Ti-bu

Ro-Ro smirked, crossing his arms. "Alright, where do we go?"
"To the boat, silly!" My-My chirped.
Before Ro could react, she grabbed his wrist and took off running at full speed, practically dragging him along.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa—slow down, My!" Ro-Ro barked, stumbling slightly as she sprinted ahead.
She didn't listen. Of course, she didn't. She was too busy laughing, her long legs moving in a blur as she weaved through the crowd with ease. Ro, on the other hand, was barely keeping up.
After a few minutes of breakneck running, they reached the dock. The boat was massive, its towering frame casting a long shadow over the bustling crowd. Dozens of people were boarding, some looking like seasoned travelers, others like complete newbies.
Ro-Ro shook his head, catching his breath. "Tch. You act like we were about to miss it."
"We were about to miss it! Well… probably. I dunno. But running's more fun anyway!" My-My beamed.
Ro gave her a flat look. "Yeah. Fun."
They made their way to the long boarding line. Ro crossed his arms, shifting his weight impatiently. "Okay, so where exactly are we heading?"
"No clue!" My-My said brightly.
Ro stared at her, dumbfounded. "Oh yeah, that's totally great."
"I know, right?"
Ro blinked. "My. That was sarcasm."
"Ohhh." She paused, then grinned. "Still exciting, though!"
Ro-Ro sighed, rubbing his temples. "Why do I even bother?"
The line finally moved, and they stepped up to the ticket booth. A burly man with a gruff face and a clipboard glanced at them. "Money."
My-My smiled and pulled out two tickets, waving them proudly. "Here ya go!"
The man took them, squinting. "Uh-huh. You need another ticket if both of you are getting on."
Ro-Ro's eye twitched. "The hell do you mean, 'another ticket'?"
The man shrugged. "You only got one full pass. The other's discounted—only covers one person. If you wanna board, you gotta pay up."
My-My blinked. "Oh. Whoopsie."
Ro sighed. "You forgot to check, didn't you?"
"…Maaaaybe."
Ro pinched the bridge of his nose. "Unbelievable."
The man sighed. "Look, kid, rules are rules. If you don't—"
Ro-Ro suddenly leaned in, his voice dropping to a dangerous low. "I really suggest you let us on." His sharp eyes locked onto the man's, his presence radiating something just shy of a threat.
The man stiffened, swallowing hard. "O-Okay, okay, no need to get all scary about it! Just—just get on."
"Much obliged." Ro smirked, stepping past him.
My-My, completely missing the tension, clapped her hands. "Yay! Thanks, mister!" She grabbed Ro's hand again and pulled him onto the ship, grinning from ear to ear.
As they walked up the ramp, Ro shook his head. "You're lucky I'm here."
"I know, right?" she said, missing his point entirely.
Ro groaned, already regretting everything.
The boat's massive hull groaned as it pulled away from the dock, cutting smoothly through the water. The salty ocean breeze swept over the deck, carrying with it the distant cries of seagulls. People milled about—some chatting excitedly, others standing silently, taking in the vast sea stretching endlessly around them.
My-My leaned against the railing, eyes sparkling as she turned to Ro. "Sooo… how do you feel? Excited? Nervous? Ready for adventure?"
Ro-Ro exhaled through his nose, staring out at the water. "Nothing's changed yet."
My-My puffed out her cheeks. "Ugh, you're so boring sometimes."
Before Ro could snap back, a new voice cut through the air—bright, confident, and oddly enthusiastic.
"Ah! There you are!"
Ro and My turned their heads as a tall, lanky figure approached them. He had an almost cartoonish appearance—long, wavy brown hair that bounced as he walked, a thin but athletic frame, and a wide, toothy grin that practically radiated energy. His eyes were sharp and filled with a burning determination, yet there was a distinct oddness to his movements—like a man who never quite fit in with the rhythm of normal society but never let that stop him.
His outfit wasn't much better—an old-school martial arts gi, but with mismatched patterns, bright colors clashing in ways that should be hideous but somehow worked on him. He carried himself with an exaggerated sense of purpose, every step deliberate, like he was always in the middle of a dramatic moment even when there was no reason for one.
"Greetings, travelers!" he said, throwing his arms out as if introducing himself to an audience. "I am Kai Lucifer!"
My-My lit up immediately. "Hiii! I'm My, and this is my brother, Ro!"
Kai nodded, as if absorbing their names like they were the most important words he'd ever heard. Then, his eyes locked onto Ro-Ro, studying him intently.
"You," he said, his tone dropping into something oddly serious. "You look like the type to fight."
Ro blinked. "Huh?"
