The Inoue

- 01 -

┌ . . .

FAMILY

. . . ┘

|Thought
| " Talking "
| Flashbacks

Eighteen years ago...

As he sat in his living room, Tenko Inoue suddenly heard the piercing cries of a baby coming from outside. Jumping up from his chair, he went to the front door and flung it open, revealing a small basket on his doorstep. Peering inside, he discovered a newborn nestled amongst a bundle of blankets, its tiny fists balled up and its face scrunched up in distress.

Tenko carefully lifted the tiny, delicate baby into his strong and gentle arms, cradling the little one with utmost care and tenderness. "You came at the perfect moment, little one," Tenko softly whispered, his eyes shining with warmth and kindness. With the baby safely nestled in his embrace, Tenko walked inside, ready to protect and care for the precious new life in his care.

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Nestled atop a verdant hill lies the opulent abode of Tenko Inoue, a man of unwavering determination and boundless ambition. The sprawling mansion serves as the home to him and his six beloved adopted children, each one a beacon of hope and joy in his life.

The Inoue family is far from ordinary. They possess extraordinary abilities that set them apart from the rest of humanity. Each of the Inoue children, including Tenko, has been blessed with unique superpowers that allow them to fight against evil forces. The family has dedicated their lives to honing their skills, training tirelessly to become powerful umbra slayers. With their exceptional abilities and unwavering determination, the Inoue family is a formidable force to be reckoned with.

For many decades, Umbra Slayers have been fighting against the malevolent forces of darkness that threaten to engulf the world. In a great war between the Umbra Slayers and the dark creatures, there were many casualties on both sides, leaving only a handful of survivors. Among them was a young boy named Tenko, who was entrusted with the responsibility of carrying on the legacy of the Umbra Slayers and protecting the world from the shadowy forces that seek to destroy it. Despite the daunting task ahead of him, Tenko is determined to rise to the challenge and become the hero that the world needs him to be.

Tenko had a vivid dream one night that left a profound impression on his mind. In the dream, he saw a vision of the legendary Mist and a group of children, as if it were a sign of something significant. Tenko interpreted the dream to mean that those children were the chosen successors of the legendary Mist, with a special destiny to fulfill.

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Two individuals were seen sprinting frantically, their eyes fixed on a Lapus that was darting ahead of them at an incredible speed. "It's too fast," panted Baji, struggling to catch his breath. With deft hands, he expertly manipulates the string, skillfully crafting it into a lasso. He then sets it in motion, expertly swinging it back and forth before finally launching it towards the Lapus. With great precision, Baji deftly catches the lasso and strains against its grip, putting all his strength into pulling it towards him.

Kai swiftly drew her gun from its holster, her hand trembling with a mix of adrenaline and fear. She aimed it with precision at the Lapus, a monstrous creature lurking in the shadows, and fired. The deafening sound of the gunshot echoed through the air as the bullet pierced the Lapus' tough skin, causing a powerful explosion that left a gaping hole in its body. The Lapus let out a deafening roar of agony and writhed in pain, its massive body. The body slowly turns into dust.

Baji, exhausted from all the pulling, lay on the ground panting heavily. He turned to Kai and asked, "Can we go home now?" Kai nodded in agreement and pulled out a small teleport device from their pocket. With a click of a button, a shimmering portal materialized in front of them. Baji slowly got up to his feet and stood beside Kai. Together, they walked towards the portal and stepped into it, disappearing into its glowing depths.

Upon their arrival home, Kai and Baji made a beeline for the office to meet their father, the venerable Tenko Inoue. As they approached the door, Kai gave it a polite knock, which was met with a warm "Come in" from within. With a sense of purpose, she opened the door and led the way, with Baji following close behind.

The air in the room was frigid, and Tenko sat on his leather chair, his eyes fixed on Baji and Kai, who had just returned. "I am pleased to learn that you both have returned unharmed," said Tenko, his voice calm and collected. "Thank you, father. We found out that in the past few weeks, the Lapus have been increasing in number, and they seem to be more intelligent than before," Kai informed, her face bearing a serious expression.

"We can't just let this problem slide, we've gotta do something about it. And that means finding those one in charge and taking them down. It's the only way we can get rid of this mess."Baji suggested. "It is possible that the Lapus is concealed in an unknown location. Therefore, we need to identify and mark the areas where the Lapus has been sighted previously. This will help us determine the potential location of its hideout." Tenko said.

Kai assured his father, "We will, father." Tenko, the family patriarch, gave a nod of approval and dismissed both Kai and Baji from the room. As they left, the sound of their footsteps echoed down the empty hallway.

"We have to all gather," Kai said to Baji, "We need to figure out where the Lapus is." Kai said it sternly, with urgency in her voice. She was determined to find the Lapus, and they needed to gather everyone involved to find it.