The Phoenix Order

A Way Back

In the heart of the forest, nestled between the towering peaks of the Kurokawa Mountains, Taira, the village of the peaceful laid there. It was a place where the echoes of laughter mingled with the melody of rustling leaves—a sanctuary untouched by the cruel hands of war, yet something felt off. Peace, as it often does, is fragile and can shatter with the flick of a wand or a whispered incantation.

On a day like any other, a lone samurai, clad in worn, yet sturdy armor, strolled through Taira. His name was Kaijun, a name passed down through generations of warriors. With his long, raven hair tied back in a simple knot and two katanas strapped securely to his waist, he embodied the spirit of the wandering warrior. Kaijun sought nothing more than solace after years spent fighting in far-off lands for people who would pay him the most, the weight of his sword felt heavier since the last battle he took part in; an assassination of a high ranking soldier.

As he walked through the village, children played in the dirt, their laughter rising to meet the sun. The aroma of grilled fish wafted from the small houses, and the villagers greeted him with nods of respect. Yet, amid the cheerful clamor, an unsettling chill invaded the air, as if an unseen shadow loomed over the village.

Drawn toward the outskirts, Kaijun came upon an unusual sight—a figure cloaked in tattered black robes standing beneath a gnarled tree. The man's presence seemed to warp the very atmosphere, distorting the colors around him, draining them and drenching them in purple. Kaijun felt a sensation on the back of his neck, and now he knows something's up with this stranger.

Approaching him cautiously, Kaijun squinted at the figure, and in a voice like gravel cascading down a mountainside, the man spoke. "Ah, brave samurai, you have taken the path less traveled, it seems. A far dangerous path from where you cannot crawl away from."

"I seek only peace, stranger," Kaijun replied, his hand instinctively resting on the hilt of his katanas. The man chuckled darkly, and the sound sent shivers down Kaijun's spine. "Peace? I am Nero, the sorcerer who dances in the darkness. I bend the will of shadows to my command. Your peace... is but an illusion, mortal, and it will all end very soon." Kaijun's heart raced. Tales of Nero had circulated in hushed whispers back in the provinces, the sorcerer who invaded this real that brought chaos and death wherever he goes—stories of a powerful sorcerer who had commanded legions of shadowy beasts, bringing ruin wherever he wandered until he was banished by Kanok. "What do you want in Taira? This place is a sanctuary for those whom only seek refuge from the harsh world." Kaijun demanded, his voice steady despite the encroaching dread, his hand ready to strike. Nero's eyes gleamed with a malevolent delight. "This village? Oh, it is merely a stepping stone to bringing back the darkness into this world. This is the place where I can unleash the forces of darkness and watch as despair blooms like a deadly flower."

Kaijun's posture shifted, his resolve hardening. "You will not bring your darkness here, sorcerer. I will stand against you as long as it takes, I am the protector of this village." Nero sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "Do you truly believe a single samurai can thwart me and my allies? You know not the true nature of power. Without waiting for a response, the sorcerer raised his hands, summoning swirling shadows that coalesced into nightmarish forms—twisted creatures that snarled and clawed at the air, hungry for chaos. The villagers screamed and fled, leaving Kaijun alone against the encroaching tide of darkness. Out of the darkness two figures showed themselves, Kaijun Squinted at the approaching figures and spotted his general, "Grand Master Tanagi?" Kaijun asked as he unsheathed his Katanas. 

"Stand down Kaijun, this is not your fight," "Not my fight? You are making deals with the forces of darkness. You betrayed your kind!" Kaijun shouted, he moved forward with his battle stance, "It is to live, or not to live. What do you pick mortal," the other man said as he showed him a Jester and the Ace of Spades card. "If it is to join you people, I rather not." Kaijun said as he rushed the stranger, "A shame," the stranger said as he hid his cards in his sleeve and disappeared from Kaijun's sight, Kaijun stopped and look around to see if he can spot him, but he cannot. "Too relaxed!" The stranger popped out of nowhere and pierced Kaijun's armor and deep into his flesh, using a large Karambit. Kaijun fell to his knees and dropped his Katanas, "You had disgraced the Kaito's, General, I thought it was us to protect this land." Kaijun said as he coughed blood, "Such a strong, but such a naïve brain Kaijun. We never were suppose to be here." Tanagi said as he walked closer to Kaijun, He spat on the ground as blood trickled down into the soil, "You are no different from the Ronins we swore to destroy!" "We we're not much like the Ronins, because we are Ronins.", The Stranger pulled out his Karambit and pulled out his Jester card, "Now boy. Any last words?" he asked, "May the dragons, eradicate your existence from this realm." Kaijun said as his throat was slit, his blood gurgled and leaked out of his body and he started to lose control, "Your soul is mine." Sorrichiro said as he touched the temple of Kaijun's head and extracted it. "Good work Sorrichiro, his should would be of good use to us." Nero said as Sorrichiro transformed into his real state. "Indeed it is, and now with no protector of this place, we can finally start on our plan."