• The Dark Tale of a
    Shadow Master





    There is a man, no, not a man but a spirit of a man who haunts me, he speaks only to me as I am his only way of living, inhabiting another’s body. His name is Kumori he is an evil man who story starts along time ago in another realm where he once ruled but the story of his quest for power and his eventual demise is one that has been forgotten. But as the body he is linked to as the only one he can talk to I know it, I know it from start to finish. He calls it his worst mistake ever, when he had reach out for the world and just barely let it slip from his grasp and this is his dark tale.



    In ancient times a ruler was forgotten from the realm of the elemental gods.
    There were six lands in this massive world where all elements are created. Each land ruled by a different ruler. There was the land of Fire, Water, Air, Earth, Light and the smallest and most secret of them being the land of Darkness. Darkness had been an outcast from the other land long before anyone could remember, forced to the darkest reaches of the realm and to the ends of the world where the sea drops off into oblivion. Because of there small size they’re power was nothing compared to the other land’s combine might, which got along just fine. Thinking that the dark land would never be a problem it was forgotten but as they were forced to move to a remote ancient place. They also found things, secret and powerful things. Ancient magic was discovered in the lands of darkness which was brought directly to their ruler Kumori. Kumori was a man whose origin and age was unknown. He normally dawned a loose black and gold robe with a gleaming sword sheathed and tied to his side with a gold hilt with a black gem shining in the middle. He had long Silver hair that gleamed so brightly you could see it in the darkest of rooms and eyes as pale as the moons glow. Kumori had been the ruler of darkness for as long as anyone knew. He was an evil man filled with hatred and greed, yet loved by those who choose to follow his dark path and yet he terrifies all. His power and might where well superior then all of the lands lords, which is beside one, Ranpu. Ranpu was the greatest and most powerful lord of any realm; he was the lord of the light.


    Ranpu had many followers and a vast army. If there was one lord to rule the whole realm, Ranpu was thought as that one lord by everyone. All except Kumori, he found that Ranpu was to narrow minded always putting restriction and lessons on his people. Kumori thought that people should do whatever they felt like as long as they obeyed their lord or generally him overall. In truth Ranpu was kind just like most of the lords who take on what seems to be the same traits of the elements they govern. Ranpu was always there for those in need like the guiding light at the end of a dark hall. Ranpu was always seen helping beggars in the street glowing in his shimmering gold armor. Just like Kumori, Ranpu also carried a gold hilted sword except with a bright glowing gem in the hilt, most lords carried a similar sword with a gem to represent there lands. Ranpu also had long hair of blonde which almost blended in with his armor and just reached his shoulders and covered the very top the cape he wore, although believed to be just as old as Kumori, Ranpu had the complexion of a young man just barely in his first years of adult hood. This was the man that Kumori had come to hate so much.


    But when the ancient tome that was found back in the land of darkness was brought back to Kumori, he had his scholar decipher it even though being as ancient as he was, he could read the ancient text himself, but he always enjoyed being lazy and he wanted to make sure his disciples were doing something useful. It took some time for the scholars to translate the text but many months later the scholars came back with good news for there lord. The scholars found out that the inscriptions in the tome were instruction for forbidden magic that put as simple as possible that told Kumori that with a simple ritual of sacrifice of another ruler the other shall gain there power.


    Many of his people were against this, seeing as it was old magic that had been forbidden by the gods eons ago and even if he succeeded he would be forever punished. But Kumori thought this was his chance to destroy the other Rulers, most of all Ranpu, and bring the world under one ruler, himself. For the next couple of months he planned on how he would kidnap a ruler but mostly what ruler to take. He immediately passed on Ranpu wanting to destroy him with force and because he was the only one more powerful then him. Then he passed on both Fire and Water’s rulers Kasai and Mizu because being opposite they found that living in harmony was better for them to act as one, they were always able to keep each other in check. He thought carefully on the last two rulers, the earth and air lord, Yochi and Fuzei for each did not like each other very much so as such they lived as far away as possible air in the sky and earth underground, The earth kingdom would be hard to get to as the earth Kingdom was settled underground although it is a place covered in darkness the deep twisting tunnels would be hard to navigate the never ending labyrinths even for him so he decided on the final lord, the air lord whose kingdom was hard to reach as it flew high in the clouds so if his attack was not found out he could get up there and back down before anyone could get up to help. Kumori quickly ran off to tell his generals. “Get ready to attack the Air kingdom and assemble a special stealth team!” Kumori shouted to his generals and with a quick yes milord from them they hurried off to start the special preparation of attacking air magi.



