Prologue- One With the Storm

"Where am I?

The young child thought as he found himself surrounded by darkness.

"It feels like I'm falling, sinking in a pit of nothingness"

You must survive…

"Father…?"

The child's head began to ache as he tried to remember.

*screams*

Come on we need to move…

"I hear their screams and my father's voice"

Never forget…Tatsumi

"Oh that's right…they're all…"

-1 hour earlier-

"Hey, dad!" A 9-year-old Tatsumi yelled out as he ran over to his father, freshly killed game in had "check it out, not a bad catch huh?" He said presenting the recently slaughtered Danger beast about the same size as his own body to his father.

"Not bad Tatsumi, but you still have a long way to go before you can be a challenge for your old man." His father said as he pointed to his own kill which was easily three times bigger than his son.

"You always have to show off don't you dad" the boy responded sticking his tongue out at his father.

"It's not about showing off, it's about showing you that there is always room for improvement, to grow stronger." He said as he hands Tatsumi a carving knife "Feel like doing the honors?"

"Of course!" He said as he took the knife from his father and started cutting apart their respective catches

"After you're done we should head back, looks like another storm is going to be coming through soon." he said while looking at the progressively greying sky.

"Alright" Tatsumi responded still cutting the bodies apart.

To him life was simple, his tribe lived on an island outside the capital far from the mainland and their conflict. They lived in a village surround by a thick forest were they killed danger beast for food, they would go to the beaches on the island to fish, and would trade with other tribes for things they did not have. All and all it was a normal life to live for one who grew in such an environment to have and one that the child was content with. However, today was when his life as he knew it would end.

"Alright, I'm done." Tatsumi said cleaning off the carving knife.

"Good, let's get everything loaded up on the cart and move before the rain comes bearing down on us." his father said as he helped pack everything up.

As they made their way back to their village the storm had finally come in and the rain started coming down. In response they hurried their pace back, not wanting to get rained on more than they had to.

"Move it old man, we can't keep mom waiting" Tatsumi yelled as he rushed off ahead.

"That little squirt." his father said with a smile as he watches him run off.

It was supposed to be like any normal day, he and his father go haunting and come back like always. Being greeted by the familiar faces in the village like always. Seeing his mother again like always. So when he came to the sight of his village burning and the smell of death and the air his heart understandable sank in an instant.

"Mother…" he gasped out as he ran straight for his home trying his best to ignore the corpses lying about. The sight wasn't pretty when he reached their hut, like every other place in the area, it too was set ablaze. Deciding that it would be foolish to go searching through a burning house Tatsumi moved to the center of the village to look for his mother there and what he saw brought him to his knees. In the center of everything was a veritable forest of bodies; corpse tied to pikes with flesh ripped off, limbs missing, and guts spilling out, they were all the women and children of the village and amongst them was Tatsumi's mother barely recognizable.

"Tatsumi look out!" he heard his father scream, but he couldn't move, he was in too much shock to do anything.

Then everything was a blur to the child after he heard his father yell he felt something grab him and move him out of the way before a pain induced shout followed. Then he felt himself being carried away, the heat of the flames and the stench of death slowing dissipating as the got father from the village, but the smell of blood never leaving his senses. Then they momentarily stopped and he heard his father, who he just now realized was the one carrying him the whole time say.

"Shit! They even burned down the fishing boats"

The rain began to pour more violently as thunder could be heard from above and lightning flash in the sky. Then Tatsumi felt himself moving again, but where too he did not know. He heard something fly through the air, despite the raging storm going on around him and heard his father shout again as he felt the man's legs begin to buckle.

"*pant* *pant* thank the heavens" he heard his father say under his breath as the stopped again.

Tatsumi felt himself get set down by his father, but for some reason, the ground beneath him felt as if it were rocking back and forth. Looking down he notices he was a makeshift raft the was already floating in the water, after seeing this he finally looked at his father, the man was cover in blood with cuts and bullet holes riddling his body, yet he kept a smile on his face.

"This looks like the end Tatsumi, it would seem we've been wiped out….but so long as one of us survives then I can die knowing that we in some form lived on"

"Dad…" Tatsumi final spoke.

"Live Tatsumi, survive for everyone else who died this day and never forget where you come from" his father then cut the rope that connected the raft the mainland, allowing it to begin floating away.

