The sun shined down from above, its heat pummeled any poor soul beneath its rays as it remained relentless on its attack. The poor soul underneath the cruel rays of the sun was a small eastern boy, whom tried to carry a large Great Katana. The boy tried to raise the weapon up but he simply could not. It wasn’t because the weapon was too heavy; no he was too tired and too hot. The sun burned his flesh as he wiped away the sweat from his brow while the sun continued to kiss his flesh with scorching rays. No matter what, he had to continue on; he had to survive and to become stronger. Stronger than the rest, stronger than any foe he would ever come across. He had to honor his family by becoming stronger, becoming a master of his craft. His village burned to the ground by raiders, his father slain, his mother raped then murdered all before his eyes. He had cried for days after but now he was empty. His face showed nothing but that of tired and starving child, he looked as if he was about to kill over at any moment and become food for scavengers.
The boy was eight years old; he witnessed his passion and his dreams burn within the tragic flames that took his kin. The dreams of honoring his family’s creed, their legacy was gone consumed by the raging fire started by a group of no good bandits that vanished as soon as they appeared. The boy collapsed to the ground, he clutched the dirt as he tried to push himself up. He stared deeply into the heaven above, questioning whatever divine being that supposedly took reign up there. Why did he have to lose everything, why did his family be extinguished and allow him to remain. His famished and weak face had turned to disgust and to anger. He cursed the heavens; he cursed fate for destroying everything he had. It was luck that he was spared, now he was alone and knew he would have to overcome this pathetic state and the weakness that he had. He was too weak, too pathetic to save his family, too much of a weakling towering in fear. He stopped in his tracks and turned to the Great Katana he had dropped along the way. He crawled to the blade, picking it up. He held it close to his chest; this was his only friend, his only family he had. He cried out, as he began to shed tears for the fallen. He slowly rose to his feet, his knee shaking as he turned his attention back to the heavens.
“I’ve lost everything. But I shall rise like the phoenix, never again will I be weak, never again will I be paralyzed by fear! Others will fear me…and not even a god will be able to stand against my blade. No one will ever extinguish this passion, this desire that burns deep in my heart! I’ll show the world, I’ll become a devil if I have to…for I shall never again be a weak and helpless fool! I will fear no one! No man, no beast, no monster!” The boy shouted with everything he had within him. His knee fell to the ground once more, but he used his sword to help himself stand, his fragile frame could not support him. “I will be great…I’ll show the world; nothing will stand in my way. I promise.”
Opening his eyes as he sat up in his uncomfortable bed, Hideo Wiriamuzu turned and looked round. All that he saw were bars and an empty cell beside him. Darkness all around, near silence, and emptiness surrounded him. He laid back down as he stared above at the ceiling, it was all a dream. He remembered that day; it was oh so long ago. Almost forty years ago, but the memory could never leave his mind. He wandered the east heading westward after his village was burned down. The violence of his past still lingered in his mind. Ever since then the emptiness within him had grown, with it developed new and worst problems. He tried to drown his problems with ale, tried to kill himself with mad suicidal runs as a mercenary. Seemed luck was always against him, even with every defeat he still managed to find a way to go on living. None of his foes could destroy his body; even if they defeated him he would come back stronger. He had to always prove himself, testing his merits against foes to make certain he was not weak, make sure he was never again worthless.
He devoted his life in become a devil, becoming a weapon for others as a mercenary. In doing so he lost a love, a son, and tossed his daughter away. Was it simply for the fact he viewed them as a weakness, as chains that bind him and cause his enemies to gain something on him. Or was it truly because he had no soul, the he was a complete inhuman monster. His first pupil, John Ryu, defeated him and spared his life. Hideo fell into oblivion while his pupil gained praise and fame within Tenshodo and San d’Oria, destroying any remains of Wiriamuzu’s presence. Hideo laughed later on as he said he had the last laugh, for in fact Ryu was Hideo’s son. John Ryu was the bastard child of Hideo Wiriamuzu, and only two people knew of it till Hideo spoke about it to others.
Laughing in the darkness, Hideo thought about it. He didn’t care if every single person knew every secret he had it would not change the fact that he had fallen so far. His past sins started to catch up to him, he never once had remorse for his actions nor thought of redeeming himself. He laughed in his prison cell beneath San d’Oria’s castle. The drunken and pathetic joker could not vanish. The demon within him was fading, Hideo tried desperately to awaken it and become himself again. But the years had been unkind, he knew he was at fault but he also blamed Ryu. He wanted one more glorious fight, one that would indeed extinguish the fire deep within him.
His passion for battle, never quenched, he desired a worthy opponent. So much so that he decided to aid a young Hume name Sulfig, a complete foolish Pirate with a festival hat on his head all year round, though Hideo saw great things in him, just needed focus and a goal. Hideo gave him that goal, defeating him in a battle. He knew the boy might be able to best him but he knew that he would not be the one to end his life. Once again he shook with laughter as he thought about the group he was apart of. Ryu had played a part in him joining it, the name Kaliet as the leader of the group sold him, since the self titled Wolf of San d’Oria had gone on and on about the half Mithran Knight. Hideo knew there were plenty of potential worthy opponents here. The halfblooded Knight Kaliet, her assassin husband, the mercenary Tsumi, the Samurai Zyth, and even the so called Gentlemen Thief Kogenai, they all appeared to be perfect choices Hideo had been seeking. He smirked at thinking of the different personalities, most of them Adventurers or fools trying to play Adventurers.
Most of them were wannabe heroes or either insane or abominations. He enjoyed his antics while speaking with them, toying with them and getting under their skin. He had control, allowing them to view him the way he wanted. He wanted them to see him as a pathetic drunk, so if he would face them they would be overwhelmed and crushed by his might, though he had felt that he should drop the act and be his true self, tired of playing the part, tired of the drunken joker ruining his already ruined reputation. Some thought he had some humanity and kindness within him left, he laughed at the thought. No there was none of that left; he had tossed it all away in his quest for power. He was now no different than any Beastmen or monster, he was heartless and murderous. He would kill anyone if the thought came to him, mostly only doing it if it benefited him in someway.
He was disgusted with facing weak individuals in battles, always wanting to face stronger and more challenging foes in battle. This was the reason he would go on mad suicidal assignment, only to come back half dead and almost lifeless. He did so because each fight, each victory or defeat he would become better than before. He served the Empire’s military, facing off against Far Eastern forces as well as Beastmen, he signed up at the age of thirteen. He cared about nothing but war, fighting tough battles, going in way over his head and often barely surviving. He fought beside, against, and under the Serpent Generals, the Immortals, as well as many Mercenary groups. At the age of sixteen, he decided to switch sides because he was bored fighting for the Empire. He sided with the Far Eastern forces then later a few Beastmen groups while he battled it out to fuel his desire. The fire burning intensely through the years only reaching a boiling point when he reached the Middle Lands, there he would fight in the great Crystal War. First ambushed by Yagudo on his arrive, he fend them off and escape with his life. He ventured out and around, exploring and taking everything in as the war slowly began to set in motion. He learned all he could about locations, studying heavily maps and other significant information.
He headed to San d’Oria, learning about their back ground he admired their strength where he quickly signed on as a hired sword. It wasn’t too long till he was sent up north, where he was ambushed and locked away in the Shadow Lord’s castle. Giving the choice between his life being ended and serving under the Shadow Lord, Hideo decided to enlist into the Shadow Lord’s forces. Before he marched to San d’Oria’s sister nation, Tavnazia, he had been sent on some small assignments. He did a few assassinations and sabotage work till he was sent out with the Orcish Host. There he marched to Tavnazia, Hideo knew what was in store, it would be a massacre and that no one was on his side, he remembered he entered the battle with a grin. So many bodies fighting, perhaps he would face that one foe to end his life, Orc or allied forces it would not matter.
That was so long ago, but the memories and images still visible in his memory. He could still taste the blood, the stench of the Orcs, the sound of men dying, the rush of the battle. He remembered every battle he was in, the graphic and nightmarish image of men and women falling beneath their enemies. War was like a game of chess or like a play. It had its pawns, its actors. Kings and Queens, heroes and villains, Hideo part of this great scheme of things was unknown. He would often change depending on the roll. He acted like life was either a game of dice or a game of cards, always gambling with fate to decide when to place a bet when it benefitted him best. In life there was always one thing he honored and only broke till he no longer agreed to the terms and that was his contracts. He bowed to no one; he had no masters no allegiances.
He was a vagabond, a wanderer, a Ronin. The only group he truly stayed with was Tenshodo, a home for men like him. Shady individuals; thieves, pirates, assassins, mercenaries, and so on, the shades of grey…the type of people you wouldn’t want on your bad side. These were his people. The world now was in the grasp of the Adventurers, this was their time. Men like him would slowly disappear as those young Adventurers greedily gobbled up any work that needed to be done; they became the backbone…the strength of the nations. While Hideo sat in exile, alone with his hatred and rage. Consumed with that hatred and vengeance for two years, his son had bested him but spared his life. In those years within oblivion had destroyed the demon that was Hideo Wiriamuzu, now he was nothing more than a washed up mercenary. He knew it, everyone else knew it. It ate away at him; it set him over the edge with fury. He had become pathetic, he had fallen so far. He had broken his promise.
Hideo got up from his bed and walked around the cell that he was in, he paced back and forth as he clutched his fist white. The thought of the past lingered in his mind fueling his anger. Whenever he was alone, his mind would always return to the past. This had always enraged him, why did his mind return to the past. He could not go back and change it, what was done was done, but…the Maws, could he go back and change something? No he shot that idea down completely as he sat back down.
He wished he had his dice or his Imperial coin but in fact he had none of his equipment on him. He was just simply in plain clothing with all of his items confiscated by the San d’Orian Knights, leaving him in a weakened and weaponless state. He jumped to the floor and began to do push up, trying to get his mind off the past. As he began counting each rep, he could hear footsteps echoing in the distance. The heavy clanking of metal echoed in the darkness of Bostaunieux Oubliette the prison of San d’Oria.
Normally the prison would not be in use but the guards decided to lock him up. He had gotten drunk and had caused a large scene similar to how his son had done a few years back; he had gotten into a large fight in the tavern and went against a number of Knights only surrendering once he knew he could no longer stand anymore due to the ale. While sitting in his cell sobering up he made sure to pay off the guards to lessen his sentencing.
To die behind bars was something he could not let happen; it would be a pathetic and cowardly way to go out. He made sure that he would be let go and continue to work as a mercenary. He had beaten a man almost to death for whatever reason he could now no longer remember, and fought off a group of Knights making a large scene and a show for any witnesses; however, this was nothing compared to times he was locked away in the Empire or even the Shadow Lord’s prison. This was not even his first time locked away under the Elvaan castle.
The clanking of metal grew louder and louder as the footsteps drew closer to his cell. Hideo had remained doing his push ups ignoring the approaching figure from the darkness. Hideo could see the figure appearing in the dim lighting of the prison, the figure was wearing heavy white armor, it was your typical Paladin armor but the height and build of the figure was that of a Hume male. Hideo had stopped and pushed himself up and stood on his feet facing the Knight whom approached him. It was Xaladin, the Imperial Knight whom had fallen for his daughter and ran off to be with her. Hideo was a bit envious of Xaladin due to Xaladin’s youth. He was a twenty something solider of the Empire, but now appeared to be an Adventurer or wannabe Knight of San d’Oria. His blonde hair spiked up in a stupid and trendy style.
“It is fitting to see you behind bars. I heard what you did, this suits a beast like you, in a cage.”
“Keep running that mouth of yours kid and you’ll be lying in a pool of your own blood.”
“You threaten me just after what you did?”
“I wouldn’t say after, it’s been a few days since I pounded his face in. The funny thing is, I don’t remember why. Perhaps he said something about me, or maybe I just didn’t like his ugly mug. Hell I don’t know, but he knows damn sure not to mess with Hideo Wiriamuzu again. Though maybe it’s because he found out he couldn’t satisfy his woman like I did and that she liked my…”
“Stop this charade, just drop the act already! We both know you have not touched a woman since you killed your ex. Face it, all you do is drown your sorrow and live your life from bottle to bottle. I see no demon, no devil, just a sad, broken, pathetic, and worthless man. You aren’t even a man, just a washed up has been mercenary.”
“You don’t know when to quick do you? You think you understand, you know nothing boy, now why are you here? To trade insults? Or did the girl send you to play nice and that we become best pals?”
“I came here to inform you, she and I have returned to the Middle Lands, and that she wishes to speak with you. I came here first to reason with you…”
“Tell her if I see her, she’s dead.”
“You’ll do no such thing.”
“Who’s gonna stop me, you?”
“You are the one behind bars, unable to do anything.”
“I’ve escaped from this place once…I can do it again. Besides, this is only temporary. San d’Oria can’t keep this devil locked up for too long.”
“Your daughter wants to speak with you, so I shall bring her tomorrow to speak with you.” Xaladin turned away and started walking away.
“Oh so that’s it for our lovely little chat? All you did was tossed an insult…what am I suppose to be on my best behavior?” Hideo shouted into the darkness as Xaladin continued off. “Fucking Paladins, always thinking they know better than you.” Hideo muttered to himself as he returned to his own exercise. He started doing squats as he tried to get his mind off anything; however, his mind would not go blank. It continued to flood with memories and thoughts. Memories of his mentor, memories of Tira his love, memories of Ryu, and even memories of his own parents even though their faces were now blank. He did not even remember their names.
Though one name that did come to him was Strife, the Elvaan Mercenary that he had fought beside and against for ages in the Near East. Strife was in fact his cousin; the two knew this but never spoke of their shared bloodline. They were rivals in everything, but they had a mutual respect for one another and also mutual detest. Hideo had killed him when they had reunited in the meadows near the forgotten nation. There he killed him so he could save his daughter once more. Those days where good days for Hideo, those days he could feel his old self alive and kicking, the Demon of the East or the Eastern Devil no matter what version he went with was alive when a great opponent surfaced. Strife was one of his greatest opponents; it brought out the best and worst out of him. With his daughter’s life in the palm of someone else’s hands he found he had a great weakness, her. He had lost everything in his rage and temper and unleashed one of his most furious assaults on an opponent. Her life was the only thing he cared for, this frightened him. What was he becoming that he would give his life for another? Was this his humanity or was this that pathetic weak child he had tried to kill off for so long. He shook his head, trying to get out of it and think of nothing. He hated these moments, where he was alone to his thought. He needed action; he needed battle, more importantly he needed a drink. As he continued to think, Xaladin was right. Hideo had not touch or even thought about another woman since he killed his ex-fiancé Tira.
She was the only woman that he would allow to get close and let his guard down with. She was the only other person to truly understand and see the true Hideo Wiriamuzu underneath all of his masks and shells. And in return she betrayed him and left him to rot. He repaid her for destroying any remains of humanity left of him by killing her, if she would have not done that he had always pondered what could have been. Would he be Hideo Wiriamuzu? Or would he be Takeshi Nakauro? Would he be a hero or would he still be a heartless monster? These questions always lingered somewhere in his mind. He shook his head once more trying to free his mind of such thoughts. He gripped the bars of his cells tightly as he roared out in anguish. He was only locked up for barely a week; he was bored and felt he was losing his sanity. He fell back onto the bed and lay back as he returned to staring at the ceiling.
”You are a disgrace to your family’s legacy!” A young female Hume dressed in traditional far eastern robe shouted. Only to be knocked to the ground by a powerful backhand slap.
“Don’t ever speak about my family again!” The boy stood over the fallen girl. The boy shaking with anger lowered his hand and turned away from the girl.
