The jungle stretched endlessly, alive with whispers of leaves and the distant calls of birds. Sushe Stro stirred beneath his blanket, stiff from sleep and sore from the cold night. A mosquito buzzed near his ear, and he swatted at it angrily. "Perfect… Day One in the jungle, and even insects hate me."
He stumbled outside, toes snagging on roots, and nearly tripped over a cheeky monkey that had snatched the last of his stale bread. "Oi! Give that back, you little thief!" he yelled, lunging. Mud splashed across his cheek as he landed flat on the ground. He groaned, wiping himself off. "Yep. Jungle training, Day One: humiliation edition."
Gripping his rusted practice katana, Sushe squared his stance in a small clearing. His hands shook, arms unsteady, but he forced himself to focus. "I'm Sushe Stro," he whispered, teeth gritted. "Cursed or not… nobody's going to hold me down!"
He swung. The blade struck a root, bounced, and sent sparks flying into the damp morning air. Pain flared along his wrist — the Ancient Divine Curse Mark glowing faintly. His eyes widened as energy surged through him, sharp and thrilling. "What… what is this?" he muttered, staring at the mark that had always been his curse.
A laugh escaped him, nervous and breathless. "Well, at least you make life interesting," he said, wiping sweat from his brow. "Can't even swing a sword without causing sparks. Sosre would've laughed at me."
He tried to adjust his stance, swinging again, more carefully. The mark pulsed with each strike, the aura surrounding him growing stronger. Leaves stirred violently, as if the jungle itself was reacting. And then… movement in the shadows.
A figure, tall and silent, watched him from between the trees. Eyes glinting, muscles tense. Sushe froze, heart thundering, katana raised. "Who… who's there?" he called, voice steady but wary. The jungle fell quiet — only the echo of his own heartbeat remained.
Somewhere deep inside, a fire ignited. The days behind his life — the pain, the loneliness, the exile — had forged him, but this… this was just the beginning.