"DAD!" the child shouted as he was dragged farther away from the man.

"You must survive!" the man shouted to his son as his son watch as people began to draw close behind him.

The last thing Tatsumi saw as he was swept away was his father being impaled by several men and his blood dye the beach sand red.

So there he was, a child adrift in the sea, the waves crashing into his poorly constructed raft that was quite clearly made by one of the children in his village who was learning to build them; The storm that roared overhead as unforgiving as the people that murdered his tribe. He had lost everything, his friends, his home, and his family; so when he saw he was approaching a large whirlpool directly in front of him, he didn't panic or fret, for he was completely content with losing his life too. And so he was dragged under, with the only sound to soothe his aching soul being the sound of the thunder, which slowly died down as he sank farther and farther below the water.

….

…

..

"It's so cold here." He thought to himself

"Well, I guess it doesn't matter anymore…I think I'll go to sleep…now" and with that, he closed his eyes and let the sea claim him, however as he didn't so he couldn't help but feel oddly calm.

The first thing he felt when he came to was heat, which was odd considering that the last time he was conscious he was sinking into the cold ocean abyss, confirming that he was still somehow alive he crack his eyelids open slightly as to not blind himself with any potentially harsh light he could be met with. When vision cleared and he was sure his body wasn't in any serious pain he opened his eyes, pick himself up a bit and took in his surrounds. When he looked around he found himself in a room that was lined with teal columns that led down a large hall; the floor below was made of a similarly colored brick and provided a clear pathway for the nine-year-old to follow. Seeing nowhere else to go Tatsumi got up and began to make his way down the stone path.

As he walked down the hall he noticed wavy reflective light shimmering on the brick pathway he traveled along and curiosity took hold so he went to go investigate. Walking closer to one of the gaps between two of the columns that ran along the brick way Tatsumi got closer to what he assumed would be a wall but as he touches it he felt his hand get moist.

"huh!?" he quickly retracted his hand upon feeling the sensation and looked at it.

"wait, this is…" he poked his finger into the wall and felt as it just passed through slightly "water?"

'Interesting, so my senses don't deceive me, someone is in my temple and it's a human no less' said a voice to the boy.

Upon hearing this voice Tatsumi spun his head around "who's there?" but he saw no one.

'Who I am can wait, however since you are here and not dead it must mean that you have resonated with my power; very interesting'

"Look I don't know who you are or where I am, but I've been through way too much today to listen to some voice ramble on, so if I'm alive then tell me how to get out of here and if I'm dead and you're some sort of reaper then claim my soul and be done with it" The said irritated.

'HAHAHAHA! Well, aren't you a feisty one. Very well, I like your attitude so I'll help you, just continue down the hall of my temple and I will give you the power to escape this underwater prison'

Now normally when a disembodied voice says it will help and tells you to go to some specific place that you have no knowledge of, not that it happen often or for most people at all, you typically don't oblige them which even Tatsumi knew despite his young age. Despite this, he felt as if he could trust this voice and besides it's not like he had anywhere else to go, so with no other choice he walked down the hall as he was told. Reaching the end the walkway Tatsumi was now in front of an archway that led into a very spacious room, the floor of the room being made of the same teal color stone as the columns and brick path he saw before, however, the stone here seemed to glow and every so often Tatsumi can see a bolt of electric energy spark off of it. In the center of the room looked to be some kind of pool of glowing liquid and in the center of the pool a pole of some kind stuck out. The room itself was surrounded in a dome of water and Tatsumi could feel a strong breeze coming from within the room.

"I'm here, so now what?" he asked.

'Good you made it, it looks like you're at least smart enough to know how to go in a straight line' the voice that now had a very defined feminine tone to it patronized the child.

"Get on with it or I'm leaving, you're wasting my time with your provoking"

'You have a point and the faster we get this over with the faster we both leave *whisper* if you survive that is'

"What was that?" Tatsumi asked after he swore that she just said something under her breath.

'Oh nothing you need to worry your pretty little head over, the next part is simple, just walk over to the glowing pool and claim that weapon as your own, do that and you may leave"

"Is that really all I have to do?" he asked with not just a little bit of skepticism.

'Yes that's all you need to do' the voice confirmed.

"Fine then." Tatsumi said as he began to take his first step into the room, just as his foot was hitting the floor.