“I’ve had enough…I can’t stand you!” The girl spat as she got up off the ground, rubbing her check. “So what, you abandon your family’s honor, then you betray your mentor! You are an honor less coward, a weak pathetic child! How could you betray him?”
“It was easy. Betraying, turning your back, and abandoning people are always easy. Facing them is the hardest…”
“Why did you do it?”
“Those men would have killed me if I didn’t, you could say it was a moment of weakness, or that I was looking out for myself…I don’t care. You will be dead soon, for there is no cure to your illness, and I’ll be alone again. I’m always alone…”
“……”
“So go ahead and hate me…I don’t care anymore. My family will subside in my memory, so will you, and so will my mentor. In this world, I can only look after myself…and care for myself. No one else will, only thing I need is my sword. Mercy, love, and all of that are now empty within me. Even you, someone whom I cared for and adore will become nothing and rot in the ground. A beautiful girl like you could never love a pathetic weakling like I was…” The boy trailed off as he looked down at the ground with a now emotionless expression.
“Was?” The girl spoke as she moved in closer towards the boy.
“The boy you once knew…is dead. Hideo Wiriamuzu is my name now. And you’ll hate me, you’ll despise me…but I don’t give a shit anymore. You are dead weight, and I’m cutting you off. I’m leaving you here, letting you live the remaining days you have in peace, so you won’t ever see my face again. Just like how you wanted. The next time you see me will be in the afterlife, and I’ll be the one standing above the rest. So sing for absolution, so all of your past regrets to be forgiven. Hell, sing for me too while you are at it, for I won’t. I won’t even think of your name, or face anymore. You’ll become less than a memory…” The boy walked away, the girl fell to the ground, as she started to cough violently.
That was the day he took the name Hideo Wiriamuzu as his own, the day that the boy Takeshi was no more. The girl was his mentor’s daughter, a half blooded Elvaan and Hume, who was dying of an illness. He remembered as a young boy he was very fond of her and her kindness, she was his first love and but he changed greatly after he betrayed his mentor and took his name. He knew he could not have compassion, mercy in him if he were to become truly great, to become a devil or a demon as he had envisioned. He wanted to be feared by his enemies, he wanted to be Death himself on the battled field. The reaper of men, the taker of souls which was what he envisioned. He had to break all ties and have no attachments to this world so he could become the perfect weapon and perfect demon on the battlefield. The nickname Demon of the East was given to him by an Imperial Solider because of the fury he showed on the battlefield. The name had stuck with him for it had worked perfectly for what he was striving for in life. To be feared just like a Demon, to have his opponents fear his every move and question themselves. Now he sat in his cell, as a broken forty-seven year old child.
“Am I too much?” He asked aloud to no one but himself as he continued to stare at the ceiling. “Have everything I’m strived for been for not. My antics, my livelihood has become nothing more than a joke. They mock me, they no longer fear me…some pity me. No….pity, I can not allow that. Pity me? PITY ME? How dare they…I’d gut them and watch the blood flow form their bodies. I have done so much to have shattered my persona; the pitiful joker that I’ve been has destroyed me. I must rise like a phoenix and rise above. A devil’s revival, the Demon of the East…” Hideo trailed off while he slowly slide off the bed and lay on the floor. His eyes stared out into nothingness, his face appeared to be frozen in a moment, and he rested there doing nothing.
“The joker must die, the mask must be gone. Its time…to show the world, the real face of this monster, no more charades…no more games, once more I shall return to the bloodstained path that I have grown fond of over the years. The Mercenary, the Ronin, the Demon…yes, I must overcome this weakness and keep that promise. Mother, father…I will become even greater. The world will remember me! I shall escape oblivion, once I am freed from this cell. I will bathe in the sunlight of my glorious return. I don’t care what others think of me, I don’t care about anything. All I care about is my contracts, and the glorious battles that will come from them. I will find my worthy opponent not just another pretentious fool like the rest! Altana…Promathia…Zahak, none of you will stand in my way.” He spoke silently to himself as he stared shaking with laughter. He got up off the ground and continued to do exercises to keep his mind empty, his thought away from himself. This was a time he hated most, a time to himself.
Minuets turned to hours while he remained within his cell. He was alone, no soul to talk to. No one to mock, no one to agitate, no one to flirt with, and all he had was silence. He stopped from doing his exercise and sat on the bed once more, he wiped the sweat off of his face as he returned to staring at nothing. He reflected back on his youth, the mad swordsman wanting to show the Imperial Army that he was the next big thing and the next big hero. Even though his actions were motivated by desire of battle, he remembered that he had always enjoyed playing the hero in his youth. Having others view him as their protector and as their noble hero.
He remembered the day he changed into the man that he was now. Most of it was due to Tira’s betrayal but also due to the fact he wanted to be feared by his enemies. He had always found a crossroad, between either being the Demon of the East or being more like a heroic and noble swordsman, he had started down the path of a hero and at first went down that road; however, he quickly realized it was not for him. The other path appealed more to him. If good was on the right he would go left, why? So he could battle, he could fight endless. Being the hero was not in him, and then when his beloved Tira betrayed him it sealed his fate for him. He left behind that crossroad and continued walking down the path he is currently on. He gave in and let go all of his humanity for his quest for power. He wanted to be feared, wanted to never again be weak and frighten on the battlefield. He could have chosen any fierce creature but the demon and a devil had stayed with him. A creature that strike fear into any man’s heart and soul, something that would make his enemies question their decision to stand against him. He devoted his life now into becoming an inhuman monster. Empty of mercy, compassion, and everything else only left with rage and hatred.
He finally got a meal, the guards dropped of a plate of terrible mess but he finished it without any problems or complains. He had lost all track of time in the prison, the day was over with but he could hardly tell. All he did was sleep and exercise to pass the time. He did not know what time it was, what day it was. For all he knew, the world could have been ending and San d’Oria lay in ruins above but he remained in his cell in solitude and absence from the world. To him this was his hell, locked away from the world in oblivion. Fading away was a fate worst than death for him, becoming nothing not even a memory was something he could not live with. In his cell he sat in anger, seething with disgust at himself. He had fallen so far and had become a pathetic weakling; his binge drinking, trying to drown his sorrows has left him sluggish and broken. He was disgusted at his own antics and actions; he was no longer the man he strived to become for countless years. The bloodthirsty swordsman, who never back down from a fight and devoted his entire existence for battle. His mercenary life was mostly a facade so he could live his life for battle; the Gil, the booze, the women all apart of his act. Somehow he allowed himself to find sleep knowing he would be plagued with dreams.
“As long as there is man, there will be violence. As long as there is violence, there will be war. And as long as there is war, we will always have a job.” An Eastern Elvaan spoke as he stepped away from a bleeding and bruised eastern Hume. A young boy, bleeding severely from his mouth and his nose, he clutched his arm closely as his weapon remained on the ground. “Remember, there will always be Mercenaries. There will always be men like us to do the jobs others will not. People don’t want blood on their hands; don’t want to get them dirty…that is where we come in. We do not care; we have no position in the matter, any allegiances to tie us down. We are free to act and do what we do best. We can be angels or we can be devils, we can be heroes as well as villains, all in a day’s job.”
“I fight….to become stronger. I hack, slash, maim, and destroy to prove I am greater than my opponents. I fear nothing, I stand for nothing…”
The sun was setting beneath the horizon, the blistering sun fading away. The boy rose to his feet as he spat out blood, shaking his injured arm. The Elvaan turned and slashed at the boy, the blade missed him as he rolled to his side picking up his blade. The boy charged as fast as he could, pushing everything he had into his attack. His blade drawn and ready to tear through his foe the Elvaan turned and slashed at the on coming Hume, their blades collided and smash into another with tremendous force.
“Wake up, you have visitors!” A guard shouted, freeing Hideo from his own mind and bring him back to the present and back into reality. Hideo turned to stare at the guard taking his leave, as the guard vanished from his sights, Hideo turned and sat up on the bed. His beard was growing too fast; his grey hair could be easily seen as the wear and tear began to show. He waited for his visitors that the guard mentioned about, he knew who they were. His daughter and the Paladin who decided to play her hero. He looked at the floor as he thought about what he would say to his daughter face to face. He could hear the two making their way to him, he straightened up and sat back waiting.
“Ah, well look who it is. My lovely daughter and her pet Knight, so what brings you around my lovely little home here? Need your allowance money?” Hideo chuckled as he turned to face the arriving pair.
“I know you told me to stay away…” Hideo’s daughter began to speak but she trailed off as she tried to find the right words.
“You disobeyed me. You broke your promise. Now I’ll have to kill you. I told you I didn’t want to see your face around the Middle Lands or Near East, but no…you just had to come back. You know if someone like Hiro appeared and knew you where my kid…you want to get kidnapped again?”
“But there aren’t. You defeated all your enemies.” Liz spoke as she grabbed on to the bars trying to get close to her father and see his face.
“You stupid little girl, I have more enemies than Altana has followers. All across the Middle Lands, all over the east, the name Hideo Wiriamuzu is cursed. I have foes; I have enemies under every rock and around every corner….”
“No. They are not enemies, how can they view a pathetic bum as an enemy. They pity you and much rather not waste their time on you.” Xaladin spoke as he stared right into Hideo’s eyes.
“Ha ha ha! You are funny boy, I was known as the Eastern Devil, the Demon of the East. I am feared and thought of as a monster. There are countless lives wanting me dead for what I did in the Crystal War as well as the conflicts between the Far East and Near East. You just do not know who you are speaking to, of course not. My reputation have been destroyed, you people much rather stay in your own little worlds than see the real one. For thirty-nine years…I’ve bled, sweated, and lived for becoming powerful and striking fear into my enemies. I’d bleed the world dry, I am a monster…a devil…a demon, I am a Ronin who cares about nothing or anyone. You may be my daughter, but in a heartbeat I would kill you and forget about you. People can not comprehend how easy it is to not care about anything and simply be a weapon. Violence and brutality is what I live for, as a mercenary I get to fight for as long as I breathe and in return I have spending money to refuel me and prepare me for my next battle. Though you people would never understand what motivates me, you think it’s because of my vanity, my greed. You are wrong; I don’t give a shit about Gil, about glory or honor. All I care about is fighting and dying in battle. Women, booze, cheap thrills are all an act. I do things simply only to fuel my passion for battle, my obsession of battle. I am a warmonger, I am a sadistic barbarian. I’ve buried a son, killed my beloved, and tossed away my daughter. You call me pathetic, you call me a bum. I don’t care what you think or what you believe in, in the end of the day…you will always remember, I am better than you. I could end your life without any thought or any problem.”
“You truly believe you are a monster don’t you?” Liz spoke as tears slowly fell from her eyes. “This obsession of battle and your infatuations with demons and devils, how can you live like this?”
“Ask any priest, ask any citizen. If they know how I am, they will tell you I am those things. It’s easy to end someone’s life. There a million ways to cut their life short and I prefer to end their lives with Hagun. Crushing their bodies, their bones, and ending their life. My infatuation of demons and devils are simply a symbol for what I strive to be. It’s not because I am demonic or apart of a cult. It’s because they strike fear into the heart of men. I could have chosen a dragon, a wolf, or any other things. And how can I live like this? Its quiet easy my child; you simply don’t live with any regrets. The past can not be changed, so why dwell on it. I killed your mother; I stabbed her in the heart with a dagger. I decapitated your half brother; one you did not even knew you had. I’ve kicked my mentor into a pool of lava; I have abandoned an ill woman in the forest to let the creatures devour her corpse. The reason why you still stand at this moment is because I am behind these bars. You said you would never return, but you lied to me. You betrayed me and I shall repay you by killing you. No one betrays me and lives. Your mother betrayed me, my son betrayed me…and they all met their ends with me.”
“I know that there is some good in you. This is all an act; you mean nothing which that you speak of! I know you are not a complete monster! There is some humanity in there! I have traveled all around learning about you from others that have encountered you.”
“Have you ventured into the lost forgotten nation of Tavnazia? There I am sure a few of them will back me up on this. Have you visit the men of Norg? Or perhaps the Ducal Guard of Jeuno or Royal Knights of San d’Oria. You see you do not accept what I am saying; they will all tell you the same. I am no good, wicked soul. I can not die like you, I can not just waste away…I can not sit here and live happily ever after. It’s better to burn out than to fade away as I always say. I much rather go out laughing or bested by a better foe. Once I am free from this cell, it’ll be like a devil’s revival with me returning as my old self and not the drunken fool that I have played for so long.”
“I will not give up on you father. I will show you that you have a good side within you.” She cried out, turning away and quickly running for the exit.
“Oh…did I upset her?” Hideo turned to Xaladin and laughed. “Women…always too emotional and weak.”
“You are a monster.” Xaladin muttered as he turned away and walked away.
“Not you too….damn I must be running off everyone I care for.” Hideo chuckled as he became once more alone. “What time is it? Wish they had a window or something…” Now being alone once more in his cell, he sat there once more unable to do anything. He stared out into nothingness as he whistled a tune. His daughter look healthy and well, she reminded him so much of her mother. Hideo thought about Tira after speaking with their daughter, he reflected the time he spent with Tira.
“I would give up everything for you my love. I would stop my fighting as mercenary and return back to the army. Perhaps I can get a higher position within their ranks. For you Tira, I would do anything.”
“The great Wiriamuzu showing affection for little old me, I am truly touched. The Demon of the East actually in love,” Tira smiled and laughed lightly as she held Hideo’s hand under the moonlight.
“For you Tira, I would become a simple man and leave my ways and settle down for a happy and peaceful life with you.” Hideo smiled and leaned in and kissed her. The two embraced in a passionate kiss. The two wrapped their arms around each other bring one another closer.
Hideo sat in the cell, his body was shaken with anger. Tira Andaason, his once most cherished thing in life had betrayed him and left him for dead. He learned that it was for their unborn child, but he could not allow someone to betray him to live. This sent him down a spiral, turning him completely into the bloodthirsty monster. He threw away everything he had and became the man he was today. He realized now he was free to become that powerful swordsman he had envision in his youth.
He had wanted to be the biggest and nastiest fighter alive, making his enemies shake in their boots with overwhelming amount of fear. That was his goal in life, to strive to be a great swordsman and being greater than any foe he would ever face. His passion in life was to become something great and be something that would make others run away in fear. Tira had not completely push him over the edge, she only aid him on this transition. After he had reached this goal, he suddenly spiraled down into his own hell. He quickly started to fade as he knew he became simply a drunken fool. It had been three years since he was truly the Demon of the East, now he was just a washed up mercenary drowning his life in the bottom of a glass. He did so to drown his sorrows, people betraying him, leaving him to rot, and leaving him to lie in a pool of his own blood. He had trained Ryu, modeling him into himself but greater, felt that his own blood would be the one to end his life. In Ryu’s own hatred and anger he spared Hideo’s life, knowing it would infuriate him and completely ruin him. He had vanished from the world and harnessed his aggression into intense training, re-mastering his craft, his blade. Then out of the blue his son, his greatest opponent had fallen in battle and was trapped within Dynamis. Hideo had limped on living within the shadow of his former self. He ventured into Dynamis and saved Ryu, only to aid his bastard son in committing the ritual suicide Samurai had often taken. Hideo had remembered their training.
