1 The Birth of a Prodigy

He was four years old, when his father started his training. They were part of an ancient family passing down their secret martial arts that were refined generation after generation. Aside from achieving perfect control over their body and mind it was mandatory for family members to train the basics of hand to hand combat. Regardless of age, gender, or future profession it was viewed as essential part of growing up.

Once he was six years old, he was instructed in the arts his family was famous for. They produced world-famous spear wielders throughout the ages. For the one named the heir it was expected to learn every technique there was, lest their legacy would die.

After four more years he achieved control over his body that was unseen in any modern children not belonging to secret clans or families chasing the martial path. His martial knowledge made him as deadly as a child of his age could be.

Another four years later, his father and with him the last of his family died. It was a hereditary decease that weakened the body and he already showed the first symptoms himself. Before his father's death learned of all their techniques to a basic level. The decease got into their family tree at some point, but they never managed to rid themselves of this curse.

At age eighteen he mastered all the techniques with utmost commitment, fighting through pain and the constant weakening of his body. Due to the further difficulties, his will was one forged in the hottest of flames to keep his body under control and supress his illness' effects to a minimum.

Currently he was training with his spear in hand. He was in a trance swiping against imaginary enemies from all sides. He thrust with perfect precision, always landing true to his aim. The spear tip cut through raindrops as if intended.

As his training continued, his movements sharpened even further, and he became just that last bit faster. His spear became silent as it did find the way of the least resistance. His shadowy enemies proved no longer an obstacle as they all fell one by one.

Finally. Finally, he reached the state of absolute synergy with his weapon as it was described by his ancestors. As he came to a still, his breathing calmed and so did his heart rate. His body relaxed as he stood straight with his spear.

At the age of barely 20 years old he died after he reached the pinnacle of his family's martial legacy.

-o-

When he came to, he was in a dark room. He could not feel his body, but he could still feel his surroundings. As he was thinking about his situation and if this was the afterlife, slowly changes to his surroundings appeared. On the ground before him a small circular light appeared. A neutral voice that sounded as if it was mixed from countless individual ones rang out.

[If you desire a second chance, advance toward the light. Inaction will be taken as refusal.]

This was not the end? But what would happen if he chose to refuse another chance at life? Would he simply cease to exist, or would he end up somewhere else? He was never one to overthink things, so he chose the path with the most certainty and advanced into the circular light.

[You receive the chance to gain power.]

[Once you accept, you will be bound to a new world acting as one of its guardians.]

[For this is the price of power.]

[The duty to protect against threats of all kind.]

As the voice finished, he saw a multitude of different visions. Advanced and simple civilisations fighting, beings that fit nothing other than the word Gods and monsters so horrifying they would make the darkest of nightmares seem like a show for children.

The civilisations consisted of different species, some of them human-like, others looked like animals and others again looked nothing like anything he has seen before.

The godly beings carried themselves with a certain arrogance, as if everything were beneath them. They demanded not respect, but absolute submission. He definitely didn't have the least positive feelings toward them.

The last bigger group could only be described as nightmares. The came in all shapes, forms and sizes. Some were as big as a human while others even seemed to dwarf planets. One in particular seemed like a perverse amalgamation of body parts of millions of different species. A variety of eyes was seemingly staring in his soul set on devouring him whole.

[Your choice signifies which direction you will go in the future.]

In front of him was an assortment of transparent vases, each filled with a unique liquid. The feeling they gave off ranged from calming to domineering, from freezing to overbearing heat. One of the liquids looked like blood and smelled of iron. Another had a shining red liquid that seemed more like magma than anything else. If he were to guess all these liquids represented different species and their unique powers, ranging from vampires and devils to dragons and angels. At least that was what he expected after seeing the otherworldly creatures fighting. His guess was as good as any, but since the voice talked about a second chance, he was sure of his assumptions.

[Now chose.]

As he didn't actually know where he would end up and if his conjecture regarding the different vases was correct, he would trust his instincts. There was no need to pick one that looked stronger, when his whole being warned him, or it reeked of evil.

He closed off his senses and tried to feel his surroundings of anything that felt right. After a while it was as if something was calling him, a sudden urge to move towards it filled his whole being.

As he sharpened his senses again, he came before a vase of liquid that gave of a calming and at the same time overpowering feeling. It just felt natural as it's earthen and yellow colours swirled around each other.

As he was sure, that this was the one he would choose he reached out to it.

[It will now fuse with your whole being before you will be on your way.]

This was the last time he heard the mysterious voice as the liquid began to churn. It's former calm state nothing but a memory it advanced towards him. It began to seep into him as they became one. It changed him, but it wasn't painful, it was an evolution. He began to feel his own growth and it would have been overwhelming if not for the calming feeling.

After an undetermined amount of time the process came to an end as his consciousness faded.

-o-

"Is the barrier up?" An old Tanuki Yokai asked. He was the most experienced doctor of supernatural Kyoto and a Great Yokai at that.

"Yes, it is. The clansmen sent by Lady Yasaka have set it up already." A young female Tanuki Yokai answered. She was a nurse working directly with the doctor.

They were here for the birth of a child. Normally a barrier would not be necessary, but they already felt the insane energy-levels of the soon to be born child without even leaving his mothers womb. Something like that has never happened before. Everyone who knew about it was looking forward to it. While the Yokai weren't a weak faction, with multiple of their members at Ultimate Strength Level, they were still behind compared to the stronger factions. The Shinto Gods were their allies, but even they could not meddle in every situation. Bundled with the reincarnation system of different factions and Gods roping in some of their strongest members, their growth was halted tremendously. This was why this child signified so much more than just another Great Yokai.

Suddenly they heard the cries of a woman lying nearby. She had long red hair and a long black horn on her forehead. She was taller than the average woman and had a beautiful appearance, a far cry from what humans depicted as Oni. Since she lived alone, nobody knew who the father of the child was. Yokai didn't have set customs when it came to choosing partners or to the topic of marriage.

What followed were gruelling hours for both the mother and everyone working around her. As an Oni her strength was nothing to scoff at and nobody wanted to be at the receiving end of an angry one at that. With one last push the baby as born and as it began to let out a cry after being clapped onto his behind, everyone was stumped. His presence was calming and overbearing at the same time. It was as if every bit of natural energy around them did to his bidding. As he was handed to his mother, the former atmosphere slowly returned as it stopped to cry.

If it weren't for the tuft of red hair, his red eyes, slightly pointed ears and the two small black nubs on his forehead, he would have looked like a human child. But everyone present knew otherwise. He was born for greatness. The aura this small boy gave off dwarfed every other yokai by far. Him being born into the clan of physically strong Oni just further proved that his strength would be unmatched one day.

"I bestow upon you the name Yuudai, for I hope you will be able to keep safe what is precious to you." His mother spoke, exhausted from giving birth the last few hours. With 'yuu' meaning 'hero' and 'dai' meaning 'great' she expressed not just her wish for him to become strong enough for his future loved ones, but also the expectations that would put upon him by all of Yokai-kind. Most of them were a tight-knit society and she was no exception. All of them knew the pressure her friend Yasaka was under, between the Shinto Gods, their own people, and outside forces like the Devils. Thus, while she hoped he would grow up to live a happy life, he would be a beacon of positive change for their people.