'Oh, I probably should have warned you….'

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" and as his foot made contact with the ground he let out a blood-curdling scream as electricity coursed through his body.

'This is going to hurt' the voice said in a tone that sounded as if she was taking great pleasure in the child's pain.

The shock ran its course, Tatsumi's legs buckled slightly but he held strong and stayed standing.

'Look at you, you took that well despite your age, you may be worthy yet' the voice said in a very condescending tone.

"You bitch" he panted out.

'Now now, watch your language young man, you're still a child'

Tatsumi felt a rush of breeze at his back and turned to see a power wall of wind was now blocking the way out.

"No escape…" He said as he looked at the wind blocking the path out, the current so strong it looked like it would tear him to shreds if he attempted to touch it.

'Well, it looks like you get what you want. If you can reach the pool and claim the weapon then you will live and escape this place…but if you don't then you die and I really will be the reaper that claims your soul and believe me when I say I will savor every bite'

If one could give a disembodied voice a death glare, then one would imagine it to look like something akin to the expression Tatsumi gave now, but he was trapped now and he had no other way to go but forward; so with no real choice he pressed on. The glowing pool the boy had to reach was only about 10 meters away, but every step he took to reach it was pure agony. With each step he took the lighting infused floor would send a current raging through his body, with each shock being far worse than the last. By the time he had took his 15th step his body let out a plum a steam and his skin starting showing visible burn marks. By 25th step he felt as if he would lose control of his bladder, his muscles involuntarily twitched, and he felt as if he would pass out; which he knew if he did he would surely die. All of this was made worse by the strong wind current that flowed in the room that, although did not push him in any way, made him painfully aware of the tingling sensation his skin now had and of the burns that were now starting to blister. By the time Tatsumi reach the glowing pool he was barely standing, he could not get his muscles to relax, he had burns all over, and he could have even sworn that his heart stopped beating a few times during the whole ordeal only to be jump-started once more by another shock.

*pant pant pant* the boy could hardly breathe, but he was grateful to be in the water as he soothed his burning feet.

'Well color me impressed, you've made it…well? What are you waiting for? Take the weapon if you want to leave'

"…. …. …." Tatsumi tried to speak but no words would come out, despite not being in any immediate danger anymore he still had one foot in the grave. With weak steps he trudged through the water and made his way over to the pole that stuck out of the pool. Upon closer inspection the pole was actually an intricate looking trident, with a handle that looked to be made of some dark grey marble with serpent made of silver steel coiling around it from base to tip; the blades on its head were made of the same silver as the serpent. Tatsumi took the trident in his gasp and expected resistance from the weapon that was roughly 3 to 4 times his size but was presently surprised when it came out in a single tug despite his lack of strength at that moment.

'It would seem you are indeed worthy' The voice said as the water in the pool started to move and gather around Tatsumi's body, covering him, healing his wounds, and then covering near his mouth and nose. As the water got to the two main orifices on his head it started to flow into his mouth and nose forcing him to swallow, he would have tried to stop this but he realized too late that he could not move. Next, the wind in the air and the lighting that charged stone in the room followed suit with the glowing water and began soaking into his body.

'I guess introductions are in order, I am known as 'The Cry of the Storm' Ran, I will be under your care from now on master; so do please take responsibility for claiming me' she said in an almost seductive tone.

Once everything was absorbed into, his body Tatsumi allowed a smile to come to his face as he felt the power course through him "Tatsumi, I hope we work together well" he said as a bolt green lighting crackled off of his similarly colored iris.

-A Year and Half Later-

Off the coast of the mainland where the capital lies two imperial soldiers are on guard near one of the ports.

"So have you heard the rumor that's been circulating?"

"What rumor?"

"That there is a child that apparently walks on water followed by an army of about 20 to 30 super class danger beast that has been going around island to island asking for directions to the capital"

"Oh that, do you really believe that bull crap?"

"Are you saying you don't?"

"Who would? It sounds like some made up story that the uneducated people of the country would come up with"

"I'm telling you man there have been way too many reports of this coming up for it to be just some basely rumor, they even say that a sign that he is near is that the weather will instantly change and become rainy when he comes close"

"Well I'm still not buying it"

As he finishes saying that the clouds around them instantly grow darker and a light drizzle begins to fall from the sky.

