Kenji Kenzai

"Thunder, set!"

**Kenji** is the former Bearer of the Word of Power, and a Demigod abandoned by his father and raised in the care of mortals. Feeling resentment towards his father and the other gods for leaving him and his mother amidst the harsh circumstances of war, Kenji has led a life vowing to prove his worth. Having long since been discovered by the Oda Army, he now lives a life protecting the people living along the mountainous terrain of Raiku as a former general on the run from the Elder Gods' wrath.

Kenji doesn't abide by the rules of right or wrong, at the end of the day a negative outcome doesn't always branch from a negative intention and not all good outcomes come from good intentions; words from Nobunaga that once confused the Demigod, however, time has shown him the truth behind the meaning.

## Concept & Creation

The original concept for Kenji derived from the inspiration of the video game, ***Asura's Wrath*** and the fictional character ***Eneru*** from ***One Piece***. Based off a prototype character designed to being the polar opposite of the children of Sparda from the ***Devil May Cry*** series.

## Appearance

Having lived for over 300 years, the Thunder Enigma has gone through various attire befitting the situation, whether it was war or ceremonial summits he made sure to dress the part.

After his departure from the Oda Army, Kenji has found himself adorning clothing consistent with a sleeveless black half gi with red trim worn over a red compression suit and black hakama tucked into crimson leg warmers and wrapped in matching crimson haramaki with a golden sash wrapped around his waistline. Accenting this attire is a gilded steel pauldron on his right shoulder, gilded bracers strapped to crimson wristbands, and a golden circlet.

## Personality

Abandoned at birth and labeled the illegitimate child of the Raijin, Kenji felt the need to go through leaps and hurdles in order to prove his self-worth to others as a way to compensate for the lack of a father in his life. Having grown up in a small compound he quickly learned the truth about his heritage and soon bore hatred towards both his father and gods alike. Being a Demigod Kenji is easily swayed by his mortal emotions capable of thinking irrationally in heated moments.

Despite the circumstances, his effort eventually paid off as he was recruited into the ranks of the Oda Army, gaining the trust of many including the commanding officer himself, and for the first time would experience what it meant to have a family. Possessing quite the humor, Kenji found himself enjoying the festivities with his comrades off the battlefield but always kept a leveled head in the midst of battle. Proving to be quite ambitious he refused to settle as just a member of the Oda Army, seeking the knowledge as well tactics the Devil King possessed; rising to the top, Kenji’s deeds would allow him to secure the last opening on Oda’s Inner Circle solidifying his bond of trust between him and Nobunaga.

Having spent a considerable amount of time with Nobunaga and gaining an understanding of how his mentor thought; at first, he wasn’t sure what to make of his mentor’s philosophy, viewing the Devil King as being demented, “To create a new world in which we all can work together, someone must destroy the former ideals we uphold today.” As time went on, it was clear the Elders’ cared not for anyone but themselves, lies created to uphold their so-called justice came to light when they went against their word and betrayed Nobunaga.

Since the death of the Devil King, the Oda banner fell and the army dispersed. The remnants of Oda’s Inner Circle would become divided as word of treason within their ranks were being entertained. Broken and lost, Kenji felt abandoned once more having viewed Nobunaga as a father figure during his growth. Learning the truth through the aid of a past oracle he had met in his travels, Kenji set his focus on the Elders’, swearing one day to avenge his master’s death. He no longer saw the gods in any light, to him they were arrogant pricks who toyed with Demigods and Mortals alike in their sick game.

Labeling himself an enemy to the gods, Kenji began to distance himself from those he held close knowing the consequences of defying the Elders were severe. Putting up a wall and becoming cold in nature the self-proclaimed Raijin would create a facade to deter the affection of others, however, despite this, his mortal half yearns for individual interaction. A stoic hardass on the surface, within the shell the demigod is a softie as he simply wants to prove he can be useful going so far as to save civilization from being attacked by monsters and appointing himself the protector of the mountain range village.

## Biography

### The Birth of a Raijin

Being born through the unison of Ayumi Kenzai and the Raijin no Kami, Kenji was raised in a small village compound under the protection of the Oda Army. For as long as she could manage, Ayumi would keep the truth about Kenji’s father a secret, however, that all ended during his 10th birthday when his powers started to manifest. Bewildered by such a display, many of the neighboring friends grew wary of Kenji, scared that he would attract the wrath of a god or monsters and so was shunned by the majority. Nevertheless, Kenji wouldn’t allow the deterring statements made about himself to hold him back as he fought to prove how useful he could be to those around him.

