The beautiful cyberpunk city of Neo Edo Tokoyo (南京江戸), the crown jewel of The Imperial Nation Of
Ashurwah one of the six nations of Planet Gaia also known as The Shanghai Tokoyo Beijing Capital. Rose from it's crystal blue surface
like a dream given form, it's neon arteries pulsed with the rhythm of a
million lives each one oblivious to the cosmic game of chess being played in their midst. Most citizens
didn't notice, their minds automatically filling in the gaps of the bustling city hustle. But from his perch atop Isaac's Orizuru Tower, Appolyse could see the truth even though he was too young to realise it at the time. The city wasn't
just built on Earth, it was built on a wound in space time where life was once broken down and the scars of memory still resonate.
"Focus! your mind wanders again."
Sensei Shang Kai instructed his voice carrying the tone and depth of resounding strength and discipline.
Gracefully moving in an exceptional sequence of precisely positioned attacks and calculated movements.
Bearing the weight of countless years of martial discipline, he meets his young pupil in sparring — where controlled combat becomes a lesson, and consistency forges mastery. While his brawling with the boy, he manages to exploit his weaknesses and closes in on him.
"Careful, your guard is down..."
Sensei Shang Kai strictly warned as his voice rang in Appolyse's mind waking him amidst his daydreaming.
"Sorry Sensei..."
Appolyse softly apologizes as he straightens his kata stance, bare feet gripping the dew dampened grass.
As the morning sun painted the cherry blossom fields a lovely
and pleasant amber silhouette, with the serene and chaotic backdrop of the city. The people chattering in the background, the faunachrons in the trees and the commotion of moving traffic. The city was a beautiful and majestic futuristic biopunk megalopolis, with just the right amount of green. From a sprawling sparse of trees at the center of the city that spans outward towards north of the city's edge, just near the
peninsula west offshore.
With sweat perspiring on his face, at just 13 years old he moved with a grace that seemed almost super natural. A matter of a fact that never seemed to surprise Sensei, who has been the boy's martial arts master since he was at the tender age of 6. And yet after all these years, his still worried about all the unexplicable phenomena that would occur at times although he remained unspoken.
"Quite impressive Appolyse, I see your technique has improved considerably since our last training session."
Sensei complimented the young martial arts pupil for his
commendable prowess.
"Domo arigato Sensei, I've been practicing my forms like you said."
Appolyse politely responded as he took a bow before Sensei in a gesture of honor and respect.
"Good -- very good, you're getting stronger and more proficient..."
"It seems you might have what it takes to be able to defeat me in combat, but it appears somethings got a hold of your attention."
"What's on your mind young one?"
"Or is it perhaps, I am boring you?
"No, no Sensei it's nothing, I'm just not feeling okay today."
"Mmh --- you must remember healthy mind, healthy body. True strength comes from within."
"Well, to be honest, I don't know anything about that Sensei. I've never really looked at it that way before."
Appolyse laughs awkwardly. Sensei laughs too, but not for the same reason.
"Ah I see, it appears the pupil is bound to become the master sooner rather than later..."
Sensei sternly advises the boy as he slightly nods in approval.
Appolyse mutually smiled, feeling a great sense of accomplishment and pride. He loved Sensei's wise words, even though he didn't always understand them.
But still the boy looked on to the stars, dreaming of worlds he could barely fathom. Aside the cyberpunk sprawl of Neo Edo Tokoyo, lies
The Secluded Island Of Orizaba Hiroshima that some how existed both within the city's skyline and outside the city limits. Where the boy lives a rather simple, quite and minimalistic life style with his philanthropist older brother Isaac. Every morning he would wake up at the peak of dawn, run a full lap around the island and then take a trip up the mountains.
Afterwards he would practice yoga and devotional meditation honing his mind and spirit. Then later on martial arts training with Sensei and by night time, he would be reading in Isaac's Laboratory.
But sometimes he would explore the city's neon lit street lights and hidden corners. Looking to try new things and experiences as a way to relax his body and unwind after a long day. Lately, he no longer feels like himself, as though something shifted when he reached a certain age.
His older brother Isaac hadn't always been there — sometimes he would vanish for months leaving the boy utterly alone. With nothing but Sensei Shang Kai and the automated
security systems to keep him company. But this time it was different, this time Isaac had been gone for almost a year.
And it was really starting to become a bother to young Appolyse, as his thoughts drifted back and forth to the plethora of night terrors and distorted memories of strange to say bedfellows that have constantly been plaguing him in recent days.
The boy never actually knew his parents, he grew up with his foster brother Isaac who raised him ever since he was a child and taught him everything he knows. And the old master became something sort of a father figure because he looked more akin to Appolyse, human in a sense. Unlike his extraterrestrial sibling, Isaac who barely looks anything like him. But that has never
really affected the boy nor his relationship with his brother.
He always saw Isaac as human as anyone of them regardless of his appearance and as it should be for he is the boy's rightful guardian and caretaker. But Appolyse knew the difference between all the relative manner of faunachrons and beasts inhabiting this planet, as much as his older brother taught him.
Old man Sensei Shang Kai would move through the sacred art forms with the boy, and after that they would talk almost all manner of conversation. Naturally Sensei lectured and adviced the boy about life and all it's ups and downs
and sometimes, just rarely enough they would jest. And at times Appolyse would find Sensei lost in thought and staring off into the horizon.
Admiring The Utah Himavat Zongdu Mountain, a prestigious monument
on the great mountain peak with articulately sculptured busts of The Zongdu (總督). The governor-general
and reigning monarch of The Imperial Nation Of Ashurwah. Starting from the first founding father, Great Zongdu Sun Yu Chengen who played a crucial role in the formation and assembly of The Allied Treaty of majestic leaders. 24 centuries ago in 1UG when The Martian Spherule Invasion began. And the six great kingdoms of planet Gaia were united and re-established as the seven great nations of planet Gaia, under a new democratic constitution by The Galactic Federation after the transgressions of The 2nd Vital Necro War. All the way down to Sung Jin Hoichuen, grandson of Sun Yu Chengen and the current zongdu of Ashurwah.
From time to time Sensei would speak so highly of Zongdu Sung Jin Hoichuen in a way that it stirred a deep festering admiration in the boy's mind. So much so that it made him respect the Zongdu more than his own master and mentor but not because of their political power, status nor rank but for their strength,
discipline and nobility.
The old master Sensei Shang Kai (商) who's birth name is Xian Shang Kai, also known as Master Golden Fang (房). A sophisticated and compassionate 78-year-old Daoist Ashurian male descended from a royal bloodline. Son of Xiangqi Khung Lao renowned as Master Silver Fang (房) the first born son of Great Zongdu Sun Yu Chengen and the older brother of Proconsul Guanhua Ming Zhao and Zongdu Son Ken Yuanzhang the last reigning zongdu of Ashurwah. Who founded The Shinryu Dojo and it has been part of The Yinchao Royal Family history ever since.
One morning as Appolyse trained with Sensei Shang Kai he felt a strange sensation as if something was slowly building up inside him. Sensei had always told him it was just a sign of his latent potential, but Appolyse wondered what if there was something much deeper to it than that. But nonetheless he could never disregard Sensei's word. A few days later a sense of foreboding and tension grew heavy in the air as the troubling visions that haunt him in his dreams began to resurgent.