Blaze Of Shadows [A World In Embers]

Ryu's eyes fluttered open, greeted by the faint glow of dawn seeping through the nearly closed windows. He lay still, his slender frame pressed against the cold ground, as the familiar ache in his chest stirred.

He had just had a nightmare which acted as a constant reminder of his childhood past, ten years ago as a child he had been a victim of maltreatment and on that particular day he was hiding furtively in their closet. His father's wrath still lingered, a constant companion in the darkness.

His father had arrived at their rambling cottage ten years ago, drunk as usual and called for Ryu who was so immersed in his own little realm and didn't hear. " Ayy donkey head! I, your father, called for you and you dared to ignore me! " His father fumed when he spotted him standing in the confines of their open cupboard.

" No... I..." Ryu stuttered in sudden immense fear and his father promptly pounced on him, battering him with fists and kicks in a seemingly random manner until he bled from a cut above an eye. Before long his mother walked in and saw the sight.

" Kael what are you doing? Leave the boy alone now!" She shouted and threw herself into defending Ryu and got the next fist to the jaw which pushed her out the window behind her, that single action costed her her life and put Kael behind bars.

Young Ryu had grown accustomed to seeking solace in the shadows. The dark recesses of their crumbling cottage became his sanctuary, a place to escape the cruel words and blows that rained down upon him. His father, Kael, resented Ryu's existence, viewing him as a reminder of his own failures.

After the incident a distant relative of his mother took him under his wing, taking care of him while he was trained and taught the way of a ninja before being drafted into the Kokuryūkai a covert paramilitary organization.

The memory of that fateful day still haunted him ten years later. Lyra's accidental fall, the sound of shattering glass, and Kael's anguished cry still echoed in Ryu's mind. He had been only ten years old when his world shattered.

Ryu's gaze fell upon the darkness of his room. He felt an inexplicable pull towards the darkness, as if it held a secret language only he could understand. Without making a sound, he glided towards the shadows, embracing their solace.

In those moments, Ryu found a sense of belonging, a feeling that the darkness accepted him for who he was – a fragile, forgotten soul. Little did he know, this affinity for the shadows would one day become his greatest strength...

Years later, Ryu stood among his colleagues at the Kokuryūkai base, the memories of his past still etched in his mind like scars. The dim lighting and hum of technology surrounding him were a far cry from the darkness of his childhood, yet he felt a sense of belonging here, among those who understood his unique abilities."

Hanzo, their technological technician and hacker had managed to pinpoint the location of Hikari, a brilliant criminal and scientist who could go to any lengths in his scientific research, they had been tracking him down for months.

Ryu walked into the room and took in the stares of his colleagues and commented dryly. " Sorry I'm late". " Can you be on time for anything in your..." Hanzo countered. " Let him be Hanzo!" Kenshi their leader interrupted calmly.

" Hikari's location has been discovered. Apparently it seems the numbskull thinks he can combine the DNA of human and beast." Hanzo announced.

" Great, why am I not surprised?" Ryu said wearing a stoic expression. " Because you never will be" kasumi a female spy and colleague joked.

" Now I'm not so sure of that... Ryu I entrust him to you but remember he his a master of psychological torture, the police wants him dead or alive but personally I prefer him dead" the master said.

"If he's dead we won't get the heavy wages we've all grown accustomed to" kasumi reminded them.

" I shall deliver Hikari safety" Ryu said simply.

Ryu stepped out of the Kokuryūkai base, the cool night air enveloping him like a shroud. His mission was clear: capture Hikari, dead or alive.

As he disappeared into the darkness, Kenshi's words echoed in his mind: "Be careful, Ryu. Hikari's mind games are notorious.

Ryu crouched in the shadows, gazing up at the towering facility where Hikari was hiding. His mission was to infiltrate, gather intel, and capture Hikari. He ran a hand through his spiky black hair with a sigh, it was one of his father's traits he loathed. He adjusted his half mask and took his time, feeling for the reassuring hilt of his sword, he suppressed another sigh.

With a deep breath, Ryu sprang into action, scaling the walls with ease. He reached the rooftop and slipped through a ventilation shaft, finding himself in a dimly lit corridor.

Ryu moved stealthily, avoiding security patrols. Suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching. He drew his blade, ready to strike.

A guard turned the corner, and Ryu took him down with a swift kick. He dragged the guard into a nearby room, hiding him from view.

As he continued deeper into the facility, Ryu encountered more guards. He took them down silently, using his ninja training to evade detection.

But soon, he found himself face-to-face with a heavily armed squad. Ryu drew his blade, preparing for a fierce battle.

The squad leader sneered. "You're the Kokuryūkai ninja. We've been expecting you."

Ryu charged forward, his blade flashing in the fluorescent lighting. The squad returned fire, but Ryu dodged and weaved, taking down opponents with precision strikes.

Just as he thought he'd cleared the area, a reinforced door burst open, and a hulking figure emerged. A cybernetically enhanced guard, its eyesl

Ryu readied himself for the toughest fight yet. Ten adrenaline rushed minutes later, Ryu stood over the collapsed heap of the muscle and machine parts.

With a deep breath, Ryu slipped inside, his eyes adjusting to the dim light. The air was thick with the scent of decay and experimentation. He spotted Hikari, surrounded by twisted machinery and cages containing grotesque creatures.

"Welcome, Ryu," Hikari said, his voice dripping with malice. "I've been expecting you. You're just in time to witness the birth of a new era."

Ryu drew his blade, his heart racing with anticipation. "It ends here, Hikari." "Can't you see that if this works it will be for the benefit of man?"

"You're in no position to determine what's best for mankind" Ryu said and stepped forward

"Stay back !!" Hikari shouted and tapped a button. "Baka!!" Ryu muttered under his breath and gave him a roundhouse while an automated voice echoed. " Facility self destruct in fifteen seconds!"

He picked Hikari's unconscious form and broke off at a sprint. He jammed hard at the door which refused to budge, he tapped his earpiece and connected to the Kokuryūkai.

" Hanzo, I'm in the facility, Hikari is in my custody and unconscious for now but the facility is about to self-destruct" He mumbled with an impeccable calm despite the situation.

" How much time do you have left?" Came the frantic response. " Eight" he replied simply and heard Hanzo curse under his breath. " There's no time, try getting out"

"...Five... Four!...Three!...Two!...ONE!" the building exploded in a burst of flames unleashing a deafening roar, it's destruction was absolute with no regard to it's occupants.