The Last Higanbana

Prologue

Golden red eyes, with a golden rim and blood crimson pupils. The proof of the absolute, the one who leads the underworldly beings. The one who stands on top of the many corpses that he killed in the war of "shura". His black robes kept fluttering in the iron - scented winds, showing the pattern of the soaring dragon with scarlet spider lillies on his foot long haori*.

He was a powerful yet lonesome figure who stood above the pile of enemies he killed, with his delicate looking tender white hands. He slowly took one step at a time, as his shoes created sounds of splattering blood of all the ones who died under him. Rows of horn tribed monsters, beastmen, zombies, ghouls and powerful beings kneeled as he walked past, bowing their heads, showing their utmost respect towards this one figure. They all shouted in union, "Our King". Their loud bearing resonated throughout the blood drenched battlefield.

Absolutely unbelievable. As expected of the villain.... he's able to subdue such omnipotent beings....... he's too overpowered!! QAQ. A thought flashed through the head of an unbelievably phenomenal boy that one could not help but keep glancing at him for his alluring demeanour. His slim waist, skinny limbs, pure skin, petite figure, soft, round eyes and pretty stature would make one question his gender. He was too beautiful to be called a boy.

He stood beside a man that was comparable, no a league above his beauty. He emitted a domineering aura, the complete opposite of the boy next to him. The man had an excellent body, with his muscles that were slyly shown between his clothes. One could clearly feel how many battles he fought, the countless experiences he went through, showing his unwavering presence in front of this gruesome sight. His eyes were cold, flashing with rage and unexplainable resent towards the king that was ruthlessly using fellow humans as a mere stepping stool for him to trample on. As much as he wanted to destroy this person, he was also on the verge of collapsing, as he bore a serious injury and was merely feigning toughness, whilst barely standing with the help of the boy beside him.

All of his army members had been wounded or inflicted with some form of an injury, and were surrounded by the monsters of their opposing enemy. They had lost. They lost so miserably that all their planning and preparations were like a joke against their enemies. Standing majestically in front of the humans he captured, the king simply stood there and slowly shifted his eyes. The king's crimson eyes were on the same height as the pair of humans before him. Yet, it was like those merciless eyes were looking down on these two, no the entire human race.

A flash of sorrow appeared in his eyes, but he efficiently covered his inner thoughts with a smile full of mockery. He raised his bloodstained fingers to his soft lips, and slowly licked the droplets of blood on them, savouring the taste of it....... a scene that aroused everyone that was present. Staring at the dripping blood on his finger, he raised his eyebrows.

"Pfft....... you're so weak, so useless, feeble and delicate. Just a few stabs and you're dead......." He snickered with a warped expression full of madness and began to chuckle in his enchanting low voice. But his facial expression quickly changed back. After glancing at the defeated humans before him, he sighed, "So boring."

The humans who lost this battle all gritted their teeth with frustration, as they hung their heads low under the pressure released by the king.

This was the war that showed humans how powerless they were, how foolish their naivety was, and how the king of the underworld created havoc and chaos, igniting endless fury and desire for revenge from his defeated enemies.

However, no one truly understood the king.

******

"What does it mean to live a second life?"

"Another chance?

A gift, a blessing?

Being able to change your fate?

No, it meant double the suffering."

  - King of the Underworld

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Notes - Haori: A light coat worn over a kimono