“John Ryu, you are a disgrace to the very bloodline you wish to honor. A Ryu is not weak; they are vengeful and wrathful swordsmen. They are like dragons on the battlefield, much like myself. The Ryu bloodline is hundred percent mastered swordsmen. No fear, no backing down, and giving their last breath for what they believe in. You’ll never make it out alive, if you don’t perfect your swordsmanship. But you must also remember nothing last forever, we all have to face reality that each of us must die. The way you die, the way I die…is to die a warrior’s death. A glorious end in battle, it’s better to burn out then to fade away as I always say. You may want to be a hero, there nothing wrong in that. But remember without that desire, that passion beating in your heart that fire raging, you’ll become nothing. Without desire, without dreams…you will achieve nothing and waste away become pathetic more than any hare or tunnel worm. Never giving up, never quitting, and never accepting defeat. Rising like a phoenix and overcome any and all weakness. Cut ties, others will weigh you down; show no fear…no emotion but madness towards your enemy. You are my pupil, so I expect greatness out of you. If you fail me, I will end your life faster than you can possible imagine.” The eastern Hume spoke passionately as he stared at another Hume slowly getting up off his feet.
“Defeat means nothing; as long as you keep breathing…you shall win. The only way you will be truly defeated if they extinguish the very fire that burns within your heart. God, Goddess, divine deities will not stand in your way if you perfect your skill and always hone them to perfection. Armies will crumble, lives will be end.”
“So is that why you traded in your humanity? So you could become empty and inhuman monster?” Ryu spoke as he stretched out his wounded arm. “I just want to be a hero like my father, a noble swordsman who devotes his life to fighting the good fight and protecting the weak.”
“Protecting the weak? Ha ha ha! The weak die and the strong live. That’s how life works; it works in all forms of life, animals, nations and empires, and even us. Same can be said about religion and science. If you truly want to be the protector for the weak, so be it. It’ll be a full time job and will get you killed for how stupid it is.”
“You said you are a weapon, and training me to be a weapon. Well I am a weapon for San d’Oria and for the weak! I will get my hands dirty for the weak and for the noble, so they shall not get involved with dangerous and bloody work.”
“So you become a dog instead of a wolf? You’ll bow your head down like a good obedient dog for the Longears. You’ll be nothing more than their bitch, always looked down upon for your Hume blood and mediocre magic and zero knowledge of history. Boy, you are only good as a worthless commoner. No, you need to head to Jeuno. Sign up with Tenshodo and become something better than a dog. Become a dangerous and fearless mercenary like me…no, better than me. Great things are ahead of you boy, but if you want to throw it all away for Altana and San d’Oria than be my guest…but you have disgraced your family’s name.” Hideo spat out his toothpick as he turned away and began to walk away. “Vanish from me sights, you and I are done. I have taught you all you need to know for being a San d’Orian puppet.”
He then recalled the time they fought once more, the battle itself replayed in his mind.An eastern Hume turned as he stood before the entrance to Jeuno in Batallia Downs. He stood on the bridge as he turned facing the approaching figure, his armor was blood red his blade already drawn, a cold soulless eyes stared out towards the mismatched Hume.
“Who the hell do you think you are Ryu? First you steal my title, then my contracts. You’re stealing my style boy!” The eastern Hume spat in disgust as his hand was ready to draw his massive Great Katana at any moment. “So what, you think you are all big and bad? You think you can go toe to toe with me boy? I am Hideo fucking Wiriamuzu! You are nothing but an insect to me; you are beneath me in every way!”
“Hideo…shut up. You are still the hot tempered old fool. Your act is getting old very fast. I’ve seen through your mask, through your strength. And all there is simple a man, a broken man claiming to be something he isn’t. You are not a devil, not a demon, just a simple mortal…”
“Oh and what are you? You are just like me boy, a simple swordsman who lives life for others, hired to be their savior or executioner. You think all because you experienced some dark and twisted stuff that you can hang with men of my caliber. Kid, you could never be me…not even if you tried. Everything I have been through puts your entire life to shame. I am the Demon of the East and you are nothing more than a second-rate killer. You want to see madness, take a look into my eyes boy. You’ll see the raging fire that never dies, and then you’ll understand I ain’t no ordinary man. I am Hideo Wiriamuzu. You are right, I’m just a mortal but you are less than that. You are pathetic sad little boy, who knows nothing. You want to be a hero, a crusader. Yet you can not even get over your ego and your weakness. Kid, to be a crusader you need to throw everything you care for out the window and over come your weakness. Hell, you are crazy and you are broken in the head. I’m not sane either, but hell…at least I am the same man day in and day out. Your old man must be rolling over in his grave…you disrespect everything that bloodline of yours stood for. I’m bored, let me wipe that stupid grin off your face boy.”
“How about you put your career on the line,” Ryu chuckled as tightened his grasp on his weapon.
“You want to stand against the mighty…the magnificent Hideo Wiriamuzu son so be it, I’ll put my career on the line. Cause boy, when this fight is over…you’ll be dead. I’ll bury you next to your parents!”
The two charged at one another both of them with their weapons drawn, their mighty eastern steel clashed. As the blades smashed into each other it gave off a mighty crack is if thunder was shaking the sky above. They hacked and slashed at one another taking any opening they could to tear the other in pieces. The fire in their eyes burned with hatred as they faced off, it was mentor facing against pupil. Hideo was furious at the figure standing before him, a twisted version of the boy he had trained; he was no longer the annoying kid he had once trained now standing before him was a cold and soulless creature. Everyone had two sides just like a coin; however Ryu was two souls trapped in one body. His broken mind allowed it to go on; Hideo pitied the boy for he would never achieve his greatness with his shattered mind.
The two battled back and forth on the small bridge leading to Jeuno, one had placed his career on the line the other placed his life. The two eastern Humes struggled to best the other. Hideo spun around his blade close to his side, he slashed outward cutting through the air viciously as it collided with the other steel, cracking it. Hideo took a step back; he took the moment in, watching and waiting, as the Hume in front of him swung wildly. Ryu had become a savage as he went on the attack; he swung blindly as he was enraged. Hideo side stepping each attack buying his time, calculating in his attacks, ducking under a massive slash, Hideo struck, smashing the butt end of his handle into Ryu’s throat. Ryu stumbled away as he coughed violently; he turned to see his opponent raising his weapon high as he preformed one of his Tachi attacks. Ryu seeing the blade crash down onto him, moved aside at the last possible moment. Hideo turned as his blade crashed down on to the surface; Ryu had got an opening and took it. The crack in Ryu’s blade continued downward but the blade sliced into Hideo’s flesh cutting in the soft part of his armor.
“Promathia himself could not stand against my blade! Hideo, you have no chance against my fury!” Ryu shouted with all the air in his lungs as he pressed on, boasting his skills were superior. Ryu shifted his weight as he readied himself to lung forward, Hideo watched on with a grin as Ryu took off the ground lunging towards him. Taking a step aside, Hideo smashed his blade into the back of Ryu. Knocking him onto the ground hard and over the edge, Hideo watched as Ryu grasp the edge of the bridge and tried to pull himself up. His blade was still on top of the bridge, but Ryu was dangling. Hideo reached out to grab Ryu’s hand.
“I am not done with you yet boy, get your ass back up here. We got a fight to finish. I can’t have you cop out now!” Hideo shook with laughter as he grabbed Ryu’s hand helping him back up. Ryu turned and smashed a closed fist into Hideo’s face as he was helped up. Hideo stumbled back as he kicked Ryu’s blade up and towards him. Grasping his blade in the air, Ryu slashed at Hideo knocking him back. Hideo grinned as he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. “Let’s end this dance of ours Ryu!”
The two charged at one another yet again, they hacked and slashed at one and another. Ryu’s blade continued to crack and break off. Ryu slashed across Hideo’s chest, the blade shattered in two as piece of it slashed at Hideo’s neck cutting a large gash. Hideo clutched his neck as blood started to fill the wounded area. He fended off Ryu’s constant attack, he grinned as he had waited the day for a worthy opponent. This day had come; Ryu his pupil could be the one to end his life. Ryu stabbed his broken blade deep into Hideo as he swatted his hand knocking the heavy Great Katana from Hideo’s grasp. Hideo fell to his knees as he stared up at Ryu. He looked over to his Hagun then back to Ryu. A wicked grin over took Hideo’s face as he was proud of the twisted little boy was a skilled swordsman, they boy was a natural killer.
“Go on…finish me…” Hideo laughed as his body ached and his wounds bled. He stared at Ryu, who was just as badly injured as him. Ryu paused as he turned to Hideo’s weapon then back to Hideo.
“No. I want you to forever relive this day in that mind of yours. To know you fell before my hands, the great and mighty Hideo, bested by me, your career is over. You will remember my name!” Ryu turned away and slowly walked off.
“You coward, can’t you finish me off? Wait, you don’t want to have my death on your conscience?” Hideo picked up his blade as he shook with anger. “You are a disgrace to everything you stand for! You refuse to kill me. You are weak, allowing me to live!”
Ryu paused as he turned and impaled his broken Great Katana into Hideo, missing any vital organs.
“Disappear from my sights Wiriamuzu, you will live. I want you to remember this day!”
Hideo’s body went limp as he fell back into the water below. He sank into the Sea of Shumeyo. His vision blackened…
His own son had bested him and left him to sink to the bottle of Shumeyo Sea. Somehow he drifted away and survived. Ever since that moment he had limped on a shell of himself and never truly able to avenge his defeat. He forgave his son and aid him in dying with honor, a father had to bury his son. Now he was locked up in this cell, only with his hate and anger. He grasped the bars tightly as his mind was filled with images of the past. His daughter so determined to find information on him, finding all of his secrets to prove he was nothing he said he was. Trying to tell herself it was all an act, that he meant none of it. She was naïve, she only wanted to hear and see what she wanted to. Staying in her own little world free from death, free from pain and reality. A fairytale, her knight in shiny armor and her honorable father, Hideo laughed at the thought, she wanted the world to be happy and perfect; however, he lived in the real world.
There were no happy ever afters, there were no fairytales. She was nothing more than an overgrown child wanting to play Corsair, wanting to play hero. She was no different than any of these Adventurers, how could two of his own flesh and blood turn out like this. One had a broken mind, split into two different personalities both were reflections of his true father and the other mirroring the image of his supposed father. He was driven to the point of breaking due to Hideo’s intense training and the training of his Dark Knight mentor Shujinko, a just as bad man as Hideo. The other was a naïve little girl wanting to live a happy and peacefully life while trying to act tough as a Corsair, trying to discover her father’s true identity and understand him. He, himself, had no longer realized which version he was. Was he the murderous monster he kept telling himself or was he the pathetic drunken wash up? He wanted to fight, he wanted to get out of his cell and do what he did best. Wage war on his opponents and give everything he had in battle.
Once he was free from this cell, he would go back and climb back to the top. Hacking and slashing his way back up to being great. He would no longer be the joke or the pitiful old man. Tenshodo, Norg, Jeuno, and San d’Oria…he would go there and remind everyone who Hideo Wiriamuzu was and that he was here to stay and reclaim what was his. He was a mercenary, he was a mad brute craving for battle to show the world he still had it, that he was still worth thinking about and fearing. With his daughter around, he could not think what could happen. Was she safe, was she further ruining his already damaged reputation, or was she dead in some back alley.
The sound of footsteps broke Hideo from his trance, he turned to see an Elvaan standing by his cell looking in.
“So you where the one whom trained my brother,” the Elvaan spoke with sadness in his voice, “so are you the reason why Ryu fell?”
“Ryu? You’re brother…oh, you must be Timoshi Kaiser. Talintrent’s boy. I thought you were dead?” Hideo looked at the young twenty something Knight, his face was hidden behind a helm.
“I am not dead. We, Kaisers, do not fall easily in battle.”
“Neither do I, it’s why I respected your pops. A lot of battles me and him been in, but you want to know about your little friend Ryu. Ryu was a weak minded fool; he couldn’t cut it in a man’s world. His mind broke due to all of the people he met, each toying and modeling him into their image of what he should be. He was a pawn for others the day he shot out of his mother. Under San d’Oria he would be nothing more than a dog, heading back to the Far East, he would be nothing more than an outsider. If he went to Bastok he would most likely become the lapdog of some Musketeer. Only place that would have helped him would be his own man, become like me. No, the boy craved and need others just as much as he wanted to fight. He needed affection, he needed love, and he was weak. Broken, lost, and now dead and buried.”
“Then you certainly did not know the man, that I called my brother. He was a hero, a noble and dedicated hero. Sure he had his own demons, we all do. We all have chains that bind us, but no. He did everything he could to be the hero and redeem himself for his past sins, unlike you. He found redemption and is now happy.”
Hideo shook with laughter as he got up and faced the Elvaan closely.
“He was a sick, weak minded fool. His weak mind broke under his training; his weakness was he could not handle power even though he wanted it. He wanted to have all the power in the world so he could crush his enemies, but that desire broke him. When he lost his love he spiraled down and became a pathetic stoic child. Too scared to bed another woman, to sad to move on and honor her memory. You think the fallen want you to mourn them? No, they want you to move on and live on for them. You think your father wants you to cry and cry over his grave, you would not deserve to be a San d’Orian Knight. Children of this age are weak, who whine and bitch when things don’t go their way or too tough. Adventurers and children of this age are weak, the nations are weak, and the Beastmen are weak.
That war drained so much out of them and it solved nothing. Sure the Shadow Lord was defeated, but soon as that threat ended, the people turned their attention on to one another, pointing fingers and ready to tear one another apart. You see as long as there is man, there will be violence. As long as there is violence, there will be war. And as long as there is war, we will always have a job. Mercenaries and Adventurers will start replacing soldiers, guards, Musketeers, and even Knights, nations will crumble and rebuild. Until a new threat comes by and devours all of them, you see your generation know nothing of true battle. You were not apart of the Crystal War or the wars pervious of it. With those Maws as well as the Near East, you can now get a taste of it. You’ll realize why the generations before you, are superior. Why, people like me will always be better than you.” Hideo grinned as the Elvaan turned and walked away. His venomous words had struck. He returned to his seated position, he was beyond bored the only thing that would cure him would be sleep.
For once he had a dreamless sleep, he laid there motionless as time keep moving on, and life was the same as it was yesterday and the day before it. He was in there for a few days or weeks, he had forgotten quickly what day it was, and he didn’t keep track of time. He did not know if it was day or if it was night, nor would it matter day it was in that cell of his. Time had continued going but at nightmarish slow pace, Hideo paced himself back and forth, then once more back and forth when he awaken. Only to succumb to sleep due to boredom, he felt he was going insane due to the boredom, loneliness, and sheer emptiness of the cell. The only time he had visitors was either his daughter and her Paladin toy, or others coming in to poke fun at him. He remained alone most of the time in his cell, remind the past, seeing it clearly as if he was there at that very moment.
The night’s sky was empty, the stars didn’t shiny brightly it was as if the night was against the allied forces, giving the Orcish forces perfect cover in the shadows. There were a small number of non-Orcs moving beside the fowl smelling beasts, they were a small group of mercenaries, like the witches convents that sided with the Shadow Lord, a few group of mercenaries and assassins had sided with the Beastmen Confederate. The Orc’s numbers were large; it was going to be a massacre for any poor soul defending Tavnazia on this night. One of these mercenaries betraying their own race was none other than Hideo Wiriamuzu, the Far Eastern Ronin turned mercenary. He was given the choice of siding with the Beastmen army or his life extinguished in the dark cell within the Shadow Lord’s castle. He had decided to march with the Orcs and defeat the sister nation of San d’Oria. There were rumors that a legendary weapon of San d’Oria’s was hidden there, the Lightbringer. The Orcs, their war machines, the Behemoths that marched with them, as well as the mercenaries began their attack. The powerful explosion of the gates shook the ground as it broke open an entrance for the horde of Orcs to overflow and engulf the army defending the nation. Hume, Elvaan, Mithra, Galka, Tarutaru all fought defending this one nation against the massive army of the Orcish Host.
