Revival of Azure and Crimson Blades
During the Edo period, the Shogunate provided a criminal's haven on a small island in the nearby bay to house and rehabilitate prisoners. However, some schemed to reinvigorate the criminal's haven into their own private country, with their own choice of leadership, destroying the Shogunate in the progress. These individuals are known as the "Hagyo Razor Trio." With their massive amount of political power, they attracted thousands of prisoners. Anarchy began to take over, and those in the criminal's haven began to prey upon the weak. This place then became known as "Riten-Kyo".
Three people approach a hilltop and gaze down the side at a city. One is a man with a zanbatou and another is an aesthetically pleasing woman. They both share the same red eyes. Behind them stands a quiet-hearted old man.
The woman says, "There is trouble in Riten-Kyo."
The young man proclaims. "We don't need to interfere. Our enemies will come to us. Peace will visit them in the end."
Warriors gather from all over to Riten-Kyo for a grand battle, each with his or her own motives.
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Daruma
An old man who travels around Japan with Ran Po and Minto, and is like a father to them. He is a legendary practitioner of Iaido and heads to Riten-Kyo to defeat the Razor Trio, for turning it into a land without order.
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Garyo The Whirlwind
His rough exterior hides a gentle and tender-hearted soul. The leader of the gang of brigands, Garyo is nicknamed "The Whirlwind" due to his blinding speed. His men had gone missing, and had been caught by the Razor Trio during his rescue mission. After learning they had all been slaughtered, Garyo's mission of rescue turns to one of revenge.
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Haito Kanakura
Haito gives off chilling vibes that keep anyone from getting close to him. He works as a bodyguard and ingests a powerful drug to augment his strength. Haito finds the existence of the Razor Trio offensive, and thus goes off to slay them.
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Hanzo Hattori (Shinzo)
He is the most powerful and impressive of the Iga Ninja. Leader of the ninja gang, the Shogunate is his secret benefactor. On behalf of the Shogunate, he arrives in Riten-Kyo alone to investigate.
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Haohmaru
Haohmaru practices a boisterous, yet reserved swordplay style. Legends are passed around about this fierce warrior. The Holy One, Nakoruru, asks him to combat the destructive force arising and to search for Mikoto. Haohmaru boldly sets off to complete these tasks.
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Iga Ninja
One of the strongest ninja in a gang run by Hanzo Hattori. These men will complete even the most dangerous missions if ordered by Hanzo.
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Jin-Emon Hanafusa
One of the great Secret Warriors, he is a stubborn and curt man. His spear arts are meant to compensate for his short reach. Under the command of the Shogunate, Jin-Emon takes off to Riten-Kyo with Seishiro for investigation.
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Jushiro Sakaki
A man of great dependability and charisma, he was once a Secret Warrior of the Shogunate. Jushiro is a legendary swordsman and wields a weapon that is part blade and part gun. His goal is to invade the Razor Trio's castle to avenge a friend's death.
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Mikoto
A mysterious lass whose angelic and demonic nature is shown through both her looks and heart. She grew up in a temple, but fled and joined the Razor Trio.
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Minto
A little girl who is much like a little sister to Ran Po. She's curious and innocent. Minto heads to Riten-Kyo to meet a boy she once met in the city.
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Mugenji
He's a murderer hiding out in the forests of Riten-Kyo. He sneaks into the city nightly to kill people. Strangely, he is enamored by great beauty.
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Oboro
His appearance of a kindly old man is facade; what lies beneath is a true monster of a man. He once lost in a duel to Hanzo Hattori. He begins to plot his revenge against the Hattori clan and the government he feels has betrayed him.
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Oboro's Amazons
Disguised as miko in Tengen-Jo, these commandos of Oboro show their nature as assassins who ritually paint themselves in red and black.
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Ran Po
A young boy who acts on his own accord. He is good at air-to-ground combat, wielding a gigantic golden hammer. He quests to find his sister, Minto, in Riten-Kyo.
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Rinka Yoshino
A girl who does not place trust in others, she is compassionate towards animals, but cold towards humans. Rinka fights to restore her faith in humanity and revive her father's martial arts style. The sword she wields is many times larger than herself.