    Kumori had gotten angrier because the preparation time was taking much longer then he wanted, he spent a lot of his time trying to speed up the effort for he knew that longer it took, the risk of being found out was getting greater. Great ships were constructed for the foot soldier and for magic users to rest for when they flew too long. A great armored chariot was constructed for Kumori to ride in Flown by two giant shadow fury Steeds. There might was far greater then any other animal of the realm and too whoever who saw them flying over head with there massive wings, struck fear into their hearts. Normally taking a whole unit too take only one down. These steeds are rare and can only be born in a place of great dark magic.



    Before long Kumori felt that they needed to attack soon or they would be found out by the other lands. So the next day kumori rushed to his generals. “Ready the armies we leave at noon" he shouted. With another loud yes milord they were off making the announcement. Kumori then hurried to his armory to get his battle robes. When he got there the blacksmith where working feverously creating armor, shields, and weapons over hot steaming forges and anvils. The clang rang down the long, dark halls of the armory in to the dark. Kumori found his way to Kurafuto the head craft lord. Kurafuto was a short man but made up for it in his size around in shear brawn muscle. “My equipment is it ready or did I make a mistake making you The High Craft Lord." Kumori spat impatiently.
    "No milord never has one such as you made a mistake, your equipment is ready whenever you wish." replied Kurafuto in his gruff voice.
    "Quickly then order Kumori. Let us prepare for the coming battle."
    Kurafuto quickly shuffled between the anvils to a back room which was much cleaner then the main room. Sitting in the back was a large closet. Kurafuto rushed over and slowly open the closet inside was a glowing mythic chest plate and armored skirt along with shining plated boots and shin and wrist guards made of dark metal. Also hanging on the side of the door the most brilliant sword-staff anyone ever saw, the sharps of the sword gleaming in the light and a small dagger fused to the bottom of the staff with a thin gold dragon twisting around the handle. Kurafuto carefully lifted the armor skirt as kumori undressed his elegant robe then raising his arms to the side as kurafuto strapped the rather light armor to the waist of kumori and making sure it wasn’t loose he then quickly ran back over and gripped the breastplate and ran back over. Slipping it over kumori’s long silver hair he fastened it just perfect as kumori pulled his hair up out of the plate then tying some of his hair up leaving the rest hanging over his back. He then walked over himself and slipped the boots over and then shin protectors, he also quickly pocketed the wrist guards as to put them on later. He then told kurafuto to quickly have the smithies finish and get ready themselves. Promising to allow rest on the ride and left quickly grapping his weapon and quickly slung it around his back.


    Finding himself short on time he resorted to teleporting himself to his robe room and quickly had his servants wrap him in his dark robe much more suited for battle, showing a piece of the gleaming armored skirt at the bottom he also slip on his royal tabard. he then teleported himself to his generals as they loaded the prepared troops on to the airships flouting in the dark canals in the shape of boats with huge propellers on top of it and in the back where giant opening for engineer magi to thrust the ship forward. One of the generals turns to him and said “the last battalions are being fitted now and we should be off a little ahead of schedule milord, and your stealth team is awaiting your order"
    With a grunt, Kumori walked over to a small group of maybe six or seven men. When they saw him they quickly stood and saluted beside one, who slowly rose to his feet saying rudely "so this is the great mighty Kumori Kun, second to only Ranpu himself, doesn't look like much to me."
    With a quick twitch of Kumori’s finger the man was laying flat on his knees bowing down to kumori and with a sharp reply asking "who is this man who speak is asking for a short life"

