As the sun began to set over the Tournament Arena of Xinhua, the three Grandmasters exchanged pleasantries, each one exuding a distinct air of power and authority. Master Feng Hanzo, leader of the Golden Elite Academy, flashed a confident smile as he greeted his counterparts.
"Good to see you all again," he said, inclining his head in a respectful bow. "The Dragon Tournament draws ever closer, and our schools shall once more compete for glory."
However, Si-Fu Jiang Tokugawa, head of the Phoenix Academy, seemed unimpressed.
In that moment, it was Si-Fu Yagushi, the imposing leader of the Iron Fist Academy, who stepped forward to address Master Feng.
"Master Feng," he said in a deep, resounding voice. "It has come to my attention that a representative of your academy, known as Zenkichi, attempted to forcefully reclaim the Dragon's Rage from my school." His gaze was unwavering, a glint of distrust lurking in his eyes.
"I can assure you," Master Feng replied, his expression a mix of confusion and concern.
"I am stunned to hear this, Si-Fu Yagushi," Master Feng responded, his shock unmistakable. He shook his head, as if trying to clear the fog of confusion from his mind.
"I have not seen or heard from Zenkichi in quite some time. In fact, he was reprimanded for his reckless behavior and sent away from our academy some time ago. I assure you, I had no knowledge of his actions."
Si-Fu Yagushi's expression remained impassive, but his eyes narrowed.
"Your ignorance of his deeds does not diminish the seriousness of the situation," Si-Fu Yagushi countered, his voice firm. "If Zenkichi was willing to act so brazenly, what's to say that there isn't a larger threat lurking within your academy?"
Master Feng's gaze hardened as he processed Si-Fu Yagushi's words. "I understand your concern, Si-Fu Yagushi. But let me be clear: my school does not condone such behavior."
Master Feng's expression grew cold and unyielding as he spoke. "You would do well to remember, Si-Fu Yagushi, that my academy resides within the very heart of the Emperor's Capital for a reason: we are loyal and honorable. Any disloyalty or dishonorable act is met with swift and unyielding justice."
Si-Fu Yagushi nodded, his eyes still glinting with distrust. "Ok , seems we both would have to hear from him directly then."
Back to the retrieval gauntlet, Kai's path led him through dense, twisting foliage, his footsteps light as he weaved through the shadows. Carrying the Jade Amulet and armed with his acute instincts, he pressed deeper into the unknown, his mind racing with possibilities.
As he descended into a ravine, the wind grew cold, and the trees seemed to whisper, as if warning of unseen dangers lurking ahead. Kai's grip on the amulet tightened, and his senses sharpened, prepared for whatever challenges lay ahead.
Then, a sound. Soft at first, but growing louder.
Kai froze, every muscle tense, every sense on high alert. The sound, he realized, was coming from behind him. Footsteps, crunching against the underbrush, quiet but unmistakable. He spun, his katana already unsheathed and glinting in the faint light.
But the shadow was quicker, darting between the trees with preternatural speed. Kai shifted his weight, his body poised for battle, but his enemy remained elusive, darting out of sight just as quickly as it had appeared.
"Show yourself," Kai commanded, his voice ringing with authority.
As his voice echoed through the trees, the air seemed to grow heavier, and the shadows around him seemed to move with sinister intent. A rustling sound whispered through the leaves, and suddenly, a figure emerged.
Kai's eyes widened in recognition. The creature was humanoid in shape, its skin the color of midnight. Its eyes were a piercing shade of red, and its mouth stretched into a grotesque, toothy grin.
"You're one of those little leaf creatures, leaf claws right?!" Kai murmured, adrenaline coursing through him. He had heard of such creatures—rarely seen but less formidable foes. Kai continued, "See, I don't have time to waste here. So unless you have something to do with finding the Golden Scroll or the silver badge artifacts, I might have to end you here and now!"
The creature, now revealed as a Leaf Claw, snarled in response to Kai's challenge. It flexed its long, razor-sharp claws, the tips glinting dangerously in the dim light.
"Foolish human," the Leaf Claw hissed, its voice dripping with disdain. "I care not for your precious artifacts. I'll protector this forest, and I will defend it against any of you disgusting humans."
Kai grit his teeth, the tension in his muscles mounting.
Kai's sword twitched slightly, his eyes fixed on the Leaf Claw. "I do not wish to harm you," he said, trying to de-escalate the situation. "But I cannot abandon my quest."
The Leaf Claw's red eyes glinted with malice. "Then you have made your choice, human." With a savage roar, the creature lunged at Kai, its claws aimed at his throat.