"I wish to challenge someone! To test my strength, to grow, to push my limits! And you… you have the eyes of a warrior." Kai pointed dramatically at Ro, grinning.
Ro's brow twitched. "HEY!"
My-My giggled. "I mean… he's not wrong, though."
Ro shot her a glare. "Shut up, My."
Kai chuckled, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "So, what do you say, Ro? A friendly bout? A clash of wills? A meeting of fists beneath the boundless sky?"
Ro groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Why do I always attract weirdos?"
My-My gasped. "Wait—what color are you?"
Kai blinked. "Huh?"
She grinned, tapping her chin in thought. "Hmm… you feel like an orange guy. No, wait—red! No, fiery orange! Yeah! That's it!"
Kai looked absolutely delighted. "A fascinating method of perception! I accept my title as Fiery Orange! It is a color of passion! Of unyielding energy! Of—"
Ro groaned louder. "Oh my god, please stop."
Ro-Ro scoffed, arms crossed as he leaned against the ship's railing. "Also, why the hell would I fight on a ship?"
Kai puffed out his chest, a gleam of excitement in his eyes. "Oh, there's a training ground below deck!"
Ro-Ro blinked. "HUH???"
"Yeah! Follow me, Mr. Ro!" Kai said cheerfully, already turning on his heel and marching toward the stairs.
Ro-Ro groaned but followed, dragging his feet while My-My practically skipped along beside them. "C'mon, Ro! This could be fun!"
"I'll be the judge of that," Ro muttered.
As they descended, the air grew thicker with heat and tension. The moment they stepped into the lower deck, the sound of fists slamming into flesh and the sharp crack of energy echoed all around. The training hall was massive—far larger than it had any right to be on a ship. Fighters of all kinds clashed in heated battles, some exchanging raw physical blows, while others wielded strange forces that defied logic.
Ro-Ro's eyes darted across the room. Some fighters moved unnaturally fast, their bodies blurring mid-motion. Others struck with explosive force, shattering the ground beneath them. One person even manipulated the water in the air, forming floating blades of liquid that slashed at their opponent.
"What the hell…" Ro-Ro muttered, eyes narrowing.
"Whoa!" My-My gasped, practically bouncing on her toes. "This is so cool!"
Kai spread his arms dramatically, grinning wide. "Amazing, isn't it? And now, Mr. Ro, I shall allow you to use your ability on me!"
Ro-Ro's brow twitched. "Ability?"
Kai's smile faltered. He looked genuinely baffled. "Don't tell me… you don't know?"
Ro-Ro narrowed his eyes. "Know what?"
Kai let out a deep, exaggerated sigh, shaking his head. "Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. It seems I, the great Kai Lucifer, must enlighten you!"
Ro-Ro groaned. "Just get to the damn point."
Kai dramatically swept his arm across the room, motioning to the fighters. "This—this right here—is the essence of our world's greatest strength! We call it Ti-bu."
My-My tilted her head. "Oooooh, that sounds fancy! What's it do?"
Kai's grin returned, and he tapped a finger against his temple. "Ti-bu is the power that exists within all living things. But it's not just raw strength—it's the essence of who we are. The soul made manifest! It can be trained, refined, and shaped into something incredible."
Ro-Ro frowned. "Sounds like magic."
Kai wagged his finger. "Tch, tch, tch! Magic is a system. Ti-bu is potential! The key to true power lies in understanding yourself. Your strengths, your weaknesses, your limits—and how to break past them."
He pointed at one of the fighters—a woman with her hands glowing like molten lava as she struck her opponent with explosive, fiery punches. "Some channel their Ti-bu into pure physical might, making them faster, stronger, more resilient."
Then, he motioned to another fighter—a hooded man who barely moved, yet his opponent stumbled as if trapped in an invisible force. "Others manipulate their surroundings, bending the elements, controlling energy, or even warping perception itself."
Kai spun around dramatically, pointing at himself with a proud grin. "And some—like me—have trained their Ti-bu to such perfection that we can elevate ourselves to unimaginable heights!"
Ro-Ro raised an eyebrow. "You don't look that strong."
Kai gasped, placing a hand over his heart as if Ro-Ro had personally offended him. "Mr. Ro, that wounds me!"
My-My giggled. "So, wait, does that mean we have this Ti-bu too?"
Kai nodded. "Indeed! Everyone does. But most people go their whole lives never tapping into it. Only those who train their minds and bodies to the absolute limit can awaken it!"
Ro-Ro rubbed his chin. "Huh… So what? You expect me to just unlock this power right now?"
Kai grinned. "Well, we could try! But first, I must see where you stand. Let's have a little test, shall we?"
My-My clapped her hands. "Oooooh, this is getting good!"
