The Plan...

Majuro:

Majuro: Let me tell you….

(Majuro breaks the fourth wall and faces the viewers directly.)

Majuro:
Hiroshi was trapped in that chamber for exactly 200 years.

That day… 200 years ago, something terrible happened.

[Location: Hiroshi’s Apartment – Hong Kong]

Krimson: (smiling happily)
Happy Birthday, Hiroshi!

Ryumi: (jumping excitedly)
Happy Birthday, Hiroshi!

Hiroshi: (grinning)
Thanks, guys.

Krimson: (serious tone kicks in)
Well… you turned 18 today.

And as per our plan…
We’re going to wipe out the remaining 7 Tyrants.

Ryumi: (confused, shocked)
WHAT!?
You guys didn’t tell me about this!

Krimson: (calmly, cocky smirk)
Chill.
It’s not a big deal.

Me and Hiroshi spread fake news that we’re planning to fight the Tyrants all at once.

They’re all gathered in their Central Meeting Office right now.

I’ll go there disguised as a Varkonian Guard, and I’ll tell them Hiroshi’s location.

When they come here, our traps will immobilize them.

And Hiroshi will end them instantly.

So yes…
Hiroshi is the bait here.

Ryumi: (worried, eyes trembling)
Are you out of your mind!?
It’s too risky!
For Hiroshi, for you… for all of us!

Hiroshi: (placing a hand on Ryumi’s shoulder, calm expression)
No, Ryumi… Listen. He’s right. We’ve planned it thoroughly, checked every flaw, every possibility. 

Victory will be ours.

I’m ready to execute this.

Ryumi: (voice shaking)
But…

Hiroshi: (soft smile)
Don’t worry.
Nothing will happen.

I’ll surely come back.

(Ryumi hugs Hiroshi tightly.)

[Majuro Narrating]

Because after this…
They all got captured.

Hiroshi, Krimson, and Ryumi visit Bajuro.

Hiroshi: (respectfully)
Master Bajuro,
can you lend us your Special Bracelets?

We’re currently on a mission.

Bajuro: (serious, concerned tone)
I know, Hiroshi.

But… it’s my order that you must NOT do this.

I have predicted every singular possibility.
And your chances of being captured are at 100%.

Hiroshi: (lowering his head)
I’m sorry, Master…
But I can’t obey this order.

Please…

Lend us the bracelets.

Bajuro: (sighs deeply)
Fine… But on one condition.

I will go together with Krimson to see if everything is fine.
Even though I already know…
It won’t be.

But me going will be the only way you can survive.

Hiroshi: (confused)
You’ll go with Krimson?
How will that save me?

Bajuro: (cryptically)
You’ll understand… later.

Krimson: (shrugging) Fine... You can come with me.

Bajuro:
These are the 4 Bracelets.

Wear them.
Say “Our Freedom is at Risk” if there’s an emergency.

Hiroshi: (clenching the bracelet)
Alright.
Let’s go.

[Majuro Narrating]

Hiroshi and Ryumi defeated all the guards and went to the Rebel Jail’s High Security Chamber in Hong Kong.

Krimson and my Great-Great-Great-Grandfather, Bajuro, went to the Tyrants’ Central Meeting Office.

[Location: Tyrants’ Central Meeting Office]

Hiroshi: (whispers into bracelet)
Krimson, did you reach there?

Krimson:
Yeah, I’m here.
I took down a Varkonian Guard and wore his clothes.

I’m going into the room now.

Also…
I’m switching off my bracelet so I don’t get caught.

Mr. Bajuro will stay outside to contact you if there’s an emergency.

Hiroshi:
Be safe.

(Krimson switches off the bracelet and steps into the room.)

Krimson: (nervous)
Dear Lords,
I have small information to share.

The Tyrants sit around a huge meeting table, drinking coffee.

Akuma: (playful grin)
Well…
Tell us then.

Riyaku: (cold, threatening tone)
If it’s worthless,
I’ll rip off your limbs and drink your blood.

Krimson:
The guards of the Rebel Jail in Hong Kong have captured him… Hiroshi...

All the Tyrants spit out their coffee.

Izoto: (shocked)(in a grieve tone)
They captured WHOM!?

Yataro: (surprised)
You mean…
They actually captured that bastard!?

Krimson:
Yes.
They did.

Gorokko: (in a bold, royal tone)
We must go there and check ourselves.

(Akuma notices the bracelet in Krimson’s hand.)

Akuma: (eyes narrow)
Hmm…
That’s a Telepathic Bracelet, isn’t it?

I’m a collector, you see.
I have many of Bajuro’s artifacts. As he is a well known artistic mage.

Krimson: (nervous)
N-No…
It isn’t.

Akuma: (dark grin)
Don’t lie to me.

You and Hiroshi…
are working together, aren’t you?

Krimson: (sweating)
N-No…
I don’t even know him!

(Akuma snatches the bracelet and breaks it.)

Akuma:
GUARDS! Take this fool away!

Izoto:
Gorokko,
release the robot.

Gorokko: (smirking)
Alright.

Yataro: (confused)
Uhh… which robot?

Gorokko:
The one I, Jinah, and Akuma made together.

Its shell is made of my titanium alloys.

Its spikes contain Jinah’s paralyzing poison.

And the spikes are filled with Akuma’s freezing Powers to freeze Hiroshi’s healing factor.

Tashoi: (grinning)
Sounds great.
Send it right away!

Krimson: (shouting)
NO!
Don’t do it, you bastards!

(The guards drag Krimson away.)

Bajuro overhears everything.

Bajuro: (into the bracelet)
MAYDAY!
Our Freedom is at Risk!

