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Blaze Of Shadows [A World In Embers] A Shadow's Imitation II
The attack found its mark and knocked the air out of Ryu while the environment around him changed. " Till we meet again Ryu" Kage said, his voice sounding like he was speaking at the other end of a long tunnel...Ryu jerked awake in his room. " Phew back to the land of the living" he joked and had a shower before going to the KoKuryūkai tactical room which was overlooking the training room. There, he met Kenshi watching a training Hayato and Kasumi. " You're up late today" Kenshi observed. " Yes Master, I was busy with Kage" Ryu replied." Kage? Who is this Kage?". Kenshi said and glanced at him while raised a grey eyebrow. " He's my subconscious, sort of like a helper" Ryu said carefully." Hello Ryu!" Hayato called jovially and entered the room along with Kasumi. " Hanzo's calling our attention, I think he found something." Kasumi said.Soon enough Hanzo bursted into the room holding a laptop. " I think I've gotten a name, Kazuki Masah
Blaze Of Shadows [A World In Embers] A Shadow's Imitation III
"Kage no Shūen Kage no Shūen" Ryu began softly and felt that the darkness eating away his soul receded a bit. "Kage no Shūen Kage no Shūen" Ryu repeated and fired it back towards Kage, who having seen it coming, promptly leaped out of way...After the dust cloud settled, Ryu saw Kage approach him." All that in a day's work, your ancestors called that the shadow imitation technique" he smiled. " It was used to mirror someone's attack back at them but a somewhat shadowy variant" " Can it be used to mirror fire related attacks" asked Ryu. " Hmm... Tricky... Yes probably but you might need some help from the entity though.***" Kazuki Masahiro, twenty years old with a slight build. An expert at Intel gathering and reputed to be the head of the Savage Lions, sure enough he and Hikari were buddies" Hanzo declared. Hayato smiled as he borrowed a phase from Ryu. " Why am I not surprised?" " Yeah his best friend as it turns out, his gang specializes i
Blaze Of Shadows [A World In Embers] The Fall Of The Savages
Ryu stepped forward, his eyes scanning the room. Ten pairs of hostile eyes stared back. The Savage Lions formed a semi-circle around him, trapping him."Take him down!" Kazuki shouted, retreating to safety. Ryu drew his katana, its blade gleaming in the dim light. The air thickened with tension.The first attacker, a burly man with a baseball bat, charged. Ryu sidestepped, using the momentum to fuel his counterattack. A swift slash sent the bat flying, followed by a precise kick that sent the man crashing into the wall.Nine remaining opponents closed in. A knife-wielding thug lunged. Ryu parried with his katana, then delivered a rapid combination of punches, sending the attacker stumbling back.Two more assailants rushed forward, one swinging a chain, the other wielding a pistol. Ryu dodged the chain's wild swing and disarmed the gunman with a swift kick. The chain-wielder stumbled into the line of fire, and Ryu took advantage, striking him down.
