WARRIOR OF THE SHADOWS.

A Ranma 1/2 fanfic.

Part one of the Nightmare Saga.

By Ryoga_Birth

These characters are not mine! I'm only a Specialist in the Army and I certainly can't afford a lawsuit! Suing me for money would be a waste of time! >_< All rights go to Rumiko Takahashi, Viz. video, Shoganaku, and to everyone else who was involved in the rights to this series both in it's TV and manga format.

Points of interest: This story contains minor use of foul language, you have been warned. If this offends you, stop reading here. -- marks means the person is speaking in Chinese, {} are thought bubbles.

Note of importance: This series starts off where the OAV series ends. Certain characters in my series only appeared in the manga so if you don't read the Ranma comics, you may be a bit lost since I've decided to tie in the climatic end of the manga with the end of the OAV series. The timeline of this series places the final fight with Saffron several months after the OAV episode "The two Akane's, Ranma look at me!" I hope that clears up some of the confusion.

I've tried to remain as faithful as possible to the character's original design but certain aspects had to be changed to help the story line flow. Please, bare with me!

This is my newest version of this story. I've added some new scenes that I'm certain you all enjoy! This will be the final revision done to this story. I hope you all have as much reading this as I did writing it!

"I am Death, Destroyer of worlds."

-- J. Robert Oppenheimer

Prologue:

The man looked out at the barren scenery from his position atop a large, grassy hill and surveyed the bleak target below. The barren kingdom he was observing seemed so vulnerable and quiet, like a sleeping baby in it's protective crib, oblivious to the hazards and dangers produced by the chaotic world around it. It was a kingdom better suited for a fairy book tale, not modern reality.

He sneered. It was hardly worth putting on a map. Though this land was weak, and useless, it still held one important feature to it, and that was why the man had come so far. He only hoped his opponent didn't prove to be as weak as his kingdom was. His mood wouldn't tolerate such a disappointment lightly.

He spat on the ground, defiling it with an impish glee he hadn't given in to since childhood. {Pathetic… utterly pathetic.} He picked up a rock and absentmindedly began tossing it in his hand, surveying his temporary hunting ground with well trained eyes. There was no use rushing into things, besides he wanted to savor the neck of his prey before he bit down. Let them enjoy a final few minutes of peace.

The night wind rustled his unruly hair, running through his strands like invisible fingertips. This, combined with the devilish grin on his face gave him a truly inhuman appearance. He had never been normal, at least not in the mind of others… But he didn't care about their thoughts and opinions, especially since they were mostly negative. Ridicule from the weak had never kept him from working hard to complete his goals, and it never would. On the contrary, it only served to motivate him.

His determination radiated from his pores now that his plan of action was ready to commence. The rage and excitement that had been building in his heart for weeks boiled up, begging to be released. All the lesser opponents he had faced had been but a series of tests for the big hunt that was to come. He was ready for a true challenge, someone who could give him a good show and provide him with that which he desired. If the rumor's he had heard were true, the ruler of this little territory fit that bit to a tee.

His smiling face resembled something all too demonic and evil. He laughed deeply but without humor and listened as the sound echoed across the mountains around him. He felt like a god, invincible, and omnipotent. The rugged training, the punishment he had put on his body, the strain of nearly breaking so many times, all had helped his skills ascend to an unimaginable level. His pain threshold was incredible, his strength that of a monster, his wrath easily given out with no remorse or regret. He felt a small thrill from within him. He had molded himself into the perfect warrior at last, a true Shadow Warrior.

The young man had become a monster in more than just form, and oh, how glad he was for the transformation! His twisted views only added to his strength, dispelling the ridiculous notion that kindness, love and compassion were the most important emotions. More ridiculous words had never been uttered! Kindness to other's was always overlooked, love was a mind-altering weakness that hindered judgment, and compassion was nothing but a fear to kill, to beat an enemy into oblivion.

Power, Strength, Hatred.

Yes, those were the true emotions of a determined warrior who basked in the loss of his own soul. Nothing could stop him, and he would share this with the targets he had selected to become his playthings. Oh how he would enjoy breaking them all one at a time…

Inside of his mind, a part of him realized he had become a slave of sorts to the dark hatred that had come to fester in his heart. That knowledge only caused his grin to spread wider. What of it! If that was the price to accomplish his revenge, then so be it! A soul, in the end, was of little consequence. Strength and power were all he cared for, all he needed.

His piercing eyes gazed down at the quiet land again. Nekonron was to become but the first big step in a series of smaller ones that was to define the path of glory he was undertaking. He could not move away from this path, he had already come to far and sacrificed too much. Besides, it felt so good, to bring down chaos to the ignorant. It was all so right within his mind, tattered and tainted as it had become.

At last, after over a year of hardships he would finally set in motion the final plans he had held back for so very long. At last he was ready for the final series of tests he had prepared himself for. Victory and revenge would be his at last! He could almost taste it! The adrenaline flowed through his veins like wild fire! This was what it felt like to be truly alive! He stretched his arms out to his sides, feeling the blood and energy surge through him.

The training had been hard but necessary. He just hadn't been strong enough before...back then. His past battles had proven that painfully clear. The grin disappeared from his face. He momentarily flexed his right hand, shattering the palm sized rock he had been tossing into dust particles as a brush of annoyance overtook him.

If only the old man had just given in to his simple request in the first place none of this would need to happen! But events continued to occur, and so did his rage. Now all that was left was a desire for revenge. The source of his anger had mocked him, tormented him, the other's had presented themselves as obstacles to his goals. Time and time again he had been thwarted.

Fine, he'd play their foolish game one last time, but he didn't intend to strike out again. He would bring swift death to all that stood in his way! There would be no simple bruises and black eyes this time around. No, this time, he was out to take lives. It was a completely necessary extreme and he felt no fear, remorse or pity. They had driven him that far. He wasn't to blame for what he had become.

Strapping on his metal, face concealing helm, the man continued down the dirt path toward his awaiting destiny. The dark night's shadow engulfed his powerful form like a hungry demon. With but a thought, he merged with these shadows as intimately as if the two were lovers, embracing in the night's concealment.

The fun was about to begin, let the hells be unleashed! A new nightmare was about to descend upon the world…

His terrible laughter trailed behind him as he descended further into the shadows that cloaked him. The sound of his heavy boots scatting rocks down the sloping trail was the only indication he even existed. One with his hatred, one with the shadows, he prepared for battle…