"The darkest day in Zeodia's history. The attack on The Zeodia Kingdom's capital SunCross City and the turning point in the war between the demons and the people of The Zeodia Kingdom that led to the Kingdom's fall."
A lone warrior stands amidst a burning city, his silhouette flickering against the crimson sky, the setting sun casts his shadow wildly, and a destroyed statue of Zeodia's queen is behind him.
Lightning bolts smoothly flow around his body; he swiftly fights off and cuts through a hoard of demons with lightning-quick movements illuminating his silhouette. The sky, painted in a deep crimson, casting an eerie glow over Zeodia's mightiest warrior.
A yellow aura of lightning crackles around him, illuminating his silhouette as he cuts through wave after wave of demons, each strike illuminating the battlefield in flashes of electric blue, echoing like thunder.
Amid the chaos, not too far from the battle, two young brown-skinned boys stand frozen, wide eyes locked onto the struggle before them. The strongest warrior of Zeodia fought alone, a last stand against an unrelenting tide.
But then—he falters.
People are screaming and getting chased by demons and fallen warriors all around them. With more dying throughout all of Suncross the two young boys suddenly get picked up and carried away by two different people, one male and one female, running away before going in different directions.
While still trying to watch the strongest warrior of their kingdom fight different magic attacks wisp by them.
Their eyes desperately cling to the warrior, straining to keep up with his movements but the farther they were taken, the harder it became.
Slaying more demons until he is seemingly overwhelmed by the sheer numbers.
Lightning flickers one last time.
Then—darkness.
"**Ten Years Later."**
In the middle of the cool night, the wind softly rustles through an empty road. Two boys sneak down an empty alley Shiku Kitoyoshi, his crimson hair hidden beneath his red hood, and Houki Rikishi, slightly taller, his dreadlocks swaying with each step. His hands are shoved deep into his jacket pockets and his collar is pulled up to hide his face. They stealthily slip into a dark alley lined with crumbling shops and abandoned homes on both sides of them.
Inside a ruined building, a group of homeless families huddling together under tattered blankets. Some children cling to their parents, shivering and coughing in their sleep.
Shiku kneels in front of them, softening his gaze and quietly leaving some apples behind in a small pile hoping it'll be some kind of help before jogging to catch up to Houki who is walking away.
"I hope this helps…" he murmurs, glancing back at the families.
Walking deeper into the alley, as they pass by some more people slumped against the walls, their faces shadowed with grief. Shiku and Houki hold their heads down feeling deep sadness for the homeless people of Zeodia.
"Do you think things will ever change? " Shiku whispers, breaking the silence.
Houki shrugs, eyes scanning the dim surroundings.
A small group of children run up to Shiku smiling, their eyes lighting up as they wave excitedly. However, their expressions shift when they glance at a remorseful Houki, their smiles fading into glares. Some stick out their tongues at him before turning their attention back to Shiku.
"Hey guys, whatcha all doing up so late?" Shiku asks with a warm voice. "Good thing we've got apples for you!"
"Thank you!" the children chime in eagerly. "I want one! Where's mine?" Each child clamors, their tiny hands reaching out toward Shiku expectantly.
Playing and having fun with the children Shiku hands out the rest of his apples to them until he runs out. Houki, meanwhile, stands stiffly, his expression unreadable. Then, without a word, he turns and begins walking away
Shiku watches Houki from the corner of his eye, noticing how his grip tightens around the apples he still holds. He sighs, offering the children a small smile.
"You guys should be nicer to Houki; he's trying to be a good guy again," he encourages.
Most of the kids disperse, running back to their parents. Houki exhales sharply and begins to drop his apples on the ground but stops and hesitates before dropping the last one. A small figure slowly approaches him and Shiku looks on noticing his friend's encounter. He gives him a thumbs up, encouraging Houki to soften up his demeanor and smile.
"They'll never forgive me… I wouldn't, either," Houki thinks, wrestling with his internal doubt.
"You got this, bro," Shiku mouths, conveying his support.
A malnourished little girl with fox-like ears nervously steps closer to Houki, her ears drooping and her orange matted hair framing her delicate face. With her head bowed, she slowly looks up at him. Her yellowish-orange eyes glisten with hope as she cautiously extends her hands.
"Can I have an apple please, sir?" she asks timidly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Caught off guard, Houki blinks and glances at her awkwardly. In a sudden moment of kindness, he tosses an apple into her small hands.
