The First Ring

Majuro: So, that’s what happened.

You thought they betrayed you… but they didn’t.
Also, you shall have this.

Takes out the white ember

Hiroshi takes it.

Hiroshi: So, how will it get absorbed?
Do I have to meditate or something?

The Ember’s powers get absorbed and Hiroshi’s veins glow white in colour.

Hiroshi: [SURPRISED] Woah!

Majuro: You now have obtained the power of fast reflexes.
Try to dodge these.

Majuro levitates some spoons and forks and launches them towards Hiroshi at almost lightning speed.

Hiroshi dodges without even breaking a sweat.

Hiroshi: One out of seven.
Cool.
Never thought that getting my own power back would feel so good.

Majuro: There’s something else that Bajuro left for you.

Hiroshi: [CONFUSED] What is it?

Majuro presses a button.

A futuristic, cold storage box lifts from inside the floor.

A full body suit appears inside it.

Majuro: Here is your own suit.
This will reduce damage taken by over 75%, and it can repair itself after being damaged.

These are purely handcrafted by Bajuro.

A Black T-shirt, a Red Haori-type Coat, Black Jeans, white belt, Black boots with black socks, and some new under-garments for you to wear.

Hands him the clothes.

Hiroshi: Huh?
You know that this hut only has this single room right?
…RIGHT???
How am I supposed to change clothes here!?

Majuro: There is nothing I haven’t seen in this world.
Just change already.

Hiroshi: [EMBARRASSED] Are you serious!?!?
I can’t change in front of you!

Majuro: [SILENCE]

Hiroshi: AT LEAST TURN AROUND!

Majuro: Okay. Okay.

Hiroshi changes his clothes quickly.

Hiroshi: Woah…
This is my perfect fit!
How am I looking in this?

Majuro looks at Hiroshi.

Majuro automatically bows down in respect.

Majuro: As grand as always, Hiroshi.

Hiroshi: C’mon don’t do that…

Majuro: Alright, Hiroshi.
You should head out now.

Hiroshi: Wait.
I need one last help.

Majuro: Yeah?
Tell me.

Hiroshi: According to what you told, Ryumi has my blood.
So she might be still alive if the Tyrants haven’t killed her.
Can you locate her for me?

Majuro: Sure!
Chances are low, but I will surely try my best.

You should head towards the Ring now.

Hiroshi: Alright, Majuro.

Majuro: Also, take this cloth to cover your face and these Varkoins.

Hiroshi: [CONFUSED] Varkoins?
I have heard this word before from the Raiders.
What is this?

Majuro: The new currency set up by the Varkonians.
Each Varkoin is worth 100 US dollars of the past time.

Hiroshi: [SHOCKED] What!?
That’s so much!

Majuro gives him 10,000 Varkoins.

Majuro: You will need these.
Now go.

Hiroshi: Alright.

Hiroshi leaves and goes towards the Ring.

Hiroshi wraps the cloth around his face so no one notices who he is.

When he reaches the entrance, he notices a huge crowd inside the Ring.

Hiroshi: [CONFUSED] Huh?
What’s that crowd for?

He goes there to inspect and sees a small kid being beaten by some men while the crowd watches.

Hiroshi: Hey!
What are you doing!?
He’s just a kid!

Varkonian Fruit Vendor: [ANGRY] He’s no kid—he’s a human pest!
He was trying to steal fruits from my shop!

Kid: Sir…
My siblings and I… haven’t eaten for days…
We needed some fruits…
I just took a banana and an apple…

Man in Crowd: A thief is a thief regardless of the reason!
Punish him!

Hiroshi: Wait!
Mr. Vendor, I would like to buy your entire Fruit Stall.
How much is this worth?

Varkonian Fruit Vendor: [CONFUSED] Uhh… 10 Varkoins.

Hiroshi: Alright.
Have these.

Hiroshi gives him all the 10,000 Varkoins Majuro gave him.

Hiroshi: From now on, whenever this kid or any kid like him needs fruits, you will give it to them.
For your entire life.

If you break your promise, the entire crowd standing here will beat you to death.
Am I right, guys?

The whole crowd agrees.

Varkonian Fruit Vendor: Alright!
I will feed all the homeless kids in this ring for life!

The vendor gives the kid:

A crate of bananas

A crate of grapes

2 crates of oranges

A crate of apples

Kid: [WORRIED] B-But…
How will I carry this?

Hiroshi: Don’t worry.
I’ll carry these for you.
Guide me to your house.

What’s your name?

Kunjo: My name’s Kunjo.
Follow me.

Kunjo takes Hiroshi to a slum area where the kids are sitting under a thin metal roof with holes.

Small Boy: Brother!

A Girl: Brother!

4 Kids rush towards Kunjo and hug him.

The Girl: Brother, have you brought food?

Hiroshi: Yeah, enough for a couple of weeks.

