On our way to the tournament

The trio pushed forward into the heart of Kanday City, the streets alive with vendors shouting their prices, musicians playing upbeat tunes, and travelers from all over bustling between shops and taverns. The city was a chaotic mix of old stone buildings, neon signs, and towering structures, making it hard to tell where the past ended and the future began.

Ro-Ro, hands in his pockets, side-eyed Kai. “So, what exactly are we looking for?”

Kai walked ahead, scanning the area. “Anything unusual. If someone’s trying to sabotage new contestants, there’s gotta be a pattern.”

My-My, bouncing along beside them, pointed excitedly at a candy stall. “Ooo! Ro, look! They have choco-caramel swirl bars! You love those!”

Ro groaned. “We don’t have time for snacks, My.”

“But we gotta keep our energy up!”

Kai chuckled. “She’s not wrong. Eating is important for maintaining stamina.”

Ro rolled his eyes. “Fine. But we’re not making a whole meal out of it.”

As My-My happily bought a handful of sweets, a group of rough-looking individuals strolled past them. They weren’t just normal travelers—each of them wore matching dark scarves and moved with a purpose, speaking in hushed voices.

Kai’s eyes flicked toward them. “There. Those guys.”

Ro, still chewing on his candy, frowned. “What about ‘em?”

Kai whispered, “They’re way too organized. Not just some random gang—they’re in on it.”

Without hesitation, My-My skipped forward and called out, “Heeey! Are you guys going to the tournament, too?”

The group stopped, turning sharply to face her. Ro facepalmed. “My, you don’t just—”

One of the men, tall and built like a tank, sneered. “What’s it to ya?”

Kai stepped up. “We’re looking for the way there. You guys wouldn’t happen to know, would you?”

The leader smirked. “Maybe we do. Maybe we don’t.” He cracked his knuckles. “Depends on how bad you want to know.”

Ro scowled. “Oh great. A shake-down.”

The leader shrugged. “The tournament’s no joke. If you can’t even handle us, you’re better off staying lost.”

Kai sighed dramatically. “Guess we have no choice then.” He turned to Ro. “You’re up.”

Ro smirked. “Gladly.”

Without warning, one of the goons lunged at Ro. But Ro was faster—he ducked, pivoted, and slammed his fist into the guy’s gut, sending him staggering back. Another charged, only for Ro to sidestep and elbow him in the ribs.

Kai whistled. “Not bad.”

My-My pumped her fists. “Woo! Get ‘em, Ro!”

The leader scowled, pulling out a short blade. “Tch. Not bad. But let’s see how you handle—”

Before he could finish, Kai appeared behind him, tapping him on the shoulder.

The man flinched. “Wha—?”

Kai grinned. “Boo.”

In a blink, he swept the guy’s legs out from under him, sending him crashing onto his back. The rest of the group hesitated before deciding it wasn’t worth it and ran off.

Ro scoffed. “Tch. Bunch of losers.”

Kai crouched next to the groaning leader. “Now, about that tournament…”

The man, clutching his ribs, groaned. “Fine… it’s at the old coliseum. South end of the city. But good luck getting in. They’re testing people.”

Kai stood up. “See? That wasn’t so hard.”

Ro cracked his knuckles. “So. The first challenge is just getting inside?”

My-My grinned. “Ooo, I love secret entry tests!”

Kai stretched. “Then let’s go. We’ve got a tournament to crash.”

Kai wasted no time. “Run, jump, push-ups—go! Move your bodies!”

Ro and My-My immediately started running laps around the clearing. My-My shot ahead, her athleticism kicking in, while Ro gritted his teeth, determined not to be left behind.

“Remember Ti-bu isn’t just about raw strength or speed,” Kai explained, pacing as Ro struggled through push-ups. “It’s about control. If you can’t control your body, you can’t control Ti-bu.”

Ro, sweating, grunted. “This… is nothing.”

My-My, already panting, grinned. “This… is everything!”

Kai smirked. “That’s the spirit.”

Kai stood before them, arms crossed. “Alright. Try to hit me.”

Ro scoffed. “Yeah, yeah, I know how this goes.”

Still, he lunged forward, throwing a quick jab—nothing. Kai had already shifted out of reach.

Ro didn’t waste time being surprised. He immediately spun and launched a follow-up strike. Miss. Kai was already behind him.

Ro gritted his teeth. “Tch… annoying.”

Kai smirked. “You’re thinking too much. Just move.”

Ro exhaled sharply, focusing. He lunged again, this time feinting left before swinging right—but Kai was gone before the punch even got close.

“Not bad,” Kai said from a few feet away, hands still in his pockets. “But not good enough.”

My-My bounced on her heels. “That’s SO cool! I wanna be that fast!”

Kai chuckled. “Then work out every day.” He tapped his fist against his palm. “And remember—always train.”

Ro huffed, rolling his shoulders. “Yeah, yeah… whatever.”

Kai crossed his arms. “Now, let’s test your potential. Close your eyes.”

Ro and My-My hesitated but obeyed.

Kai’s voice was calm yet firm. “Breathe. Feel everything around you.”

They stood still, listening to the forest. The rustling leaves, the distant chirping of birds, even the sound of each other’s breaths.

“Ti-bu isn’t just about fighting. It’s an extension of your life force. Your body, your mind, your spirit—all of it is connected. If you can’t control yourself, you’ll never control Ti-bu.”

Ro furrowed his brows. Control myself?

My-My grinned. I just need to focus harder…!

Then, suddenly—a spark.

A warmth flooded their bodies. A tingling sensation coursed through their veins.

Ro opened his eyes. “Whoa… I feel it.”

My-My’s hands trembled. “It’s like… my whole body is lighter!”

Kai nodded. “That’s your Ti-bu. You’ve taken the first step.”

Kai clapped his hands. “Alright, last challenge. Ro, put all your Ti-bu into one attack.”

Ro clenched his fists, his body buzzing with energy. He took a deep breath, focusing all his Ti-bu into his right fist. The energy condensed, making his hand feel like a solid block of power.

Then—

BOOM!

He slammed his fist into the ground, sending a shockwave through the earth. Dirt and leaves exploded into the air. A small crater formed where his punch landed.

My-My’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. “WHOA!”

Kai raised an eyebrow. “Not bad.” He crossed his arms. “So? What do you call that move?”

Ro stared at his fist, thinking deeply. His first official Ti-bu technique…

He smirked.

“Fist.”

Kai and My-My both blinked.

“…Fist?” My-My repeated, looking dumbfounded.

Kai gave Ro a deadpan stare. “You’re serious?”

Ro nodded. “Yeah. It’s a fist. That’s all that matters.”

Kai sighed. “You’re lucky you’re strong…”

My-My pouted. “I would’ve called it something cooler, like Earthbreaker Punch!”

Ro shrugged. “Too long.”

Kai shook his head. “Alright, whatever. You’ve awakened your Ti-bu, so that’s progress. But don’t get cocky—you’ve barely scratched the surface.”

Ro smirked. “Good. That just means we train harder.”

My-My pumped her fists. “YES! This is gonna be awesome!”

Kai smirked. They’ve got potential… but they’re gonna suffer in my real training.

He turned, motioning for them to follow. “Alright. Let’s get back. When we get off this boat, I’ll train you both for real.”

Ro grinned. “Good.”

My-My practically skipped. “I can’t wait to be the fastest woman alive!”

Kai smirked. This is only the beginning.