First things first, A shout out to 'JUSTAWAY', I watched the anime Asura after you mentioned it…...when i had time, awesome by the way. I tried to find the manga but couldn't find it online TT-TT.
My story is a bit like it, though later on it will go down a completely different rout. No goody goody MC mind reform here. Even if at a time my MC finds/regains his humanity he will eventually lose or twist it into the worst of humanity. I hate with a passion, naive little fuckers, thats why i'm gonna kill em all off.
MUAHAHAHAHAHA..cough..cough...ahem.
I will try to post my next chapter tomorrow or the day after, since i've planned how the story will progress.
Ty for wolf suggestions, he won’t become a werewolf but the inspiration is derived from that. I hope when I get to the second Arc his reincarnation will surprise you all. Though it’s still a ways off. Maybe another 5-7 chapters.
Enjoy!
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POV: Aki (Village boy)
I stared at the thing in front of me. It was the creature that had been terrorizing my village for years, causing us to continue to live in fear, even after the famine had ended.
When I first laid eyes on this being, the first word that came to mind, was ‘boy’. He could have been as old as I but his thin limbs and shorter stature made me think of him as youthful, along with his face being hidden I couldn't get a grasp on what to make of him, but he looked delicate from afar, but the dirt and grime that clung to his body made him appear pitiful.
I soon realized how wrong my first assumption was. The thing I first thought was just some dirty decrepit stray child, not even of age yet, had before my eyes slaughtered three of my friends and fellow villagers. It all happened in an instant. The rest of us still living were frozen in shock, watching this young man?….beast?... mercilessly cut through our brethren with what I assume tools usurped from previous raiders.
He swung his tools wildly, without form, but with purpose. He wished for his tools to cut, maim and slaughter and they complied, with an animalistic instinctual precision.
Two more of our group of 10 had been killed before I finally broke out of my stupor.
“RAAAAWWWRRRR!”
A roar filled with my agony and grief erupted from my mouth, a horse pitiful shout of resistance and revenge. My anger reaching it’s peak, not only directed at the monster in front of me, but also at myself. How could I just stand there as this thing ripped through my companions, my friends.
I sprint towards the crouching figure, adrenaline and furry pumping through my veins.
“I WILL KILL YOU!!”
The monster turned to face me, A feral growl emanated from it’s throat as it recognized my intent to harm it.
Blood covered its face and maw due to it ripping out the throat of one of it’s victims with it’s teeth. Tangled black hair sticking to the blood on his face, falling past his shoulders. Dried flakes of blood can be seen on his hands and feet, like he’s stepped in too many puddles of blood to wash it all off. The only part of this beast not covered in that iron smelling liquid, are his eyes.
I stare into this murdering monsters eyes and a shiver traveled up my spine, hairs stand on end, as I look, the more confused and terrified I become.
It’s eyes are dreadful. An intelligence permeates them, yet is caged in a feral hunger, an insanity and innocence that seems to drive it further into madness.
But these thoughts and realizations are all pushed away due to my adrenaline and fury suppressing my fear of this creature before me. I ignore my instincts and terror by breaking the brief moment of eye contact we shared. All my focus is used to direct my spear into this creature's flesh and destroy this abomination.
My speed increases as I adjust the angle of my weapon accordingly. I'm decently proficient in wielding this spear as i’ve practiced for this day. I aim the spear point for the creature's chest and lunge.
The next instant…..all I see is red.
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“Today i'm officially a man!”
I unintentionally shout into the sunrise.
“(snicker) (snicker)”
I feel my cheeks get hot as I hear my mother and sister laugh, under their breaths, at my embarrassing display.
I duck back into the hut, trying to recompose myself.
“Mu...why did they have to see that! ……...ARG!”
I swat my hands into my face, trying to clear the embarrassment from my mind….it only partially worked and mostly hurt…….TT-TT
Like I care if people laugh. I’m a man now! My face regains its triumphant vigor, and I walk back outside, chest held high with a swag in my step.
More snickering ensues from the fields where my sis and mom are working. I continue to ignore them but my chest drops a bit.
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“Yo Aki, ready for the hunt?”
A baby faced youth with slick black hair and sharp upturned eyes calls out to me.
“......man...every time i see your face i don’t know wether to think you cute or frightening.”
I blurt out my inner thoughts on reflex…..totally not intentionally…….maybe.
“......fuck you to, I thought you got over your virginity already”
The boy replied calmly, un-angered with a hint of humor in his voice.
“!!?? ...w..Why’d you have to bring that up! p..plus i’ll get a girl….. eventually”
I manage to stammer out a reply, while glancing quickly at my surroundings, ‘thank god no one heard him’.
“You’ve lived 18 years without so much as holding hands with a girl and the only reason you have the chance to even be considered a man, before giving a woman a good fuck, is because of the Ritual Hunt……... and please refrain from commenting on my facial features…..it displeases me.”
The boy stabs me multiple times, throws some salt on the wounds and leaves me for dead.
“...............”
I stand stupefied at his nonchalant comments, my body frozen until i’m broken out of my stupor by a question.
“So, your hot sis tease you this morning or something?”
“NO!….not..sorta..kinda…………………...I screamed out some embarrassing lines…….and…...got laughed at.”
My firm first reply ended up trailing off into a mumble of the embarrassing truth. The glare of my friends gangster eyes are all that is needed to pry the truth out of me. There fucking terrifying.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.
