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 wind carried whispers of the dead. Ochi Nakagura walked in silence, his thoughts heavy, his past clawing at the edges of his mind. He had long since abandoned hope of peace, but hope was a fragile thing—it never truly died. And now, for the first time in centuries, it flickered inside him again.

"The Eternal Saint… another immortal?"

If that was true, if this so-called saint had answers, then perhaps Ochi could finally break the curse. Perhaps he could finally find a way to undo what had been done.

Perhaps… he could get them back.

The faces of his family were burned into his soul. His wife's warm smile, the way she used to hum as she cooked. His son's laughter, the way he ran to Ochi after every mock battle, asking if he had fought well. His daughter's gentle hands, always reaching up, wanting to be held.

Ochi clenched his fists. His body could not age, could not die, but his heart had shattered a thousand times over. He had searched for centuries, hoping, praying, but nothing ever led him closer.

A deep voice broke him from his thoughts.

Ochi turned slightly. Raikou walked beside him, arms crossed, his crimson cape fluttering. He had been quiet since they left, but Ochi had sensed him watching. Studying.

"The one all warriors get before a battle." Raikou smirked. "But yours is different."

Ochi remained silent. He had no desire to explain himself.

Raikou didn't seem to mind. "I don't care why you fight. But I can tell when a man has unfinished business." He glanced at Ochi's hands. "And your grip? It's not just for blood. It's for something else."

Ochi stopped walking. Raikou did the same, raising an eyebrow.

"You said the Dominion will move soon," Ochi said. "Where?"

Raikou's smirk faded. "Straight for the Draken Empire's heart. And at the head of their army?" He narrowed his eyes. "The Eternal Saint."

The name sent a chill through Ochi, but he forced himself to remain still.

"Then I will go to the front lines," he said.

Raikou chuckled. "You don't waste time, do you?"

The general crossed his arms. "Fine. But don't die." His grin returned. "Or do. I hear that doesn't stop you."

Ochi ignored the jab and continued walking.

He had spent a thousand years chasing ghosts.

And if the Eternal Saint stood in his way?

Then not even a god would be able to stop him.

Echoes of the past