Ro-Ro smirked, cracking his knuckles. "Tch. Fine. Let's see what all the fuss is about."
Kai's eyes gleamed with excitement as he took a stance. "Excellent! Show me what you've got, Mr. Ro!"
Ro clenched his fist and lunged forward, aiming a punch straight at Kai's face. But before his fist could connect—
Whoosh!
Kai was already gone.
Ro's eyes widened in shock as a voice whispered right next to his ear.
"Hello there."
Ro's body jolted as he spun to his left, stumbling back in alarm. Kai stood there, completely at ease, arms crossed with a smirk on his face. It was as if he hadn't moved at all—yet he had completely dodged Ro's punch without breaking a sweat.
"W-what… How—how did you even get over there?" Ro stammered, his heart pounding.
Kai chuckled, tapping his temple. "Simple. I've been training my Ti-bu and my body since I was a kid. Thanks to that, I can move in the blink of an eye. No one who hasn't developed their Ti-bu can land a hit on me."
My-My, eyes wide with excitement, practically bounced on her heels. "Wow! That's so cool! I wanna be fast like you!"
Kai grinned. "Well, all you gotta do is train hard every day."
My-My puffed out her chest proudly. "Well, I have been working out since I was eight!"
Kai nodded in approval, but then raised a finger. "That's good, but if you wanna be this fast, you gotta go beyond normal training. Punch metal. Push your limits. And most importantly—eat your vegetables."
Ro blinked. "...Punch metal?"
Kai nodded seriously, flexing his fingers. "Yup. Since I was three, I've been training my body and Ti-bu non-stop. Every single day. I didn't just run or lift weights—I fought against things that didn't budge, trained my muscles against forces that would break weaker men, and conditioned my body to react faster than my mind. Now, at 19, I'm strong."
Ro stared at him, dumbfounded. "Incredible… I never thought a human could ever move like that."
Kai's grin widened. "That's Ti-bu for you. It's not just about strength—it's about understanding your body, your limits, and how to surpass them. The more you push yourself, the more your Ti-bu grows. That's why real warriors train every day, testing their skills against the toughest challenges."
He gestured to the fighters around the training area, some locked in intense battles, others meditating or performing strange techniques. "Everyone here? They've all learned that lesson. Some use their Ti-bu for speed, some for power, and some for things you wouldn't even believe. The world is full of monsters, legends, and warriors who've honed their Ti-bu to perfection. If you don't train, you'll just be another nobody."
My-My clenched her fists, determination burning in her eyes. "Then I'm gonna train harder than ever! I wanna be fast—no, faster than anyone!"
Ro, still processing everything, took a deep breath and crossed his arms. "Tch. I don't need to punch metal or eat vegetables to get stronger. If Ti-bu is about pushing yourself, I'll find my own way to do it."
Kai laughed. "That's the spirit! But don't come crying to me when you realize vegetables are the secret to power."
Ro rolled his eyes while My-My giggled.
For the first time, Ro felt a spark of excitement. This Ti-bu thing… maybe there was something to it after all.
Kai crossed his arms and nodded to himself. "Alright, I got a better idea. When we get off this boat, I'll teach both of you Ti-bu."
Ro and My-My exchanged glances before nodding in unison.
Ro smirked. "Heh. Fine by me. But don't expect me to be your best student or anything."
My-My, on the other hand, was practically vibrating with excitement. "Yes! Yes! I wanna learn Ti-bu! Oh man, this is gonna be awesome! I'll get even faster—I'll be the fastest!"
Kai grinned at their enthusiasm. "That's the spirit! But don't think this is gonna be easy. Real Ti-bu training is tough. Painful, even. If you're not willing to push yourselves past your limits, you'll never unlock your true potential."
Ro rolled his eyes. "Tch. You think a little pain scares me?"
Kai's grin widened. "We'll see."
As the conversation ended, Ro leaned against the wall, lost in thought.
Ti-bu, huh? This sounds interesting… If I can get Ti-bu, I might actually stand a chance at protecting myself and My-My once we reach the tournament. If everyone there has Ti-bu and I don't, I'm cooked. No way I can just intimidate or punch my way through fights—not in a million years. I need an edge. And Kai… Kai could join us. He seems like an expert. Maybe sticking with him isn't such a bad idea after all.
Meanwhile, My-My's thoughts were racing just as fast as her heart.
Ti-bu! I need to learn it! If I do, I can train harder, push myself further, and run faster! No—the fastest! The fastest woman alive! Nobody will ever beat me in a race again!
The ship rocked gently as the three of them stood there, each one thinking about the journey ahead.
Their adventure had barely begun, but already, the path forward was clearer than ever.