Kai darted to the side, narrowly avoiding the Leaf Claw's first swipe. With a swift motion, he brought his sword up, deflecting another strike. He parried again and again, each time narrowly avoiding the creature's razor-sharp claws.
The Leaf Claw, realizing Kai's skill, snarled and shifted its tactics. It darted around him, moving like a shadow through the trees. Its red eyes burned with hatred as it drew closer, the darkness around it seeming to swell. "Incredibly fast," Kai muttered, his sword flying as he tried to track the Leaf Claw's movements. "The trees themselves seem to shield it."
The Leaf Claw, sensing its opening, struck. Kai barely evaded the creature's claws, his back pressed against an ancient oak tree. The dark foliage closed in around him, the shadows thick and oppressive.
"I am the forest, human," the Leaf Claw growled, its voice dark and ominous. "Now die."
As the Leaf Claw moved in for the kill, Kai's expression hardened, determination radiating from his eyes. In an instant, he raised both hands to his chest, palms joined together, and whispered, "Bujutsu: Suspension Post."
The air around him began to crackle with energy, and he rose off the ground, his sword still in hand. The Leaf Claw, taken aback by this unexpected maneuver, hissed and slashed at the empty air below Kai's feet.
"The tables have turned, ugly creature," Kai said, a fierce grin on his face.
The Leaf Claw, its movements hampered by its inability to reach Kai, snarled and unleashed a barrage of razor-sharp leaves, propelled by the wind. But Kai was not deterred. With a quick twist of his wrist, he wove a shield of wind around himself, deflecting the razor-sharp projectiles.
"Your tricks are feeble compared to mine," Kai taunted, his voice booming through the forest.
The Leaf Claw, incensed by his defiance, let out an enraged cry and lunged at Kai, its claws extended.
"Enough of this charade," Kai growled, his sword glowing with a faint blue light. "Bujutsu: Shadow Strike."
In a flash, Kai vanished from the spot, reappearing directly behind the Leaf Claw. He brought his sword down in a brutal arc, the blade slicing through the creature's defenses. The Leaf Claw howled in pain, its red eyes wide with shock as it stumbled, its shadowy form fading into nothingness.
The sound of applause echoed through the woods, interrupting Kai's moment of triumph. He whirled around, his hand instinctively moving towards his sword, only to relax when he saw the source of the sound.
"Impressive display, Iron Fist Rookie," Rhett Hanzo said, clapping once more. His blue-black hair was pulled back in a tight braid, and his dark eyes gleamed with a hint of mischief. "Though I must say, using Bujutsu against a simple Leaf Claw seems a bit...excessive, no?"
"The name's Kai. Iron Fist Kai," he stated coolly, his voice void of emotion. "And unless you're here with a Golden Scroll or a silver badge, I suggest you move along."
Rhett, unfazed by Kai's icy demeanor, took a step forward, his black boots crushing the fallen leaves beneath him. "On the contrary, I'm also here to ask you about the artifacts or have you forgotten I'm also taking apart of this retrieval gauntlet"
Kai's eyes narrowed as he regarded Rhett. "Then you're a competitor. If that's the case, then what do you want?" He made no move to relax his stance, his hand still hovering near his weapon.
"I thought you might be interested in a little exchange of information," Rhett said, his smile widening. "I may have a clue about the location of the Scroll, and I'd be willing to share—for a price."
Kai's brows rose ever so slightly.
Rhett's face remained impassive as he studied Kai's expression, and he drew himself up to his full height. "I'll tell you where to find the Scroll, if you give me the Jade Amulet," he said, his voice low and level. "I have the Scroll, I found the Badge, and I'm certain you have the Amulet. It's a fair trade."
Kai's eyes flickered to the trees, where two other students from the Golden Elite academy lay hidden, their weapons drawn.
Kai inhaled deeply, steadying himself. "I'm afraid that's impossible," he said, his tone betraying no emotion. "I don't have the Jade Amulet. I have the Golden Scroll."
Rhett's eyes narrowed, his fingers curling into fists. "You're lying. You must have it. Give it to me, or I'll take it by force."
Kai stood his ground. "Do what you must, Rhett."
In the tense silence that followed, Rhett's eyes gleamed with malice, and his lips curled into a sneer. He held up his hand, signaling to the hidden Golden Elite students. With a rush of leaves and branches, the two students emerged, weapons drawn, and surrounded Kai.
"Take it from him," Rhett ordered, a cruel smile on his face. "He's not giving it willingly."
