[Akira]

Akira the Giroan Berserker
Prince of the North

- Details -
Gender: Male
Age: 34 (in appearance)
Height: 7' 2" (218 cm)
Weight: 358 lbs. (162,7 kg)
Eyes: Yellow surrounded by brown pigmenting
Hair: Slightly long black hair
Flesh tone: Pale white skin (undead look)
Specie: Giroan Berserker Warrior


Abilities:

Revival of the Jin summons the dark spirit dwelling inside the katana. When called upon, the demon takes control of the swords wielder and gives him god-like powers of exponential magnitude. If the life force of an enemy is adequately reduced, the demon will take the soul of one of the slain enemies and rip them into the dreaded depths of the sword, using the spirit to strengthen the sword even more. This ability is accumulative, meaning each soul will boost the power permanently. This skill does not always activate, however.

Berserker Rage activates the steroids stored in the hip bracing of Akira's armor, boosting all his stats to extreme heights for a small duration. His rationality is somewhat reduced in this state, relying heavily on his instincts rather than intellect. This has its advantages and disadvantages…


Main weapons:

Jin's Revenge (Fukusyu no Jin) is the mighty katana of Giroan lore that was forged by mysterious sorcerers in the caves of Hotu long ago, using the soothing dark energy of hell itself. The creation of the sword, as the legend would have it, is a whole tale in itself.

At the dawn of creation, the vast plane of nothingness gave birth to deformities and monsters of varying degree, each one uglier and more ferocious than the last. One monster to forge in this pool of black emptiness was the Jin, possibly the most gruesome beast to ever roam the realms of existence. It was a demon of such evil, that it thrived and nourished on the very souls of man. With each newly enthralled soul, the creature grew stronger and stronger, increasing its destructive capabilities to tremendous heights. However, the darkness that had fabricated the creature would also lead to its demise, eventually engulfing the monster and dragging it back to the deep depths of the black abyss.

Thousands of years later, the sorcerers of Hotu were forcefully gathered by a local Giroan warlord to create a tool of unimaginable might. Huddling closely around a fire in the deepest caves of the Hotu mountain range, the sorcerers ritually meditated for many weeks, delving into the farthest reaches of the darkness from which all evil stemmed. Successfully calling upon the great evil, Jin summoned before them with insurmountable rage. Barely being able to tame the beast, the monster was forced into a brewing melting pot of molten diamond and mythril. The smoldering liquid slowly turned from a brilliant silver color to a putrid black, darker than even the blackest of nights. The fluid metal was thereupon poured into a ceramic mold able to withstand the power of the furious demon raging within the liquid.

The newly cast rod-like item was quickly laid upon an anvil and forged by a mighty Giroan blacksmith. The man worked in fervor, as he raced against the hardening process to get the blade’s unique look done. A set of Giroan symbols were hammered into the blade, which gained the magical properties that the sorcerers bestowed upon them. The writing was mysterious and gave off an ominous luminescent white glow.

Sliding a dark brown colored metallic sword guard onto the blade, the smith marveled his artisanship whilst engraving the face of the demon Jin into it. Not quite satisfied with the weapon yet, the smith took a very rare Yattori tusk ivory and formed the tsuka (handle) that the blade would be placed in. He methodically wrapped the tsuka with a fine brownish maroon silk indigenous only to the northernmost region of the Giro island. Sliding the tsuka onto the blade, the smith secured the blade tightly by capping the tsuka’s end with a kashiri that resembled the sword guard in color and material.

During this time, it is said that the armies of the Giroan warlord raided and plundered various villages. A task that was put forth by the sorcerers, the armies were called upon to gather fifty virgin females. The young women were imprisoned and shipped off to the Hotu mountain range, only to be welcomed by the old scarred men waiting on them. One after the other, their throats were slit. As the flowing blood gushed from their wounds, the sorcerers greedily captured the fluid within a container.

