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Monolith Soft
(Cross-over metaverse)

平 景清 (Taira no Kagekiyo) was a Japanese samurai belonging to the Taira clan. He fought and died during the 12th century Genpei War against the Minamoto clan.

Biography[]

Long ago in the 13th Century of the Mid Kamakura Era, Taira no Kagekiyo was a samurai warrior of the Taira Clan, one of four prestigious samurai clans of Japan who were descendants of the Imperial Family ineligible for the throne. Under the rise of Taira no Kiyomori, who established the first foundations of the more earthly Shogunate military oligarchy of Japan, his course of political intrigue and mutiny would soon be challenged by the Minamoto Clan, whose patriarchs and leaders suffered the most abuse from his rise to power. Known as the Genpei Wars, their clashes would resonate far and wide throughout the realm for rule over the nation. In life, Kagekiyo would try in numerous attempts to assassinate Minamoto no Yoritomo, the first shogun. Though bold and valorous, his attempts would only see him captured by his foes, and in protest, starved himself to death than to live to see his enemies prosper.

Upon death, Kagekiyo would dwell in the realm of the Sanzu River, to await judgement and reincarnation by the courts of the afterlife. Among the crowds of the dead who long awaited their processing, Kagekiyo soon heard a mysterious voice echoing to him. Known as the witch Andaba, she communicates with him to come back to the world of the living, as Yoritomo has gone mad with power and now reigns terror over Japan. Spurred to live for his ultimate revenge for his clan and to fell his rival once and for all, Kagekiyo would rage on about the Sanzu, facing any that dared stand in his way; demons, servants of the underworld, and even Death itself, to fight his way back to the mortal world. Other tales say however, that his plight was looked upon by the heavens, and that the gods themselves tasked Kagekiyo to right what has now been wronged.

Starting off in the westernmost reaches of Kyushu, Kagekiyo's quest would begin. Demons, from ghostly and beastial yokai, and even creatures of the heavens and nature turned rabid ravaged the land. The people cowered in their villages and hamlets, too afraid of the world now turned upside down. Nevertheless, to do battle was all that was needed of him. Kagekiyo gathered resources; swords, treasures, money, rice, to give his offerings and gain strength from the gods of Japan. He fought off enormous centipedes that could devour men whole, hordes of mad wolves, monkeys, and giant frogs that preyed upon the land, demonized women now maneaters that plagued cities, giant statues now come to life ravaging the landscape, even beheading dragons and fending off tigers in mighty battles, to fight his way to the domain of Yoritomo, Kamakura.

Of course, Kagekiyo's journey was not without prying eyes from Yoritomo. Realizing that his aggressor has now come back to finish what he has started, Yoritomo also wasn't above summoning the dead either to fulfill his plans. Straight from the grave, Yoritomo brought back his betrayed younger brother, Minamoto no Yoshitsune, and his warrior monk retainer Musashibo Benkei, to do battle with Kagekiyo. Even should they fall in battle, Yoritomo's evil magics brought them back from the dead stronger than before, and to keep facing Kagekiyo in hopes of hindering his quests greatly.

Though Kagekiyo was also getting stronger, living on the warpath, he knew, would eventually have its toll on him. But his good deeds would bring good karma, and with them, help from the gods came from places unexpected. Aiding him on his quest of vengeance and justice, the gods told him that power alone wasn't enough to stop Yoritomo- He would need to relocate the Three Sacred Treasures of the Gods to dispel the evil barrier surrounding Yoritomo's castle and permanently kill Yoshitsune and Benkei through purifying their spirits with the Treasures to face him fair once and for all. The sacred mirror Yata no Kagami resided in Kyoto, now a desolate hellscape. The sacred sword Kusanagi no Tsurugi resided far in the north, now guarded by a resurrected dread Yamata no Orochi, the eight headed dragon faced against by the god Susanoo. The sacred jewel Yasakani no Magatama was now lost in this chaotic realm, now a needle in a haystack. Nevertheless, Kagekiyo faced all of these challenges, and came to the domain of Yoritomo, ready to do battle.

Yoshitsune danced with a deadly blade and hidden shuriken, but soon danced his last. Benkei laid deadly traps throughout his domain, and came swinging a mighty kanabo to annihilate his foe, but this time, the giant fell than stood tall. Kagekiyo made his way to the main hall. With evil sorcery, Yoritomo summoned lightning and kept himself at bay to make Kagekiyo helpless, but Kagekiyo braved the awful magics and cut apart the facade. As Yoritomo was really a demon transformed by his own evil karma, Yoritomo's last breath saw him drag Kagekiyo with him. Despite this, Kagekiyo let him know how it felt to be dragged into hell, satisfied with his mission complete.

Amongst a Japan now able to see the bounties of nature once again, and before the realm of sleep, Kagekiyo was now able to rest, with his clan, forever.

Namco ✕ Capcom[]

Some time after his death at the hands of the Minamoto, Kagekiyo's soul in the Makai went to sleep. Four hundred years later he was awoken to learn that someone had brought the Minamoto clan back to life and sent them back to the Mōryō World. As a formidable warrior, Kagekiyo was sent back to combat them, and joined in a transdimensional alliance against an attempt to bring chaos to the universe.[1]

List of appearances[]

  • Namco ✕ Capcom
    • Prologue 3

Further notes[]

Sources[]

  1. Namco ✕ Capcom, level: "Prologue 3".
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