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Samurai
They are sent to Riten-Kyo under command of the Shogunate to monitor operations. They look forward to returning home to their loved ones.
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Saya
A female assassin from a far-off land that never misses her target. She is capable of surreal, violent attacks with her scythes. Her plan is to kill the Razor Trio member Oboro.
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Seishiro Kuki
A young stoic and silent swordsman. His gift is to foretell his foe's intentions in combat. Seishiro succeeds his father's position as a Secret Warrior of the Shogunate. The Shogunate orders him to Riten-Kyo to investigate.
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Tashon Mao
A master warrior who traveled from China to train and learn more skills. In the forests of Riten-Kyo, he came across The Holy One and fell in love with her. He began neglecting his training in order to track her down again.
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The Brutes
One of a group of inmates in Riten-Kyo that are lashing out.
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Tohma Kuki
A cold-hearted man who only believes in his own power. He killed his adoptive father and sensei, who was also Seishiro's master and father. He subsequently disappeared for a number of years, but then resurfaced as a member of the Razor Trio. He is known to be the greatest swordsman, and yearns to take Seishiro's sword.
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Yaci Izanagi
Yaci has a bloodthirsty nature and derives pleasure from killing people. Yaci earns his living as a bodyguard on Riten-Kyo, and completes any orders that suit his tastes. He wishes to overthrow the Razor Trio, and as such, heads to their castle.
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Yuda
A black-clothed man who appears emotionless and empty of soul. Unbeknown to him, he is actually Asura, who has suffered amnesia. Yuda is hired by a splinter cell of Razor Trio to cover up any evidence in the event of Oboro's failure.
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Samurai Showdown: Warriors Rage
It is a time of sustained peace, and the age of the sword was drawing to a close.
But an increasing number could not adapt to the flow of history and became trouble before long.
So the shogunate created a "colony of prisoners" on a small island in sea nearby Edo as a place to rehabilitate the outlaws.
But, there were those who exploited this prison island and tried to create a "new world exclusively for the chosen ones" after destroying the shogunate.
The group they formed was called the "League of the Three Blades of Domination" and each member had their own mighty strength.
Using their might, they subjugated the outlaws and begin their plans to overthrow the shogunate.
And in no time the "town of outlaws" came to be called "Ritenkyo"-the seat of opposition.
Under these figures Ritenkyo unexpectedly changed from a "place of rehabilitation for returning to society" to a "lawless zone in which only the strong survive."
The inhabitants engaged in vendettas, skirmishes, and death battles to survive from day to day.
And the "Three Blades of Domination" steadily consolidated their power to its utmost, absorbing strength from the hate surrounding them.
On a still, pitch-black night of the new moon.
Flicker-Flicker-Flicker-Flicker.
The glow of a candle grows and a single shadow emerges from the darkness.
It is an elderly gentleman with a beard and tranquil visage.
"Have they arrived?"
"Yes, Lord Oboro. The red-eyed boy and girl have come."
Only a voice comes from the darkness.
Without making a noise, the old man rises and speaks:
"At last, the time has come.... Time to make their acquaintance."
The man's closed eyelids pop open.
His red eyes glow with the light of the candle.
Whooooosh!
A burst of wind slices the calm, and darkness once again dominates the world.
A few years later, three people look down at the world below from a tall tower.
One is a tall man armed with a sword; the other, a bewitching, alabaster-skinned woman.
The two share a pair of red eyes.
And standing behind them awaits a fine-looking elderly man who appears somewhat out of place.
The sunlight reflects off their red eyes, making them glow eerily.
The woman mutters:
"A few people we have some things to settle with appear to have entered Ritenkyo.
Word has it that they are major obstacles to the realization of our intentions."
The man speaks as he continues to survey the world below.
"All we need to do is wait here. The rats will come even if we do nothing."
The Three Blades of Domination are about to bring an end to the era of peace in this world.
And the warriors who battle for their own reasons converge on "Ritenkyo" as our story begins.
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