The Girl: Who are you?

Kunjo: I also don’t know him.
But he is a saviour for us.
If he weren’t there, those people would’ve killed me.

He ensured that we get food for life!

All the kids are excited and jump in joy here and there.

Hiroshi smiles after seeing the joy on their faces.

Kunjo: Sir, I don’t know who you are…
But you’ve helped me a lot.
I don’t know how I can repay you…

Hiroshi: No need to repay.
Just take care of your siblings.
That’s all I want.

Suddenly, a strong gust of wind blows the cloth from Hiroshi’s face off.

Kunjo: [FROZEN] Those scarlet eyes, those hairs, that face…
You are…
The flame demi-god, Hiroshi!

Hiroshi: [CONFUSED] Wait…
How do you know me?
Also, I am not a Demi-God or something.

Kunjo: My grandmother, who passed away recently, read us stories of a legendary man who dared to stand against the Varkonians and struggled to get Earth its freedom.

His name was Hiroshi, the flame demi-god.
He alone caused the Varkonians to shake in fear.

But one day, you got captured.
The stories always stated about your return.
And you did!

Hiroshi: [IN MIND] What!?
There are stories on me!?
That’s something unexpected…

Kunjo: I remember the scarlet eyes, these hair.
Exactly as my grandmother told me.

Can I be any help of you, Sir?

Hiroshi: Actually… yeah.
Do you know where the Blood Tyrant resides?

Kunjo: Yeah, he lives in the Central building of this ring.
But there is no way to enter directly.

You will need to sneak in from a way I know.
Follow me.

Kunjo takes Hiroshi to a small tunnel that leads somewhere.

Kunjo: This is a tunnel that an inmate of the jail dug to escape.
You can enter the jail and go to the top floor.
There, Riyaku will meet you.

Only a few survived him.
They say that once you reach the top floor, he will teleport you there.

Points above to a big spherical flying thing.

Hiroshi looks at it.

Kunjo: It is Riyaku’s Arena.
Every Tyrant, except for the 7th Tyrant, has this Arena.

I’ve heard that it is powered by something called a "Blaze Ember."

Hiroshi: [IN MIND] Blaze Ember…
That’s what my powers are in!

Kunjo: There will be guards.
Take them down, and then take Riyaku down.
Best of luck!

Hiroshi: Alright.
Take care.

Hiroshi goes inside the tunnel.

Hiroshi: [GRUNTING] This place is so cramped!
I wonder how that inmate escaped!

After a few minutes, Hiroshi exits the tunnel.

He finds himself in an empty jail cell.

Hiroshi: [CONFUSED] Huh?
Where are all the inmates?

Hiroshi breaks the jail cell’s bars.

He takes the stairs to the ground floor.

Hiroshi: What is this place!?

Suddenly, he notices some swordsmen made of blood.

Hiroshi: Are these the guards Kunjo told about!?

The Swordsmen run towards Hiroshi.

Hiroshi: It’s showtime!
Hunter Rush!

Hiroshi thrusts his body forward and lands clean and critical slashes in all the Swordsmen.

They are cut into two in an instant.

Hiroshi: Easy!

More swordsmen come.

Hiroshi: Rapid Claw Strikes!

He strikes his dagger as if a wolf strikes with claws, and all the Swordsmen are cut apart.

When all the Swordsmen die, some of the blood on their faces vanishes, revealing they were actually prisoners of Riyaku.

Hiroshi: [REALISES HIS MISTAKE] Oh no…
What have I done…
That monster turned these poor prisoners into guards of his own.

No wonder that guy dug the tunnel to escape…

[Turns towards the Swordsmen]

Hiroshi: Sorry…
But I had to kill you…
Rest in peace…

He rushes towards the second floor.

This time, there are dual sword users of blood.

Hiroshi notices a huge Chandelier and thinks of a plan.

Hiroshi: [WHISTLES] Oye!
Come here!

The Swordsmen rush towards Hiroshi.

Hiroshi jumps, breaks the Chandelier’s big chains, and uses them to tie the Swordsmen.

Hiroshi: [SIGH]
Now, the Tyrant.

He reaches the top floor.

Something feels off.

He suddenly feels an intimidating force behind him.

Riyaku: Ah…
You are here.

Hiroshi tries to punch him in the gut.

But he is suddenly teleported to the arena.

Hiroshi: [DISGUSTED] What!?
This whole place is made up of flesh and blood and bones!
Like a living being’s insides!

Riyaku: I knew that I should’ve killed you as soon as I took your blood long ago.

Hiroshi: [ANGRY] I will not let you Varkonians rule the Earth!

Riyaku: First, care about yourself.
You came here to kill me on your own.
But you will leave only with my permission.

I will torture you for eternity.
This is MY ARENA!
And YOU… will never make it out alive.

FIRST TYRANT! HIROSHI VS RIYAKU!