The blood was cursed by the sorcerers, forever contaminating the purity of the souls that had sacrificed their lives for it. The blood was handed over to the blacksmith who dipped the blade of the sword within the red liquid. The liquid soaked into the hardened blade, transferring an eerie red hew onto the sword’s shimmer. Meticulously applying the remaining blood lacquer to the newly carved scabbard of the sword, the blacksmith adorned it with a both beautiful and ugly depiction of the Jin monster.

Not much is known beyond this description. Myths of the warlord’s madness and ensuing tyranny have dissipated with the decades, leaving only the mysterious legends and rumors of the sword in its wake. One tale was never told, however…the slaughter of the sorcerers (to be continued).

Shinzui-san (Thousand Man Slayer) is a bow steeped in mystery. Though the look of the bow is mostly, the true power lies behind the myth that drives the bow’s legendary status. It is said that it belonged to a mighty bowmen; some even say the best bowman of all time. And indeed, the stories circulating this inhuman character would make no one question its legitimacy.

Many hundreds of years before the time of modern Giro, the island nation was engulfed in bitter endless wars. Not for whole months did one of the many kingdoms know peace. This era gave rise to many brave and powerful warriors, though none as legendary as the Great Bowmen of Yimatsu. Though his name is unknown, his legend is not.

Accounts of battles reporting kills in the upper hundreds were attributed to the Great Bowmen. What some men could only achieve with a blade, he could achieve with his mighty bow and quiver with ease. His power, however, did not solely come from his unmatched talent. More feared than the actual man was the bow that gained the title of the “Thousand Man Slayer”.

The actual creation of the weapon is unknown, but some say dark and evil powers were at work when Shinzui-san was born. Made of a wood, traceable only in the forbidden eastern Komaji temple area of Giro, it is particularly famous for its dark brown hew, similar to no other wood in existence. Though the wood is robust and sturdy, it is nonetheless flexible, making its efficiency as a bow unparalleled. Similarly unequalled is the bow’s extremely lightweight design and silent mechanism. This not only makes it easier for the wielder to hold, but its use in silent warfare and during assassinations is unmatched.

Shinzui-san’s bowstring is made through the twining and stringing of the rare Kazouii (elk-like creatures) hair, allowing the bow to nock an arrow back exceptionally far. The bow itself is approximately 4.5 feet tall and can release tremendous amounts of power.

The arrows used for the bow are actually unimportant. The strength and accuracy rely solely on the bow and its wielder, with no value laid on the quality of the projectiles. Typically, an average set of arrows will suffice to turn this bow into an extremely lethal weapon.


Main armor:

Giroan Armor of the Dark Warrior: Akira wears a full body lightweight armor consisting of a white breast plate, black Kimono, white shoulder and hip covers, brown hip bracing, a pair of identical white gauntlets, black ankle and wrist guards, white shin plates, and a white helmet / black mask combo set that covers his head. Each piece of the armor has been cursed by the darkest spells, that in
Akira’s case, actually means great amounts of protection from various magic as well as physical attacks rather than restrictions to his abilities.

The breast plate consists of leather weaving coupled to the main mythril metal plate that has the engraving of the Jin beast on it as well as two red rubies in place of eyes. This engraving is reoccurring throughout the rest of the armor.

The gauntlets are not of a traditional nature, meaning they lack in size and weight, which has positive effects on Akira’s movement and sword fighting. They consist of a diamond plated hand guard and a mythril base. They also shoot off miniature poisonous needles from the knuckle region, which can be used to either weaken the enemy or in various other situations as an effective tool.

The hip and shoulder covers are made of finely woven mythril and leather plates to optimize defense and mobility, harmoniously forging these elements into one effective piece of equipment. Strung to the hip covers is a hard leather and diamond material hip brace which has a small hollow running through the middle which contains a steroid-like drug called, Hanshi-ka, that boosts Akira’s abilities in crucial moments. The Hanshi-ka drug is immediately inserted into the blood stream when the body falls below a certain strength level.

