1 1 Glimpse of Power

Every time he starts to doubt himself he recalls the moment that made him decide his fate. A single man had single handedly changed the fate of his village. Just when he faced certain death , he descended from the sky like a living god. His body was wrapped in a black whispy energy, his face was dark with rage. he seemed beyond humanity, yet he held himself low. Nothing in his actions told of any pride , as if he was unaware of his godly presence.

"A demon in the guise of of a man" He heard from his left, his grandpa too, had witnessed his decent. In turn, He usually respected his grandpa, yet this time his grandpa's judgment held no sway in his view of the man. Out of the man's body flew swaths of shadow, each flowing in a way reminiscant of both smoke and water.

His power was of darkness, yet he fought for the light.

The reason for his rage and the purpose of decent, creatures of the darkest kind. Humaniod things who's very limbs had become weapons, creating a sight seemingly more belonging to a nightmare than reality. Their blades where as crimson as the blood they sought after. If one got close enough to listen, they would hear the blades humming with a devilish hunger. With each drop of blood spilled with their tainted limbs, their power grew stonger and their minds more twisted.

Their actions where driven by pure bloodlust, each motion making up for what they lack in finesse they make up for with speed and sheer brutality. Only do they ever find enjoyment in the sending of the flesh of her prey. To the people of the peaceful village, they where truly a vision of fear. Their movements where faster than the people's eyes could follow, with a single motion they propelled their bodies across the village before Casious could draw breath.

Their eyes where reminiscant of the monsters they had become, slitted like a cats, glowing in a tainted yellow light. Those eyes were more savage than anything he had ever seen.

At first he only heard the sound of their momentary cries before they where brutally cut short. He could only listen as they grew closer and closer to his home. The fear he felt paralyzed at that moment, just long enough for him to see what would have been his fate.

The sounds making them grow anxious, his family sought to flee. However is nearly cost them their existence. He watched as their neighbors where impaled with greedy ferocity, the light already fading from their eyes not even a second after they had left their own homes. The monsters limbs could extend far beyond their supposed reach. Their pain was excruciating as every drop of blood was sucked from their broken veins.

The monsters who's bloodlust was whetted but never satisfied, turned to search for their next prey. It was then that the boy, who's eyes where glued to the carnage, stared at the face of death from his own window. Then, he came, desending from the sky. His face a visage of rage. Summoned by the cries of terror and pain, he brought death to the monsters as swiftly as one could blink.

His every movement contained the force of his full effort as he spared nothing to destroy the broken men who weaved nothing but pain and chaos. His eyes burning with an intensity that belongs only to those who care nothing for themselves, living only for others. His every movement defeating a nightmare.

Though the blades that made up their limbs could cut through steel, they appeared dull to the protective shadows he controlled. The boy watched as a being far greater than he dedicated his every effort to save their lives. It was that day that his eyes opened to the world.

First to it's cruelty, good people could be taken from this world with no chance to defend themselves. Yet there where those who dedicated themselves to protecting those who couldn't protect themselves. An understanding of life's deep meaning grew inside him along with a new purpose.

Then he saw the man's eyes. Eyes that left a deep impression, so deep that all who saw them would not go a day without recalling their burning visage. They where clear as crystal and filled with rage. Woe to whatever being was the target of such a deep intent to destroy.

The boy mused as the man fought, 'why'? He wondered. The man had never been to the village as long as he had been alive. Even his grandpa, the eldest in his family acted like he had never seen him before. And the way he moved his body, it looked like he was pushing himself beyond his limits, for what?

Then, as the man killed the last of the assailants, the man turned and returned his gaze. As the man's eyes fell upon him all trace his his rage gone, he gave a gentle smile.He felt that the man had seen straight though him, as if he was transparent as water. Nothing could hid from those eyes. He couldn't help but draw a sharp breath, he was unprepared for such an experience. In the man's eyes he saw answers to his questions.

The man was never doing any of this for himself. His rage came from a place of empathy rather than hatred, it came for the people who suffered and cried at the hands of others. His reason for fighting was deeper simply sating things like bloodlust or anger.

He fought to protect the people in front of him and all others that might fall victim to the twisted creatures. Despite his great power he never veiwed himself above anyone, even going as far to fight to the death for people he had never even met. While the other people of the village could not even concieve of such a person, the boy found himself veiwing the man as "normal", perhaps such a mindset was a clue to the things to come.

It was on that day that he learned what true strength is. To live for himself, to be shackled by the weakness of caring about his own fear and pain, was childish. This man, he had thrown aside his self care to live for others, to protect no matter what, that was his power. To take the pain unto himself, so that others might not have to. He then swore to himself, that he would seek strength, so that he might live like the man before him.

To protect those he loves, he could think of no greater purpose. He watched with even greater intesity as the shadows around his savior vanished, with a single leap he disapeared into the sky. For as long as he saw him, there was no trace of any pride, nor greed for potential reward. He merely did what was right, and nothing else.

While the others looked on the man in fear and reservation, He could not be bothered contemplating such misplaced emotions. He had to learn how to get stronger. Just like the Hero