Bravest of men and women fought valiantly as the numbers continue to grow and grow against them. Hideo stopped for a moment and took in the sight he behold; bodies falling to the ground, Beastmen and allied forces, collapsing to the ground in a pool of their own blood, bodies rip to shreds by the conflicts. Limbs lying on the ground, explosions all around as both side of the forces pushed on. It was at that moment, Hideo thought was he on the wrong side? Men and women dying for something, giving their life for something more than greed and glory, Hideo sighed as he knew the Orcs would turn on him without even a second thought. He pressed on as he realized no one was his alley here, he charged as fast as his body could forward to the front lines. He quickly moved towards an Orc trying to crush a Mithra beneath its mighty stature. Hideo bounced onto the beast and dug his blade deep into the spine of the Orc slashing violently through the creature’s blind spot. The beast fell to the ground after giving a dying roar, Hideo turned to his next opponent. Adrenaline kicked in, this was the rush he was looking for. This was how he knew he was alive; a large grin took his face, a wicked smirk as the fire in his eyes raged on. Perhaps he could find his worthy opponent here on this battlefield. He turned to the Mithra, her body laid still as the last breath exited her lungs. He stepped over the body and turned his attention on his next opponent. An Elvaan man charged at a nearby Orc, Hideo saw him coming and prepared himself as he pushed on to intercept the Elvaan. His slender and curved Katana collided with an Orcish axe and the Elvaan’s sword. Hideo smirked as he interrupted their battle, he quickly smashed the butt end of his handle into the face of the Elvaan and then quickly turned and slashed across the Orc’s face. The Demon of the East, would take all on comers and put his name to the test, he wanted to show the world he was great, that not even two armies could best him.
The battle of Tavnazia raged on, bodies collide in tremendous force as everything they had been put to the test. Orc, their war machines, as well as the Behemoths pushed onward toward the defensives, weapons of all kinds clashed against the Beastmen made weapons and their war machines. The Orcs had attacked at nightfall, but the Allied Forces were prepared for this on coming assault, Mages readying their spells as Ranger loaded their bows or crossbows. The ground shook as the mighty Behemoths moved in to prey on near by creatures. Amongst the bodies clashing, Hideo cut through those that stood against him, easily slashing through bodies as he fought to stay alive. Everyone was an enemy to him, Orcs couldn’t tell him apart from the rest and members of the allied forces could be his final opponent, he had to survive he had to find his worthy foe.
Breaking a light armored Hume’s weapon, Hideo sent him to the ground with a powerful blow. As the Hume fell to the ground dead, Hideo turned to noticed one of the fellow betrayers of the allied races noticing him. His name was Maikeru, they were old rivals and bitter foes, Hideo grinned as he knew what was next. As he stepped over the dead body he noticed Maikeru was charging at him. As he parried Maikeru’s attack was still pushed back by the sheer power of his foe it sent him to the ground, as Hideo hit the ground, he quickly rolled back to his feet meeting an Orc’s axe swing at him. Within a blink of an eye, he dashed away from the maddening attack; Hideo turned and saw Maikeru tearing through the Orc to simply continue his assault on Hideo.,/p>
“This shall be your grave Wiriamuzu!” Maikeru shook with laughter as a wicked grin over took his face. He aimed his jagged Polearm directly at Hideo; he entered his stance as he was ready to lung at the eastern Hume once more.
“Pretensions fool, you do not know who you are dealing with…never underestimate me!” Hideo returned Maikeru’s wicked grin with his own as he faced off the Elvaan, entering his own stance while motioning for him to come at him. Charging as fast as his body could take him Maikeru pushed forward once more aiming to pierce Hideo’s heart, but the Ronin anticipated it and bashed the hilt of his Great Katana into the face of his enemy. He then quickly switched his footing and slashed down on to Maikeru. “When you face me, you face the might of a devil! So you better bring everything you got!”
As Hideo was focusing on Maikeru, from the corner of his eye he could see Strife, another one of Hideo’s bitter rivals as well as his former best friend, having difficulties. Going against his best judgment, Hideo turned and abandon his opponent charging towards Strife piercing through an Orc’s light armor and slashing through a large Galka. There were no allies on this battleground for them; they had to survive on their own. Hideo turned to face Strife; the Elvaan smiled as he was grateful for Hideo’s aid, but return it with a massive attack. The blow quickly sent Hideo to the ground, his blade knocked from his grasp as he parried the blow. He hit the ground hard as his Myochin Kabuto fell to the ground away from him as well as his weapon disarmed. He rolled over spitting out blood; he picked up his helm as he turned to see Strife slamming his massive Great Sword down unto him. He moved aside and witnesses his weapon shattering into many pieces with Strife’s mighty weapon. Grabbing the handle of the broken weapon he got to his feet, he stabbed the jagged and broken edge into the side of Strife. While Hideo had impaled his shattered Katana into Strife, Maikeru had smashed into the two, knocking them both to the ground. Hideo rose to his feet as he witness Maikeru and Strife combating, he looked around for a weapon, any weapon, a mighty spell was cast as a large object fell from the sky, seeing the devastating object Hideo jump to the side and rolled next to a fallen body and picked up her weapon.
“Thanks love.” Hideo got to his feet and turned to see Strife charging at him swinging his massive Great Sword wildly, Hideo readied one of his attacks sending the Elvaan to the ground.
There was no winning side here for him only death.
“I can not die here…not yet, Tira is waiting for me. Cursed woman, only she could tame the Demon of the East…” Strife and Maikeru had vanished from his sights. Only a sea of bodies falling and battling could he see, while the mighty Behemoths crushed any poor soul trapped beneath their feet. He turned away from the gruesome scene but was greeted by yet another powerful spell. He slammed against a wall, his helm flung off from his head and hurled off into the distance. He knew he had to get out of here as fast as he could, he tossed a stone at a near by Behemoth to cause a good enough distraction so he could escape. He fled from the battle slashing through anything and everything deserting the battle.
The Crystal War was over, it had been twenty years since the start of the conflict that claimed many lives and destroyed a nation. Hideo Wiriamuzu was still alive, but he had spiraled down greatly from those days of war. The Maws that appeared around the Middle Lands had taken people to a land that’s consumed by conflict, was it the age of strife, was the Crystal War relived in this mysterious land? Hideo had visited this land and fought in their battles, everything was more of a challenge and greater and greater foes. He thought what would happen if he encountered himself in the past, what would happen. Then a thought came to him, perhaps he could join the battle of Tavnazia but defend the nation against the Beastmen armies and face his younger self in battle. His greatest foe could be himself; he shook his head, thinking about stuff like that hurt his mind. Things should be kept simple, he only needed to be pointed into a direction and told who the enemy was. Near the end of the Crystal War he remembered he found a sword smith whom put his weapons on display, this was the day he would acquire his partner in crime, Hagun.
Lower Jeuno always booming with merchants and civilians, they run muck as they bought and sold items, and shouting about gambling and looking for help. The Great War was drawing to an end and one man needed a new blade, a blade that could withstand the force of an entire army. A blade forged by eastern steel to perfection that could strike fear into the hearts of seasoned warrior. He walked down the street; he turned and noticed an elderly Elvaan sitting down with a display of swords laid out on a blanket on the ground. He turned and gazed at the weapons as he debated if he should buy from a street vendor. Though he remembered he was told about a vendor whom sold exotic weapons, a sword smith.
”Old man…I heard you are selling some exotic swords,” Hideo had walked up to a merchant sitting in Lower Jeuno. He was an elderly Elvaan man sitting across the tavern. Hideo knelt down as he looked at the man and grinned, “I’m in need of good steel.”
“You have come to the right man…tell me lad, what is it you do?” The old man looked up as he smoked on his pipe.
“Why the hell do you need to know that? I just need a powerful weapon.”
“So I know which weapon would best suit a man of your caliber.” The old man smiled as he poured a drink for himself and for his customer. “So lad, what is it that you do? I see you are a fighter…”
“I’m a Mercenary, trained in the style of a Samurai. Got anything that can take on a whole army?” Hideo chuckled as accepted the drink and took a sip.
“Taking on a whole army are ye, well…I just got something for you lad. This weapon, will surely strike fear into your foes...actually it would suit you.” The old man slowly got up off the ground as placed cup on the ground and took a puff from his pipe. He turned and hunched over as he rolled over a large cloth on the ground to revile more weapons. “Lad, come here and help me with this weapon.”
Hideo walked over and helped him pick up a lengthy and bulky weapon, the weapon itself was under another piece of cloth, pulling the cloth off, he revealed the weapon. It was a massive weapon; it was hideous compared to traditional Great Katanas, it was like a giant cleaver.
“That weapon there is called Hagun. A Great Katana similar to the Zonbato, I figure you to be more of brute and seeing as you are going up against an army, this here weapon means ‘Army Breaker’, it can cleave a Chocobo and the rider in one swift slice. So do we a deal?”
“It’s hideous, bulky, and vicious…” Hideo broke into laughter, “And fits me nicely, I’ll take it how much?” Hideo asked as he reached into his pocket.
“One mill and five hundred thousand, no more…no less,” The merchant spoke as he sat back down and returned to his cup taking another puff of his pipe, “Besides the weapon fits you perfectly, like it was perfectly made just for you.”
Hideo sighed as he reached in and tossed a large bag at the old man. He turned and wrapped the cloth around his weapon; he placed the weapon at his hip. He picked up his cup and finished it. Hideo bowed before the elder Elvaan and then turned away to walk off as he did Hideo raised his hand into the air signaling goodbye.
Ever since that day, Hideo and Hagun had been ready for action, hacking and slashing their foes and living some of the worst hells imaginable. Now he was separated form his only friend. He got off the bed and started doing squats. All of this reminiscing and memories annoyed him, he preferred to live in the now and to let the past go; unfortunately, this cell only triggered those things in his mind. He bitched and moaned to himself since no one else would hear him. He exercised nonstop sometimes or slept the entire day away, anything to get rid of the boredom.
Hideo whistled into the darkness, trying to entertain himself. He lay on the cold floor of his cell and began doing sit ups anything to keep his mind off anything. This was his hell; nothingness and return back to oblivion. If he remained in this prison for too long the world would forget Hideo Wiriamuzu, they would forget the Demon of the East. He would become just another nameless, faceless Adventurer and that enraged him.
Thinking himself on the same level as the average Adventurer, it disgusted him. He began to think whether if he should escape or just sit and wait till his time was up. The sound of footsteps echoed the prison once more, the sounds bounced off the walls spreading throughout the darkness. Judging by the sound it wasn’t a person in heavy armor, casual shoes stepping on the tile moving closer and closer to his cell. He continued on with doing his exercise as he heard a person moving closer and closer to his cell. As he finished another rep, as he sat up looking at the figure standing at the entrance of his cell, it was his daughter paying him yet another visit.
“What brings you, my unwanted child? Come to get your missed birthday presents and allowances?” Hideo laughed as he returned to his exercises.
“No, I simply came here to talk,” His daughter spoke with sadness in her eyes, “I just want to speak to my father.”
“Well talk away. Don’t know if I’ll listen.” Hideo spoke while he continued on with his exercise.
“Do you really want to be a demon? Why are you so fixated on it?”
“What and ruin these good looks? No, I don’t want to actually be a Kindred, I use the name the reputation to draw fear into the hearts of my enemies. When they know they go up against a demon, they start to question, is it worth dying. Once you die, it’s over. You become nothing.”
“But Xaladin said you would go to Paradise…”
“Great, a freshly converted Paladin. Altana, Paradise, Promathia…these are all fairytales and of course you believe in them. You see, from the void all things are born. To the void all things return. Basically, you start out as nothing and you end up as nothing. Everything lives and everything dies, that’s life. Now of course you go your freaks of nature, you know souls trapped and what not…or resurrection and other stuff like that. Like your mother, she is dead and rotting in the ground at this very moment. You know what; you shouldn’t listen to what others tell you. You need to discover for yourself the truth, can’t just hide behind fairytales and myths. Can’t just take everything you hear as the truth.”
“Why do you put up that mask, why do you not let anyone else in? I came here to see my father, not the pathetic mask he bears. You do not have to act anymore, its only you and I.”
“You want to get into my mind? You want to see the real man you see before you? You want to find what’s underneath this mask, what’s truly behind the demon, the devil, the monster that is Hideo Wiriamuzu? What do you think you’ll find? Some Samurai wishing for atonement, some broken run down fool whose mind is spinning tall tales? Or do you think that I am not who I say I am?” “I know Hideo Wiriamuzu is not your real name. Its Takeshi Nakauro, tell me about him.”
“What do you want to know about some dead little boy? His parents were murdered and slain before his very eyes. His father’s life extinguished by a better swordsman, his mother raped then set ablaze. His entire village went up in flames soon afterwards; he wandered the wilderness until his death. The boy is nothing more.” “Why did you change your name, you are Takeshi!”
“That boy was weak, he was pathetic. The weak die and the strong live, its survival of the fittest. He was not fit to survive; someone that worthless would never survive in the real world. Besides, I avenged his family by ending the life of my mentor.”
“You are Takeshi! How can you say he was weak and pathetic…he is you! This doesn’t make any sense.”
“I vowed to never be weak again, to be powerful and to strike fear into the heart of my foes. I made this promise the day Takeshi died, I made that promise to the Nakauro bloodline. I would become a devil, a demon, a monster to prove to the world I am not weak. Heroes and villains mean nothing to time; enemies and allies switch sides in time. I do not see good or evil, all I see are foes. I am neither a heroic and noble Samurai as you have heard nor am I, Kindred in the body of a Hume. I am but a mortal, a Ronin, a simple mercenary. I use the Demon of the East, to strike fear; I am always honing my skills, keeping them to perfection, never knowing when that worthy opponent appears. You see, that small, little boy would have never survived these years. The only time that you could argue he was around was my time with her.”
“Huh?”
“Tira Andaason, your mother…the only woman who could charm me and seduce a devil, the Corsair succubus. Takeshi could have returned, but she destroyed that remaining humanity within my soul, turning me into the monster you see before you. You see, my sweet daughter, I’ve lost my soul long ago. The day my family died, then my training under the original Hideo Wiriamuzu, and the lost of my first love. After my family died, I vowed to never again be weak, I vowed to be stronger. I wandered and wandered heading west, I encountered Hideo, there I learned from him and he gave me what I needed to survive in this world. He crafted and molded me into the perfect weapon; it’s because of him that Takeshi had to die. That boy would have never made it, he was weak. A frighten child who did nothing and allowed his village burn down to the ground! Then when I betrayed my mentor and fled to Whitegate, taking his daughter…she had lost her fight with a terrible disease, I left her there to rot. Then the years later, my devotion to battle, I bled, I sweat, I craved violence. So I could become the perfected weapon, a great and powerful swordsman who feared nothing, not even death. Then I met your mother. She took this no emotion, violent barbarian and brought back his humanity. Kindness, compassion, love, it had all return. Takeshi could have returned and lived peacefully with her, to end as if it was a fairytale. But then fairytales are just that, made up. They do not exist in the real world, and as soon as I let my guard down…she betrayed me. She put five bullets into me, leaving me in a pool of my own blood. She had bested the Demon of the East. How could I harm her, my beautiful and seductive love, my woman….but now I knew why. She betrayed me, so she could start a new life…and to spare you. So it’s your fault, why I am this way. It’s your fault I am in this cell, why I am wasting away and fading.”
“Why did you kill her?”
“Why? WHY? Because…no one betrays me and lives, no one leaves me in a pool of my own blood and does not finish the job. But do not blame me for ending her life, blame Lady Luck. The coin chose her fate, not I.”
“A coin, you could have chosen to spare her life, you loved her!”