Hiroshi: (from the bracelet)
I beg your pardon?

(Akuma hears someone talking outside. He opens the door and sees Bajuro.)

Akuma: (grinning)
Ah! Bajuro!
My favorite mage!

But sorry…
I’ve got to destroy your arts.

(Akuma crushes Bajuro’s bracelet.)

Bajuro:
Leave the kids alone!

Akuma: (grieve voice)
Shhhh.
No one asked you.

Gorokko:
I have released the robot. It’s headed to the Rebel Jail.

Jinah:
Shouldn’t we go there too?

Akuma:
Sure!
Let’s go.
Take Bajuro and the other kid with us.

Ryumi: (frantic)
Hiroshi,
we’ve lost contact with Bajuro and Krimson!

Are they okay?

Hiroshi:
I don’t know.
Bajuro tried to contact me…
but something happened.

Ryumi:
Maybe the Tyrants are coming!
I’ll go check.

Hiroshi:
Be safe.

(Ryumi goes to the Watch Tower.)

Ryumi notices a giant object coming toward the chamber.

Ryumi: (through bracelet)
HIROSHI!
Something BIG is headed toward you!
9 O’Clock!

Hiroshi:
I’ll take care of it.

Suddenly, a giant robotic scorpion tail smashes through the wall!

Hiroshi:
What the—!?

The Robot grabs Hiroshi, putting spiked handcuffs on his hands and legs.

The poison and freezing liquid inject into his bloodstream.

Hiroshi: (struggling)
It’s… not worth it…
My body is… slowing down…

(His body freezes. He faints.)

The Tyrants arrive with Krimson, Bajuro, and Ryumi captured.

Yataro:
Well, well, well…
What all 195 older Tyrants and we 7 couldn’t do, this machine did.

Izoto:
Should we kill him?

Gorokko:
Not yet.
If his unstable powers leak, the whole continent will explode.

Akuma: (grinning)
Bajuro!
Extract his powers!

Or…
I’ll kill this brat, the other kid, and the girl right before your eyes.

Bajuro:
I’ll do it.
But on two conditions.

Akuma:
Tell me.

Bajuro:
First: You won’t kill him.

Izoto:
Too dangerous.

Gorokko:
No.
If Hiroshi has no powers, he’s harmless.

Akuma:
Fine. We won’t kill him.

Bajuro:
Second, I keep one power.

(Bajuro creates 7 Blaze Ember Vessels. They are things made from magical glass shaped like a fire ember)

Bajuro:
These will store Hiroshi’s powers:

Fast Reflexes (White Ember)

Fire Manipulation (Red Ember)

Lightning Speed (Yellow Ember)

Rock Solid Body (Orange Ember)

Super Jumps (Blue Ember)

Regeneration (Green Ember)

Transformation (Scarlet-Pink Ember)

I will take Fast Reflexes.

Akuma:
Fine! Take it!
Now hurry!

Bajuro:
Also…
I cannot extract his natural abilities like

Superhuman Strength

Slow Regeneration

Never aging past 40

Never naturally dying unless killed

They are part of his body, not powers.

Akuma:
Alright, I get it.

(Bajuro extracts the powers. The embers glow.)

Riyaku takes the Red Fire Ember

Akuma takes the Yellow Lightning Ember

Tashoi takes the Orange Rock Body Ember

Gorokko takes the Blue Super Jump Ember

Yataro takes the Green Regeneration Ember

Jinah takes the Scarlet-Pink Transformation Ember

Izoto: (frustrated)
Wait! What about me!?

Gorokko:
Too bad.
There’s no ember left for you.

Bajuro asks after completing the power extraction.

Bajuro:
You work is now done. Let the kids go.

Akuma: (grinning)
Your conditions said “leave Hiroshi alive”…
Not to let them leave.

(Akuma opens a Cryogenic Chamber.)

Akuma:
Behold…
My greatest creation!

This will make Hiroshi sleep in eternal hibernation.

Riyaku:
Before we seal him…
Let’s take his blood. As it has the powers of never aging and never dying. Also, we won't die naturally. So, technically,

It contains partial immortality.

Gorokko:
Exactly.
No one can kill us but him…
And he’s going to sleep.

Tashoi: I’ll give some to Kurumi. (Tyrant #3 of present time)

I want my son to be immortal too.

They take Hiroshi’s blood for their own use.

They lock Hiroshi in the chamber and leave with Bajuro, Krimson, and Ryumi.

While exiting, Bajuro opens a portal and escapes with Krimson.

Izoto:
CATCH THEM!

Gorokko:
It’s fine.
We still have the girl.

Akuma:
What should we do with her?

Riyaku:
She also has Hiroshi’s blood.

Gorokko:
I’ll put her in my Ring’s prison.

She’ll rot there for eternity.

Krimson: (angry)
WHY did you only let us escape!?
Why not Ryumi!?

And why did you help them extract Hiroshi’s powers!?

Bajuro:
I predicted every possible outcome.

The only way to save Hiroshi…
was to let him be captured.

He’ll surely be released in the future.

But for this to happen, we must do two things.

Krimson:
What?

Bajuro:
Me and my bloodline will guard the Blaze Ember Vessel…
Until Hiroshi returns.

You must form a Rebel Army.

Krimson:
I don’t understand why...
But I acknowledge you. So I'll do so...

What about Ryumi?

Bajuro:
She will be safe.
She will assist Hiroshi…
when the time comes.

[Present Time]

Dear viewers…
This was the story of how Hiroshi got captured.

If you’ve reached this far…
It means you like the story.

Stay tuned…
Chapter 5: The First Ring