Blaze Of Shadows [A World In Embers] Shadows Of The Past
Ryu's eyes fluttered open, greeted by the faint glow of dawn seeping through the nearly closed windows. He lay still, his slender frame pressed against the cold ground, as the familiar ache in his chest stirred.He had just had a nightmare which acted as a constant reminder of his childhood past, ten years ago as a child he had been a victim of maltreatment and on that particular day he was hiding furtively in their closet. His father's wrath still lingered, a constant companion in the darkness.His father had arrived at their rambling cottage ten years ago, drunk as usual and called for Ryu who was so immersed in his own little realm and didn't hear. " Ayy donkey head! I, your father, called for you and you dared to ignore me! " His father fumed when he spotted him standing in the confines of their open cupboard. " No... I..." Ryu stuttered in sudden immense fear and his father promptly pounced on him, battering him with fists and kicks in a seemingly random manner until he bled fr
Blaze Of Shadows [A World In Embers] Shadow Reborn
shadow passed behind Kenshi's eyes when he heard the news but his voice remained calm. " Contact the police and bring me his body at all costs" " yes master " Hanzo said with a bow, although he and the rest of the team didn't exactly have a close knit relationship with Ryu but they emphasized with their master who was his uncle.All of the staff felt the pain of his loss, he would have preferred solitude to their carousing but he had been their colleague...Ryu's soul drifted through the void, torn from his body by the facility's self-destruct sequence. He found himself in a realm beyond mortal comprehension, a rift between heaven and hell and he a lone ember in an endless expanse. The supreme being's presence manifested as a shimmering aura, like the surface of a still pond reflecting the stars. "Wasted youth" it thought before an idea popped in his head.A supreme being, shrouded in ethereal light, gazed upon Ryu's soul. "You have been chosen," the being declared, its voice like
Blaze Of Shadows [A World In Embers] Shadow Merge I
Kenshi's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing through Ryu's defenses. "What more are you hiding from me?" he repeated, his voice low and menacing.Ryu hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. But something about Kenshi's expression told him that he had no choice. "I...I don't know what happened," he stammered. "I just woke up, and...and things were different."Kenshi's eyes flashed with anger. "Different?" he spat. "You're telling me you survived an explosion that should have killed you, and now you're...changed? What did they do to you, Ryu?"Ryu shook his head, feeling a wave of fear wash over him. "I don't know, Kenshi. I swear, I don't remember anything."Kenshi's expression twisted in disgust. "You're lying to me, Ryu. I can see it in your eyes. You're hiding something." Ryu had forgotten that there was still one person who could read him like a book.Suddenly, Hanzo appeared at Kenshi's side, his eyes calm and soothing. "Master, perhaps we should give Ryu some time to recover. He's bee
Blaze Of Shadows [A World In Embers] Shadow Merge II
Thirty minutes later five guards stood over Ryu's exhausted form and aimed their guns at him ready to pull the trigger when his shadow materialized and fed on their shadow, thereby nature tried to make up for a breach in the law and promptly disintegrated them out of existence...The Apparition faced Ryu as he stood " who are you?" Ryu asked and took a step forward followed simultaneously by the shadow, he took another and extended a hand, again the shadow did the same and when their hands touched Ryu felt a strange pull towards it. " Hanzo are you seeing this?". " What are you doing Ryu? The others have been captured" Hanzo replied. Ryu frowned." I have an idea". " Don't let your feet run ahead of your legs Ryu!" Kenshi's familiar voice boomed over the line but too late. Ryu merged with the shadow and let the darkness flow into him, moving like liquid fire in his veins until he screamed in pain, the shadow coated his physical features as he slowly morphed into a different being
Blaze Of Shadows [A World In Embers] The Crimson Raider
" No! Ryu Don't kill him" Kasumi pleaded and the entity paused long enough to give a glance in her direction before slamming a surprisingly solid fist to the side of Black Fox neck and watched him collapse like a felled tree." Ryu! Are you still there?" Hayato said holding up his sword in a defensive stance. The entity took a few shaky steps towards them and soon collapsed, the darkness receded and left behind it's unconscious vessel.Ryu's eyes slowly opened, his vision blurry. He was met with the sight of Hanzo's concerned face, his eyes scanning Ryu's body."Ryu, can you hear me?" Hanzo asked, his voice firm but laced with worry. Ryu tried to speak, but his voice was hoarse. He nodded instead.Hanzo nodded back. "Good. We need to assess your condition. You've undergone a significant transformation."Ryu's gaze drifted down to his hands, He flexed his fingers, and they seemed to shift like smoke.Hanzo began to list off Ryu's new abilities to the others in the room. "Enhanced stre
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- Blaze Of Shadows [A World In Embers]
The Fall Of The Savages
Ryu stepped forward, his eyes scanning the room. Ten pairs of hostile eyes stared back. The Savage Lions formed a semi-circle around him, trapping him."Take him down!" Kazuki shouted, retreating to safety. Ryu drew his katana, its blade gleaming in the dim light. The air thickened with tension.The first attacker, a burly man with a baseball bat, charged. Ryu sidestepped, using the momentum to fuel his counterattack. A swift slash sent the bat flying, followed by a precise kick that sent the man crashing into the wall.Nine remaining opponents closed in. A knife-wielding thug lunged. Ryu parried with his katana, then delivered a rapid combination of punches, sending the attacker stumbling back.Two more assailants rushed forward, one swinging a chain, the other wielding a pistol. Ryu dodged the chain's wild swing and disarmed the gunman with a swift kick. The chain-wielder stumbled into the line of fire, and Ryu took advantage, striking him down.
