Shadow Skill TV Anime Series Episode 20 – Synopsis Cast of Characters: Elle Ragu - 59th sevalle of Kuruda Gau Ban – valle Black Howling, her adoptive brother Kyo Ruu – Septia Kai Sink – Crimson, 56th sevalle of Kuruda aka Raze Reme Silver Sword Scarface Vy Low – 57th sevalle of Kuruda Dias Ragu – Black Wing, valle of Kuruda Darkness – a non-human Teaser Narrator: “Darkness. It surrounds many objects and it is pitch-black. It will never create any light to shine on things. (visual of Darkness’ face) How come human beings fear the darkness so much? (Darkness’ one eye opens) Some people hypothesize that there is a fear of death in the darkness (zoom in on Darkness’ eye to a sky filled with stars), that may be the reason.” (Opening Credits) Act 1 Atop a watchtower in the city of Kuruda. Darkness and Scarface are meeting in the rain. Darkness asks Scarface, “Vy Low, what do you want from me?” “What I want, is to teach somebody a thing or two, that’s all.” “Teach someone? Why ask me, then?” “I know you would be the best person for me to ask…therefore, please, could you give me a hand with the particular guy who is important to me?” “I must admit to you that there is only one thing that I can teach to people.” “That is it. I’d like you to teach him that one thing that you know.” “All right, then, so who is this guy you want me to talk to?” “I’m sure you know who it is. I have a feeling you’ve been reading my mind for a quite a while…am I wrong?” A practice ground outside Kuruda. Soldiers are preparing for a major assault on the city. The commanding general is asking one of his aides if they have found where Lean is, and at the negative reply, looks grim. Flashback to a night over Kuruda. A soldier’s voice is heard asking why the departing Lean is leaving the camp; he is wanted at the soldier’s meeting. Lean turns and catches his pursuer in his grip – we see it is the general. Lean says, holding a knife to the general’s throat, “The fact that we have lost so many soldiers to one sevalle is huge…your responsibility as leader is unforgiveable. I’m going to have to make the situation better on my own.” “I wonder what he’s thinking about at this moment,” the general wonders, in the present. His aide’s voice interrupts and asks if the search should continue, and the general snaps, “Of course! We’re about to make an attack on the main land of Kuruda. No one else can fill in for Master Lean’s empty spot!” In another dimension, the entity to whom Ren Fuuma reports opens a view into Kuruda forest. We see Ren standing among a squad of soldiers, in various poses of defeat and death – he has slashed his way through Lekhitor’s sevalles led by Kaira Lu Luka. “Next,” murmurs the entity, and we see that in like manner, Ren has also defeated Gian Tees and her sevalles of Felisha by forcing them off a cliff. “What were you looking at all that time I was away?” asks Ren, appearing in the same dimension as his master. “I was just looking at you in action. That was quick.” “Lekhitor and Felisha…they were so easy to defeat!” “The soldiers of Kisholana have fallen apart as well. A job well done.” “And what else? What should I do now?” “Ren Fuuma. We’re going to destroy the Holy City. You’re going to Kuruda.” “Destroy Kuruda?” “Don’t be too eager. You’re going there after all the wolves of Suluothan attack the country first. You’ll have to wait until then.” “Darn!” says Ren, going down on one knee in obedience. “I’m going to have to wait again?” “Now hold on. Listen to me first…” Act 2 A ruined arena in Kuruda – one of the Colosseums. Elle and Gau are practising, and Gau shows how much his form is improving. Elle notes, “People aren’t usually able to stop the leg I switch in mid-air. You’ve progressed so much. I think it’s time…” Gau, who looks like the rising young valle that he is, looks questioningly at Elle as she steps forward, looking about the arena. She spots a huge boulder sticking up out of the ground and continues, “…that you learn the move. The Shadow Style Profound Energy Move.” “What?” In the morning sunlight, Elle raises her hand to the sky and begins the martial language: “I am invincible! Nobody can ever fight against my technique! My move is always…undefeated!” She makes ready to launch her body forward, towards Gau, who is directly in the path of the boulder. When she makes her move, Gau is frozen in place with shock, not sure what to do. Elle slams into Gau with her body, but her leg slips under his arm to pound into the boulder behind him, crumbling it into pieces. When Gau surfaces from the dust of the boulder, he looks around and asks, “What is this?” Elle replies, “This creates a vibrating wave by using the surprising leg power of Shadow Skill. The vibrating wave created the point zero destroys things through any aimed object.” Elle moves towards Gau, and adds as she comes to sit beside him, her back facing him, “This is a special move that can only be taught by word of mouth.” The young sevalle’s face grows thoughtful. “Remember it. This is Kanon – this is the ultimate secret move that no one knows.” A sudden wind blows the dust of the boulder around them as Elle asks Gau if he thinks he can master it, and the blue eyes that meet hers are determined, delivering his assent. Elle continues quietly, “I’ve broken the Rule of the Four Fighters. No matter what the reasons are, I know I’ve done something wrong. If they are nice, they’ll just still my fighting power…if not, they’ll