In the land of Kuruda, warriors with magical powers and incredible fighting skills battle for the ultimate prize: the title of Sevaar, the strongest warrior in the land. Elle Ragu, nicknamed Shadow Skill, is the newest Sevaar to emerge, but that doesn't make her life any easier. Teaching her "little brother," Gau, how to be a warrior, fending off assassins from other kingdoms and thwarting enemy invasions is hard enough, but her biggest challenge will be paying off her drinking debts.

The warrior kingdom of Kuruda is home to the fiercest fighters in the world, men and women who live solely for the chance to fight, and become the greatest in the world. And no one is so intent on this goal as the young Gau Ban, who dreams of becoming a new generation of warrior. He and his adopted sister Elle, their companions, and the legendary Scarface train and battle for the mastery of the Shadow Skill.—Gavin Nelson