Homurake

"The Musubi Forest". A place in Japan where life is intertwined and vast. Many ancient ruins lie deep beneath its dense canopy waiting to be uncovered. The forest stretches for hundreds of miles and houses many creatures like the so-called "Phantoms". Despite its beauty, many do not enter as the forest is a pernicious place and controlled solely by a large army called "The Elite". For many years, The Elite controlled a large area of the north side of The Musubi Forest, and continued to expand wanting to control it all. Their goal, to protect normal travelers and to poach all sorts of animals for their people. "I see…" A scruffy looking boy said to his mother as she began to speak sternly to him again. "Ivan", I know we don't have enough for an escort, but please just avoid the forest. Take the long way to your grandmother's okay"? Ivan sighs before smiling and nodding, "Alright mom". She hugs the boy tight before saying, "Love you, be safe". "Love you as well mom". For the next couple of hours, Ivan walked alone hauling a bag full of vegetables. "Ugh… this is going to take forever", He protested before glancing at the edge of the forest. Dense and quiet it was but Ivan knew it would be quicker to just cut through the Forest. "All I have to do is get through it quickly….." Ivan sighed before taking in a deep breath, before running into the brush. His heart raced but soon began to slow down when he realized there was nothing dangerous around. He sighed in relief before walking. He would walk for about two hours taking in the beautiful scenery and such. "Ahh… this isn't so bad", He said feeling more confident, "I'm gonna get through this in a bree-" Suddenly, a large ghostly transparent and demonic looking creature drops in front of him from the tree's roaring loudly. His heart sank as he said to himself with fear, "A-A-A PHANTOM!!!" The Phantom stares down into Ivan's soul before screeching loudly and lifting its right arm revealing its sharp talons. Ivan closes his eyes tight on the verge of crying before with one swift move, the Phantom's arm is chopped off. Ivan opens his eyes and then gasps in awe. A young man was in front of Ivan on one knee holding a bloody knife. The man had short spiky brown hair and ocean blue eyes. He wore a black kimono top that had a black haori over it and wore hakama pants with tabi socks and zori wooden slippers. His outfit seemed a bit scuffed up as if he had been in battle countless of times and his haori was slightly ripped. The blood dripped from his knife as he asked with a serious yet confident voice, "You okay"? Ivan nods and the man smiles before saying, "No worries now kid. Leave this to me". The man then gasps and dives into Ivan, saving him from the Phantom's slash attack with its talons. "Damn that thing's aggressive. Nothin I haven't dealt with though". The man gave a grin then yelled, "Alright you big ape bird hybrid thing…. Yeah… yeah Im comin for ya"!! He then dashed towards the Phantom as it screeched again and tried attacking the man, but with ease, the man jumped around and dodged the attacks while continuously slashing and stabbing the Phantom. The Phantom began roaring with pain before throwing a wild slash which the man uses this to his advantage and chops the Phantom's other arm off. After doing this, the man springs into the air and yells as he stabs the Phantom in the head allowing the knife to slash all the way down through the Phantom's body splitting it in half killing it. Ivan watches in awe as the Phantom slowly fades away into nothingness and the man drops in front of him and gives a confident smile. "Woah! That was… that was amazing Mr"! Ivan yells with thrill, "Thank you for saving me"! Hehehe! No worries kid. I do have to ask now though. What are you doing alone in the forest? This place isn't really a cake walk, you know". Ivan immediately bows before frantically saying, "I'm very sorry for the inconvenience Mr! I just wanted to get to "Port Haven" quickly! I'm delivering vegetables to my grandmother"! "Ahh, I see. Well then, let me escort you", The man said and Ivan's eyes sparkled as he yelled, "Really?! You'd do that for me"?! "Sure. I know where Haven is. I go there to steaaaa-I mean buy food"! He said with a cheeky smile almost slipping with his words. The two begin to walk for a while, talking and such until they get to the edge of the forest when they can see Port Haven in the distance. Ivan stops walking with the man before turning and bowing again and speaking, "Mr. I can't thank you enough. Please take any vegetable you want". The man chuckles and puts his hands in front of him refusing the offer. "Thank you kid, but I'll be okay. I'm not a fan of vegetables". "I see. Then may I at least know your name Mr"? The man thinks for a moment before giving a snarky look and saying with confidence ], "My name? Well, the names "Kyle Enzo"! Protector and warrior of The Musubi Forest"! Ivan blinked before he spoke with a smile, "Kyle Enzo huh? Never heard of you". Kyle's jaw drops as Ivan continues, "But either way… thank you for the help Mr. Enzo"! Kyle stares before smiling gently and saying, "No problem. Anytime". "Hey! You! You're the bastard that's been ravaging Elite outposts around the area"! Kyle and Ivan turn to see three soldiers wearing black and gold samurai armor with a gold bird emblem on their shoulder pads. They all held katana's as well. "The Elite"?! Ivan yells worriedly. "Aww crap. Hey kid… get goin", Kyle said with a composed expression. "A-Are you going to fight them"? "Nah. Just some friendly chatter. Anyways go". Ivan watches before running. "So, trying