Three years passed as Kenji worked to earn the trust of the villagers, doing his best to subdue his powers and live a normal life albeit his curiosity about the world around him. Venturing on his own the young demigod would embark on small journeys outside of the compound on several occasions until one day he came face to face with a hooded figure accompanied by an eagle. “Someday you’ll learn that half-bloods are dangerous and must be kept under control. Heed my words, do not oppose us, child of Raijin.” After delivering nothing more than a stern look and an ominous message, the hooded male was gone in a flash of lightning.

Confused by the words of the stranger, Kenji felt uncomfortable and made his way back home. He wasn’t allowed to leave the compounds, to begin with, unsure how to express himself with his mother and friends. He kept it a secret and tried to forget about the incident that occurred, however, what he didn’t know was he was now a target. During the night, a band of Shinto monsters ravaged the townsfolk in pursuit of the beacon that called to them. Villagers and family alike died at the hands of these monsters with their cries echoing through the city limits, but it was the death of his mother and his resentment towards his father that awoke the Raijin within. Casting lightning, Kenji would slay these beast, angry, grief, and fatigue taking him as the last of the monsters fell. As he cried for his mother the blood of those fallen were swept away from the massive downpour of rain from above.

### Thunder Sets on Crimson

*Black Adam has constructed a tournament filled with strong combatants to find a worthy successor of the powers of Shazam filling the brackets with the likes of Thor Odinson, Chaahk, Perseus, Loki Laufeyson, and his protege Kenji. With the event going underway, Kenji intercepts Superman and his group who have arrived to ensure no foul play was involved as Sparga holds sentimental ties with the powers of Shazam being a friend of the former, Billy Batson. Taking no time to eliminate Chaahk, Kenji prepares himself mentally to face his long time rival Thor but in the midst of the crown notices trickery afoot, however not before members of the Time Patrol are entered as late entries into the tournament to fill the loser's bracket.*

Loki, deceiving a member of the patrol, uses Kado as a scapegoat to get his brother Thor disqualified from the tournament leaving Kenji the last man standing to receive the Word of Power. Filled with uncertainty, Kenji refuses the power not believing he properly earned it, and before Adam and he could resolve the situation the Space Pirate Turles crashes the party with the goal of stealing the Word for himself. A battle ensues between the evil Saiyan and the Time Patrollers as Turles enters a corrupted form of Oozaru with the help of his benefactors and proceeds to cause destruction. Joining the fight with the use of G.O.D, Kenji makes the mistake of thinking they could subdue the monster and exceeds his time limit being left powerless to help as Turles ascends into the state of Oozaru perfection, Super Saiyan 4.

Watching helplessly as the others fight the monster, Kenji is met by Adam once more asking if he wished to fight still. Reluaunctly, Kenji accepts the Word of Power wishing to help rid the intruder and show him what happens when you miss off a Raijin. Gaining the powers of Shazam, Kenji is baffled by its powers and finds trouble mastering its strength however with a well-time team attack the group defeats Turles having severed the brute's tail and weakening him. Retreating to where he came, Turles would leave the group with more questions than before as the world is ravaged by large roots splitting the land. As instructed by his mentor, Kenji joins the Time Patrollers and returns to Conton City to find answers.

## Relationships

### Parents

**Ayumi Kenzai**

 Kenji's human mother. Ayumi fought desperately to keep the truth about her son's father from him however as he continued to grow older it became harder to do so as his powers started to surface. As a caring mother, she would teach Kenji about the importance of kindness and to always remain true to himself. When the monsters attacked she was the last to die, and with Kenji returning home to see his mother lying in her own pool of blood he would vow vengeance not only on the monsters involved but his father for abandoning his mother in such a time.

**Raijin no Kami**

Kenji's father and God of Lightning and Thunder of the Shinto Pantheon. Arrogant and selfish, the Raijin knows not of mercy unless there was something of importance for him to gain. Having abandoned Kenji and Ayumi before the birth, the Raijin watched from afar knowing one day he would have to answer for his deeds. Seeking out his father after the death of Nobunaga, Kenji would fight Raijin but learn there was a major gap between father and son. Grateful his son wasn't a disappointment, Raijin would pass the title of the Raijin unto Kenji before he is taken into custody by the Elder Gods for harboring a fugitive AWOL general. Despite not seeing his father since Raijin still lives.

### Oda Army & Inner Circle

**Nobunaga Oda**

The revered Devil King of Oda, leader of the Oda Army, and mentor to many of his officers. While passing by a destroyed village, Nobunaga would find a young and exhausted Kenji surrounded by dead monsters. Seen as a survivor, Kenji would be taken into the ranks of Oda and be trained to control his powers as a demigod. Being a demigod himself, Nobunaga taught the weather trio the properties behind accessing the hidden potential of a halfling via the use of Grand Overdrive.