prosecute me.” Gau’s eyes are those of a young wolf facing the realization that his beloved elder sister could leave him – permanently. Elle says, “Hurry now, Gau…because we don’t have much time left.” On a hill in the city, overlooking Kain’s broken sevalle statue. Dias is contemplating it by himself when a shadow appears on the rock behind him. Dias turns his head slightly to acknowledge the presence of Scarface, who is regarding him soberly. Scarface says, “It’s a nice day today, isn’t it? How is everything?” “It’s all right,” is the quiet reply. “Mourn for the dead. For G – for Kain…” “I hope you don’t mind me saying this; I don’t want to think that he fought for nothing.” Scarface’s expression turns in on itself. “That’s just like you, isn’t it?” A strained silence ensues, then Dias says, “What are you planning to do?” “Hm?” “It seems that you’ve called upon Darkness, so you’re thinking of doing something bad…but I’m sure you wouldn’t tell me anything.” Dias turns away from his friend, closing his eyes at what he sees, then adds, “But I tell you one thing. You need to build your strength by searching within yourself. It’s not a good idea to search within others…to make yourself stronger, in a forceful sort of way.” “What do you mean by that?” “Gau is like a member of my family. I don’t want you to plant any bad seeds in him, that’s all.” In the hidden dimension, Ren’s master is telling him, “We need to let the world know that the Kuruda Style Annihilation Technique is the strongest of all. We need to defeat everyone in the world, but…a country, organization, convention and law. (scene of Kuruda rebuilding itself) There is no point in defeating people who have become the slaves of many useless things. “The legend won’t be told even if we defeat these people. Human beings are still beasts, after all. (scene of the Green Octopus) And when humans do fight with their own basic instincts (scene of Elle and Gau on the balcony overlooking the lake) as only beasts can, and then show their teeth, they will demonstrate their true power. (medium shot of Elle and Gau watching the sunset over the city) Then we can tell the world that we are the strongest, when we actually defeat these beasts who have shown their true power. “The rules of countries that people have made up get in our way. (scene of Dias walking home in the night) We’ve done many things to destroy these things in order for people to behave properly (close up of Dias in profile). That is why all of the techniques of Kisholana, Felisha, Lekhitor were destroyed. They were propped-up elements of a fake humanity. If they were destroyed by the Kuruda Style Annihilation Technique they will all envy it and try to destroy Kuruda by breaking the rules in their own way. “Therefore, anything could happen to the city of Ashlianna. Now, I want the battle to begin. I want the beasts to fight each other. Break the chains for people to become beasts. (Ren’s eyes widen) We need to break the chains for them, and let the power of God rain down! (scene of iron chains splitting apart)” Ren says in anticipation, “I will enjoy that!” Act 3 Night in Kuruda. Darkness is walking through the streets, making for a particular destination. As he passes Dias’ apartment, the Black Wing starts and stares out his window, sensing the presence that means no good to the young valle who is his adopted brother. The Green Octopus. Gau is sleeping peacefully in his room, burrowed under the blankets. We see a cloaked figure in his room, a hand extended over his face as he sleeps, and Dias’ voice saying, “Gau! It’s me, Dias. I want you to come to the forest at the end of the city. I want to see you…” The hand withdraws, and we see not Dias, but Darkness standing at the foot of the bed. He vanishes into the shadows of the night. The next day, we hear Elle’s voice calling for Gau, and she opens door into the common room to ask Kyo where he is. Kyo replies that Gau went out just then to meet Dias, heading toward the city. Elle frowns in puzzlement: “Meeting my brother?” The forest outside Kuruda. Gau moves as if sleepwalking, then appears to come to himself in a clearing. Looking around, he says, “I guess…he’s not here yet.” The sunshine in the clearing disappears suddenly, and everything is enveloped in black. Darkness materializes out of the blackness, stunning Gau into near-perfect stillness. “You must be…Darkness.” “Gau Ban…” Darkness’ eyes open. “What are you doing here? What is it you want from me?” “Dias Ragu is not coming here.” “What?” “It was me who called you here, not Dias Ragu.” “What? That can’t be true! I only remember that I promised Dias that I would be meeting him here!” Then Gau realizes, “However…when did I promise him to do that! I know! When I woke up in the morning…no! I didn’t talk to him at all!” “Black Howling…you need to bring out the emotions and power you have deep inside you. The fear and madness of the beast.” Darkness unsheathes the blade within his quarterstaff. Fear rising, Gau retreats, “No, stop it, please! Why are you doing this?!” Darkness launches himself towards Gau, saying, “If you are unable to, that is when you will return to earth. If you can’t empty your mind and become a beast, Black Howling will be going back to the bottom of the darkness that awaits you.” “Stop it, please stop it! What are you doing!” A blade flashes silver in the shadows, and Gau lies bleeding at Darkness’ feet. “I’ve cut up the artery connected