“Love?” Hideo shook with laughter as he moved in closer to his daughter’s face, “No there is none of that. She destroyed whatever humanity I had left; I became a hundred percent monster. I took her life, killed my son, and now I am here…face to face with my daughter. A daughter, who broke my promise and betrayed me, you are nothing but a weakness for me, a chain that would bind me, bait to lure me in for a trap. Know this, if anything happens to you, I’ll leave you there to rot. Let your Paladin save you, I will not. Now go live in your fantasy world…you got what you came here for. I never was that honorable hero, there’s only the bastard, the asshole, the butcher. I am Hideo Wiriamuzu, the Demon of the East.”
“So there has to be some good left in you? I think you have forgotten who the real you is, you put up so many masks, and so many barriers you have forgotten. You hide behind that fake ego, playing out an act, letting everyone see you as a villain, I know that’s not who you are!”
“Everyone has a part in this great play that is life; everyone has an act to play. Even if they do not know, they play their role. My role is to be the villain, so everyone can point out and say he is the villain. In reality, I am neither the hero nor the villain; I am not even a shade of grey. I am nothing. I simply fight to fight, to find that opponent that would end my life. I pretend to care about Gil, women, booze, I let others view me as a greedy mercenary who’s engulfed by himself due to his vanity. You see, I love nothing…I care about nothing, not even myself. If I cared so much about myself, you think I would risk my life every goddess damn day? You think I would allow myself to die and miss out on booze and women? No, I put up this façade so others can get a view of what a true villain is. The true villain is apathy, its arrogance, its cowardice, its envy, its rage. Those are the traits of a true villain. A person who does not act and allows evil to go free is just as bad or even worst than the evildoer. A person whose ego, who’s vanity is so high that they look down on everyone, allows innocents to die while they boost about how great or how pretty they are. A coward who can not stand and fight and save his brethren, is worst than the person whom kills his brethren. Those that are envious of others will betray those close to them, destroying families and friends, burning bridges. Rage you can understand someone who so full of rage is destructive. Most villains or most evildoers are calm, levelheaded, and tactical. But when you have someone rush in, in a bind rage attacking anything that move, tell me who is more villainess; a man who plots to kill a king or a madman with a sword slashing people to pieces. Can you guess which of these traits that I have? Which chain, which sin that I possess?”
His daughter did not resound, she turned away as tears slowly filled her eyes and begun to fall on to her cheeks.“Is my apathy worst than a hundred Humes? Is my vanity greater than any single Elvaan? Am I coward like a Tarutaru, am I envious like a Mithra, or am I so full of rage I make a Galka look calm? No, or is because I am so empty inside, that I have nothing. There nothing to feel apathy towards, there nothing to be afraid of, there no reason to feel jealousy towards other. But the question is am I arrogant or consumed by rage? I’ll tell you, it’s neither. Rage is a weapon, I am not controlled by it…I am in control of it. My ego, my vanity is only a mask. My real sin is that my body is filled with emptiness, I have no soul, and I’ve lost it long ago.”
“I pity you…”
“Pity? PITY? You feel sorry for me?” Hideo broke into laughter as he turned away from her, sitting back down on the bed. “You have no idea child, of how my life has been. If you pity me, you are wasting emotion and wasting tears. I do not care that you shed tears for me; I do not care how you feel about me. I’ve done too much damage to my reputation, to my identity as Hideo Wiriamuzu, though my son had already done enough damage, but I had to further his destruction. But no matter, just how my people repowered Phoenix’s spirit, I too shall revive and return to my former self. The true Demon of the East, not this joker…not this pathetic bum!”
“How are you going to do that?”
“Child, don’t you know how they repowered Phoenix? By slaughtering hundreds of thousands of people, its rebirth requires a significant amount of bloodshed. So I shall return to the bloodstained path, and defeat my foes and slay my opponents and achieve my revival! Don’t worry my daughter, I will not be going out and slaughtering innocent people, no but all of the bloodshed that I will create will be on the battlefield, where I belong. If you vanish from my sights, and never to return again….I shall spare you. If you return or fail to leave the Middle Lands and the Near East, than I will be force to end your life. Not even your Paladin will stop me, when I make a promise I keep it! Now be gone, you may remain here in the Middle Lands until I am released. Then I will give you another warning, then after that…I will be unmerciful.” Hideo lay back down and looked away from his daughter, listening to her sobs as she turned and left the cell.
He laid there and continued to stare up at the ceiling, wishing it was the stars and the heavens. He just ran off the only person who actually cared for him, his daughter than simply wanted to know her father. He shot her dreams down and tossed her away, but in his mind he had to. She was a weakness for him; she could be endangered being linked to him. He thought about how many other children he may have had, how it was better for them to stay away and never discover he was their father. He had a son, a weak minded fool with dreams of being a hero and savior and the other was a daughter, a kind gentle soul who pretended to be tough who only wanted to know her parents. John Ryu was Hideo pupil, he took great interest because he knew that his son could have been his greatest foe and would be the one to end his life but that would not happen. He remembered training him, molding him into a weapon just like him.
“How can you do anything if you remain weak? How can you protect or destroy others in this condition you are in?” Hideo spoke as he sat on a crate in the Sea Serpent Grotto. “Look at yourself, you can barely stand. Might controls everything, without power you cannot protect anything, yet alone yourself. If you do not rise above and take hold of your destiny, then you are destined to be weak. You must be strong physically as well as mentally, or you’ll never survive this world. There will be bloodshed, there will be death. It comes naturally in our line of work; we are weapons, used for others. We protect the weak or we crush them, we do what we please because we are strong. We must be strong if we wish to survive, that is why you must get up and try again. You keep trying until you mastered it. Get up, get up!”
A teenaged boy slowly got up off the ground; his body ached as he could barely remain standing. Hideo jumped off from the crate and walked towards the boy, raising his arms and positioning him in a stance, moving the Great Katana in the right direction.
“Now slash right to left, then as soon as you bring that blade back press forward, stabbing the blade frontwards. This is a two-fold attack, this is Tachi: Enpi. Its one of the basic Tachi attacks, and if you can not master this than there is no hope for you, how can you honor that name you claim is yours with this display of crap.”
“I’m tired…”
“Don’t give me excuses, you think an Orc, a Kindred gonna get tired and give up its attack? No! Besides, I’ve fought for a whole day, nonstop battle from dusk till dawn, neither one of us could defeat the other. If you can not even master an attack, you should just quit now and go pick flowers. What do you want to become?”
“I want…I want to become a hero!” Ryu cried out as he continued practicing his attack. “I want to protect others, I want to defend the weak and the innocent!”
“You won’t be able to if you are weak.” Hideo spoke as he watched the boy practice his attack. “Good, I want you to head back to San d’Oria; I want you to perform a hundred Tachi: Enpi attacks. When you have done so, read these parchments, they will aid you in master some other Tachi attacks, don’t try the last ones, they are too tough for you. Once I feel you have mastered the first three attacks, I will visit you and test to see if you are ready for your next step.”He had put that boy through hell, perhaps it was because of him that drove Ryu to the edge. The boy had also sought Shujinko, a crazed Dark Knight, to master that path as well. Those were dark days for Hideo, it was when he began to drown his sorrows in a bottle he drank and drank to kill his pain. Tira had destroyed his humanity after taming the demon, he was now nothing. He was not the Demon of the East; he was not the silent swordsman fighting for honor. He was a worthless drunk. He rubbed his face, feeling the scar over the left side of his face. It ran down from his brow, over his eye, and down under his chin stopping at his neck. It reminded him of the Battle of Tavnazia, a survivor gave him that scar. It was his mark of Aku, or mark of evil. Always there to remind him just how far he would go to save his own hide and how far he would go for battle, to even betraying his own kind. He did not know if there was an afterlife or not, if there was places where people like him go that do not deserve Paradise the Altana followers call it. If there was a place like Paradise and it allowed everyone in, Hideo would sing for absolution for his beloved Tira as well as his fallen son Ryu. He felt if there was a place that they deserved to go to such a place, but he was not certain if there was anything after. To him it would not matter if there was an afterlife or not, only thing that mattered to him was the now, the present. After the death of Tira, he had stopped trying to pick up women, he only drank and fought.
He moaned how he could use a drink or a smoke, he remained in this cell it was killing him. The reason he fought, the reason he truly did any of his hedonistic activates was to feel something. Fighting in battle, trying to feel the rush of combat or feeling pain, these showed him he could still feel that he was still alive. He felt he needed to return to his mercenary ways, the bloodstained path as he called it so he could truly revive the man he use to be, the man who was not weak, without any humanity, without any boundaries. No booze, no ale, no women, only violence. To become that weapon once more, to strike fear into the hearts of his enemies. He would have to rise back into power within the Tenshodo, show others that Hideo Wiriamuzu was back and no longer the fool, but he was himself. He would forget about Tira, forget about Ryu, give his life to his craft, and return to his mercenary ways fully. All of his greatest rivals where dead, so he would have to make new foes, new enemies, it would not matter to him. Good or evil, were nothing to him. He knew that those who were considered evil would put up a better fight. If good was on the right he would go to the left, he felt it would be better to face evil, for they always where stronger than good. But if he had to, he would merge into the light and face those who considered themselves heroes.
Those that were weak would usually be spared; they disgusted him they were not worthy enough to even be a stain on his blade. Only the strong would fall against his blade only time a weakling would be crush by him if it was due to a contract. He did not care who his targets where, he would eliminate them without care or thought, they were nothing but a target and an enemy. For far too long has he been weak as the drunken fool, it was time to get over his weakened state and rise above. This cell was doing some good for him; he was realizing the errors of his way, that he had broken his promise. The promise he made oh so long ago, to never again become weak. He was now devoted in keeping that promise, he would hone his skills, perfect his seasoned skills so he could be once again feared, once again respected. He thought if he should kill his daughter or not, as long as she lived she would be a weakness for him, a tool to use in his own destruction. He would have to decide later with a coin, if he should end her life or not. In his solitude his mind wandered, often finding itself amidst the past. Each dream had gone further and further into his mind, bringing back memories and feelings. From his childhood, to the days of training Ryu, to the later days and more current ones, he remained there in disgust at himself.
He had only one person to blame for how his life had gone, it was himself. He remembered the days of his youth, he was filled with fire and energy, ready to go out and face anything without a second thought and without reward, just so he could say he went out and fought. In his youth, back in his days within the military of the Near East, he was apart of a four man squad, each one more insane and blood thirsty than the next. Hideo remembered he was the least insane and blood thirsty then them, back before he was called Demon of the east. He was a quiet and dedicated man to his swordsmanship. Only challenging the toughest and dangerous, in the name of perfecting his abilities, he was much unlike the rest. Strife was an Elvaan consumed by rage, his entire life he was also second best, it droved him to madness. Makieru was a mysterious Elvaan who enjoyed killing simply to watch the blood fall. The fourth man of this group was Shujinko, just as unstable as Makieru, he was a skilled Dark knight that Hideo had called a friend now and again. These four men had fought together in the Near East, facing off some of the worst Beastmen and Far East combatants. Hideo remembered the day the group broke apart. Hideo had wanted to prove he was better then them all, and the group exploded from within as he had betrayed each one of them and proved to himself he did not need them.
Shujinko had fled to the Middle Lands returning home, Strife and Makieru would continue to be a torn in his side even when Hideo himself went to the Middle Lands. These were older days; Hideo had begun using the Demon of the East name as his own moniker. He slashed and hacked his way to the top, surpassing his fellow brothers in arms and comrades, but never rising in rank, only increasing his reputation. As he sat in his cell he remembered those days, days where he would go out and make himself known as the greatest. He would face anyone and anything, now it was different. Now it was only because he was paid to or if he was annoyed just right. Everything had fallen into ruin, but now this was his chance to return to those days, those glorious days of his past, when he truly was the Demon of the East, the devil not the fool. He would have to go back on his path as a mercenary, hack and slash back to the top and prove that he still has it and can face anyone or anything.
Striving once again for greatness, he would betray, step on anyone who got in his way again. Even his own daughter, his own flesh and blood would be cut down if she appeared to be a threat. He would find his worthy opponent in this age or through the Maws, battle was what he needed. He was a warmonger that enjoyed the heat of battle, the rush from it. Once he was free from his cell, he would put every ounce of blood he had and focus himself to overcoming his current state. Altana, Promathia, or any other divine figure would not stop him. He remembered when he trained Ryu, which he pushed him to never stop on his path no matter what path he chosen.
“Remember what I told you. You must become stronger than you can even fathom. If you want to be a noble and honorable hero, then you must push yourself harder than you can even imagine. You must not let any divine or demonic force stop you, you must never let others control over your belief and your ideas. I know that you wish to grow and become something better than you are at this moment. You do what I say, and learn from me…nothing will stand in your way. You’ll be a swordsman worthy enough to be respected and feared. Never give up on those dreams, I know that sounds childish and something a mother tell her child but it is true. Once you give up on your dreams, you’ll fade away and become nothing. To be great, you must have high goals, you must dream of becoming great. When I was a small boy, I had dreams of being a great swordsman. To strike fear into the heart of my foes, I had that fire burn within me. My desire and passion fueled me. Not Bushido, not god, nothing else but my own passion. Lady Luck had dealt me a hand that I could not fold, I am Hideo Wiriamuzu, the Demon of the East, I am feared…I am respected, I am known. I have reached my dream, but there always others who try to destroy it…so I must constantly prove myself…not to them, never. But I must prove myself…to simply myself. You are young, you have a long road ahead of you kid, but even if you only pick up half of what I am teaching you…you’ll be a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield.”
“I will learn all that you teach me, I will become a hero. For my family, for the fallen…”
“Noble cause Ryu but there only one person whom you must fight and bled for, and that is yourself, throwing away your life for someone else…is what fools do. You only sacrifice your life on your terms not anyone else’s. If you truly believe in honor, then do what you must to keep it. And once you break it…you know what you must do. End your life with either your blade or your enemies; do not go out as a coward. Its better to burn out than to fade away and the best way to burn out is to die in battle in a blaze of glory. Happiness and innocent care free life is not for us, we are swordsman. We bled, we kill, and we need battle. We are weapons, crafted and molded to be used for others. As mercenaries or as members of a nation’s military, we do things others do not. Remember my words Ryu.”
“I shall master Wiriamuzu.”
“You know why I decided to lose on purpose our game of dice? Because, I see you as my worthy foe, I can craft you into the perfect opponent for myself. Once you are done with my training, you will face me in battle. That’s the only way to truly see if you passed my training. If I didn’t feel you had any potential in you, I wouldn’t be wasting my time with you. I knew your mother and your father. I fought beside and against both of them. If you want to honor them, then you must continue living and defeat me in battle. I want you to make them proud by becoming a skilled swordsman. You must also make me proud by besting me in combat, so I know all of this was not in vain.”
Ryu was a naturally gifted swordsman; he caught on quickly and mastered it early on. The reason Hideo was so furious with Ryu was not because Ryu defeated him, but was because he ran away from his training abandoning the final lessons and spared Hideo’s life after besting him. He was proud that Ryu had become a great swordsman, but was also disappointed that he limited himself to San d’Oria and as well his crazy fall from grace. Losing his sanity and creating another identity in his own mind. This was what really caused Hideo to hate his son and student; however, something inside him made him aid Ryu in committing seppuku. The boy had wanted redemption for more than half his life, wanting to correct his past sins.