Viewing Nobunaga as a father figure, Kenji gave his all to gain the approval he never received from his real father. Distraught by the assassination, Kenji would spend one hundred years on a warpath wanting to bring the Elder Gods down because of their twisted games.

**Chiwen Mizuchi**

Demigod of Rain and 1/3 of the weather trio. The mature one of the three, Chiwen was always the one to bring a stop to any disputes between Kenji and Sora. The three were damn near inseparable the moment they met, however, fate plays a cruel game for those living as the three would split their separate ways after avenging the death of Nobunaga.

**Sora Asakura**

Demigod of Wind, 1/3 of the weather trio, and the child of Fujin no Kami. Generally speaking, Sora and Kenji were always at each other's throats and quick to get into an altercation with one another, however, at the end of the day the two were more like brothers who would do anything to ensure the other was safe. Most of their altercations would come from Sora's terrible sense of jokes. Having killed Ranmaru and Mitsuhide, the weather trio would go to see the world for themselves on their own.

**Ranmaru Mori**

Demigod of Fire and member of the other half of Oda's Inner Circle. Ranmaru and Kenji had a small bond, one made out of trust being the trusted generals of Nobunaga, and for that Kenji never thought ill of Ranmaru. All that changed when the revelation of Ranmaru and Mitsuhide were responsible for the death of Nobunaga.

**Mitsuhide Akechi**

Demigod of Earth and Nobunaga's right-hand man. From the day they met, Kenji dispised Mitsuhide seeing him as an arrogant half-blood who felt entitled to everything. When Kenji learned the truth behind the death of his mentor, he personally saw to the death of Mitsuhide.

## Powers

A Demigod and illegitimate child of the Shinto god of lightning, Kenji is a mortal god hybrid whose powers derive from his father allowing dominion over the elemental forces of Lightning and Thunder. As a former general, Kenji relied on his impressive speed and athletic build to blitz his adversaries before they had time to react; while augmenting his physical capabilities with the power of Lightning and Thunder, his speed and strength are drastically increased respectively from the manipulation of the elements. Letting the electricity course through his veins and overcharging his nerves Kenji becomes electrically enhanced increasing both speed and reflexes to a league of almost autonomous and with the tremors of thunder empowering his fist can reduce the mightiest of structures to nothing more than shambles of its former glory. Taking pride in his ability in the art of hand to hand combat, Kenji fails in comparison to the natural heavy-hitting demigods within the pantheons such as Thor or Hercules.

With the genetic make-up of a demigod, Kenji possesses a mortal body of Peak-human condition Calibur with decelerated aging and longevity which grants him a longer life expectancy compared to other mortals through natural means. As time turned and Kenji became more accustomed to the awakening of his powers, he created a plethora of applications of Electrokinesis; spells such as allowing him to empower himself with electricity, mimic the body of lightning, and many more as he became a threat to many opposing armies on the field gaining the nickname as the Drummer of Oda.

Like many other Demigods, Kenji has a seal placed upon his body, shackling his true god-like power, however with the teachings and mentorship of Nobunaga, he has since learned how to remove this seal if not for a short period of time using **G.O.D.**

After being bestowed with the powers of Shazam, Kenji has all the powers of the previous Shazam but has yet to fully master his newfound power.

## **Abilities**

### **Lightning Manipulation**

**Lightning Manipulation**; the ability to manipulate electricity, a form of energy resulting from the existence of charged particles. The basic use of Electrokinesis allows Kenji to create and manipulate the shape and size of electricity and redirect its very course with a concentrated will whereas advanced applications of Electrokinesis consist of augmenting his physical capabilities as well as ranged spells.

### **Thunder Manipulation**

As a storm approaches and lightning flashes, not far behind comes thunder. As a true Raijin, Kenji is capable of creating and manipulating Thunder magic capable of producing concussive forces with enough magnitude to pulverize structures and render enemies immobile from the explosive frequency affecting the senses or fatally bursting organs causing death.

### **Storm Manipulation**

Storm Manipulation; the ability to create, shape, and manipulate storms as well as strong winds or heavy precipitation. Upon activating **G.O.D** Kenji gains access to manipulating the Lightning/Thunder quadrant of the element including the generation of storm clouds.

While in **G.O.D**, Kenji uses his Raijin drums in tandem with Tairyuken to create storm clouds in which he manipulates with his magic to cast high-level spells.