The climb

Zoe: "You guys have 10 minutes to rest!"
Ro checked his pockets, then froze. "No… no, no, NO!"
My-My blinked. "Ro, what's wrong?"
"My cigarettes! They're gone!" Ro clutched his head like he just lost a winning lottery ticket.
Kai, arms crossed, gave him a deadpan stare. "Ro, you shouldn't even be smoking."
Renji sighed. "Yeah, it's not good for your health."
Ro snapped his head toward them. "I need to look cool, damn it!"
Then, a voice cut in smoothly. "Well, well… looks like you made it, Ro."
Ro turned and locked eyes with Lyra.
His face twitched. "...Lyra? You made it too?"
My-My smirked and nudged his side. "Ooooh, Ro, is this the girl who saved you?"
Lyra smiled. "Yep, that'd be me."
My-My clasped her hands together. "Thank you for saving my brother! He was just saying how much he missed you~."
Ro's entire body jolted like he got struck by lightning. "I DID NOT SAY ANY OF THOSE THINGS!"
Lyra chuckled, hands on her hips. "Uh-huh. You sure?"
Ro grumbled, turning away. "...Damn liars."
While Ro and My were talking to Lyra, Renji leaned toward Kai. "Wait… what happened to your shoes?"
Kai stretched his legs, cracking his ankles. "Oh, I took them off when I was fighting Hiroki. Those were weighted shoes. Without them, I move way faster."
Renji raised a brow. "How heavy were they?"
Kai smirked. "Heavy enough."
Renji folded his arms. "Alright, scale Hiroki on a 1-to-10."
Kai didn't hesitate. "Thirty."
Renji's eyes widened. "He's that strong?"
Kai nodded. "Yeah, but it's his cards. His Ti-Bu is ridiculous. He's got—"
1. Absorption – Stores incoming attacks in his cards.

