Ahhhhh. The life I live. Who wouldn't be jealous of me? I live in the high rise of the Magincia coast with mountains of gold. I have a fleet of dragon ships at my disposal to go where ever I please, whenever I please. And the women.... They just love me.... Even if they don't, not a woman can resist a bag of gold to find her way in to my bed. Who needs work? My luck is insurmountable when it comes to gambling. But my most prized possession? My collection of pets. Rare albino pets from the far off lands that can't even be teleported into. Those belong to me. Rare colors? Yep, I have those too. You name it, I own it. But my favorite? That has to be my silver steed Bozu. I recently acquired him from a little strange man. I have no recollection of what I learned about the man that night. Except he was dirty. And strong. A MINER!! That's it. A filthy miner. You see, I love gambling. And I love drinking. Cards are certainly my weakness. I will take everything you own. And when I have a few too many.... Well I don't care what happens to you.... You just better have my gold. And you see, this little dirty man, he wasn't much of a card player. I hope he is a better miner than a card player. Well, this man was in the hole a couple million. I knew he didn't have it. He was desperately mumbling gibberish when his cards were dropped. After a while I grew bored of this. "Give me my money sir." I spoke. Gibberish was spoken by the strange man. I enforced, "GIVE ME MY MONEY, SIR" as I drew my short spear from my side. Everyone at the table quickly backed off. "Nonononono. You like pets? I have pet! Trade for debt?" Ahhhhhh, boy did he know how to sing music to my ears. I put away my short spear. "This better be worth my time peasant." "Yes yes yes.... Follow me" as he got up and walked outside. I followed, but the little man gave me the creeps. He kept speaking gibberish to himself. I think he is crazy.... But he does owe me money. And I will get it. He led me to his large boat parked out behind the CoM base. He couldn't possibly be broke with a boat this large. We continued walking. Ah ha! He is a miner. Look at all these dirty, muddy... Rocks? Maybe shadow ore? No idea. I am no miner. All I know is it's all over his boat. My sandals are going to get filthy. This had better be worth my while. We get on his boat, and I follow him below deck.... And then I see it. Even in the dark with a small lantern on the floor, the creature illuminated with light. Are you for real..... Could this be??? Latched inside the boat, with chains locked on each leg, sat a silver steed. A glorious amazing silver steed. The only time I have ever seen this before was in books my grandfather had shown me. I wasn't sure they had actually existed. I HAD TO HAVE TO. "Yes yes yes. Want pretty horsey?" He grumbled. "Why yes, I will accept this as payment." I replied. I started walking towards the creature, as if I were mesmerized by it's beauty. "NOOOOOOO. PAYMENT PLUS YOU PAY ME!!!!" he shrieked. I thought for a minute.... This dirty little man owes ME money. And he wants me to pay him? Is he insane? Does he not know who I am? "No, you give me it, and we are square" I bellowed. "NO. GET OFF MY BOAT. NEVER COME BACK!!!" He screamed. I don't know what happened.... It was beautiful.... I couldn't let it slip away.... This creature didn't deserve this.... ......neither did this little man.... I didn't mean to kill him.... He... I.... The silver steed.... IT BELONGED TO ME.... So, when people asked me where I got Bozu.... I say a card game with a strange little man.... I deserved it. I won. It is mine. I was overcome with greed.... ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- The flames bursted from all sides. It was the middle of the night! What the hell is going on? It sounds like a war!! I looked out one of my windows. It was like Armageddon. Demons. Imps. Fire. Brimstone. Destruction. Monsters everywhere. What to do? What to do? My first thought? BOZU!!!!! I ran down the steps, and out the back to my stable.... So many.... precious pets.... DEAD... In the far back.... Bozu was crouched in the corner. I bent down to console him. "It'll be okay, Bozu. I will take care of us." A snarl behind me hissed out.... "No you won't mortal. Your days of boasting have come to an end." I turned around faced with what seemed to be a building sized demon.... "My god what have I done to deserve this...." I whispered to myself... The demon replied, "You talk to much!!" He pierced my wind pipe with his mammoth sized claw... Can't.... Breathe.... "Boast now mortal!" The demon exclaims. ".......ahhhghh" was all I could speak. Blood seeping everywhere. "Leave him." He commanded to his evil comrades. "Leave him bleed out and suffer. Kill that horse though. Make him watch." He cackles as he turns and walks away... I laid mercifully.... Unable to speak.... Watching Bozu be.... Sliced.... To.... Pieces.... ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Zhong. Zhong Kui." A voice whispers. Everything is black. A void of nothing. Except a whisper. "I am talking to you Zhong Kui." I am deeply confused. "Do you want revenge?" Revenge for what, I think to myself. "Do you want Bozu back?" Oh my god... Bozu? He was.... sliced.... "Accept this power. Do my biddings. Never feel pain again." Who is speaking? What power? Who am I? Bozu.... "I can hear your thoughts, boy. Do you enjoy death?" I am.... Dead? "You will be if you don't accept my offer." But.... "Accept the power. And Bozu will be back... In some form..." .......I accept "Wise choice.... Zhong Kui Onryo"