The wrist and ankle guards of the Giroan Armor have all been created using the most advanced Giroan forging/synthesizing techniques to give the best defense while not surrendering the user’s agility. Because of this, they were created through a very complicated process involving a black dragon's hide, which has hardened over time to create the perfect protection for joints and other vital areas.

The shins are protected using two finely forged plates of crystal and mythril that are fastened by a mechanical closing device making the protection encase the lower leg completely. Due to the materials used for the shin protection, the user barely notices the minimal weight, helping to not hinder his movements.

Lastly, Akira wears a white samurai helmet that has been created through molding a pure mythril plate to conform to his head, making him the only person that can actually wear it. Alternately, the neck guard of the helmet was made weaving leather with diamond silk strings resulting in a strong yet extremely lightweight form of protection. The helmet can also be attached to a black mask that has the face of the evil demon Jin (also pictured on the breast plate). This mask used to only be a form of psychological warfare, scaring would-be enemies. However, no one has seen the mighty warriors face in years. The current state of his seemingly decomposing face is a mystery.


Strengths:

Akira is a very intelligent strategist, who can make good decisions at crucial moments, usually leading to the complete demise of the enemy’s army. However, Akira is not always in a calm and contemplative state. If actively taking part in the battle and supporting his troops on the front line, he turns into a raging berserker and destroys all those that oppose him. Contrastingly, others have described him as being overwhelmed by a dark spirit that grants him legendary powers, letting him cut through thousands of soldiers with mere slices of his sword.


Weaknesses:

Despite being seemingly invincible, Akira does show slight weakness when surrounded by true holy relics and places of heaven worship. His vehement razing of these religious places is most likely attributed to this weakness. A further weakness that is comparable to Akira’s Achilles’ heel is an unbreakable ancient mirror, known as the Gazan Mirror that is said to reveal the true image of a person. If Akira were to be confronted by this, his own unbearable sight and deteriorated soul would weaken him greatly and pose the opportune moment for someone to strike him down. Fortunately for Akira, he found the mirror many epochs ago and hid it in the deepest of Giro’s many mountain ranges.


Appearance:

Akira is a very tall demi-human that has a muscular, strong build. He wears a black samurai Kimono, which is covered by his strong Giroan Armor. Seldom, does he not wear his helmet and mask. His left pectoral is scarred by an awkward symbol, greatly resembling an eye. Jin’s Revenge, which he wears on the side of his hip, is never farther than 4 inches from his hand. He will also occasionally wear his mighty bow on his back into the midst of battle.


Magic:

Akira is a master of dark arts and can tap into some of the most powerful spells that this field of magic entails. His specialties include manipulative and illusionary spells, but also psychic and telekinetic powers that he can destroy his enemies with. Of course he is also a master of fire elemental spells with which he can incinerate foes foolish enough to stand up against him. He has a certain immunity against spells cast upon him based on these two elements, and other elemental spells of a weaker nature will not even phase him. But generally, he finds a certain satisfaction in slowly and meticulously cleaving all of his enemies’ limbs off before eating their souls, so he prefers physical attacks greatly over magical fighting.




- Biography –

The Mysterious Cave:

Akira was a legendary warrior, stemming from the warlike country known as Giro (GEE-RRO). He was once an average boy in the ranks of one of the Giroan warlords known as Hadowara the Conqueror, who had unified the island nation under his rule and imposed an Imperialistic state. Akira quickly distinguished himself as an extraordinary soldier and fighter. His epic led to many victories in which he marched continuously victorious armies against his enemies, sending those foolish enough to oppose him to their eminent doom…

One day, Akira left one of the army's camps to explore the surroundings and to secure the perimeter with a small task force of men. Akira eventually lost track of his men before stumbling upon a dark cave which gave off an eerie aura, unfortunately his curiosity took hold of him and he foolishly decided to adventure further. Continuing down the tunnel in the cave, he eventually made sight of a small pedestal holding up a black wooden box that encased a mighty sword. Unbeknownst to Akira was the sword’s unmatched power, the tool that would forge an empire of tyranny and death…

Akira returned to camp, keeping the find to himself. Some fellow soldiers said that he looked pale and sick. They advised him to see the camp medic but Akira vehemently refused. Continuous pleas of the troops were only answered by a string of painful yells, until eventually Akira fled into the nearby forest. Retreating into a small nearby grove, Akira immediately fell to the ground, holding his stomach in utter agony. Cringing on the ground, his whole body started to sweat and spasm as a he felt a harsh fever set in. Akira continued to roll back and forth on the ground wildly, heaving in pain and anguish. He could barely think away the pain long enough to think about the cause of this excruciating state.

