ *WARNING* This story contains violence and gore. If this offends you, do not read. All characters and locations are © Tenchi Kitamura (Me) and are not to be used without consent. Enjoy. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am Zehnra, Zehnra Inara, and I am known as Zarca's Angel of Death. But that is now. Let me tell you, in my dying breaths, my story; a story of blood, lust, death, and ruin..... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It all began 15 years ago, in the year 989 A.D., the Feudal era of my homeland of Zarca. I was but a 15 year old kitten then, with a body of pure black, cropped hair, crimson eyes, and a fascination with the ways of martial arts, magic, and sword-play. I; however, was a mere peasant boy, and was not allowed to learn such arts. My family managed to live a somewhat satisfactory existence in the capitol city; we never went hungry, and we were well enough above poverty to be dressed in fairly nice clothing and own decent furniture. I had only one goal in life at that time: become a samurai, and warlock, to fight in the many battles that threatened Zarca. Unbeknownst to me at that time, I would one day become one of those threats... Though I never formally learned the arts I so wished to be taught, I learned, often by watching and listening outside of the dojo windows, hidden in the trees. It was hard for me, there was no doubting that, but eventually I had mastered basic magic and sword-play, and developed my own techniques from there. Then I waited for my chance, an annual festival in Zarca that held a fighting tournament for all who wanted to prove their mettle to enter; I had many months before that would come though. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Finally... It is time. The festival has come.." I thought, as I approached the Imperial courtyard of the capitol city. The festival was on, and those who wished to fight in the annual tournament were eager to begin, but first there was the "small" matter of registration... It took three long hours before I could register, most of it spent in a long line of fighters of various species, mostly lupine or feline. When finally I did register, there was one problem I had not anticipated.. "You did not mark any of the fighting styles listed young man," said the graying, old fox a the registration table, "You must mark one before you can enter the tournament." "I cannot mark any of them sir," I sighed, looking square into his green orbs with my piercing crimson, "my style is my own, created from mere basic knowledge of the arts of magic and might, I am it's only wielder.." "Hmm... a new fighting style eh," the old fox said, "fine, you may enter, but you must tell me the name of your fighting style." I looked the old man in the eyes, then spoke in the most deathly, chilling voice I could possibly conceive, "It is called... the Reaper style... may mine enemies come to fear it..." I had evidently scared the old fox witless with that, for he simply nodded, writing the words 'REAPER STYLE' on my form before running away form is post, leaving a 'Registry Closed' sign in his place. I laughed quietly to myself; I had always had the innate ability to scare others, and I relished it. I entered the gate of the courtyard, and stepped into a large green field, surrounded by a wall on all sides, and housings, I supposed, for the fighters to live in during the week-long tournament. I set my eyes on one, and headed towards the dwelling. I entered the small housing, and was met by a beautiful young girl. She was wearing ninja gear, and had just let her hair down as I had entered the building. She had fur the color of cherry blossoms, and hair only slightly darker, and the most beautiful sky-blue eyes one could ever set their eyes upon; in short, a truly beautiful site to behold. I was snapped out of my daze by girl's soft voice carrying to my ears. She stared at me for a moment, as if expecting the answer to a question. "What did you say miss?" I asked politely. In truth I never heard her first time around. "I said; are you okay," she began, "your mind did not seem to be on this plain.." "Yes, yes, I am fine. I was just searching for a dwelling with a vacancy. But this one seems to be taken, I bid you farewell.." I turned to leave, but before I could do so, the girl grabbed the sleeve of my kimono. "Please, don't leave... There are no other dwellings left unoccupied, and there is more than enough room here for you here," she said, all but begging me with her soft, sweet voice. "Besides.. you seem to be one of the few good mannered warriors here.. I'd rather it be you I share this place with than those other brutish mongrels." I couldn't say "No" to her, not after she complemented me, and practically begged me to stay. Though I preferred to stay to myself, I reluctantly said "Yes" to her plea, but demanded she not bother me for unnecessary reasons. "Thank you," she mewed happily, "I am Karani Tarena, ninja of the southern islands of Zarca; I am very pleased to meet you." "You are welcome Karani," I replied coolly, "My name is Zehnra Inara, wielder of the original Reaper fighting style, and resident of the capitol city of Zarca; the pleasure is all mine." With formalities out of the way, I set my self crafted katana in my room of the dwelling, and sat down to read over my spell scrolls one last time before the tournament began the next day. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Karani awakened me form my slumber the next morning, bringing my breakfast with her. I thanked her and ate my meal, then grabbed my katana and left to draw my lot for the tournament. As fate had it, I drew the one lot that matched me up with the previous year's tournament champion for the first round... I wanted to just quit at that point, but I had to do this. You see, the tournament champion becomes one of the Zarcan military, which, as stated earlier, was my goal at the time. I stepped forward into the fighting area the champion and I were assigned, and faced him, giving a low bow to signify respect; he, however, did not do as such, but mocked me for my actions. "That's right runt," the champion, a very large wolf by the name of Fenrir boomed, "better show some respect to the champion of Zarca. Hahaha!" "Hmph... It seems I shall have to teach you some respect..." I chuckled, my eyes glowing for a moment before returning to normal. "FIRST ROUND," the announcer called, "FENRIR OF THE DARK STRIKE STYLE VERSUS ZEHNRA OF THE.... REAPER STYLE!? FIGHT!!!" A gong sounded and both I and my opponent were off. He lunged at me with a knuckle-knife, but I swiftly dodged the over muscular bafoon, drawing my blade as I did so. He lunged at me again, and this time, I did not move; I blocked the lupine's attack with my katana and dispatched him, knocking his weapons outside of the ring. "Surrender or taste the steel of my blade, fool!" I said threateningly, pointing the end of my blade towards his chest, directly where his heart would be, daring him to attempt an attack. He tried it.. He tried to attack me. He also lost his life in the process... He had tried to hit me with a kick from his right leg, but I saw it coming, and sliced said leg off, then stabbed him in the head, leaving the ring, and myself, stained with lupine blood. I was declared winner of the match, and was sent back to my living quarters... END CHAPTER.