    "Kokuzoku is the name and is this how you treat the one getting your team into air kingdom." he replied.
    With another twitch of kumori's finger the man was now raised into the air then gently lowering him to the ground. “You have guts but seeing as I need you for the mission your life will continue for the time being."
    "What is the mission anyway milord." Kokuzoku said in an exaggerated voice while rubbing his arms from the strange experience.
    “You are to make your way ahead of the rest of us and take the identity of Fuzei's personal guard." Kumori said in a rough tone
    "And how do we make it over there fast enough to do such a task milord." said one of the other men
    "you will ride on the swift wyverns, it will take us 3 days to come into air territory, but riding wyverns at top speed you should get there in a couple of hours. kumori replied then turning sharply to Kokuzoku he said " that is if you don't die from the speeds or fall; now you all know what you need to do you are dismissed to shadow peak tower that is where you shall ride from, and may the shadows shroud you and the dark bring you."
    "May all that is dark empower milord." came the voices of the other men, Kokuzoku scoffed at their servitude then turned and trudged away.
    As they walked away the ships engine started up with a loud hum catching kumori's attention he turn slightly listening to his power buzz into his ears. The noise and smell and feel of his vary own power filled his body. he has felt it many times before, but this time it was different, he began to feel uneasy and for the first time in his life he felt frightened, he began to break down but snapped out of it as he heard a small voice that began to grow louder it was then his general was standing by him trying to get his attention.” Milord!" he was saying in aloud voice.
    Fully aware of his surroundings now he answered back "yes?"
    "We are ready for you to board now and we will be off shortly" he replied much quieter this time.
    "very good" came Kumori's reply and began to walk over to the ships and as he walked up the boarding ramp he suddenly felt light headed crashing down to his knees and began to blackout. He heard his general shout to shut the whole thing down but before he completely blacked out he told his general he would make his life a short one if he stops now so instead Kumori was quickly transported to his courtiers and to his bed.

    Kumori awoke to one of the many maids on the ship wetting a washing cloth and place it on his forehead. He quickly grasped her arm tightly scaring her and dumping the water bowl on the floor. "Milord?" she said
    "What happen? What happened to me where are we are?" he blurted out awkwardly
    "You blacked out milord you caught a sudden aliment and your fever rose quickly" was her reply
    "Are we at the air land yet?" Kumori ask
    She replied "yes milord you have slept for four days they stop outside the land of air to wait for your order"
    He quickly swept himself out of the bed and suited back up for he had been undressed he then teleported himself to the bridge to talk to the captains
    "Are we still prepared to attack or do I have to take charge myself!" Kumori barked the instant he appeared startling everybody
    "Sir we are ready on your command." said the captain
    "Good then attack at full speed head straight for the palace!" he ordered then teleported back to his room he grasped his sword-staff. he then teleported to the cargo hold were his chariot waited for him he jumped up and opened the doors with a wave of his hand waking the sleeping steeds. He then flew off into the sky the wind rushed past his hair and he turned sharply to head in the right direction. He found that the air magi where already defending their home with big bolts of air flashing towards his own magi and ships. The dark magi dressed in dark robes flying in the air like black bugs, dark matter forming in their hands as they blasted the air magi who were flying in the air in light yellow robes. a big flash of air suddenly came from his right, there was a group of air magi coming straight for him, forming a ball of dark matter he flung it towards them with a dark burst several of them fell from the sky, he then threw his sword-staff at one piercing him though the stomach he brought it back just in time to dodge a air blast, then he flung another ball of matter taking out the rest just in time to fly off to the left to dodge a group of falling magi flying close to the airship, he notice that the air magi had called elemental minions of wind looking like little tornados they ate away at the ship he threw his staff again hitting one minion it disappeared into the air, he directed a group of magi to take care of them.
    Kumori began his descend into the palace; he reached the ground just as several of his airships landed spewing his dark army abound the air kingdom. Kumori flew into the middle of the great army of air, he released the steed to kill on there own. He then jumped from the cart letting it crash he flouted down he was soon barraged by swords, pikes, and axes. he dodged them so swiftly you barely saw him as he swung his staff around slashing the army on the exposed spots of armor and flying into the air to release a great ball of dark matter burning big spots in the yellow field of the air army, not long afterward his army reached him and they began a full on charge.