"Of course you can," he replies gently. "Here you go, kid."
A delighted squeal escapes the little girl as her face lights up. She throws her arms around him in a heartfelt hug before scooping up the other apples he had dropped and dashes off into a nearby abandoned house where she would share them with the others who were too weak to move.
The two boys continue down the long road. Their footsteps echo against the empty streets. As they walk, the ruins of the old city loom around them, a testament to what once was.
Shiku walks backward, gazing at the broken city around him.
"Zeodia was incredible…" he thinks. "We were the strongest kingdom…now it just feels like a dream."
Beside him, Houki's eyes are fixed on the stars above. The moonlight reflected in his dark blue irises. They continue on their path getting closer to the edge of the city.
"That was before the war. Before demons took everything from us." Houki clenches his fists. "I'll be the one to destroy The Ravengers. That's my debt to SunCross."
Shiku glances at his friend, determination hardening his features.
Shiku takes a moment to gather his thoughts before addressing the dire situation that had unfolded.
"It's been worse for them; they have lost everything," he says, his voice steady. The weight of their suffering was palpable as he describes their plight. "They have lost their homes, their families, and their hope.".
SunCross has descended into deeper turmoil than ever before, especially as The Ravengers gradually tighten their grip on the area.
Houki listens intently, his expression a mix of determination and sorrow, reflecting the gravity of the circumstances they were facing. His head still to the stars as if seeking answers in their distant light, he then shifts his eyes down glancing at Shiku. His eyes focus with determination.
"We can't let their sacrifices be in vain," Houki finally says with full resolve in his voice
"When I become an Èlan Warrior, I'll change this kingdom—just like my dad did." Confidence surges through Shiku as his voice echoes across the desolate landscape.
Reaching the edge of the city, the two get excited at the thought of taking down The Ravengers and restoring the kingdom. The two of them athletically jump over the crumbling stone wall that surrounds the town.
Shiku energetically monkey vaults over the wall while Houki clears the wall with a smooth motion, hands still in his jacket pockets. Landing simultaneously gently in a windswept field, the tall grass brushing against their legs.
In the distance, an old tower looms over the landscape.
Their nightly training ground.
They race toward the tower.
Inside, the air is thick with dust. The wooden floors creak beneath their weight. Shards of broken glass litter the ground. Moonlight streams through the shattered windows, casting eerie patterns across the stone walls.
They take their stances.
Shiku steps into the moonlight. His red hair tousles by the wind. A confident grin stretches across his face.
Shiku grins, "You know this is gonna be fun!"
Houki remains in the shadows, his sharp eyes glinting. "Focus, Shiku," he cautions, slipping into a defensive stance. "Let's make it feel like a real battle this time."
They circle each other, tension crackles like static in the air. The only sound is the soft rustle of grass outside and the clattering of a distant owl.
Without another word, they charge.
Shiku's wild barrage of kicks and punches meet Houki's calculated counters. A flurry of movement fills the air—an exchange of power and precision.
The dust swirls around them, caught in the whirlwind of their duel.
The fight is fast. Intense. Houki's strikes land with sharp precision while Shiku's relentless energy keeps pushing forward.
Then—simultaneous blows.
Their fists connect with each other's faces at the same time.
They stumble back, panting, and smiling. Laughter erupts between them but their amusement is cut short.
Houki suddenly hears the sound of glass crunching and people talking. The footsteps get closer as both of them stop laughing while trying to keep their presence a secret but at the last moment, they freeze and stare toward the sound of a deep-voiced chuckle for a moment.
From the shadows, two teenage boys emerge.
"Well, well," says the taller one, folding his arms, "what do we have here? A pair of wannabe warriors playing in the dark?"
The teenage boys are wearing jackets that are slightly resembling Houki's only with small tweaks emerging from the shadows.
Cracking his neck and smiling with a toothpick hanging from his mouth Kiri arrogantly walks towards them. His eyes glint with mischief.
Slightly behind him walking just as arrogantly with a smug look on his face, his younger brother Konji wears his jacket draped over his shoulders like a cape and hands in his pants pockets.
Still frozen, Shiku and Houki stand across from the two of them breathing heavily and feeling slightly anxious about the arrival of the gangsters...
Shiku and Houki tense. They exchange glances, silently communicating.
"Kiri and Konji Yaro… " Houki murmurs. Recognition sparks a glimmer of anger mixed with fear in his eyes. "They're not known for playing nice," Houki whispers just loud enough for Shiku to hear.