Kai's eyes darted between the three assailants, assessing the situation.
As the three prepared to launch their attack on Kai, a scream, though faint, reverberated through the forest, tugging at Kai's senses. "Huh, Meili", he thought with a growing sense of dread.
Without hesitation, he turned on his heel and sprinted in the direction of the scream, his feet pounding against the forest floor. Rhett and his companions, mistaking Kai's movements as an escape, lunged forward in pursuit, their blades glinting in the scant light.
Kai weaved through the foliage, his instincts sharp, his focus unwavering.
"Halt, Iron Fist!" Rhett's voice echoed through the forest, commanding and cold. "Give me the Jade Amulet, or die trying to escape!"
Kai, unrelenting, kept running. "I'm not fleeing, you fool!" he shouted over his shoulder, his words carrying through the trees. "The scream—it's my partner. And you're wasting your time."
Rhett, his face twisting with rage, quickened his pace, determination fueling his steps. "You won't go far!"
As the tension between Kai and Rhett's group intensified, the forest hummed with an eerie stillness. Elsewhere, Lei and Lian found themselves in a precarious situation.
The tension in the cave was palpable, the air charged with danger. Lei, the Iron Fist initiate, stood face to face with the malevolent Zikryu, her heart pounding as she readied herself for battle.
"I'm not the kind of girl who backs down from a fight," Lei growled, her eyes flashing with defiance. "And I'm certainly not about to let you take Lian."
Zikryu chuckled darkly. "I admire your spirit, but you're no match for me, girl. I'll make this quick and painless. For you, that is."
At that moment, as the standoff between Lei and Zikryu was reaching its boiling point, a familiar voice pierced through the tension.
"Hey, isn't that Lei?" Meili called out as she and Fuse burst into the area of the cave where Lei and Zikryu were locked in their standoff. The duo, who had been following a different path through the cave, looked around in surprise at the tense situation unfolding before them. "And who's that pointing a sword at Lian?"
Fuse, who was standing slightly behind Meili, tensed up as he realized the gravity of the situation, his hand tightening around his weapon. "Lei, you okay?" he asked, concern apparent in his voice.
Lei, who had been laser-focused on Zikryu, spared a quick glance at the newcomers, her expression a mixture of relief and worry. "Meili, Fuse, stay back!" she warned, her eyes returning to Zikryu, who had briefly turned to face the newcomers.
Zikryu's face twisted into a menacing grin.
Zikryu's sinister smirk widened as he surveyed the newcomers. "More came to join the party, huh? But I don't recognize you two." He then turned back to face Lei, his eyes narrowing. "Anyway, I plan on taking over this tournament of yours and handing this girl here to Lord Xaphan."
Meili, her brows furrowing, stepped forward, her hands clenched into fists. "Who's Xaphan, Didn't Si-Fu Hibiki take him down last time out?" she demanded, her voice shaking with defiance.
"That's not entirely true," Lei countered, her expression grim. "We've already encountered a doppelganger of Xaphan at our academy, and we took him down." She paused, her eyes locked on Meili. "But I think that was just a taste of what Xaphan's capable of. He's powerful, and he won't stop until he gets what he wants."
Meili's brows furrowed in disbelief. "A doppelganger?"
"Xaphan is a warrior from the Sukuna clan," Lei said, her voice somber. "He's been behind numerous atrocities and scientific experiments that have caused untold suffering and loss of life." She paused, her eyes blazing with conviction. "He sees humans as nothing but objects to be used and discarded. We can't let him win."
Meili's fists clenched at her sides. "And how exactly are we going to stop him? We don't even know where he is." She stepped forward, her jaw set in defiance.
Meili's eyes widened with a new understanding, and she turned her attention to Zikryu. "And he sent you to capture Lian? What's she got that Xaphan wants?"
"That happens to be none of your business," Zikryu hissed, his eyes flashing with anger. "All you need to know is that Lian is of vital importance to Lord Xaphan's plans, and I'm not about to let you interfere."
Meili's face hardened, her resolve unwavering. "Like I said, I won't stand for this. We're not going to let you hurt Lian—or anyone else for that matter."
Zikryu, the sinister Sukuna warrior, his dark eyes glinting with malice, stood before Lei, Meili, and Fuse, his blade menacingly poised at Lian's throat. "Then you leave me no choice. If you want to protect her, you'll have to take me down."
He pushed Lian aside, the tip of his sword still grazing her skin, and faced the three warriors head-on, his stance commanding. "Come then, face the full might my power.
Bujustu - Ninghe Hange: Taida,"