LUNACY - 2363 CE

Part 1:

Over a century after humanity boldly ventured beyond Earth, in the year 2363, I find myself observing the Japanese colony on the planet Tsukugami, shorthand for Tsukuyomi no Futago, named after its twin moons. It is a wonderful sprawl of technological prowess amidst brilliant gardens and architecture reminiscent of the historical land of the rising sun. Tranquility pervades, making for a calm planet with calm people. It is in this serene expanse that I watch Takeshi, a young man dedicated to the art of Kyudo. He follows the deep-rooted traditions of his family, living and training at his family’s enteki-dojo.

Lately however, he is being inundated with visions under the glow of an aquamarine star, escorted by the two lunar bodies. His dreams shake his mind and he wakes up drenched in sweat night after night. Images flood his mind, of caves, forests, and blood-red eyes. After weeks of struggle, he recruits help from friends and family. Together they discover myths originating in Tsukugami’s own history, rather than anything from Earth. They foretell of the awakening of something called the Berserker Wolf, an entity born from the Great Shadow that lurks in the void. And worst of all, it is meant to take place soon.

Takeshi searches for a way to fight the mythical beast when it returns, arming himself with ethereal violet arrows, relics of a time long gone. He vows to confront this enemy, against the wishes and warnings from those around him even when they question the sanity of his decision. Alone, he ventures into the ancient amethyst forest, where spirits murmur of destiny and bravery, guiding his path towards the impending darkness.

Part 2:

One fateful night, it is with heavy eyes that I watch Takeshi step into a clearing outside the forest. There is a pool of water between the forest and a steep cliff leading far below. The moons cast their ethereal silver light and the night takes on a surreal quality as he walks to the edge and watches in shock as the immense beast rises from the ground below. This entity, a towering mass of malice, seems to disrupt nature around it, its very existence a spreading curse. The air vibrates with foreboding energy, a signal to the onset of battle, one that might well reshape the fabric of Tsukugami and its people.

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After a deep breath, Takeshi lifts his longbow with calm hands and pulls out one of the violet-tipped arrows, carrying the weight of desperate hope, seeking intervention against the looming threat. He aims true and the arrow flies, a streak in the night sky charged with mystical energy, a mesmerizing display. I hold my breath as seconds pass. We watch the projectile arc up and land square on the dark smoke-like pelt of the beast.

The Berserk Wolf turns its glowing red eyes towards Takeshi, mouth opening in a wicked facsimile of a smile. But he does not wait for it to act. Arrow after arrow he assaults the creature, a barrage of lavender beams. Their confrontation is more than physical; each arrow strike marks his defiance against the abyss. Despite his prowess with the bow, the beast is relentless, howling a morose symphony that shakes the ground beneath our feet. A threat of a new era of darkness.

Part 3:

The battle continues, an army of smaller beasts running towards Takeshi, but the guiding star begins to wane and shed its mournful light. It is then that Takeshi's valiant stand draws to a close, he falls to the overwhelming force of the werewolves. During his final gaze upon the heavens he sees the truth in another vision. This wolf, this enormous creature, was never something he could fight. His mind fades as he hears the name Vârcolac in the air.

The rise of the werewolves is brief, descending back below ground after dawn, yet it devastates the settlements. Those who survive now tell the story of Takeshi, his lunacy becoming a poignant reminder of the unfathomable mysteries that dwell among the stars. His memory is honored with the lighting of a violet flame, a beacon for those who would attempt to ward off the night's embrace, however futile.