Olivia (16) lay in the wastelands, her body barely clinging to life as a violent dust storm swallowed everything around her. Each breath felt heavier than the last, her vision fading in and out as the sand tore through the air like blades. "Is this really it?" ,she wondered weakly. "Is this how I die?"
Her lips trembled as bitter memories surfaced. "Oh yeah… it's because of my power.". People had fearex Ukina a lot because of how strong she was. Because of that fear, she had been branded a threat to everything. With what little strength she had left, Olivia stretched her hand toward the sky. Her voice was hoarse, barely louder than the storm itself.
"Ranpo… Kojin… please… anyone… help me. I don't want to die…"
Tears mixed with the dust as her arm fell back to the ground. Her eyes slowly closed. Just before darkness took her completely, she saw someone. A shadowy figure, walking toward her through the storm. Several hours later, Olivia awoke. She gasped sharply and sat up, her body aching but alive "Ahh!", she groaned. Her surroundings were unfamiliar—a vast, dark hall illuminated by dim lights. She lay on a simple bed, the cold stone beneath it sending a chill through her spine.
"W-Where… am I…?" she whispered. From the far end of the hall, footsteps echoed. A man stepped forward from the shadows. He had long, spiky hair and a presence that felt heavy—overwhelming, yet strangely calm "You're awake," he said. "That's good to see."
Olivia looked at him warily. "Who are you…? And where am I?"
The man folded his arms casually.
"This is an underground lair I built. Took me a while, but I managed."
She stared at him in disbelief. "But… I was dying. I'm sure of it. How am I still alive?"
"You were close," he replied. "Out cold for hours. But I found you just in time."
Silence fell between them.
Then Olivia's expression crumbled.
"I was treated like a monster," she said quietly. "Cast aside… like I was some kind of danger." Her fists clenched as tears welled up. "I didn't even know why. People were terrified of me… and I never understood it."
Her voice broke.
"It felt like… like I was an existence that wasn't supposed to exist."
"I hate it… so much."
Tears streamed freely down her face.
The man walked closer and gently placed a hand on her head.
"I understand," he said softly. "More than you think."
He straightened, his gaze turning cold and resolute.
"To be honest… I want to end this world."
Olivia froze.
"This world—and the beings within it—know nothing but war, violence, and chaos," he continued. "That's why I've decided to burn it all down."
Her breath caught.
"I can help you," he added, turning back to her. "Help you control that power everyone fears."
Hope flickered in Olivia's eyes.
"I want to create a world where people can live together," he said. "A world without war or conflict. But I can't do it alone."
He extended his hand toward her.
"Will you join me, young girl?"
"Let's create a world where weakness isn't mocked… and power isn't discouraged."
Olivia hesitated, then asked quietly, "Who… are you?"
The man smiled.
"I am Zodia," he declared.
"The God of War and Calamity."
"The one who will erase this world and its evil… and recreate it anew."
After a moment of hesitation, Olivia reached out.
Their hands met.
From that day on, Olivia became Ukina.
Years later—after Zodia had been sealed away—Ukina stood alone in a massive hall, kneeling before a towering statue.
"Master Zodia," she said quietly. "It has been months since you were sealed… but don't worry."
She clenched her fist.
"I will restore you. My plan will take sixteen years at most—but I will see it through."
One night, in a deserted town—
Shinki (13) sat atop a ruined building, blood staining his hands. Several assassins lay lifeless below "The moon's looking bright today.", he said to himself.
He sensed a presence.
"Who's there?" he asked coldly, his red eyes looking into the dark.
From the shadows, a hooded figure emerged.
"You're quite skilled," Ukina said. "And ferocious too."
Shinki narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?"
"My name is Ukina," she replied. "I'll be direct. You hate it, don't you? How everything was taken from you."
She smiled faintly.
"I've been watching you for a while."
"I want you to train," she continued. "One day… you'll join me.", Shinki seemed annoyed and was ready to attack "Ha?!".
Before he could respond properly, she faded back into the darkness.
"I have high expectations for you, kid," her voice echoed. "Until then… keep it up."
Shinki remained unfazed, gazing silently at the night sky.
Weeks later, in a rain-soaked forest—
Saito (13) sprinted through the trees as wolf-like shikigami chased him relentlessly. Gritting his teeth, he gathered destructive energy and unleashed it in a violent blast, reducing several of them to ash.
More descended from above.
"Out of my way!" he growled, forming a purple arrow of destructive energy and firing it upward. Trees exploded as the creatures disintegrated.
Later, seated by a campfire, Saito stared at the burn marks on his hands.
"I'm getting better," he muttered. "But my body still can't handle my power…"
"That's true," a voice said.
Ukina emerged from the darkness.
"You have a lot of potential," she said. "Especially for your age. You just need training."
She observed him quietly.
"So this is Kojin's son" , she thought. "He hated the weak… I didn't expect that hatred to pass on to his own child.".
"Who are you?" Saito demanded.
"My name is Ukina," she said calmly. "I was just observing."
He remained cautious. "You here to kill me?"
She blushed slightly. "Careful, aren't you? I noticed your skills. When you're strong enough… come find me."
She disappeared into the shadows "You hate someone, don't you? I'll make sure to put your hatred into good use. But for now, keep trying to survive. I'll be watching you.", Ukina fully dissappeared.
Saito paused for a moment before he smirked. "Is that so? Then I'll take you up on that."
Ukina continued gathering children like them—those feared, abandoned, or broken by the world.
Not only to revive Zodia…
But because she couldn't bear to see others suffer the way she once had.
Thus, the Dark Sign was born.
Six years later, in a hidden lair—
Ukina stood before nine individuals:
Tenko. Jugo. Bara. Garou. Mirio. Kirihai. Kenji. Sorata. Shinki.
Raising her voice, she declared:
"Let us destroy this corrupt world that turned us into what we are today."
"We are the Dark Sign."
At last, her plan—to destroy the world and revive Zodia—had begun.