Most powerful of all was Susanoh, a violent and chaotic entity who terrorised the other gods until he was banished to the underworld for his crimes. There he encountered and slew the monstrous eight tailed serpent of Yamata and gained his new title - the God of Darkness.

The legend bears a special significance for Takahashi, a young boy who lives haunted by memories of his father murdered ten years before. Takahashi is hurled into a living nightmare when he is brought to the attention of the powerful Kikuchi clan : direct descendants of the five original families of Japan. The clan knows that Takahashi bears the mark of the serpent. They also know that Takahashi has been chosen to face him...