He felt the only way to truly repent for his past crimes was to take his own life, this idiocy what caused Hideo to be disgusted. He knew his son wanted to be a man of honor, to follow Bushido but he saw suicide as a coward’s way out. In the end he felt that his son was a coward and took the easy way out, but he still honored his wish and paid his respect. Now he had his daughter to deal with, her beliefs were not as bad as his son, simpler and innocent. Hideo wanted to protect his daughter from the world, so he wanted to turn her against him and force her away. He wanted her to abandon him and forget about him entirely, he would not be something she would want to be known as. He wanted a better life for her, now he finally realized why Tira had betrayed him and accepted it; unfortunately, his love was gone, life was taken by him. Hideo would force his daughter to leave him and completely disown him; he would have to show her a true act of a devil, the only way he could, would be in battle. He would have to leave this cell, and find a battlefield and show her why he calls himself a monster and demon. He would have to drive her away for her own safety. “Looks like you are going stir crazy.” A voice spoke to Hideo, coming from the outside of his cell. Hideo rolled his head over and looked at his cell’s door and noticed Xaladin standing there.
“It’s you…should have guessed it. Seems you and the girl are my biggest fans.” Hideo spoke as he returned back at staring at the ceiling. “So what brings you here, besides my awesome presence? Thinking you can learn a thing or two from a man who’s greater than you?”
“Actually I was wondering the real reason you were locked up? Was it simply just a drunken brawl? Or something more?”
“Nope. It was just a drunken brawl. I was groping and fondling this chick, and I guess her man didn’t like that. She didn’t mind it…but he did. So he got in my face, I sent him to the ground and continued the attack. He knows for damn sure he was in a fight and he got a tail end of an ass kicking. Then the guards came in, I kicked some of their ass too, then the Royal and Temple guys came in. Oh boy was that a fun brawl. Everyone was taking swing at one another. Only reason I surrendered was because I was gonna puke, and figured that was the best time to stop fighting. Got a good nights sleep in this cell though, now it’s drivin’ me mad. Nothing to do, damn I could use a drink or a smoke. There’s no excitement here.”
“I say you deserve it. You know karma and all. Altana is punishing you for the crimes you have committed.” As Xaladin finished his sentence but it caused Hideo to shake with laughter.
“You converted over to the Middle Lander’s belief, what happen to your Near Eastern belief? You know all comes form the void and all returns. Now there is no Altana, there are no gods. Things happen just because, its luck of the cards, the roll of the dice. You people want to believe that there some figure above watching you and guiding you, but there isn’t. You want to blame everything on Promathia or whatever name you use. You need someone to be the bad guy, well guess what that’s me. There no godlike figure monitoring you, it’s just fate and you. You have the power to forge your own desting; if you do not…then the fates will decide it for you. Shit happens, good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people. Life not fair, it’s a gamble.”
“You are wrong! Altana loves her children and would protect them!”
“Ha ha! If there was a goddess, then she must really be bad at her job.”
“How dare you say such a thing!”
“You know freshly converted people are the worst. They are always the first ones to throws stones. If she is real, then she only cares for those who are born in the Middle Lands. She is an uncaring of those who do not live in these parts. Where was your precious Goddess when Takeshi needed her? Huh? Explain to a child why his entire village burnt to the ground, why his family should go up in flames with their home? Huh, tell me that! That is right; you do not have an answer. Altana is not real, just a fairytale these people made up to help them sleep at night and keep the children innocent. Face it; you are just as pathetic as the rest, wanting to believe some fairytale to help you sleep at night. All things come from the void and all things return to it that is one of the truest things left. You start out as nothing and you end up as nothing in death. That is how life works, it’s a gamble. Nothing is certain in this world it’s all but a game of chance. Dice, cards, coins…these show us the real reality of our fate. You win and you lose, that’s it. Is there an afterlife, I can not say nor does it truly matter. Why focus on the afterlife if you are living here and now. It’s just foolish and stupidity on your part. But I am not here to convert you or anything, I speak it how I see it. And I see religion as one big joke. So go ahead and continue to try and preach on deaf ears, I’m not buying what you are selling. I see how the world truly is, you my call that cynical but I call it reality. People like me are only here for battle and for their own gain. As long as there wars and battles to be fought, people like me will exist in this world. We are not here for honor, most of us could care less about glory, and most only are concern about their own greed and vanity. I myself am only here to fight.”
“I can not waste any more of my time speaking with you. You care about nothing; you believe in nothing, you are just an empty soulless fool. All you do is spit insults and taunts, I am done trying to have a civilized conversation with you and attempt to befriend you on her behalf. My you rot in here for eternity…Hideo Wiriamuzu.”
“When I get out of here…I’m coming after you. I promise you that.” Hideo spoke as he closed his eyes as he allowed his tiredness to over take him. Days had turn to weeks, as Hideo Wiriamuzu rotted in his cell. He was locked up, away from the world in his cell. He had no perception of the outside world in his cell, for all he knew everything was in ruins and the Beastmen roamed the charred remains of the kingdom. He had no idea what was going on, the only visitors he had were his daughter, two Altana worshiping Paladins, a priestess who tried to drown him in prayer, and a crystal obsessed Elvaan. As he sat in his cell he thought about the priestess that visited him, she was filled with disgust at him as she continued to flip through pages trying to find the perfect words to rattle his cage.
He knew why she was there, he could hear it in her words, he played along and decided to act the way she would hope he would act. He grinned as he remembered he said he would get physical with her once he was freed, he would head to the church as well as see if he could ask who she was from the Knights. He questioned if it was worth chasing her down just to kill or rape her for her small annoyance, or should he just continue on without even thinking about it. He was happy to hear the passion behind her words even if he didn’t agree to what she was selling, but was glad that some people were still passionate about what they believed in and strived for. To him a person without passion and goals was pathetic and worthless.
His goal was to find his worthy adversary and his passion was fighting. When it came to religion he was more of a nihilist. He believed there was no meaning or purpose in life, that there was no obligation to worship divine figures if they were real or not. He saw no proof of Altana or Promathia, he only believed what he saw and what he touched. He did not believe in anything, he was empty of devotion and faith. He saw himself only as a weapon and called himself a demon or monster for that what others viewed him as, it strengthen his want of bring fear into the hearts of his foes. He felt it was good to be determined and passionate, trying to reach your dreams and goals, accomplishing and overcoming any task or obstacle. Starting out as nothing and weak, and become something great and powerful. This was what he attempted to beat into his son and pupil Ryu. He wanted him to thirst for battle to prove he was strong and that he could reach his dreams.
“Strength without determination means nothing, and determination without strength is equally useless. So you must train and hone you skills so you can have both. Determination will motivate you, while strength aids you. Good, evil…does not matter. You strive to be yourself, you follow one and only one path and that is yours. Do not let outside forces control and pave your path, you must forge your own destiny! I can not; I can only give you the tools to begin your quest. You must go on your own and follow only one man, yourself. No King, no President, no Empress, no Duke, no god. They only give you jobs, tasks, assignments…but can not give you direction. You must find that on your own. Life has no meaning, it’s a simply a gamble. You win some, you lose some. Only person who has control of your life is you. I could kill you right here and right now, and only person you can count on to live is yourself. If you die, you’d have to blame not a divine figure for your lost, but you and I. If a love one was cut down, only person to blame would be you and the murderer. You not able to save them, or even them for being weak enough to die, fate is like a game of dice or game of cards. But that’s why I play with a loaded deck and dice. I like things in my favor; however, life is not loaded and fixed. It’s random and completely not stacked against you or in favor. If you win, you win. You lose, you lose. It’s just like that. That is why you must have that fire burning deep within you as well as the strength to keep your sorry ass alive. If you talk real big but can not back it, then you are pathetic. I’m a Ronin, I can speak my mind and since I am strong I can back my words with my might. Like I said without determination, without desire, without strength…you are nothing. No god like figure will protect you, in the end all things return to the void for where they once came. If honor is what you desire, then you must fight, you must bleed, and you must die for it.”
“What is it that you desire for…all of these years what has been your goal, your dream?”
“To find my worthy adversary, to find my final battle, so far my foes could not destroy my body. Even in defeat, I come back stronger…my passion is fighting. I am determined to show everyone that I am who I say I am. That I am Hideo Wiriamuzu, the Demon of the East, that I am a nightmare on the battlefield.”
“Must be sad…to love no one.”
“Love that is a word that has no meaning for me; mercy, love these words are empty in me. I love no one, not even myself. I love nothing, I stand for nothing, I believe in nothing. I am simply a weapon, meant for battle. I’ll bleed the world dry; I’ll end lives seeking my opponent. It’s better to burn out than to fade away…that’s my belief. Give me war, give me battle, and I’ll be there.”
The days he trained Ryu and actually care for another was long gone. Now he saw himself as a washed up worthless old man. He was forty-seven, his liver and lungs should have given up on him years ago but they did not. If there was a divine figure that sure must want him to live as long as possible or perhaps his body was too stubborn to fall apart now before he found his final opponent. He remembered he was sitting in his cell bitching and moaning like usual about the lack of drinks, smokes, and action. When he heard an Elvaan’s voice speaking to one of the guards. Soon Hideo and the Elvaan spoke to each other, the Elvaan saying why doesn’t he make a pact to actually become a demon. Hideo remembered he jokingly stated, “And what ruin these good looks?” Quickly the subject changed to the Great War, where Hideo had become a history teacher trying to tell the story once more. The visit wasn’t that long, but it gave Hideo enough time to forget about his dreams and memories. But once he returned to being alone his mind was plagued by memories and his days were sleepless. He wanted to go through this hell so he could emerge as his former self. He realized he needed this detoxicaion, he need to remove the drunken fool that was within him. Revive his former self and return to his old path. This was who he was; he was a swordsman that craved battle.
The only thing Hideo wanted was to be the man he once was. Not the drunken fool but the fearless and powerful swordsman, it was why he allowed himself to get locked up and remain in this cell. He saw it as a detoxication removing the venomous joker from within. He put himself through this hell to reflect how much he had fallen. He was not the Demon of the East, he was becoming less Hideo Wiriamuzu and more of Takeshi Nakauro.
Takeshi had escape Hideo’s grasp, he wanted to forget the past and move on; however, the small child, the little boy refused to die and fade away. It remained in the back of his mind, always lingering, when he was with Tira he could feel the boy slowly emerge. When he was with her he could let go and allow himself to let his guard down to open himself up and let others in. His entire life he had played many parts: the villain, the hero, the fool. Always changing to adapt to his new contract, finding the right character to go with the role, he preferred to be the silent swordsman on the battlefield allowing his actions to speak for him. Though over the years he had played the fool too often, forming a false ego, a mask to hide behind, now he saw as the time to toss away the mask and rise above like a phoenix and be the man he was supposed to be. Hideo Wiriamuzu feared no man, no monster, nothing on the battlefield. He was a career solider, fighting for anyone, as he searched for his worthy adversary. He reflected back to his youth, the day he met Tira.
The day was cold, the sky darkened by heavy and black clouds. Rain drops began to fall from the sky as the sound of war raged on and throughout Al Zahbi. Martial law was declared as it filled the area forcing others to flee or position themselves for battle. Standing high above the rest on an edge, Hideo Wiriamuzu watched on as the people below moved seeking for a location to stand and fight. Each like a piece of chess, pawns being positioned, thunder shook the heavens as Hideo awaited for whichever force broke through and set siege of this city, his city. He turned to face three other soldiers of Aht Urhgan, he walk back away from the edge and return to the group as he leaned against the edge, every once and awhile peering back down looking for Beastmen advancing.
“Whichever poor soul comes through those gates shall be consumed and crushed. Remember go after the leaders; don’t waste energy on the weaker ones. The faster we beat these Beastmen, the faster we get paid.” An Elvaan in black armor spoke as his scythe became freed from its resting spot. He turned to the only Hume of the group, Hideo, “Think you can handle that Wiriamuzu? You and Strife always run off and start hacking at any nearby targets.”
“Be concerned with your own hide Shujinko, don’t worry about me and Hideo, we just enjoy the good rush of battle, look he is itching for a fight.” Strife laughed heavily as the gates burst open, Mamool Ja poured through. Hideo turned and watched as the forces swarmed past the gates. With a grin on his face, Hideo jumped back onto the edge and leap downward as he was too eager to battle. Charging head first into the mayhem, Hideo Wiriamuzu hacked and slashed his way through the advancing forces, leaving behind his group. The Beastmen forces began to swarm throughout the city of Al Zahbi, beginning their assault on the empire’s western side. Hideo ran as fast as he could simply slash at Beastmen drawing their attention allowing any remaining citizens to flee. He charged through a wall of liazardmen as he turned to stand and fight. His face was overcome with a large grin; he didn’t want those citizens to get in his way of battle, distracting the Beastmen off him. As he backed himself into a corner allowing himself become surrounded by Mamool Ja, he could see in the distance his group slashing through the numbers of the savage forces. Hideo grinned as he began his attack on the closest foot solider of the Mamool Ja army. As he hacked and slashed he was over run by the savages. He took their hits as he slashed away, trading blows to blows with the large Lizard humanoids. After every attack he pressed on, continued to swing and swing his Great Katana at them, a few of them left to go after another prey but good number remained on him how he intended. He continued to fight them off but violent a powerful spell erupted and sent his body to the ground in a blink of an eye and in a sudden moment. His body fell to the ground as his body lay motionless, life slowly fade from him. He rolled on to his back as he stared up into the blackened skies, he questioned if this was the day he would not get back up, but a face appeared to him. A beautiful face of a woman in her early twenty, Hideo was dazed as he stared up into the heavens only to have her engulf his vision. She stood above him; she smiled as an angel would. Helping him back up to his feet, she placed his arm around her to help him up and walk away. He drifted in and out of conscience. The two left the battle grounds and entered Whitegate as she led him to a bed to lay down and rest.
“There you go, rest. You were wounded pretty badly.” The woman spoke in a gentle voice.
“Great…the others will never let this go. Hideo Wiriamuzu carried off from the battlefield by a woman. Nevertheless…I am in your debt.”
“Think nothing of it, I saw you save those people.”
“I wasn’t saving them, they were in the way. I just wanted the attention to be on me.”
“Huh?”
“Forget it, thank you…um?”
“Tira Andaason.”
“You got pretty eyes Tira…”
After that day Hideo would often visit her and the two quickly developed romantic feelings for one another. She was a Corsair that loved to wrap men around her fingers and toy with them, her charm had took hold of Hideo and would not let go. Battle would come second to her; it was the reason why he left the Middle Lands after the war. She consumed his life; with her he could let his guard down and let everything go. He remembered when he had Tomas and Tsumi visit his cell, after Tsumi had left him and the southern had played a game of dice mostly due to Hideo boredom. He beat Tomas in a game of dice, and then when they played double or nothing, the Scholar had won. Hideo kept his word and gave the Scholar two truthful answers to any questions he had ask, but the third one lingered. Why doesn’t he stay in the past? He thought about that question, but the real answer was that she was still alive. Tira would still be alive and in her youth, he couldn’t remain in the past for too long or his mind would ling to her. He only went to the past to fight and that was the only reason he wanted it to be that way. He rose from his bed and walked around his cell. This was his form of meditation, reflecting on the past as he let the drunken fool die and return back to his old ways.
He walked in a circle as he paced back and forth, he slide down in a corner of the room as he thought about the day he left Tira to head to the west.
“Why do you have to go?”
“This is who we are! We are men of war, we venture out to the battle the beckons us. We are Mercenaries; we go were there is work. We are warmongers, we thirst for battle, this is who we are. Dogs of war, sell swords….”
“But why can’t you stay here with me? Why do you have to go…”
“I am a weapon for war. The Demon of the East seeks a worthy foe, and in the war that’s erupting in the west, I may find it.”
“That’s it, that is your reason to go?”
“I am nobody’s hero, I do not do things for glory or honor. I do not do things for an ego or reputation; I do things simply to do it. I am a career solider, and I serve my own desire. My desire to find my worthy adversary on battle, which is the simple reason I am alive today. I can not die till I find my foe. If I do not find this foe, I shall come back to you, that I promise.”