"Huh? It didn't show any signs it would be raining earlier"

"Look…the ocean"

"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!"

Coming towards them was a large horde of sea and air fairing danger beast head straight for the coast and walking in front of them all was a young child who was only dressed in a pair of swimming trunks, he had long brown hair that went down his back and a trident in his hand.

"Just a rumor huh?"

"Oh can it"

They watch as the child walked onto shore and ordered the danger beast to stop where they were.

"Now if I followed where that woman told me, then this should be where the capital is." The boy said to himself

"…."

"I'll just be happy when I can get this haircut"

"…"

"Well I don't care if you like it long, it's annoying"

While the boy spoke to himself the guards slowly began to back away, hoping to be able to call back up just in case this child was a threat. But before they got anywhere he turned his head to them.

"Excuse me you two" he got called for their attention forcing to look back "you're both imperial soldiers right?" where is the capital?"

"I-it's that way" one of them pointed north.

The child turned his head in the direction his finger pointed "I see, well thank you for the directions" he then turned back to the danger beast that still waited behind him "you may leave until I call upon you next, that means that you're not allowed to die until then, got it?" They nodded before going their separate ways. The boy then flew off at high speeds towards the capital.

"We may have just sent trouble the capitals way"

"You think?" he said sarcastically.

Despite Tatsumi's ability to fly it still took him several days to get to the capital and when he finally arrived he was met with a depressing sight. For all of the people walking around in the capital, none of them looked all that happy, of course despite their depressed state they all still took the time to stare at the half naked child wield a trident for larger than he. Tatsumi roamed around until he finally reached the place he was looking for.

"Say that again, I don't think I quite heard you." an imperial officer asked the child.

"I want to join the imperial army" Tatsumi repeated himself.

"Ahahahaha move along kid, we don't have time for a pipsqueak like you, come back when you are a few years older shoo shoo" He said as he waves his hand at Tatsumi commanding him to leave.

Instead, Tatsumi did the complete opposite and head straight towards the palace.

"If you won't help then I'll just ask someone higher up the latter"

The soldier got in Tatsumi's way "You damn brat didn't you hear what I saAHHHHHHHH!" The man screamed as Tatsumi stabbed his eye out with ran; the eyeball itself be ripped out and stuck to one of her points as Tatsumi walks past the man again who was now doubled over on his knees screaming obscenities.

"Next time you try to act superior to someone else I recommend that you make sure they actually think you are threatening or next time you're liable to lose more than just your eye" Tatsumi swung ran and flung the eye off her blade, making sure it landed in front of the man; while he continued on his way he couldn't help but that he was being watched.

….

Tastumi then met with another imperial officer who was much more compliant when it came to helping him. He took him to see some child with green hair who looked to only be 6 years old and some chubby older man who was in the middle of eating a piece of meat when he saw him. He later learned that the boy was the Emperor of the capital and the man at his side was his advisor and that they had already gotten news of what Tatsumi had done to the first man he met at the gate. The advisor, who went by Honest, said that the capital had heard a rumor of a boy who traveled with a pack of power danger beast and that they intended to search for him at some point, so when he decided to seek them out himself the fat man couldn't have been happier. So, in the end, Tastumi was inducted into the army, given a room to sleep in, and was instructed to meet up with someone named Budo to start his training. He had just gotten changed into his new uniform and was walking back to the barracks when he heard someone speak to him.

"I'm started to think the empire enjoys taking in children as soldiers"

Tatsumi turned to see a girl about 3 to 4 years older than him leaning against a wall in the hall he was in. She had long blue hair, blue eyes, and wore a white and black uniform that comprised of a skirt, coat, knee-high boots, and a cap. She gave him a warm smile but her eyes where that of a predator that was stocking its prey.

"You must be an imperial soldier as well then….jeez then why was the first guy I met so stuck up if there was already someone close to my age here." Tatsumi said more to himself than to the girl in front of him.

"He was probably just a fool who couldn't tell at a glance that he was outclassed, to be frank, he deserved to lose his eye" the girl spoke once more.

"I guess you have point" he agreed.

"So what's your name?" she asked.

"Tatsumi, it's nice to meet you." he said smiling at the girl despite the uneasy feeling she gave him.

"I'm Esdeath and I do hope we can get along"