- Blaze Of Shadows [A World In Embers]
A Shadow's Imitation III
"Kage no Shūen Kage no Shūen" Ryu began softly and felt that the darkness eating away his soul receded a bit. "Kage no Shūen Kage no Shūen" Ryu repeated and fired it back towards Kage, who having seen it coming, promptly leaped out of way...After the dust cloud settled, Ryu saw Kage approach him." All that in a day's work, your ancestors called that the shadow imitation technique" he smiled. " It was used to mirror someone's attack back at them but a somewhat shadowy variant" " Can it be used to mirror fire related attacks" asked Ryu. " Hmm... Tricky... Yes probably but you might need some help from the entity though.***" Kazuki Masahiro, twenty years old with a slight build. An expert at Intel gathering and reputed to be the head of the Savage Lions, sure enough he and Hikari were buddies" Hanzo declared. Hayato smiled as he borrowed a phase from Ryu. " Why am I not surprised?" " Yeah his best friend as it turns out, his gang specializes i
- Blaze Of Shadows [A World In Embers]
A Shadow's Imitation II
The attack found its mark and knocked the air out of Ryu while the environment around him changed. " Till we meet again Ryu" Kage said, his voice sounding like he was speaking at the other end of a long tunnel...Ryu jerked awake in his room. " Phew back to the land of the living" he joked and had a shower before going to the KoKuryūkai tactical room which was overlooking the training room. There, he met Kenshi watching a training Hayato and Kasumi. " You're up late today" Kenshi observed. " Yes Master, I was busy with Kage" Ryu replied." Kage? Who is this Kage?". Kenshi said and glanced at him while raised a grey eyebrow. " He's my subconscious, sort of like a helper" Ryu said carefully." Hello Ryu!" Hayato called jovially and entered the room along with Kasumi. " Hanzo's calling our attention, I think he found something." Kasumi said.Soon enough Hanzo bursted into the room holding a laptop. " I think I've gotten a name, Kazuki Masah
- Blaze Of Shadows [A World In Embers]
A Shadow's Imitation
Ryu found himself in the realm of his subconscious, his otherwise identical twin known as his subconscious had a somewhat expressionless mask slipped on his face. " What do I call you?" Ryu asked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity. " You may give me any name you so please, however, I can hardly see the use since I'm part of you" it replied. " Okay I'll name you Kage, can you tell me the source of my powers?"" Your lineage was one that once consisted of shadow weavers but during a time of it's rampant misuse, Lord Tetsujin decided to take away the power flow. However because you were a powerful shadow weaver in your previous life, you still had an affinity for shadows and enclosed spaces"" But if he stopped the power flow years ago why did he open it again? If he saw the need to close it the first time why did he open it now?" Said a confused Ryu. " I am sorry Ryu but that is one question I cannot answer" Kage replied with a stoic expression.Ryu gazed on while his mind raced. " Your
- Blaze Of Shadows [A World In Embers]
The Ring Of Tetsujin
It seemed that Ryu had just fallen asleep when the chirping of his phone awoke him. " Ryu Tanaka" came his curt reply. " Ryu, we have some information on the artifact Hikari might be looking for, so we need you to get down here" it was Hayato's voice. " Fine I'm on my way" Ryu said, his voice clipped from a hint of anger at being disturbed until he checked his watch. " Seven hours." He mumbled. It had felt like seven minutes, the reason behind his exhaustion was that he had engaged in a training bout with Kasumi and had found it mentally fatiguing.In the aftermath, he was sent on an operation to apprehend some criminals who had escaped from prison and promptly set off abducting wealthy individuals and then see demanding for outrageous sum of money for their release.Ryu ran a hand through his black hair which was all over the place as usual, sometimes he remembered the time when he'd once took a picture of his mother and his as a child then wonder what i