“No wonder you had the nerve to comment on my face, Getting caught screaming ‘you're finally a man’ can do that to a person”
My face flared up in shame ‘his comment made no sense and how did he even know what I said, I never elaborated !!??’
“The echo.”
“What??” I reply puzzled at his remark
“The surrounding mountains carry loud voices, i'm pretty sure everyone in the village heard your morning proclamation.”
My face and chest seem to drop to the floor…….no.. they actually dropped to the floor, as I curled up into a ball lamenting on my stupid as decision to display my man hood, just to have myself get kicked in the balls for it………..that didn’t sound right?................
“Don’t worry man, not like anyone took you seriously in the first place.”
“.................gguu…………”
A grown leaks out of my miserable husk of a self as I try to ignore the subtle humor stuck in Izamus’ voice.
In case you haven’t figured out yet Nishimura Izamu is my best friend from childhood, the scary vengeful fucker who i’ve been talking to the whole time.
“Well hurry up, If we don’t get there in time, you can kiss goodbye to becoming a man anytime soon!”
Izamu shouts a warning along with a wry chuckle
I get up and make a mad dash after him………..reach him…..then continue past him, sprinting towards the meeting ground.
I hear another soft chuckle from behind me but ignore it.
Time to finally become a man.
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“YOU WILL NEVER BE TRUE MEN! ……..unless you pass the Ritual Hunt.
Our ancestors along with the generations before them all completed this hunt. Normally it takes place on your 12 year but due to the passing famine, along with…...unknown dangers that have taken root in the forest, we’ve had to postponed the hunt for a few years.
But finally today marks the rekindling of our beloved tradition; though for some it has come later than usual, that just means you have an edge over the younger participants. Now before I explain the hunt I will reiterate our village history and……...”
Himura Nobuyuki, our village head and the person speaking before us.
His gruff aged voice dominates the surroundings in a manner that demands attention and respect. ‘I paid close attention to his words for the first 30 minutes but …...he just kept talking…..he hasn’t even gotten to what the Ritual hunt really is yet...OMG I think i’m gonna die of boredom’, I turn my head to the still slightly reddened sky and start daydreaming, my eyes becoming heavier.
I snap to attention at the next words
“So without further or due I will now leave the explanation of The Ritual Hunt to your overseers, Good Luck and may you all triumph!”
The Village head then briskly walked away, leaving us to the two overseers that stood on either side of him during his speech.
The surrounding boys gazed expectantly at them, I am no exception. The excitement and expectation we feel is evident and the atmosphere causes one of our Overseer to promptly start the explanation.
“...Ahem...Greetings, as some of you may already know I am Akiyama Nori father of Kazuhiko and Satoshi. I will be one of the Overseers watching over you during this Ritual Hunt, and the man beside me, Matsuoka Masanori, will be your second Overseer.
We are responsible for supervising and guiding you during this period, but will not interfere in matters beyond your basic safety.
Now I know you all are eager to discover what exactly you have to do for the Ritual Hunt, but tradition states, before the explanation, each participant must state their name and age before the ritual deity.
You may not withdraw after you have done this, so be warned.
Now step forward individually from oldest to youngest.”
Akiyama Nori our first overseer spoke gruffly and to the point, he then looked to me and I complied.
“Yoshida Aki, Age 18!”
I spoke loudly but did not shout, my voice held respect for our deity as I knelt and clasped my hands into symbols that signified reverence and pride. I then stepped back into my former place as I watched Izamu walk to where I just stood.
“Nishimura Izamu, Age 18”
My friend spoke with a solid tone as he also kneeled and repeated my actions.
“Moto Tadao, Age 18”
Stout strong shoulders greeted us as we watched the third individual go up. If I had to describe this Tadao I would say he was a rock. I’ve only seen him around, never really interacting with him but just one look and I know to never piss him off.
“Akiyama Kazuhiko, Age 18”
A handsome youth with an evenly proportioned build, His appearance makes me want to hate him…..but …..he has the most awesome character. We hang out on occasion, pull pranks and such. If their was one flaw………...quirk?...........meh..(shrugs)………... it’s his unhealthy obsession with his younger brother………………..well more like he almost sadistically likes to make fun of and tease his him, but this balances out with his overprotectiveness and need to dote on him almost constantly. In short a weirdo.
“Fukumoto Ryota, Age 16”
…………..A samurai………..mmm….maybe more of a Ronin character??
“Kimura Kin, Age 16”
Like his name, meaning gold empties, this son of a bitch, is a money grubbin, back door dealing thief…..well not really, but if you let him he’ll ring you for all your worth.
“Akiyama Satoshi, Age 15”
Kazuhikos’ younger brother, like his older brother he has great looks though much more along the effeminate side. Long dark black eyelashes and hair, plump pink lips, slender legs and ar……………..y..you get the idea…………..he’s dangerous…………………..
“Fukui Madoka, Age 14”
Tall lean stature, brown messy hair, and an adorable set of eyes that can turn vicious in a moment. Satoshi’s best friend and bodyguard…….mostly from Kazuhiko. Always thought his and Satoshi’s names should be swapped.
After everyone finished introducing themselves and paying their respect, the Overseers nodded and gathered us into a circle. Besides the two Overseers there were 8 of us participating in the Ritual Hunt and all of us were eager for the explanation and to finally officially start.