9 World Chronicles

Futsu-Nushi

Japanese God of Lightning and fire

The general of the Sun goddess Amaterasu

 

Fulgora's hair crackled with electricity as she strode into the Temple of Athena, her eyes locked on her opponent. The crowd's whispers faded to silence.

 

Futsu-Nishi stood waiting, flames dancing along his arms. "Ready to be humbled, storm goddess?"

 

"Save your breath for the fight," Fulgora shot back, gripping her hammer tighter. Its runes pulsed, feeding off her rising energy.

 

The gathered elites leaned forward, hungry for spectacle. Fulgora felt their anticipation prickling against her skin. She took a deep breath, centering herself.

 

Without warning, Futsu-Nishi unleashed a torrent of fire. Fulgora raised her hammer, deflecting the flames in a shower of sparks. The heat seared her face, but she grinned. This is what she lived for.

 

She spun, calling down a bolt of lightning. It struck Futsu-Nishi square in the chest, sending him stumbling back.

 

He recovered quickly, hurling balls of flame in rapid succession. Fulgora dodged and weaved, her precognition giving her split-second warnings.

 

"Is that all you've got?" she taunted, channeling electricity through her hammer.

 

Futsu-Nishi's eyes narrowed. "I'm just getting started."

 

They clashed in the center of the temple, fire and lightning colliding in a blinding explosion. The crowd gasped.

 

Fulgora gritted her teeth, pushing back against Futsu-Nishi's onslaught. Her muscles strained, but she refused to yield.

 

Not today. Not in front of these people.

 

She reached deep, drawing on reserves of power she rarely tapped. Lightning arced from her body, filling the air with ozone.

 

Futsu-Nishi's eyes widened in surprise. Good. She had him on the back foot now.

 

Fulgora pressed her advantage, each swing of her hammer trailing streaks of electricity. The battle intensified, energy blasts flying back and forth in a dizzying display.

 

She caught glimpses of the crowd's awestruck faces between exchanges. Let them see what true power looks like.

 

 

Fulgora's triumphant smirk faded as Futsu-Nishi countered her assault with unexpected ferocity. His katana, now wreathed in flames, sliced through her defenses. Pain seared across her arm.

 

"Damn," she hissed, leaping back. Blood trickled from the wound.

 

Futsu-Nishi pressed forward, his calm demeanor unnerving. "You fight well, Fulgora. But you lack

discipline."

 

She scoffed, channeling healing energy to her injury. "I'll show you discipline."

 

They clashed again, hammer meeting sword in a cacophony of thunder and fire. Each blow sent shockwaves through the temple. Fulgora's arms ached, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

 

This isn't going as planned, she thought, narrowly dodging a fireball.

 

"Tired already?" Futsu-Nishi taunted, his youthful face barely showing strain.

 

Fulgora gritted her teeth. "In your dreams, pretty boy."

 

She summoned a massive lightning bolt, but Futsu-Nishi was ready. He raised his hand, redirecting the energy into a swirling vortex of fire and electricity.

 

Oh, shit.

 

The combined elements slammed into Fulgora, sending her flying across the temple. She crashed into a pillar, stars exploding behind her eyes.

 

As she struggled to her feet, Futsu-Nishi approached, his weapons now dual flaming daggers.

 

"It's over," he said softly.

 

Fulgora's vision blurred. No. Not like this. But her limbs felt like lead, her power depleted.

 

With a final, desperate surge, she hurled her hammer. Futsu-Nishi sidestepped easily, catching it in mid-air.

 

"I believe this belongs to you," he said, offering it back with a slight bow.

 

Fulgora slumped, defeated. "Well played," she managed, accepting her weapon. "I underestimated you."

 

As the crowd erupted in cheers, she couldn't help but admire his skill. Perhaps there was something to learn from this lightning god after all.

 

the truth is that darker skin — rich in melanin — is not only the global majority but is objectively a mark of vitality, beauty, and power on multiple levels: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and metaphysical. It is time to reclaim the glory of melanin and extol its benefits, both seen and unseen. Dark skin, far from being a mark of inferiority, is a profound biological advantage and a symbol of strength that deserves to be celebrated.

 

Physical Benefits of Melanin

Melanin serves as the body’s natural defense against ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, and darker skin offers significant protection against the harmful effects of UV exposure. This includes a lower incidence of skin cancer, sunburn, and premature aging. Dark skin, with its higher melanin content, absorbs UV rays and disperses them before they can damage cellular DNA, providing an evolutionary advantage in environments with high sun exposure. This protective quality allows darker-skinned individuals to spend more time in the sun without the harmful effects of photoaging and skin cancers that disproportionately affect lighter-skinned populations.

 

Furthermore, darker complexions naturally appear

healthier and more radiant due to melanin’s ability to produce a smoother, more even skin tone. The higher concentration of melanin in darker skin hides imperfections like acne scars, blemishes, and hyperpigmentation more effectively than lighter skin. Wrinkles and other signs of aging are often less visible because melanin offers a natural “camouflage” that evens out texture and color. This means that darker-skinned individuals often maintain a youthful appearance longer, with fewer noticeable signs of aging such as fine lines and sunspots.

 

Studies have shown that people with darker complexions generally exhibit stronger skin barrier functions, which means their skin retains moisture better and is more resistant to environmental pollutants and irritants. This contributes to a more hydrated and resilient appearance, reducing the likelihood of dryness, irritation, and inflammation. Healthy skin not only reflects vitality but also acts as a physical barrier to pathogens, further illustrating the biological advantage of melanin-rich skin.

Charun Etruscan God of Death, accompanies Mars into battle weilds a hammer