The Chained Asura

The camp lay far to the east of Moru village, a daunting distance that would have taken Yatsuho seven days to cover at the raider's slow pace. However, with no one to hold him back and Enketsu as his swift mount, Yatsuho could cut down the travel time significantly. Riding atop the 16-foot flaming wolf, they moved with incredible speed, reducing the journey to mere hours.

"We should scout out the area." Enketsu suggested back from the mental world.

"Yes." Yatsuho's voice was low and deep, the anger he felt before had resurfaced upon seeing the faces of ones that took away his happiness, but he still kept his rationality and chose to follow through with Enketsu's advice not for the fear of danger on himself but for not letting any of them live.

The camp was not very big, it was about half the size of Moru village. The raiders were tearing down tents and makeshift huts they were about to move from here. Some women were tied with chains near one of the tents, seeing them it was clear they were slaves to be used for sexual relief by the raiders.

Seeing them made Yatsuho's Blood boil but Enketsu calmed him down saying, "Wait! let's look some more."

"Where are Jito and the others?" A raider asked another who was loading supplies on a cart.

"Captain sent them to scout Moru village. We'll meet them just outside there in fourteen days. " the raider replied.

They were talking about the men that were sent to Moru village.

"Did they attack the village because of me?" Yatsuho thought to himself.

"Seems likely," Enketsu replied, " if they were only sent to scout, the only reason to attack would be to kill you but how did he know it was you after you changed."

"Could there be someone who changed like me here?"

"I don't know, maybe we should stay alert."

Then Yatsuho's attention was caught by a man exiting his tent. It was a face he could never forget, the scar and the milky white eye with it, it was the leader. The sheer sight of him made Yatsuho's blood boil.

"Alright ladies gather up!" the leader shouted, "Is everyone here (except the Jito's group of course)?" the mocking tone in his voice made Yatsuho's skin crawl.

His question was met with a loud yes by the raiders, the fear and respect for the man evident in their eyes.

That was the final straw for Yatsuho. He could no longer contain his rage. It infuriated him that someone as despicable and savage as Goro Takeshi commanded respect from these men. Memories of his mother flooded his mind—her desperate cries, the sight of those brutal men tearing her apart. His throat went dry, and the chains grafted onto his body began to glow faintly. Yatsuho's voice was barely a whisper as he spoke the words, "Burn, Enketsu."

With those words, he unleashed a scene of carnage that would later be known as "Asura's First Purge."

Yatsuho stepped into the clearing, the chains in his hands spinning at an inhuman speed. Flames leapt from the chains, scorching the very air around him and burning the ground beneath his feet. The first raiders to glimpse his terrifying figure wreathed in flames were the fortunate ones; their end came swiftly, sparing them from witnessing the true horrors that followed.

The chains moved like serpents, striking with precision and fury. Some raiders were pierced by the hooks; others were battered by the iron weights. Bodies were strangled, limbs torn apart, necks crushed. Yatsuho moved like a force of nature, his rage driving each lethal strike. Enketsu's voice, usually a guiding presence, was silent—or perhaps drowned out by the screams of the dying men.

The pain and memories of the raiders flowed back to him through the chains, each sensation searing into his mind. But Yatsuho was beyond pain now. His rage consumed him, pushing him to continue the slaughter without hesitation or remorse.

The killing lasted only minutes, but the aftermath resembled a battlefield ravaged by days of fighting. The air was thick with the stench of blood and charred flesh. The ground was scorched black in some places, stained red in others. Bodies lay scattered, lifeless and broken. The scene was nothing short of hellish.

The women, who had been tied up, managed to free themselves amidst the chaos. They huddled together behind a cart, trembling in fear as they watched Yatsuho, unsure whether this burning figure was a savior or another demon come to torment them.

Yatsuho stood amidst the devastation, the flames around him slowly dying down. His chest heaved with each breath as he looked around at what he had done. The rage that had fueled him now began to fade, replaced by a hollow emptiness.

He had avenged his mother, but at what cost?

Yatsuho glanced over and saw two raiders still alive, trying to hide in the tents. One of them was Goro, the raider leader, who had taken a woman hostage. The sight of Goro cowering behind her, using her as a shield, reignited Yatsuho's fury. If Goro had begged for forgiveness, perhaps Yatsuho might have spared him. But hiding behind a helpless woman only sealed his fate.

Dragging his chains behind him, Yatsuho strode forward. The other raider with Goro stepped out and began begging for mercy. Without hesitation, Yatsuho slammed his foot down, crushing the man's skull with a sickening crunch.

"Did you think I'd let you live after everything you've done?" Yatsuho roared, his voice thick with fury as he brought his foot down on the raider's head, over and over, until the skull was nothing but a mangled, bloody mess. The irony of his own words gnawed at the back of his mind, but his rage was too consuming, too overwhelming to let guilt take root.

Nearby, Goro's heart pounded in his chest. He gritted his teeth, refusing to abandon the woman despite the terror creeping into his bones. He wasn't ready to die—there was still more for him to achieve, more strength to gain. But the world, as he was learning, wasn't so merciful.