“But you can stay here…”
“I can not. As long as there is a battle to be fought, I can never settle down. As long as there is man, there will be violence. As long as there is violence, there will be war. And as long as there is war, I will always have a job." Hideo leaned in and kissed Tira on her cheek, he moved in closer to her ear and whispered, “I love you Tira.”
Hideo turned and left the room and began his journey westward.
He remembered her left her and traveled to the Middle Lands, where he was greeted by ambush by a Yagudo group. Fending off the birdmen he explored the lands, learning all he could and eventually found himself under the Jeuno banner then later the Beastmen Confederate. He had fought in the war on each side, and each side he escaped with his life so he could come back to his beloved and once he did it was bliss for a few months. She then shot him and left him in a pool of his own blood so that the Empire would forget her debts and crimes and take a fugitive Hideo into custody. There he rot in the cells of the Empire while his beloved gave birth to their child then give the child up to start a new life for herself. After that he had returned to the Middle Lands to find it a much different place, it was limping off from the war and slowly rebuilding itself. Beastmen forces shattered, nations slowly trying to move toward the future but clashing against one another as old hatreds revisited.
Each nation no matter if it was a kingdom, republic, or federation limp on trying to rebuild as the age of Adventurers rose. Here he found work tenfold, cleaning up the remains of threat within territories. The Shadow Lord was gone, on fragments of his rage and darkness lingered only able to take form every so often but just as easily defeated by a common wannabe hero. Greed and vanity has taken its course throughout Vana’diel, Hideo didn’t blame any of them doing something to get something in return, he was different then mercenary and adventurers. He did it not for the money but for the simple pleasure in battle. The difference between a Mercenary and an adventurer, was mercenary did it for profit, as an adventurer would do go on some dangerous quest for something useless or worthless. Most of them were children or former citizens either annoyed or angered by the lack of aid form a nation’s military deciding to take it upon them. Hideo remember one day in particular of the post-war era. The day he received his scar on his face, he traveled out to aid a group of holy men making a pilgrimage to the Hall of the Gods. Leading them by Chocobo, he took all the shortcuts he knew, riding hard and forcing them to go over night. He remembered when the made camp in the sanctuary. He learned all about every region in the middle lands, he trained and honed his skills all through out the vast locations, exploring those lands finding new and interesting things.
“This place is amazing, I feel as if we should not be here…” An Elvaan in a white robe spoke as he stood next to a camp fire amazed by the large trees that engulfed the sky due to their height. The Elvaan placed his hand on a nearby tree. “It’s so beautiful.”
“It’s just an overgrown forest.” Hideo spoke as he roasted a piece of Coeurl over the campfire.
“This is a sacred location we are in, beyond this sanctuary lies Ro’Maeve, and beyond that the Hall of the Gods!”
“Yeah....yeah. Then beyond that is Paradise right or something along those lines? You people are all the same one tracked mind.”
“Nothing worst than a faithless soul, you do not accept Altana in your heart…”
“Spare me with that stuff will you. You paid me to lead you here; you are very close to the place you seek. Without me, the critters in here will be feasting on your remains. So really try and not to piss me off. You people already paid me.”
“That’s right; the great Hideo Wiriamuzu only cares about getting paid.” Another Elvaan spoke as he stared at the flames. “You betray every man, woman, and child to get what you want…”
“Something like that.” Hideo spoke as he took a large bite from the cooked meat.
“You men do not know who we are speaking to; this is Hideo Wiriamuzu…the Demon of the East. He betrayed his own kind and the rest of Altana’s children and marched under the Beastmen Confederate’s banner. He helped destroy Tavnazia, my home…” The Elvaan spoke as he got up to his feet; he threw back his robe and stared at Hideo with hateful eyes. His face was worn due to years, his body trembled with anger. “You are worst than any Kindred!” The Elvaan quickly pulled a small dagger from his sleeve and charged at Hdieo, aiming to kill him. Hideo turned and fell back dodging the dagger.
“You are no match for me Longears, I’ve cut down your brethren in a blink of an eye. To me your precious Goddess children are no different than any Beastmen; you are all the same to me.” Hideo spoke as he rose to his feet. “If you truly wish to avenge the fallen then go right ahead, but I will not fall on this night. You are not the man do end my life.”
The Elvaan got to his feet and lunged once more at Hideo; the others backed away and stood in fear. Hideo quickly drew his blade and within seconds slashed through the Elvaan, tearing his flesh and cloth. His blade cut deep into the side of the Elvaan, who callposed to the ground. He walked around to his face and knelt down.
“I know you are furious with what I have done, but neither one of us can go back and change what has been done. The past is the past, stop living in it. All life ends, your friends met their end in a warrior’s death. That is much nobler than dying anywhere else.” Hideo spoke as he return his blade to his side, he looked down at the bleeding Elvaan. “Face it, you failed in avenging you friends. You are not dedicated enough to your cause. If you were, you would have killed me.”
“The Goddess shall punish your wicked soul!”
“Awe yes. Once again you people bring up your Goddess, if she loved you so…where was she on the battlefield the day I killed your brethren? Do not blame me; blame yourself or your Goddess. You were too weak to save them.”
Hideo turned away and looked down at his meal, lying in the ground. The Elvaan slowly pushed himself back up and tightened his grasp on his dagger; he rose to his feet and charged forward as Hideo turned back. The man collided into Hideo, sending them both to the ground, as the two fell, the dagger’s edge cut into Hideo’s face, slashing across his eye barely missing his left eye. Hideo pushed the Elvaan off him and got to his feet in a swift motion; he placed his left hand over his eye, and picked up the dagger.
“If you holy men are squeamish…look away!” Hideo grinned as he rolled over the Elvaan and placed his knee on his chest, using his weight to keep him down. He grabbed the Elvaan by his chin and began slicing his long Elvaan ears off. “Now guess I can’t call you longears anymore.” Hideo got up and tossed the dagger a side as he looked at the rest of the group. “Guess that means we part ways, the place you are seeking not that far. Just keep heading north, just stay way from…well everything.” Hideo turned and started to walk into the blackness of night as the bloodied Elvaan rose to his feet, Hideo quickly turned and slashed at him, quickly drawing his blade and slicing across the Elvaan’s throat. As Hideo return his blade to his side and return heading back into the darkness the Elvaan’s body fell into the flames.
He rubbed his face, running his finger down the scar on his left side. To him this was his mark of Aku or mark of evil; it was now there to remind him how far he would go. He would betray his supposed brethren the allied races and combat them to the end. His sin was his emptiness; he felt nothing within, he only lived to fight as a solider for anyone. He would march under any banner, as long as he got his war, his battle. He wanted others to fear him and see him as a wicked man; for somewhere in him he felt he truly was that. He remembered his youth, a hot headed swordsman fighting day in and day out to prove his merits among greater and seasoned fighters. He allowed his actions to speak for him; he took on any foe no matter who they were. He boast how he could replace any of the heroes of the Near East, how the empire needed him. Now he remained in a cell, locked away from the world, forcing him to relive every moment, every memory he had within his mind. He plunged into the darkness of his mind, reaching the dark corners. Faces blurred, names forgotten but every battle, every defeat, every victory lingered, every passionate moment with Tira and every heartbreak. His fist turned white as he closed it tight, he was fighting back his anger and fury. Oh how far he had fallen, ever since he met Tira his life had tittered tottered between the man he wanted to be to the boy he was. He felt freedom when he arrived into the Middle Lands, but only felt loneliness and desire to return to her, his beloved Corsair.
This was the reason he did not stay too long in the world the maws had brought him, if it was indeed the past than she was still alive. After she had shot him and left him for dead, his world collapsed and he then drowned himself in a bottle. From bottle to bottle, he lived. Fighting in battles, slowly destroying his once feared reputation becoming a drunken womanizing fool, a mask he developed after Tira had betrayed him. Now his quest was to destroy the fool he had created, and return to the bloodstained path as the Demon of the East. No longer would he play the fool, he would play the demon. He wanted to be feared; he wanted others to remember his name as the best. He would destroy this mask, and rise like a phoenix, burning oh so bright in his revival. That was how he saw it, Hideo Wiriamuzu returning from oblivion once more. Nothing would stand in his way, not his daughter, not her Paladin, nobody. Not even the Middle Lander’s Goddess would stand in his way, he would cut down anything that opposed him on his path. Battle was what he craved, to prove to himself that he was not weak, that he was not that scared little boy from his childhood, that he was indeed Hideo Wiriamuzu, a fearless swordsman who tackle any odds and come back from the most suicidal and insane contract, he would not be denied his glorious return. He rested in a corner of his cell, his eyes started at nothing as his face showed nothingness; he was lost in his own mind once more.
“The western Ryu, the adoptive son of Talintrent Kaiser, Squire to San d’Oria. I hear they say you are a good lapdog, always doing what your masters tell you. So kid, what do you think you can last this training? You think all because your old man was a famous swordsman from the east; you can cut it as one too? Laughable, look at you, you are pathetic. Gilgamesh must really hate me…” Hideo spoke as he chuckled looking at a young eastern Hume bowing before him. He took a puff from his pipe, crossing his arms as he got comfortable leaning on a wall of the pirate cove.
“Master Wiriamuzu!” The boy named Ryu shouted as he rose to his feet.
“Kid, just Hideo, don’t be calling me master or sensei or any of that crap. Hell I am not sure if I even want to take you under my wing, how do I know you won’t die on me? I only train those who have the passion and desire to be strong, I don’t tolerate weakness.”
“But sir!”
“Hideo.”
“But Hideo, please you must teach me! I want to be a hero like my father!” Ryu spoke passionately, Hideo could tell the boy wanted to be like the Ryu bloodline, he wanted to be an honorable hero. Hideo chuckled as he unfolded his arms and took the pipe from his mouth.
“You want to be a hero, you want to stand up against demons and slash them to pieces like they were parchment. You want to defend San d’Oria against the Beastmen forces and die valiantly as a hero right?”
“Bushido and San d’Oria are what give me strength. I want to be strong, stronger than any other.”
“I can see that fire in your eyes that gives me hope in your generation. Without desire you would have nothing, no goals or any ambitions. You will become weak and fall into nothingness, to become great you must dream, near impossible dreams.”
“I want to honor my bloodline by becoming a great swordsman.”
“If that is your wish, then let us gamble with your fate. Good old game of dice to determine your fate. Of course you have a pair of dice; all Adventures due now, you think you are all like Corsairs or gamblers. Now let us play and see what will be your fate…” Ryu rolled his dice and got a fairly high number as he waited for the outcome of the game. Hideo savored the moment, as he rolled the dice in his hand, he wanted to fix the game so that the boy would win. He threw his fixed dice making sure that Ryu would win the game. “Well Lady Luck must surely be on the youth side…”
He made sure that Ryu would win and learn under Hideo, he did so because he knew that the only true person that would be his worthy adversary would be his son. So he made sure that he would train him and make him become a perfect swordsman so that his son could end his life; unfortunately, that would not happen. Ryu had abandoned his training and later drifted into madness. There was when Hideo would face his son and former pupil in battle and he suffered defeat. His son spared his life, Hideo then fell into oblivion that was Tavnazia. It had been years since then and he had no more rivals, no more real foes left. All he had was his emptiness and alcoholism, a daughter wanting her father to be something he wasn’t. He sat on the floor beside his bed. He began to whistle to get out of his head and back to reality. As he did he could hear footsteps echoing in the darkness, the footsteps grew closer and closer to his cell, and he stared at the door but really at nothing. He heard a small chuckle as he noticed a face peering into the room a voice calling in spoke, “Oh boyo~” Hideo turned and got to his feet, he recognizes that voice, it was none other than Kaliet, the head honcho within the group he was apart of as a mercenary. Hideo had grown to like her, because she was a seasoned fighter like him and he knew she was good in a fight, from what Ryu spoke of her she was as good as the one eyed Elvaan knight herself, Hideo wanted to fight Kaliet, and had even flirted and tried to get under her skin for a battle, but she continued to elude him and ignore him.
“Oh a visitor, been a while since I’ve had one of those, so what brings you down to these dark parts?” Hideo spoke as he moved closer to the door, trying to get a good glance at the halfblooded Mithra.
“Heh, figured it be fun ta torment ya a bit.” Kaliet spoke as she held a bottle of sake in front of the door directed at Hideo, she shook it mocking him. She uncorked the bottle.
“Well you aren’t the first, though first actual woman to visit. Just kids, red, and that southerner.” Hideo stared back and forth from the bottle to her, trying to decide which he was wanting more, a female or a bottle of booze.
“Ah sounds like great company for an old bird like you. Heheh~” She took a long swig of the sake then she turned to Hideo, “want some? Oh wait it won’t fit. Too bad for you huh? It’s the good stuff, imported.” She mocked as she pretended to fit the bottle through the open spaces of the door.
“You know it’s not a good thing to toy with an alcoholic and a butcher like me.” Hideo spoke as he shot a grin at her.
“Aww but I’m havin’ so much fun boyo~ he he.”
“Fun? I’ve forgotten what that was, being locked up here. All I got is thoughts and boredom. Though I did receive some treats thanks to that errand girl Tsumi and a flask from Tomas, those didn’t last very long.” Hideo spoke about his last guests. Hideo had pretended to drink the flask, not trusting the content inside for all he knew it was poison. The treats he had received from Tsumi were gifts from Hideo’s daughter, he ate them but he received no enjoyment.”
“Hmmm well iffin you been gifted so generously already I suppose I could leave with this.” Kaliet spoke as she reached into the neck of her robe and pulled out a key that was nestled in her top. She dangled it in front of the door, once more mocking him.
“What’s that, a key? Well perhaps today is looking up.” Hideo spoke as he tried to get a better look at the key. He watched as she took another swig from the bottle then unlocked the door, returning the key she had.
“Now, what exactly happened to get you here in the first place?”
“Drunk and disorderly conduct. Maybe a few Longears with a grudge for what I did to their best errand boy.” Hideo referred to him killing Ryu, since he was always told Ryu was a good lapdog for the Elvaan royalty.
“Hmph. Maybe I should leave yah here then, heh…”
“I wonder how my city has been since I’ve been away.” Hideo spoke mostly to himself but out loud as he took a long stretch. He watched her corking the bottle and unlocking the door. He stepped out and turned to her. “You know for the amount of time I’ve been in there, you are looking extremely good.” Hideo grinned at her as he joked with her.
“Hmph. Flattery gets yah no where boyo,” she tossed the bottle to Hideo, he caught it and examined it, wanting to know if it really was the good stuff or not.
“You think giving me this was a good idea? Perhaps I’ll end back in here…” Hideo chuckled as he took a large step away from the cell he was in.
“Heh, maybe that was the plan,” she chuckled under her breath as a smirk grew on her face. “The world is safer with yah in there.”
“You’re evil you know that? Things to do…now that I am free.”
“Heh, getting back to work’s always an option.” Kaliet spoke as she handed him a small scroll.
“Huh what’s this?” Hideo questioned a she took the scroll and quickly placed it in his pocket.
“Work. Some Yagudo are causin’ trouble near Windurst. Kill as many of em as you can, heh. Oh and I’m chargin’ for the sake, so enjoy it, heh heh.”
“That’s it? I was expecting more fun since its you.”
“Hmm? You expectin’ some guard brutality or something?”
“Where the venomous insults and punch lines?”
“We lost twenty hundred gil in jobs with you gone. Time is money boyo.” Kaliet said with a wink as he turned and started walking away.
“You have plenty of other hired swords and adventurers to do my work.”
“I hate yo say it…but yer one o’the most efficient.” She spoke with a small groan as she bite her lower lip.
“I bet most of them just sat on their backsides and bitch and complained, or tried to hook up, while battles were needed to be fought. Thank you love, you and I know it’s the truth. Nothing can replace a career solider like myself.” Hideo grinned as Kaliet turned back around and pointed at him.
