Chapter 1: Hunted
Somewhere in the vast continent of Valherya, amid a heavy rainstorm, a crow had descended from the ashen clouds, soaring over an endless expanse of towering mountains and dense forests.
As it glided over the breathtaking scenery, the sounds of battle echoed between the rain and the howling wind. The crow sharpened its sight on a forest, where it spotted a hooded man in a sand-colored cloak, moving with incredible agility. This man appeared to be pursued by a group of individuals clad in black robes that draped over full-body suits of dark armor. Their faces were concealed behind silver-plated masks, and as they chased him, they materialized an array of weapons from thin air.
Black blades with dark golden handles were hurled at the man, slicing through everything in their path as they relentlessly pursued him. The intensity of the chase was deafening. Trees were uprooted, and the earth's surface shattered from the collision of power between them.
The pursued man, for the most part, held his own, evading their attacks from all angles as he created distance and continued to run towards the edge of the forest. As the crow tried to keep pace with them, it sharpened its sight once more, observing how the pursuers were closing in.
With an incredible burst of energy, they reached out to grab the man's clothing. But the moment they were about to seize him, he vanished into thin air, leaving behind a small wave of pressure that dispersed throughout the atmosphere.
The pursuers regrouped before one of them turned their gaze skyward, only to see the man descending upon them. Shooting down from the sky, the man growled like a wild beast, his arm cocked back.
The impact of his fist crashing into the ground was so powerful that it completely decimated the surface. Trees were uprooted, and clouds of dust and large pieces of debris were propelled into the air.
The debris caused the crow to lose sight of the chase as it flew towards the outskirts of the forest, weaving through the falling rubble in the sky. Despite drawing closer with each flap of its wings, there was still no sign of the man or his pursuers. That was until another impact instantly dissipated the lingering dust.
Three of the pursuers had met their end, as the crow observed their bodies, wallowing in their own blood. Mutilated beyond recognition, their bodies appeared to have been torn apart by a wild beast.
The crow continued to follow the thunderous rumbling of their chase, but after a final, powerful impact that shook the entire forest, the noise finally subsided. As the crow descended and dug its claws into the forest's muddy soil, it spotted the hooded man sitting atop the lifeless bodies of the remaining pursuers.
Drenched in their blood, he placed his hands on the fabric of his hood and gently pulled it down.
A young man with wild, dark brown hair that fluttered in the wind revealed himself. He looked worn out and tired, with sunken eyes and an overall nonchalant expression as if he didn't care about anything. A large scar ran from the bridge of his nose to the end of his cheek.
Beneath his cloak, he wore an open black robe, revealing hundreds of scars on his bare chest and a large part of his abdomen. A wide brown leather belt covered his waist, and he had heavily armored vambraces strapped to his forearms and heavy armored boots strapped to his dusty white pants. His armor was similar, if not identical, to the hunters who had pursued him.
MAN: [heavy breathing]
...It happened again...
The crow took a few hopping steps towards the man and jumped onto his lap. Its large beak, sinister eyes, and pitch-black feathers didn't seem to bother the young man. On the contrary, they brought a smile to his face as he stroked the crow's head.
MAN: Oi-Oii, Fukujin. Sorry for dragging you into this again. Even after all these years, they still uphold their oath of silence.
Maybe I'll never know who I am.
As he patted the crow he called Fukujin, a golden necklace dangled from his clothing. It was an amulet with a peculiar design. In the center was the face of a holy man, with a swirling pearl on his forehead. On either side, two halves of a demon's head enclosed the central part, as if about to consume it.
Fukujin stared intently at the amulet, then pecked at it with its beak, followed by a peck at the young man's head. In response, the man turned his necklace around and ran his thumb over the engravings. The writing seemed ancient, but the lettering clearly stated GUHIN.
MAN: For you, I'll always be Guhin,
As the young man known as "Guhin" gestured for Fukujin to move aside, the crow fluttered out of his way. He slowly rose from the mangled bodies of the hunters. After brushing off any lingering dirt with a pat of his hand, he donned his hood and headed back into the forest from which he had come. But before he did, he extended his arm to the side and called out the name of his friend.
GUHIN: Ikuzo, Fukujin (Let's go, Fukujin)
Fukujin stuck his beak into one of the eye sockets of a mangled hunter, pulled out the eyeball through the hollow cavity of his mask, and gobbled it down.
With a few flaps of Fukujin's wings, he landed on Guhin's outstretched arm. Together, they ventured deeper into the forest, disappearing among the dense trees of the lush woodland.
The thrashing sound of water echoed in the area of a large mountain spring, where Guhin stood under a waterfall, lost in thought. It seemed the loud noise and the weight of the water pouring over him were the only times he could think clearly.
GUHIN: Every time I lose control, it's even harder to resist than before.
Day by day, I can feel myself slipping into the darkness.
Maybe, I'm supposed to die.
Maybe simply existing is enough for them to hunt me.
Unanswered questions rumbled in Guhin's mind, questions that angered him. He moved away from the powerful downpour of the waterfall and headed towards his clothing and armor, still drenched in the blood of his pursuers. He picked them up and moved to the center of the mountain spring.
As he dipped his attire in the water, the golden amulet that dangled in front of him caught his attention. And when it did, all the sounds of his surroundings died down. The sound of the waterfall, thrashing. The sound of the birds, singing. The sound of the wind, howling.
Everything died down, except for his heartbeat. As he stared deeply into the design of his amulet, distorted whispers in an unknown language filled his mind like a hymn.
"...sruO...desruC...eslaF citereH...esir lliw lysartE..."
The whispers weren't the only thing clouding his mind. Fragments of a lingering memory flashed before his eyes. Memories of a young boy with a scar that ran from his nose to the end of his cheek. He was trapped, held captive in a rusty cage surrounded by darkness. The boy looked famished, weak, and frail, and fear was evident in his eyes. As he cried out for help at the top of his lungs, Guhin was jolted from his lingering memory.
YOUNG BOY: Taskute! (Help)
The whispers emanating from the amulet ceased, and the sounds of life returned. Guhin continued to wash his clothing until his body was waist-deep in the crimson-colored water. He slowly exited the lake and hung his attire out to dry in the warmth of the sun. Suddenly, his eyes widened as if he remembered something.
GUHIN: Shit! Ooii! Fukujin! We're going to the village! It's Ishu's birthday!
Shouting to the sky, the crow he called upon perched on the highest branch of a nearby tree, overlooking the breathtaking scenery of the mountain lands, towards a mountain so large it pierced the clouds.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone