ふしぎ遊戯 玄武開伝 [Fushigi Yûgi: Genbu Kaiden]

In this prequel to the beloved fantasy saga Fushigi Yûgi, Fushigi Yûgi: Genbu Kaiden returns to the universe of the Four Gods, focusing on the tragic summoning of the Genbu deity. Published by Shogakukan from 2003 to 2013, this 12-issue series was created by the original author, Yuu Watase, who deepens the mythology with a darker, more mature tone. It matters as a standalone epic that expands the lore of the Celestial Warriors, offering a poignant origin story that recontextualizes the earlier series.