“Tell anyone I said that and your gut will be sewn into a hat for Sulfig.” She spoke with a small growl.
“Love its me…you know that won’t work. I might just take you up on that offer.”
“Heh…don’t test me boyo~ yer cells still warm and I could toss yah back in.” Kaliet spoke as she turned away and slowly walked off.
“Well I got a priestess to hunt and Paladins to kill, after that I’ll get rid of your Yagudo troubles.”
“Just don’t forget the job “soldier,” and yer now dismissed. Have fun breathin’ again.” Kaliet spoke as she walked off heading out of the dungeon. Hideo stood there for a moment as he basked in his freedom. Now he was free, free to return to the bloodstained path. He had a Paladin to meet, he promised him.
He headed to the Knights room where he could gather his belongings and go out and return to the real world. He walked passed the other cells and made his way up the stairs leaving behind the dungeon the one he called home. He entered one of the rooms belonging to the Knights, as he asked for his supplies back. He stated his name, after a few moments he was pointed in the direction where his belongs were.
He look through his items making sure everything was accounted for. His weapon, his armor, his accessories, and most importantly his sack of gil that was worthy nearly a hundred k. He suited up quickly; he paused as he held his Wyvern helm in one hand, his other on Hagun’s handle. He walked out of the royal building and made his way to Northern San d’Oria. As he stepped out into the sunlight, he basked in the cool air as he stared up at the blue sky above. He thought about his next moves, should he go after the priestess, his daughter, or track down Xaladin; however, his hand trembled as he felt the itch for a fight. He knew only one cure for this, the maw. He could surely find battle through those magical gateways to the age of strife. He placed his Wyvern helm on his head and positioned it into place, making sure it stayed in place and unable to be easily knocked off. He turned and headed to his Mog house wanting to place his new bottle of sake. Entering his room he looked around and witnessed that it was completely clean and organized.
“Hideo you have returned!” A Moogle spoke in a surprise shock.
“Well…seems she has cleaned up the place. Guess she has more uses than you.” Hideo spoke as he walked over placing the bottle in a safe spot, he turned and noticed a note, he began reading it and in it, it mentioned Xaladin had traveled through the maw to find battle. Hideo grinned as he crumbled up the note. He turned and quickly exits the room as he made haste towards the King’s Forest. He headed to the eastern portion of the forest where the mysterious maw was located. He quickly made his way to it and activated it, allowing it to draw him in and send him into another realm or world.
After resurfacing through the maw, he looked around and felt he was where he belonged. He could feel battle was brewing, he decided to check the fortifications to double check his gut feeling for Xaladin mentioned he wanted to protect San d’Oria, so if he went to the past then he would surely be defending the forest’s fortifications. As he made his way closer he could see Knights in the traditional San d’Orian armor charging as fast as their feet could take them, he saw men and women who belong to no nation make their way towards the fortifications also. He was right, whichever forces were attacking meant nothing, he would find this Paladin and beat him into the ground. As he made his way he could see his target, Xaladin Rei. The former Imperial Solider and defender of the Empire, betrayer of Aht Urhgan, now nothing more than an Adventurer sporting heavy armor and believing in ethnics and moral values preaching his holier than thou belief. Hideo wanted to cut him down a peg or two.
Hideo could now see Orcs and Gnoles continuing their assault on the fortification; he freed his blade from his side and inhaled. He took in the moment, the calm before the storm as he simply watched the chaos break out. Battlefield was where he belonged; this was his calling, to burn out in a glorious battle. His face was overcome with a wicked grin, as he prepared himself for a charge, he did not come here for warmongering Orcs, not for wolf men…but for the man named Xaladin. He took a glimpse up at the sky above; it grew dark as blackness would soon engulf the heavens in darkness. With his blade free and himself positioned he slowly adjusted his equipment. Making sure everything was fixing in thier place, he slowly counted down from five, and once he reached zero he bounced forward. Bursting with speed, he charged as fast as he could downhill towards the combatants below. He pushed right pass Knight, leaping over kneeling individuals, dodging Orcs and Gnoles as he stared at the Hume in white armor. He swung his blade fiercely at Xaladin, the blade crashed into the Paladin’s shield, sending a kickback force to the Hume, cause his attention to be switched to Hideo.
“Wiriamuzu?!” Xaladin spoke as his face was frozen in complete utter shock.
“I told you, I’d come for you. A demon never goes back on his word!” Hideo grinned as he pulled his blade back and prepared for his next attack.
“You would side with these creatures, so you could simply face me?!” Xaladin spoke as he return his attention to blocking an Orc’s attack. Hideo noticing his opponent’s attention was shifted strike once more, his blade slashed across his side, his blade scraped against his white armor.
“Never take your eyes off me in battle! Its disrespectful and a death sentence! I am on no one’s side on this day, besides if I did side with these fowl smelling creatures…it shouldn’t surprise you, boy.” Hideo ducked under an Orc’s attack and slashed once more at Xaladin, who now was giving Hideo his full attention.
“You are a monster! You betray everything just to get your way! You are far worst than these beast!” Xaladin shouted as he swung his sword at Hideo, he parried the sword and countered it with an attack of his own.
“A true warrior doesn't care if he's called a beast or a dog; the main thing is winning, for the victors make up history. So call me a beast, call me a dog, I do not care…for you will always remember…I’m better than you.” Hideo grinned as he bashed his blade into Xaladin disarming him. Hideo slammed his shoulder into Xaladin’s face sending him to the ground, Hideo stood on his shield. “Remember my words, boy. I am better than you, you keep running that mouth of yours and keep thinking your so high and mighty, but in the real scheme of things, in battle…only thing that matters is winning. A true warrior does anything for victory, all that matters is winning! In real battle there is no second place! Now get up!” Hideo took his foot off Xaladin’s shield. “If you want to be a hero, you want to the best damn weapon, you must not be afraid of sacrificing your life! Forget your gods, forget your love ones…in battle there’s only you and your enemy!”
Xaladin got to his feet and slowly rose as he stared at Hideo, the eastern Hume stared back as his Wyvern Helm covered his eyes, and Hideo tightened his grasp on his weapon as he waited for Xaladin’s next attack.
“You are beast, a monster! You care for nothing only to kill, there nothing inside you but wickedness!” Xaladin spat as he raised his shield up and tightened his grasp on his sword. “Others give me strength, something you do not know!”
“Blah…blah…fucking blah. You know nothing about me boy, I’m a career solider. I’m a true swordsman who seeks battle to better myself. I do what I am paid for and what I am instructed to do, I am a weapon. You might be a shield, but I am a weapon. I train, I bleed, I breath battle. Now I will spare your life, only if you dedicate you life and never get side track in your quest at being a hero. Without dedication, without passion you’ll decay into nothingness. Drop the whole holier than thou crap, just be the hero. For a hero does not need to speak, others will do that for him. All that matters is winning and surviving, remember that Xaladin Rei. Forget the gods; you must worry about the innocent lives that you wish to protect. They are more important than any divine figure!”
Hideo returned his blade to his side and turned away from Xaladin and began to walk away.
“You walking away?!”
“I am done here. I’ve shown you I am better, and gave you words to live by. Now go defend others if that’s what you wish for boy.”
Hideo had left the battlefield and headed back to the maw; he had lost his desire to fight Xaladin and decided he wanted to help him. Xaladin had the same ideals as his son Ryu had, he didn’t want the love of his daughter’s life to fall from his path. His speech to Xalaidn had reminded him of his time with his son.
“What do you seek for in life? Is it power? Is it wealth? Is it the calling of battle? Or is it a warm bed with loved one?” An eastern Hume spoke as he paced back and forth with a Great Katana drawn. “Do you want to follow the path of the Ryu bloodline? Or do you wish to remain as a lapdog for an Elvaan Kingdom?”
“I want to be a hero, an honorable warrior that fears no foe and cuts down evil whenever I see it!” The boy spoke as he used a Great Katana to helping keep he standing. His face bruised and blood dripping from his mouth.
“A crusader against wickedness, an honorable path, but you claim the name Ryu as your own. Ryu John you boast and shout proudly, yet you know nothing of that bloodline. I know much of it, for I am a Far Eastern swordsman. Hajimoto Ryu, a man who I known for a lengthy time, as a foe and as a comrade. A Samurai place is to do what his master requests, unquestionable and with swift action, if he fails to do so…than he is nothing! You see, I had a mentor training me, but he died and my training was paused so I had to finish it on my own, so I became a masterless Samurai or Ronin. The Ryu bloodline come from a respectable warrior clan, if you wish to follow suit, then you must become a true warrior. A true warrior doesn't care if he's called a beast or a dog; the main thing is winning. Either being the shield or the sword, a warrior strives for greatness on the battlefield so he can always be ready to face any foe. You are not a lion, you are not an Elvaan. You share nothing with their kind; you are much like me and Hajimoto. I know deep down inside you want to stand tall and have no fear, you want to hunt down your foes with relentless force. You are a wolf among lions, I christen you “The Wolf of San d’Oria” and you’ll hunt down San d’Oria’s foes and eliminate them. I have already spoken to a few men within their ranks, and gave them my word of your skills. You truly want to be a hero and crusader of justice, then you’ll need a strong title and reputation. You see in the Near East I am known as the Dark Samurai, for my nature and they way I bring myself. I do what my masters tell me, I am their sword to be used against their foes. Innocent, guilty, good, evil mean nothing to me. Does that make me evil? Probably, you see the reason I am known as the Dark Samurai is because I am wicked and done terrible acts, yet I follow Bushido, yes I follow the way of the warrior. I don’t like killing weaklings and innocent, but do so for I am told to. I do not care that people view me as heartless monster, I follow my codes and you should never let anyone change you and alter your ideals. The reason I took you as my student, was so you become the man you strive to be, and to be my worthy foe. I want you to be the one to end my life, I will not ask of you to take my name. The name Hideo Wiriamuzu dies with me. Take my head, and become what you crave to be, become a hero. Let me be the first wicked soul to be a stain on your blade.” Hideo knelt down before the boy, lowering his head.
“No I can’t! You are my master, you and my father were friends, I can help you repent for the crimes you have committed!”
“Redemption is something I do not want. I do not regret anything I have done, no remorse in my past.”
“I refuse to believe that!”
“I guess I was wrong; you are just but a child. There are men who do not worry themselves with good or evil, they do not care. The either do things for a reward, a cheap thrill, or for the simple taste of blood. There is a reason I am known as Demon of the East. I am a butcher of men, taker of lives. I’m a berserker, I am a barbarian, I am a warrior who uses a Great Katana. So will you fight me or not!” Hideo rose to his feet in front of the boy. “Or shall you quit now and return to your kingdom as a dog and not a wolf!”
Ryu got to his feet and return his blade. He slowly turned away and started to walk off. Hideo quickly drew his blade.
“You turn you back on your opponent, you stupid fool!” Hideo charged forward and slashed at the boy, cutting a deep wound into his back. The force from the attack sent the boy to the ground, Hideo stood above him. “Fight me!”
“No! I refuse to face you!” Ryu shouted as he got back up but was sent to the ground once more with a vicious kick.
“You are pathetic; I’ve wasted my time on you! You are not the worthy adversary I had imagined. You are just another worthless weakling, you disgust me!” Hideo took a step back and allowed him to get up off the ground. “I should kill you right where you stand. If this how you choose to live, you’ll never be that crusader against evil you want. You can not let wickedness to live, if you stand idly by and allow evil to continue, then you are worst than the evildoer. Apathy and emptiness are the greatest evils!” Hideo spoke as he smashed the butt end of his Katana into the throat of Ryu, sending him once more to the ground gasping for air. “I won’t kill you, you are beneath me. Become stronger and wise up boy, once you are ready…seek me out for a rematch, Ronin…”
Hideo return his blade to his side and walked away, leaving the boy in a small pool of his own blood.
Hideo was furious with the boy, with his son. He was denied his fight with Ryu, not once but twice. Now he had no more rivals, no more real foes. Only targets that he was paid to hunt down or face. Once Hideo found himself back in the present day San d’Oria, his anger had subsided and he was no longer angered by the past or current. He headed back to his Mog House; he walked slowly taking in the surroundings and the heavens above. As he entered into his room, he noticed his daughter was in there.
“So…you still remain here in the Middle Lands.” Hideo spoke as he stopped and rested against the door. “I thought I told you to vanish? Guess you are as stubborn as your half brother was.”
“Well I get it from you.”
“Touché, you must have gotten a lot of my traits.” Hideo laughed little as he walked over and bent down to pick up his new bottle of sake that he got from Kaliet. “I heard you took my Linkpearl…you know that was a bad mistake young lady.”
“Yeah…”
“You know what I said, still stands. You refuse to heed my warning and remain here in the Middle Lands. I told you to vanish from my sights and disappear. You still don’t understand I am not the man you believe I am. You think that there some hero inside, pretending to be this demon, acting the part of the villain for whatever reason. You are wrong; I am the demon you see before you. I am an empty swordsman, who cares about nothing not even I; all I care about is dying in battle against a worthy foe!”
“The only demon I see is one in a bottle.”
“You want to see a demon?” Hideo shouted as he threw the brand new bottle of sake at her, his daughter ducked under as the bottle crashed on to the wall. The sake spilled all over the wall and slowly dripped to the ground. “I am a hundred percent wicked, I am full of sin and full of evil. Your mother thought there was something good in me, she found a small fragment of that goodness within me; however, after she betrayed me…she killed it.” Hideo spoke as he reached into his pocket and grabbed a coin from his pocket and flipped it. “Call it.” Hideo stared at his daughter, he looked into her eyes and he saw his reflection. Her eyes were the same as her mothers; she looked more like Tira more each day as she aged.
“Why?” She questioned with a hint of fear in her words.
“Just call it.” Hideo spoke almost in a whisper.
“What are we playing for?”
“Everything.”
“So if I lose…I lose…”
“Everything.”
“I don’t want to call it.” She protested.
“You and your mother have both ended at this crossroad. Head or trails…these are your options. You shall either win or lose; it’s just like life, death or life.”
“I refuse to play these games of yours!”
“Just call it, or I’ll call it for you!” Hideo shouted loudly at her.
“Fine, heads…” She trailed off as she stared at him. He slowly opened his hand and showed the coin, revealing the outcome. The two stared at the coin and they both knew the outcome, the coin landed on tails. Hideo returned the Imperial coin into his pocket. Hideo quickly grabbed his blade and slashed towards her. She closed her eyes as the blade cam swing at her; she was frozen in fear as her own father swung his Great Katana at her. The edge of his blade slashed into her hair, barely missing her head. She opened her eyes and noticed pieces of her hair fell to the ground. She dropped to the floor and eyes over came with tears.
“Liz Andaason is dead. I have no daughter any longer. Her life was cut short by the blade of her fathers. Now you can live where you want, just never again must you and I meet or speak. Forget everything about me, forget you ever found me, and make sure you never speak again of who I am. Or I will in fact kill you and it will not be swift either. Go now and live your life without me.” Hideo spoke as he turned away from her. She got up off the ground and wiped the tears from her eyes away. She tried to fight back more tears, but Hideo stood stoic, feeling nothing as she slowly made her way from the door.
“Goodbye… Takeshi Nakauro.” She spoke as she continued to cry. As she closed the door behind her Hideo turned and face the broken mess of the bottle he was going to enjoy. He knelt down and began to pick up the shattered pieces of glass.
“How could you just throw here away like that?” Hideo’s Moogle questioned.
“For her safety I had to. That and she is a reminder of my weakness. My daughter is dead along with my son, now I can return to my bloodstained path…”