- Blaze Of Shadows [A World In Embers]
Embers Of The Past III
The two warriors clashed, their movements lightning-fast. Kenshi landed a series of swift kicks, but Kenji countered with deadly precision.Kenji unleashed a flurry of punches, sending Kenshi crashing into a nearby wall. As Kenshi struggled to regain footing, Kenji seized the opening. "Finish him," Yami no le's voice echoed in Kenji's earpiece.But Kenshi refused to yield.With a desperate burst, Kenshi launched himself at Kenji.Their blows collided, each strike shaking the ground.In the chaos, Kenshi grasped Kenji's arm. "Remember Akane, Kenji!" Kenshi pleaded. "Remember Hikari! Your family needs you!"Kenji's gaze faltered. For an instant, the assassin's mask slipped.A glimmer of recognition sparked.But Yami no le's grip was relentless."Obey," the voice commanded. Kenji's expression hardened, He shook off Kenshi's grip. Their battle raged on, Through alleys and rooftops.Their speed increased and soon their movements became a
- Blaze Of Shadows [A World In Embers]
Embers Of The Past II
Kenji Hamasaki, codename "Kage," was a feared assassin trained from childhood in the art of silence and death. He worked for the mysterious Organization Eclipse, eliminating high-priority targets with unmatched skill.At home, Kenji was a devoted husband to Akane and father to Hikari, hiding his dark past from his family."Hikari, how was your day?" Kenji asked, helping his son with homework."It was okay, Dad. Just worried about the math test," Hikari replied. Kenji smiled, pushing aside his assassin thoughts. "You'll do fine. I'll help you study."But Kenji's dual life balanced on a knife's edge. One misstep would destroy everything. "Kenji, we have a new target," his Eclipse handler said over the phone.Kenji's expression hardened. "Who is it?" "A rival organization's leader. Discreetly eliminate him." Kenji nodded, already planning the hit.As he hung up, Akane approached him. "Kenji, is everything okay?" He forced a smile. "Just work
- Blaze Of Shadows [A World In Embers]
Embers Of The Past
Hikari sat back in his seat with a deep frown, he was in one of his secret undercover labs. The smell of papers and stale pizza hung on the air like a second presence and littered on his desk were detailed files fighting for space. With a sigh he flexed his hands and closed his eyes, he had temporarily suspended his work on Gene mutation and switched to an artifact, which he had heard of from his 'subconcious'. An artifact which he wasn't even sure existed but since the explosion there were a lot of things that shouldn't have existed. Unfortunately he thought back to his family and life he has once lived, fully aware of the inability to have that kind of life again.***Ten years earlier.Hikari trudged across campus, his eyes cast downward. College was supposed to be a fresh start, but the same patterns of high school repeated themselves.As he entered the cafeteria, a group of seniors from the prestigious Omega fraternity snicker
- Blaze Of Shadows [A World In Embers]
Ryu's Insight
" That was awesome!" Hayato praised. They were waiting outside the medic where Kasumi was receiving First aid. During the last first, she had sustained a flesh wound and Ryu not taking any chances at infection, Ryu had insisted she take some form of treatment. " What part of it?" Hanzo grumbled. " The part where Ryu's stress levels shot up during the cloning or...?" " Save it Hanzo, I'm still alive. aren't I?" Ryu said laughing. " Which is just as well" Kasumi cut in while she exited the room. " Hey Kasumi, how the wound?" Hanzo asked in concern. " Fine, thank you" she said simply, " So, Ryu, do you have a limit to how many Apparitions you can create and control at a time?". " No I don't but it was painful summoning two, I don't think I want to find out." Well, I dare say that even with your added powers I could land a solid shot or two" Hayato said, then Hanzo and Kasumi exchanged a glance before they burst out laughing." I doubt it, Ryu with his... Shall we say divine abilities is