    Kumori taking the time to breathe he quickly brought back some of the dead air army as his minions with his power they began a charge of their own. Kumori then jumped up into the air and flew back into the front of the charge. He came down on the enemy like a drill into the ground, he fought endlessly slowly his robes were covered in the blood of the air, both armies beginning to thin out he found himself bored. so Kumori slung his staff on his back and formed the vary darkness to his hands and began to rip apart his enemies like a wild animal set loose, at times he would pick up a fallen weapon and begin to fight with that. By the time it was dark. Kumori had taken the gates to the palace and stayed there to rest before his final assault. The very end of the air army was defending the palace. After awhile kumori jumped back in he un-slung his staff and flew over the rest of the armies and into the palace he planned to take the air lord himself and if the stealth team had done there job right they would be waiting.
    Kumori ran across the palace, in the halls the sound of battle far behind him; he soon came to the great air throne room. but he was surprise when he got there. Dead outside of the room were his men in the air army clothes the team had failed but how he wondered the air lord wasn't that good. He slowly disappeared into the shadows under a cloak of darkness he entered the throne room and he saw two men fully ready for battle.
    "Hello Kumori Kun." said a voice it wasn't the air lord’s voice yet he could clearly see Fuzei standing by his throne this voice came from the other man.
    "NO!” he screamed. "How did you know? How did you get here!" the man was the only person Kumori feared, it was Ranpu the lord of light. Not even waiting for an explanation Kumori rushed at them glowing with all his dark power. He knew he could defeat Fuzei but not Ranpu, and especially not both but, he would take them to oblivion with him if it was the last thing he did.
    Kumori swung his staff violently, the two lords flying out of the way one to either side of him, he sent a dark ball flying at Fuzei while he rushed Ranpu. Fuzei dodge and the ball hit a pillar as Ranpu parried Kumori's blow and then another. Kumori kicked Ranpu in the stomach to make him stumble backward he then turn to see Fuzei flying at him. Kumori built up a dark ball and swung his staff down hard across Fuzei's axe then blasted the dark ball toward Fuzei missing completely. Kumori quickly brought the end of the staff down hard the small dagger hitting Fuzei's leg, Fuzei fell to the ground just as the dark ball hit the same pillar again bringing it down towards them, Kumori jump back twisting around just in time to parry a blow from Ranpu's sword. the pillar came down with a crash and a cry. Both turned to see Fuzai underneath the pillar's rubble, his eyes were closed.
    Kumori began to cackle wildly turning back to Ranpu as he began to glow with his own dark power again. still locked with there weapons Ranpu turned to Kumori, then with a blinding light Ranpu's power began to show, all his power was surrounding him. Kumori jumped back across to room and flouted there in mid air as Ranpu began to rise into the coming level with Kumori. It was a duel of magic. Both put their weapons away, there power flowing to their hands they both intently let out a huge burst of power their very souls were put into this power, thus only one ever lived after a magic duel. Deadlocked in the middle of the room, both beams struggling over each other they began to mix and bend a ball of dark and light power began to form in the middle of the room, the very walls shook and began to break. Then the ball cracked and in a blinding light both flew back.
    But just the before crack in the ball Fuzei had regained his senses and put a wall of air around himself and Ranpu, the blast only knocked both of them out. but Kumori received a different fate, his body was destroyed so fast his spirit didn't have time to leave to the neather-realm, instead it was transported to a different realm, our realm he flouted thought space for millions of years no where to go, until one day a burst of light had created a place with living beings. He began to feed off these being as they evolve he found he could live in them passing from one body to the next. All the while trying to find someway of getting his own back someday. He continues to pass though bodies as they die, he currently lives within me haunting my every move and thought. He will continue to move on to another body when I die, his hatred never stops, his pain never ends, and he is nothing but a memory that is passed on. This is the never ending story of the shadow master, Kumori Kun