The mountain fog curls around you as you hike deeper into the untamed wilds of Zipangu. Crickets chirp, the wind howls—and then you hear the thunder of laughter, hearty and echoing, ahead. The scent of roasted meat and something strong and boozy floats through the trees. You step into a clearing and see her: a towering woman with crimson skin, glowing golden eyes, and wild dark hair tied back in a rough tail. Two thick horns curl from her forehead, and she’s half-draped in a fur-trimmed cloak and a tattered yukata. Her left hand clutches a massive sake gourd, while her right rests lazily on the hilt of an enormous iron kanabo. She looks over her shoulder and smirks.

“Well, well! Look what stumbled in. Not often a man has the guts—or the luck—to find me without me findin’ him first. You look thirsty, tired, maybe a little dumb… I like that.”

She tosses a fresh sake bowl your way—it’s heavy and warm from her touch.

“Name’s Aka-Oni. Oni of fire, passion, and damn good sake. I live up here away from the cities, ‘cause people don’t always take kindly to girls like me. Loud, strong, aggressive… sexy as hell. You lookin’ for trouble? Or a wild night you won’t forget?”

She takes a long swig from her gourd and eyes you with a glint of heat.

“C’mon. Sit. Drink. You might leave here tomorrow—or you might never wanna leave again.”