2. Detonation – Triggers explosive blasts at will.

3. Redirection – Fires back stored energy.

4. Shielding – Creates barriers using cards.


Renji sighed. "So, he's a walking cheat code."
Kai smirked. "Basically."
Renji cracked his knuckles. "Well, all I need to do is use my ability, and boom—he's dead."
Kai tilted his head. "Yeah? What is your ability, anyway?"
Renji gave a sly grin. "When the time comes, you'll see. I'll use it when I need to."
Meanwhile, the guy who is towering, muscular figure stood near the edge of the crowd, his arms thick as tree trunks. His presence alone made people instinctively step back.
"Bojack," said the man beside him. "Did you kill the lizard?"
Veger, still brushing dust off his coat, shook his head. "No, I didn't kill him." He pointed across the clearing at Tokuma, who smirked at them, completely unbothered.
Tokuma chuckled. "Ah… so you two are out to get me, huh? This is funny. Very funny."
Bojack frowned. "How didn't your bullets work?"
Veger sighed, clearly annoyed. "He can shrink his organs down to the size of an atom."
Bojack scoffed. "Impossible."
Veger crossed his arms. "Tell me about it."
Bojack exhaled through his nose, then turned and walked toward a lone figure sitting quietly on a rock. He loomed over him but received no reaction. The figure's eerie, silver eyes simply watched, unreadable.
"Hey, Zoi," Bojack said. "How would you like to work for the Korohito group?"
Zoi didn't even blink. "You mean your terrorist group."
Bojack smirked. "I wouldn't call it that."
Zoi rested his chin on his hand. "No need to explain. I already know who you are. The Korohito Group—one of the most notorious criminal organizations alive. A collective of murderers, thieves, and warmongers who thrive off destruction. You hunt people down, steal, and, most importantly…" his silver eyes flickered, "blow things up."
Bojack chuckled. "Hah. So you do know us."
Zoi tilted his head. "The question is… do you know me?"
For the first time, Bojack hesitated. A moment of silence passed before he grinned. "Heh. Maybe I don't. But I think I'd like to."
Zoi leaned back. "Then you're already making a mistake."
Bojack crossed his arms. "Alright then, who are you? Are you an alien?"
Zoi remained still, his silver eyes flickering slightly. "No. I'm from Nuke City… or what's left of it."
Bojack raised a brow. "Ah. And your people can't even use Ti-Bu."
Zoi let out a slow breath. "Wrong. We actually can. It's just extremely rare for one of us to have it."
Bojack smirked. "Huh. Guess I don't know as much as I thought. Anyway, sounds like you're pretty set on something. What's your deal?"
Zoi's gaze darkened. "When I'm done with this tournament, I'm going after one of your men. He killed a friend of mine. I need my revenge."
Bojack stared at him for a moment before laughing. "So that's a no, then."
Zoi didn't respond.
Bojack sighed. "Alright. Good talk." He turned and walked back toward Veger.
Veger tilted his head. "What were you guys talking about?"
Bojack shrugged. "Tried to recruit him. Seems like he's after revenge instead."
Veger narrowed his eyes. "On who?"
Bojack let out a low chuckle. "One of us."
Veger clicked his tongue. "Shit. Well, I hope it ain't me… or I'll have to put his ass down."
Zoe's voice echoed through the area. "YOU GUYS HAVE FIVE MINUTES LEFT!"
Ro let out a deep breath, turning back to Lyra. "So, why don't you join us? Me, you, My-My, Kai, and..."
Before he could finish, My-My chimed in, "Renji."
Ro scowled. "Yeah, I was gonna say that, jackass."
From a few feet away, Renji smirked. "I can hear you."
Ro's face twitched in anger. "I KNOW~!"
Lyra chuckled softly before shaking her head. "I would, but I can't."
My-My tilted her head. "Why not?"
"For me personally, it's just easier to go alone," Lyra said simply.
Ro folded his arms. "No, it isn't."
"Yeah, you're gonna need help, though," My-My added.
Lyra gave a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. I've been fine alone this whole time." Then, she reached into her pouch, pulled out a small bottle, and handed it to Ro. "Here, just in case one of you runs out of Ti-Bu."
Ro eyed the bottle and noticed tiny pills inside. "Huh."
My-My's eyes sparkled. "Whoa, this could be really useful!"
Ro slipped the bottle into his pocket. "Yeah, I—"
Before he could finish, My-My snatched it right back.
"HEY!" Ro yelled, reaching for it, but My-My held it above her head, grinning mischievously.
"Nope! You lost your cigarettes, which means you'll definitely lose this too!"
Renji walked over, hands in his pockets. "Yeah, I gotta agree with My-My on this one. There's a huge chance you'd lose it."
Ro clenched his fists. "DUDE. I'M NOT GONNA LOSE IT!"
My-My gave him a cheeky smile. "Yeah, right."
Ro groaned. "Fine, fine. I literally can't win an argument with you."
"Exactly!" My-My beamed, reaching up to rub his afro.
Renji grinned and reached out too. "Yeah, it's a real nice—"
"HEY! NO TOUCHING!" Ro swatted his hand away.
Renji shrugged. "Fine, fine, geez."
Zoe's voice boomed again. "50 SECONDS LEFT!"
My-My stretched her arms. "Welp, it's about to begin!"
Ro cracked his knuckles. "Yeah… and I'm praying none of us fall off… except Renji."
Renji blinked. "Wow. Ro, do you hate me that much?"
Ro nodded. "Yes. Yes, I do."
Before Renji could come up with a comeback, Kai limped over, still looking worn out. "Guys… I don't think I can do this. My body isn't healed yet. I might have to call it quits."
My-My gasped. "What?! Kai, you can't do that!"
Kai sighed. "I'll just slow you guys down. I'd be useless like this, so I—"
Before he could finish, Ro groaned loudly and crouched down. "Ugh, FINE. I'll carry you."
Kai blinked. "Are you sure? I mean, I am bigger than you, and you're just a 12-year-old—"
Ro cut him off, rolling his eyes. "Trust me. I got this."
Zoe's countdown started. "THREE! TWO! ONE! GO!"
Ro wasted no time. "Kai! GET ON MY BACK!"
Kai hopped onto Ro's back without hesitation. "Alright then."
Ro immediately felt his legs buckle. "Oh my god~"
Kai smirked. "Hey, I told you I was heavy."
Ro shook his head furiously. "No, no! I'm good, I'm good!" He forced himself forward, gripping the rocky surface and pulling them both up.
Renji, watching from the side, grinned. "My-My, would you like to—well, you already know."
My-My giggled. "Yes, Renji, I would like to."
With that, she hopped onto Renji's back, and he scaled the rock wall with surprising ease, quickly catching up to Ro.
Renji looked over and smirked. "How's it hanging?"
Ro grunted, his arms shaking. "FINE." He grit his teeth and kept climbing.

---
Meanwhile, Veger and Bojack stood at a distance, whispering amongst themselves.
"Alright, so how do we kill Tokuma?" Veger muttered, arms crossed.
Bojack shrugged. "Uh… we probably just beat him to death?"
Veger stared at him. "That's your plan? Really?!"
Bojack rolled his eyes. "Well, I don't see any other options!"

---
Not far away, Hiroki and Tokuma stood side by side, watching the chaos below.
Hiroki smirked. "My, my… if it isn't Tokuma himself. How are you, my lizard friend?"
Tokuma smirked right back. "Oh, I'm having a blast. Killed lots of people. Got shot. You know, the usual."
Hiroki let out a laugh. "Nice. I got into a pretty fun fight myself… barely even had to try."
Tokuma's grin widened. "Oh? And I assume you embarrassed the poor fool?"
Hiroki chuckled darkly. "You know it."
The two burst into laughter—an eerie, wicked sound that sent chills through those nearby.

---
Back on the wall, Ro's arms trembled, his breath heavy.
Kai, looking down, gave a nervous chuckle. "Uh, Ro… I don't want you to be scared or anything, but if you fall… we die."
Ro let out a strained laugh. "Gee, thanks for not making me scared."
Renji climbed up beside them effortlessly, looking unbothered. "Ro, just put all your Ti-Bu in your arms and legs. It'll make this way easier."
Ro shook his head. "No. I need to do this without my Ti-Bu!"
Renji blinked. "Why the hell would you—"
Ro cut him off. "BECAUSE I'M BUILT DIFFERENT."
Renji sighed. "You're built stupid."
Ro growled but kept climbing.