Kiri places his right leg on a quarter pillar lying in the middle of the floor with a sinister smile
"So we finally found ya... the famous traitor, Houki Rikashi." Still slumming it with wannabes, I see," Kiri taunts, eyes narrowing. "The king's been looking for you. He's waiting for you to come back to The Ravengers."
Houki hangs his head in regret and clenches his fist, annoyed by their presence. Looking up at them through his eyebrows and his deadlock bangs.
"I want nothing to do with that pathetic excuse for a king." The spark of anger flares in Houki's eyes. His voice is steady despite the rage simmering beneath the surface.
Shiku scowls, scratching the back of his head.
"Why does everyone think I'm the sidekick?" Behind his mask of irritation, a plan starts to form.
Houki angrily looks across at the gangsters clinching his teeth surprised by them.
Kiri and Konji burst out in laughter at Houki. Konji points at Houki and Shiku while looking at Kiri with his arm over his shoulders. Shiku stares at them, angrily balling his fist tightly.
"Oh, isn't it cute when the little sidekick pretends to be tough? Let's see how tough you are without backup, little sidekick," Kiri provokes, stepping forward as the laughter dies down.
"Shut up! Your coward of a king is a joke. He's turned this place into a nightmare!" Shiku shouts, stepping in front of Houki with newfound determination. His voice resonating with defiance.
Disgusted by Shiku making a mockery of their king, Kiri steps closer, grabbing Shiku's hoodie and yanking him forward. Face to face staring each other square in the eyes, Shiku's breathing gets heavier and his fist gets tighter as his anger starts boiling over.
"Don't you have a sister? Disrespect the king again, and you'll regret it," Kiri sneers. His voice drips with menace as he shoves Shiku backward. "We might have to visit her after this."
"I know you heard him, you little sidekick. Answer him!" Konji taunts, leaning back with a smug grin. He's amused by Kiri's intimidation tactics.
Houki palms his face, already knowing the outcome of Shiku's actions.
"This is getting out of hand," Houki thinks. "But he's right"
Fury flashes across Shiku's face. Without hesitation— he headbutts Kiri as hard as he can, forcing him to let go. Kiri staggers back, clutching his nose as blood drips onto his jacket. His smirk falters, replaced by a glare of pure fury.
"You little sh—!"
Before Kiri could finish, Shiku lunges, throwing a sharp right hook. Kiri barely dodges His toothpick snaps between his teeth as he stumbles back. Konji intercepts and a blur of movement cuts between them.
Konji's fist slams into Shiku's stomach.
The force sends him skidding across the stone floor, dust rising in his wake. He winces, gripping his side as a cocky grin spreads across Konji's face.
"Damn, you really thought you could take my brother, huh?" Konji proclaims, raising his fist for another attack on Shiku.
"These two could be trouble," Houki thinks while noticing the Konji going for another punch at Shiku.
Houki jumps toward Konji, kicking up the glass. Houki lands a spinning roundhouse while also kicking glass onto Konji's face and cutting him across the cheek knocking the smirk off his face. Konji lands face down falling unconscious leaning over a fallen pillar.
Houki lands facing them, seeing the fight escalate as Shiku gets pinned against a wall, getting choked and repeatedly punched in the stomach. He throws a small rock at the back of Kiri's head, slightly distracting him and forcing him to look back.
Using the distraction to his advantage Shiku jumps up hitting Kiri in the stomach with both knees, causing Kiri to cough and spit up. Bent over holding his stomach, he tries to regain his composure.
"Damn, he hits harder than I expected!" Shiku thought, gasping for air, but seeing Kiri falter gave him a sliver of hope.
"What the—" Kiri growls, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
But before he can, Shiku grabs the back of his neck, pulling his head down while kneeing him in the chin and knocking him to his back.
Unknown to Shiku, Kiri ends up cracking his head on a loose sharp piece of wood. Blood starts pouring out from the back of his head.
Kiri's pupils scratch out with him dying on the floor as a pool of blood forms beneath him.
Oblivious to Shiku who already exited the tower.
Houki is stunned watching the blood pour from Kiri's head; Houki stares in shock at the horrific sight. He then rushes to see Shiku celebrating his victory with cheers as the boys hurry home.
Konji wakes up moments later after the boys are gone and notices his brother dead on the floor. Tears flood his eyes as he hoists his brother up.
"They will pay for this!" Konji shouts, holding Kiri's body in his arms as tears stream down his face.