to steal from a kid were you"?! One of them yells and Kyle puts his hands up and smiles. "Woah! Misunderstanding there guys! I was simply helping him get across the forest. It's dangerous with the Phantom's. You guys know that though". The three looked at one another before one said bluntly, "Take him down"! "Ooooof cooourse"! Kyle said letting out an exasperated exhale before rushing towards them tossing his knife out of his pocket. "They never listen to me"! The first man goes in with a heavy swing and as he and Kyle get close, Kyle jumps into the air and stomps onto the man's face before jumping higher and backlipping landing in between the other two men. The two go to attack but Kyle leg swipes one and then backflips off the ground onto his hands knocking the falling blade from the second guy back allowing Kyle to jab him back. He then spins when dodging the first guy again who tried cutting him down and elbows him back before backing up in a fighting stance and saying, "Hey! Listen! I'm not trying to hurt you guys! I don't want any trouble! I just needed some supplies! I'm living out in the elements ya know"! "By "Lord Corvas's" Order, you are to be brought to him alive to face the consequences"! "Corvas"? Kyle says, puzzled. "So he's your leader I'd assume"? "Yes. And by his order you are to be captured"! "No thanks I'll pass". "THIS IS NOT UP FOR DISCUSSION CRIMINAL"! Kyle groans in an annoyed way before he said, "Alright criminal is just too far! And I already said no"! Kyle then began to bounce up and down warming up his hands and legs. "Lets do this Elite"! The three placed their hands out and yelled, "Naru Hi"! Within an instant, a large blast of fire materialized from their hands and launched towards Kyle. "The hell?! Their "Magic Wielders"?! Kyle said to himself dumbstruck before he ran away then jumped into a small ditch. He coughed a bit before peaking his head and seeing the three ready to launch another large magic attack and gritting his teeth while saying to himself, "They're gonna use straight magic now that they can't fight head on! That sucks! That really really sucks"!! Kyle spins and immediately dashes away as more flames launch towards him burning trees and bushes all around him. As he runs, something glowing attaches to the back of his upper back but initially, he was able to get away. Now, it was night time. Kyle sits alone, deep in the dark forest on a makeshift bed by a fire he made roasting a small lizard he had caught. As he sat there, many sounds could be heard far off in all directions. Loud wailing, growls, and branches breaking. It was a bizarre uneasy feeling but Kyle seemed to be used to it. "Looks like the "Rouge Phantoms are out", Kyle said to himself, "The Elite aren't stupid enough to launch a search at this hour. Guess I'll eat this and get some sleep. Hopefully… I'll be able to help someone else tomorrow." Kyle sighs tiredly before eating the roasted lizard with one bite and then tossing the stick and going to bed. Soon, the sun would rise and Kyle would yawn and sit up. He rubs his eyes and smiles confidently before he jumps up and stretches. "Right. Another day of saving lives and being the grand hero of The Musubi Forest"! Kyle gives a grin and stands with a superhero pose before his eyes open wide when he sees too many Elite soldiers surrounding him. "You! There is nowhere to run! You are under arrest"! Kyle sighs heavily, dropping his arms before he said, "Are we really gonna do this again guys? You're not going to catch me". "Is that so". A man with a deep voice said. Suddenly, roots with sharp thorns embedded within them fly out from within the ground and wrap around Kyle cutting his skin all around causing him to yelp in pain and grit his teeth. From behind the soldiers, a bunch of those same roots form over them creating a bridge where a man that looked well into his fifties walked on towards Kyle. The man had spikey pastel green hair and chartreuse green eyes. He wore a green kimono top and gray hakama pants with tabi white socks zori wooden slippers. Kyle glared as the man walked closer and spoke, "Do I even gotta ask"? The man stopped in front of him and gave a snicker before Kyle said sternly, "Corvas". "Indeed I am Corvas". *The roots wrap around Kyle tighter and he clamps his teeth together tighter with anger. "How'd… you find me". Corvus steps closer before saying, "Release", and the light that was attached to Kyle's back suddenly disappears and Kyle speaks, "Tracking magic". "It was quite simple to do really. Something a non-magic user wouldn't know". As Corvas speaks, Kyle quietly and steadily pulls out a knife before he begins sawing through the roots. "You on the other hand have cost me lots of money in damages. And you know…I was going to keep you alive… but no… now… you deserve to die. Your charade of nonsense is over. Say… your… goodbyes". Corvas turns back to Kyle before covering his face when a large amount of smoke erupts in front of him. "Kaze ni Naru"! Corvus yelled as he held his hand out and an outburst of wind launched from within his hand and at the smoke dissipating it where he saw his roots on the ground and Kyle running. Corvus grits his teeth before he yells, "Raaa! Go kill that fool now"! The Elite soldier's yell and rush towards Kyle launching many magical attacks at him. Kyle continues to run and try to dodge but soon he is hit with an explosion that sends him flying through the air and landing in a ditch hard. Kyle breathes heavily as his head bleeds and he says to himself, "This… cant….. This can't be where it ends". He then lays his head back falling unconscious.