"Stop! You bastard!" Goro's voice cracked as he screamed, desperation lacing every word. But Yatsuho's only response was to kick him square in the face, sending him sprawling. The next blow came quickly—Yatsuho's feet slammed down on his face, again and again, each strike echoing with a sickening crunch.

"Did you stop when my mother begged for mercy? Or when I begged for it? Huh?! Answer me!" Yatsuho screamed, his voice raw with hatred and pain. He hovered over Goro's lifeless body, the only sounds left were the crackling of flames and Goro's fading, broken cries.

Yatsuho stood over him, his anger reaching its peak. "May your death benefit all beings," he muttered, a final curse as he prepared to walk away.

But then, something strange happened.

The wolf-tooth blade Goro had used to take the woman hostage began to glow, emitting an unnatural, brilliant light. Yatsuho's eyes widened in disbelief as the light grew brighter, enveloping Goro's body. Before he could react, the light solidified into a protective cocoon, forming a barrier around Goro.

Yatsuho stood frozen, watching in shock as the cocoon pulsed with life, shielding the man who was supposed to be at death's door.

"What is this?" Yatsuho cursed, swinging his chains at the cocoon. But no matter how hard he struck, it remained unscathed. Finally, Yatsuho paused, panting, when he heard Enketsu's voice.

"It's no use," Enketsu said, its tone cold and detached. "There's something mystical at work here."

"Do you know what it is?" Yatsuho growled, frustration boiling over.

"I'm not sure, but it feels familiar," Enketsu replied. "It's the same feeling I had when you awakened ten days ago."

"And that means?" Yatsuho demanded, trying to control his rising impatience.

"He is like you—someone who's changed," Enketsu explained.

"So, he'll come out of there stronger, with new abilities. But how long will it take?" Yatsuho asked, his mind clearing as he forced himself to calm down.

"I don't know. I only started to gain consciousness when you awakened," Enketsu admitted.

"Then we wait." Yatsuho declared the chains shrank back to the tattoos.

Finally the women ran over to embrace the one who was held hostage.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" A woman who seemed the oldest amongst them asked her.

She shielded the other woman behind her and turned to Yatsuho. "Thank you for saving us," she said, her voice trembling. Fear lingered in her eyes, but there was a hint of gratitude too.

Yatsuho tried to say something to reassure them, but his throat felt tight, and no words came out. The weight of his actions pressed down on him, and he couldn't find the strength to speak.

When he didn't respond, the women hesitated, glancing at each other nervously. They began to move away slowly, casting wary looks over their shoulders. Just as they turned to leave, Yatsuho called out, "Wait!"

The woman turned back, her voice wavering. "Y-Yes?"

"Take whatever supplies you can find here and go west for a few days," Yatsuho said, avoiding her eyes. "You'll find Moru Village. You'll be safe there."

"Thank you," she replied, bowing deeply. The other women began to gather supplies, moving quickly but cautiously, still shaken by what had happened.

The woman who had been held hostage approached Yatsuho. Her black hair was tangled, and her brown eyes were still wide with fear, but she stood tall. "Thank you for your help."

"I didn't do it to help you," Yatsuho said quietly, unable to meet her gaze. "I'm nothing but a monster."

"Maybe," she replied softly, "but you saved us. If you were truly a monster, you wouldn't have given us a chance to escape."

"…" Yatsuho remained silent, struggling to process her words.

"What is your name?" she asked gently.

"Yatsuho Sakai," he muttered.

"I am Hana Suzuki," she said.

Hearing her name, Yatsuho was flooded with memories of his mother, her voice captivated him but he didn't let it show.

"You should go now," he said, his voice thick with emotion.

"Will you not come with us?" Hana asked, her voice tinged with concern.

"I have something I still need to do," Yatsuho replied, his eyes focused on the ground.

"I see," Hana said quietly. "Just… remember not to lose yourself."

Yatsuho couldn't bring himself to respond. He glanced back at her, managing a small, faint smile that seemed to convey a sense of hope. Hana nodded, reassured, and turned to join the others.

As they walked away, the older woman sidled up to Hana. "Did you fall for him?" she asked, a teasing note in her voice. "I saw you hugging him."

"N-no," Hana stammered, caught off guard. "He just reminds me of my younger brother, more than anything."

"Too bad," the older woman chuckled. "He has a nice face, but that extra hands… they do make him a bit less desirable."

Hana didn't respond, lost in thought. Perhaps she was remembering her brother or contemplating Yatsuho's future.

"Say, Yatsuho Sakai is a good name, but a true hero needs a title, don't you think?" the older woman continued.

"I guess," Hana replied hesitantly. "But wouldn't it be rude to tell people about him without his consent?"

"Maybe, but people will find out eventually," the woman said with a shrug. "And it might help him if tales of his good deeds spread."

"…That would be good," Hana said, after a pause.

"How about 'The Flaming Demon'? No, no… 'Punisher of Evil'?"

A younger girl, listening from behind, chimed in, "How about 'The Chained Asura'?"

"Hmm, that has a nice ring to it. Fits him pretty well, too," the older woman agreed. "So it's decided. We'll be spreading the tales of Yatsuho Sakai, The Chained Asura, from now on."

And so, the legend of The Chained Asura began to take shape.