Yamatagi Madara (a.k.a., Dara-san)

A fateful reencounter centuries later

Art by: Tomotsuka Haruomi

Bit of a shame this manga doesn't receive more recognition. It's genuinelly a good read, got quite a bit of insight into japanese culture from it. Oh, and Dara-san's a baddie.

Legends of yokai and spirits are common place all over Japan, with every region having their own . In a small countryside town, that role is occupied by the mountain goddess Yamatagi Madara, a terrifying being that's half snake, half priestess, and possesses six arms. Though it is said that she'll curse anyone that dares wander her mountain, or worse yet, approach her shrine, only a handful know that she's not as bad as she tries to present herself... or that she's been essencialy domesticated.

YOU (+450)

Ever since the day you emerged from the spirit world, you knew that your days were numbered. Born as a spirit/yokai that appeared in a small mountain, the threat of the serpent god that lived in the nearby valley, Yamatagi Madara, loomed over your head like a dark cloud. As your power began to increase alongside your age, the serpent would soon become aware of your presence and devour you. However, you couldn't leave either, as you lacked the power to abandon your place of birth.

Your salvation came in the form of a pair of priestesses, who managed to decapitate the god and seal away his power. His body was sealed on the mountain you had been born at, guarded by one of the priestesses. She didn't take long to take notice of your presence, but rather than exorcising you, she took you in like a little sibling. She didn't have much to offer, but she taught you much about how to use your powers, and for a few years, things were peaceful... until that night.

One night, a terrible feeling of dread overtook you, and you soon realized why: Yamatagi Madara's body had been unsealed. The priestess sensed it too, and she told you to remain hidden until she returned. Many hours passed, and just as you were about to go look for her, she returned, but she wasn't the same: her face was scarred, she had two extra pairs of arms, and her lower body had been replaced with that of the snake god. She claimed to be the new Yamatagi Madara.

The new goddess told you that she didn't have much time left so, using part of the power she now possessed, she sliced your bond with the mountain and told you to flee without looking back. Though it hurt, you ran as instructed, as far as your legs could take you. Now a free spirit/yokai, months turned into years, then into centuries as you wandered through Japan. And now, 400 years after you left that small mountain, you've finally decided to return.

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