Akira's face began to throb and swell up as his veins popped out. He pulled out a knife from his belt and started cutting at his own face to relieve the pulsating pressure. The pain, however, continued until Akira slammed his head against a tree in his plight, knocking himself out.

When Akira regained consciousness, he found himself in the camp's medical tent. Immediately, his upper body shot up. The medic instantly rushed over to help his patient yet to his disbelief, Akira grabbed him by the throat. The man struggled and fought to get free from Akira's mighty grip, but his efforts were in vain as he slowly asphyxiated. Akira flung his body like a rag doll to the side and stormed out of the tent.

Soldiers came running up to him, asking how he was feeling. Akira confusingly looked at them but did not reply. He then jumped towards a nearby wagon which was filled with various weaponry and armor. Akira ripped a scabbard out of the tumult and unsheathed the katana residing inside.

"Where is the sword?" Akira asked in an annoyed deep voice as he threateningly pointed the weapon at them.

A foolish soldier replied: "What sword?"

Akira's eyes emanated a red glow and his face turned increasingly paler. The soldiers looked in awe and surprise. Suddenly, Akira gripped the katana tightly and feverishly started shredding the soldiers apart, sending limb after limb flying in all directions. Surrounding soldiers stormed towards the scene only to behold a blood-drenched Akira surrounded by lifeless bodies. Attempting to overpower him, it seemed Akira was only infuriated even more and went into an even wilder berserker rage, slashing them away like flies, one after the other. A continuing flood of soldiers rushed towards Akira, trying to tame the beast-like warrior. Eventually, he sprinted through the mass, slashing and slicing majestically as he dashed by, sending many of them to the ground into a river of blood.

Responsively, a group of archers assembled and started launching volleys of arrows at Akira on a nearby hill, all of which he inhumanly deflected. Akira leaped up the hill until he had reached the archers and cut them down cold bloodedly. A group of spearman snuck up from behind and stabbed Akira's body repeatedly and tried to keep him at bay but Akira picked them up while the spearheads were still stuck in his body and flung them 30 feet into the air.

He marched towards Hadowara's camp tent. The guards protecting the front of the tent held their ground but the berserker picked them both up by the neck and smashed their heads together in a bloody explosion. He stormed into the tent and saw Hadowara holding the sword.

"What fine craftsmanship...wouldn't you agree Akira?"

Akira was still heaving madly due to all the fighting and only looked at his warlord emotionlessly. Akira wanted nothing more than to masochistically mutilate the old feeble man for stealing the mysterious sword he had found…..the sword that he was ready to kill anybody for.

"I'm sure you're wanting this back...but I cannot comply with your wish. I am quite disappointed that you did not bring me this personally. This sword shall grant me eternal power with which I shall take over the whole of Giro. All will submit to my iron grasp...even the mighty Akira, hahahahaha!!!!"

Akira instinctively rushed towards the frail old man, but before he knew it, he felt the cold blade of the sword slowly slide into his warm flesh. He grasped his stomach as the blood droplets began to trickle from the wound.

Suddenly, everything was engulfed in pitch blackness as Akira found himself in a sphere of never-ending mass. He looked around only to find himself floating in midair. He struggled to move but could not. Out of the nothingness, the outline of a dark face appeared in front of him.

'I am Jin, spirit of the sword. With my eternal blade, thou will write a new history. Thou will forge an evil empire of doom which the likes of Giro hath never been witness to. However, with this immortal strength comes the ultimate price. Be warned…now go and unleash the wrath of Akira unto the world!!!

