Jastheman

Ochi Nakagura, known as "The Dead Man," has lived for centuries, a broken soul bound by an unrelenting curse that grants him immortality and the power to battle the darkest creatures of the Abyss. With every battle fought and every life taken, he grows stronger, but the price of this power is heavy—the endless cycle of pain, loss, and isolation.

Driven by an unwavering desire to reunite with the family he lost long ago, Ochi embarks on a dangerous journey through the Abyss, a dark realm teeming with unimaginable horrors. As he faces countless monstrous beings, Ochi's power grows, but so does the cost. The Abyss demands everything from him—his soul, his sanity, and the very essence of his being.

Along the way, Ochi discovers that his true enemy is not just the darkness outside, but the darkness within himself. To reclaim what he has lost, he must confront the price of his immortality and the choice that will define his fate. Will he sacrifice his humanity to gain the power needed to bring his family back, or will the Abyss consume him, leaving him a hollow shell of the man he once was?

In this epic tale of sacrifice, strength, and the enduring power of love, Ochi Nakagura must face the ultimate test: will he conquer the Abyss, or will it consume him entirely?

In the end, there is only one question left to answer: what is Ochi willing to sacrifice for the family he has lost?

the man of a thousand years and battles

The night stretched endlessly as Ochi Nakagura walked. The battlefield faded behind him, its dead left to rot, its stories lost to time. He had no need for rest, no need for food. The only thing that lingered in his mind was Raikou's words.

"They say an immortal walks among the Dominion's elite… Like you."

Another like him? No. That was impossible. Ochi had spent centuries alone, watching men rise and fall, witnessing generations fade into dust while he remained. If there was another being who shared his curse, why had they never crossed paths?

And yet, something deep inside him stirred. He had learned long ago to trust that feeling.

The distant city of the Draken Empire was still a day's walk away, its glow barely piercing the darkness. But Ochi was in no hurry. War would not wait for him, but it would never leave without him either.

A sound broke through the stillness.

Ochi sighed. "I don't have time for this."

From the shadows of the broken hills, a group of figures emerged. Bandits? Mercenaries? No, their movements were too disciplined. Their armor, though dark and practical, bore faint insignias—a sigil Ochi did not recognize.

"That's him," one of them muttered. "The Dead Man."

Ochi didn't stop walking. "If you know who I am, then you know how this ends."

A tall man stepped forward, his silver hair catching the moonlight. Unlike the others, he was unarmed, his stance relaxed yet confident. His eyes, sharp and calculating, studied Ochi like a puzzle waiting to be solved.

"You misunderstand," the man said. His voice was smooth, almost amused. "We're not here to kill you."

Ochi stopped, finally giving the man his full attention. "Then why are you here?"

The silver-haired man smiled. "To offer you a deal."

Ochi scoffed. "I don't make deals."

Ochi's gaze darkened. He had played this game before. But the man had his interest.

The silver-haired man took a step closer. "We know where the Eternal Saint is."

The air grew heavy. Ochi didn't react outwardly, but something in the way the mercenaries shifted told him they felt it—the killing intent that flickered through the air like a blade being drawn.

"And you expect me to believe you?" Ochi asked.

The man chuckled. "You don't have to. But you're heading to the Draken Empire, aren't you? The Dominion will move soon. Their armies are marching. And the Eternal Saint… He leads them."

A war was coming. That much Ochi already knew. But if this so-called "Eternal Saint" was real, and if he truly was like Ochi… then this was no ordinary war.

"What do you want?" Ochi asked, though he already knew the answer.

The silver-haired man's smile widened. "The Dominion wants you dead. The Draken Empire wants you on their side." He extended a gloved hand. "Fight for them. For us. And you'll get your answers."

Ochi stared at the outstretched hand.

He had fought for empires before. Kingdoms, warlords, causes that he thought mattered. In the end, they all fell.

Ochi turned toward the distant city. "I fight for no one."

The silver-haired man sighed but didn't seem surprised. "Then let's just say our interests align. For now."

Ochi didn't respond. He simply walked forward, past the mercenaries, past their games and alliances. The war was calling him, just as it always had.

This time, however, it wasn't just war that awaited him.

The path of war