to the muscles of your neck. You’re going to be losing your blood very quickly, in a matter of a few minutes. That means your life is going to be ending in a few minutes. It’s time for you to return home.” Gau tries to rise, and Darkness goes on, “If you really want to survive, why don’t you defeat me now and then to call out for help? Come on…fight me now. You’re not planning on dying here, are you?” Gau lets loose with a roundhouse kick, but Darkness easily evades it, and with one punch sends the young valle sprawling on the grass. In Dias’ apartment, the Black Wing stands up from the edge of his bed and makes his way into the Kuruda morning. As he is about to step into the street, he meets Kyo coming through the archway just before the little courtyard, and pauses at her cheerful greeting, and at her startled exclamation, “Oh, what’s this? You haven’t gone out to see Gau yet?” “What was that?” In the meadow, Gau is facing Darkness: “Why…why are you doing this to me?” “A friend asked me to do this, that’s all.” “And who is this person?” “You really have time to be thinking about that right now?” “I will fight you…and I will only use the best moves that I’ve got then…no one can defeat me…” “The martial language! It seems like you’re actually serious now, Gau Ban.” “Nobody can defeat my Shadow Skill…” “I see, so this is the veritable Black Howling.” “My attack is strong…no one can defeat me!” With one blow, Darkness sends Gau flying backwards into the grass once again. His silky voice says, “You are probably thinking you’d be able to fight if you had the courage. Or perhaps you are thinking that your power would be even stronger if you were to believe in a friend. You may believe that as long as you have love, you’d be able to stand up after every time that you fall down. Do you really know the truth? The truth about the feeling of death and fear that destroys your soul?” “Fear…? Death…? I’m going…to die…” “This is my friend’s hope, you see. He wanted me to teach you about the fear of dying. So, Black Howling, why don’t you die and return to dust?” Act 4 At the Green Octopus Inn, Elle is becoming seriously worried about Gau’s continued disappearance. Something makes her start in surprise…the scene shifts to the meadow where Gau is bleeding his life away. He begins to flash back to his childhood. Darkness continues to speak: “Back then, you could have lost your very life. It was almost surprising that you didn’t. But fortunately, you survived and lived until now. (scene of Gau watching parents die) You grew up not knowing the fear of death, and just continued living in a peaceful world.” “I didn’t fear death back then…I wasn’t scared…that’s not true! (scene of Gau walking through flaming ruins of village) No way…no!” “You can say things like that, because you don’t know what it’s like. However, people in the village experienced all too well the fear of dying on that day. (scene of dead people in village) But then, you were filled with vengeful feelings and hatred as a young boy. You didn’t experience the fear other people felt – that is the difference for you. (close-up on Gau’s eyes) I’ll tell you one thing. You were able to produce a stronger power back then, much stronger compared to how you are right now.” “What did you say…?” “You should at least try…and remember how you felt back then. Now, before you lose…your life.” Outside Dias’ house – gorgeous freeze-frame shot of Dias with his black wing in hand, setting off to find Gau. Dias’ increasingly urgent voice over the freeze-frame, saying “Gau was deceived!” “What?” exclaims a shocked Kyo. “It’s probably Darkness!” “What? What do you mean by that?” “Can you call Elle?” “Elle! Why?” (shot of Kyo’s uncomprehending face) “Hurry! Gau is in danger!” Flashback to the day Gau’s village was raided. We see reflected in Gau’s eye a soldier falling from an arrow straight to the heart, and young Gau’s cold face staring at the dead man. “That’s right,” thinks Gau, “I was fighting, because I needed to survive (shot of Gau with crossbow)…because I needed to live…(young Gau throws down crossbow) and killed to protect myself.” Darkness: “I’m glad right now. You seem to remember how you used to be back then (shot of Gau with slingshot, bringing down another man). You are absolutely right to have these feelings. You really are a beast, who continues to fight just like any other wild beast…(shot of young Gau fighting bandits) but when you forgot about this fact, that you are a beast, that is when you started to fill yourself with doubt. My friend is concerned about this, and he asked me to teach you about the fear of death for your own good. All I can say is, he wanted to be sure that the beast in you is still brisk and active.” Gau tries desperately to rise to his feet once more, and fails. Darkness sighs, “His heart told me that, if he could not overcome the feeling of the fear of death, and was sucked into the darkness, then he…was just not strong enough.” “I’m going to…to…die…” “It’s going to end soon…the blood is running out…the blood that was supposed to flow through the beast’s body is running out…now. Dias is charging down a pathway in the forest, pushing himself, mentally and angrily addressing Scarface: “You planned it all, Scarface!” On the ramparts of Kuruda, Scarface stands in profile to us, with his cloak blowing in the wind, his eyes closed. He seems to be lost in thought, and then his eyes open… (Closing Credits)