The darkness soon changed to light once more. Akira looked down to see Hadowara still clenching the sword firmly. Akira picked him up by his neck with one hand and removed the sword from his stomach with the other.

"You are wrong old man...I shall be the unquestioned ruler of Giro...and you…you shall rot in the darkest pits of infernal pain and suffering to which there shall be no end."

With that, Akira severed Hadowara's head off, sending spurts of blood in all directions, leaving Akira's face and body covered by a layer of red. Akira picked the severed head up and carried it outside. What was left of Hadowara's soldiers was standing outside. As Akira came out, he held the head high and pointed the sword grimacingly at them.

Suddenly, they all lowered to the ground and submitted their loyalty.

"All hail Akira, new Emperor and ruler of Giro!!!" the men yelled.

Akira looked into the sky as he yelled at the top of his lungs.

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The Fate of Giro:

In the first year of doom, Akira's armies marched across the lands of Giro and slowly conquered the various lordships. With each new victory, Akira's army took on a greater size. All that opposed the mighty force were utterly demolished and eventually, none were left to question Akira’s rule…yet the troops continued their march upon Giro.

In year 15 of Akira the Evil's Empire, all of Giro had been conquered and worshipped a single ruler. The lands deteriorated and a dark mist covered everything. Signs of life were a seldom sight in the lands of Giro. Blackness was lord of the land and all lived by it.

However, the Dark Lord Akira knew no limits. His hunger for might and destruction was insatiable and soon sights turned to expanding Giro's borders evermore.

A campaign of island hopping known as the Kung-hai Epoch started. Akira's soldiers left no survivors and plundered all that was possible. Women were shipped to the homeland as concubines and Geisha's, children were dispersed across Giro to help with constructing the mighty projects dedicated to the Evil One, and the men were prosecuted to death unless they swore undying allegiance to Emperor Akira, in which case they were recruited into the demonic Samurai's ever-growing legion of doom.

Akira's warmongering continued for many years. Eventually however, his Kung-hai campaign had met its end. His sights instantly focused towards a further expansion in the south, an unknown continent. He sent a massive invasion fleet southward, where his troops came upon and clashed swords with the troops of another ruler of supreme might. The man called himself the Dark Christ. Akira continued to send troops onto the continent but they continued to come back defeated.

Eventually, Akira led the invasion force personally into the heart of this newly discovered land. A massive battle raged on the continent, both sides suffering massive casualties. On the sixth day of the epic battle, the two rulers met each other in battle.

As the two warriors’ swords met, surrounding soldiers’ eardrums burst at the sound. The dark powers of both rulers emanated into the surroundings, imploding and exploding the bodies of nearby soldiers. The battle seemed never ceasing and continued for another two weeks. All the remaining soldiers of both leaders looked on in awe as they continued to fight without relent.

The epic fight eventually reached an end, however. The Dark Christ was able to get the advantage for a moment’s notice and suddenly Akira was looking upon the mighty sword of Mor. Awaiting to be slain in battle, Akira kneeled upon the ground and readied his wakizashi to commit seppuku. However, Toro Mor told the Samurai to rise. Amazed at the resilience and strength of Akira, Toro Mor offered Akira to join Mor's united Army of Darkness. He told him of the plans to wage war with a deceiving dictator known as God who controlled a parallel universe known as Earth.

The Dark Christ told of the three Princes which he had already recruited into his infernal Juggernaut. He promised to appoint Akira as Prince of the North and grant him unimaginable powers which would not only out due those of his sword but also enhance them a thousand fold. Mor's intriguing offer quickly enticed Akira and he accepted.

Soon, a ceremony was held in the capitol of Lord Mor's Empire. In the cathedral of doom, Akira was crowned Prince of the North and granted the power of immortality. Now Toro Mor had completed his army and would be ready to wage war on the so called "God" of Earth and spread the influence of darkness into the heart of light.

----

*to be continued*