The air hung thick with the stench of burnt viper dog, a peculiar aroma that had become all too familiar to Safal. He knelt by the dying embers of his fire, the charred remains of his recent meal a stark reminder of the endless cycle of survival on this forsaken island. Just minutes ago, he had dispatched another pack of the snarling, venomous beasts, their numbers seemingly infinite. He licked the grease from his fingers, his mind still buzzing with the adrenaline of the fight when a strange sensation washed over him.
A translucent screen flickered into existence within his mind. "Congratulations, you have obtained a knife," it declared, the words echoing in his thoughts as if spoken by a disembodied voice. A knife? In this strange land where survival was a daily struggle, tools were rarely given freely. Safal, though, wasn't particularly surprised. He had been experiencing oddities from the moment he arrived. Just the day before, in a similar screen, he was sure he saw Umbrothys: Shadow Realm flash across his vision.
He frowned, the realization dawning on him. This was not his world. Not the one he had always known. How many other realms existed out there? How many other realities were hidden from the common eye? In just two days, he felt stronger than he had his entire life. It was the MIGHTY PLANT that Master Varun always spoke of, the source of their power, but it wasn't just about strength. It was also a challenge, pushing them to become something more. Yet, Varun had never spoken about another realm. Was he the only one who had seen it? Why would Varun keep such a secret?
The screen vanished, leaving Safal alone with his thoughts. Just as swiftly, the jarring sensation of waking up in his cold, stone cell shattered his focus. The sun was already high, casting long shadows through the barred window. He could hear the commotion outside as his fellow thieves prepared to leave for their promised journey to the Lion's Kin Kingdom.
Meera, a fiery woman with a fighting spirit as sharp as her tongue, cornered Safal as they stepped out of their cells. "You're good with those kicks, Safal," she said, her eyes gleaming with challenge after his recent victory against Dev, ignoring Arjun's bulk and lack of agility. "Let's see how you handle a real fight, hand to hand." Meera continued, "I'm still unable to use my power. Maybe fighting will help me to initiate it!" It was an odd obsession of her's to gain complete control of her power.
Initially, Safal brushed her off. He had too much on his mind, not to mention the ache of his recent battles on the mysterious island. But Meera was persistent, and eventually, he relented. "Fine," he sighed, and they entered an open space in the yard.
Liza and Alisa, two women who had always seemed to be watching Safal, positioned themselves nearby. They exchanged a knowing glance. If Safal were to lose control, they were the only ones who could deal with the aftermath.
Meera launched into action with a flurry of precise kicks aimed at his legs. Safal, nimble and quick, dodged each attack, as if he had already foreseen them. Frustrated, Meera switched to a relentless barrage of punches, a whirlwind of fists that would have overwhelmed anyone else. Yet, Safal simply yawned, effortlessly maneuvering around each blow before giving her a final push, sending her sprawling out of the marked ring.
Varun, who had been observing, let out a hearty laugh. "Interesting! Very interesting, indeed!" he declared, his eyes twinkling with excitement. He quickly changed the rules, announcing that there would be no more getting out of the ring by pushing opponents out. Now, the first one to touch the ground in the ring was the loser. This new rule lit a fire in Safal's chest. He wanted to test his strength. He wanted to use the power he hadn't yet used in the other realm, the power he still barely understood, but felt burning inside him.
The match began with a flurry of swift exchanges, each blow crashing into the other's hands. "Not giving an opening, huh!" Safal teased, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Do you think I want to die by giving you an opening? You are all monsters, Nishan, Kaelen, you." Varun fired back.
"This world is full of monsters, Master, if we don't kill, we are killed," Safal replied, his fists flying in a blur. The fight continued, a dance of power and skill, until both decided to unleash their hidden abilities. Varun transformed into a fearsome lion-man, his roar echoing throughout the yard, sending shivers down everyone's spines.
Safal, struggling with the power surging within him, also underwent a transformation. His skin turned black as night, and two sharp horns erupted from his forehead. His fist, still uncontrolled, connected with Varun, sending his master flying back twenty meters, crashing into a tree. A simple punch, delivered without intention, and the damage was immense. The onlookers gasped, their faces pale with fear, recognizing the sheer destructive force within Safal.
Panic gripped Liza and Alisa as they rushed forward to stop Safal. His transformation was terrifying. But before they could reach him, Safal, overwhelmed by the pain, lost consciousness.
When he awoke an hour later, his body was aching. Liza and Alisa were watching over him. The regret was instant. He had lost control and injured his master. As he went to check on Varun, he found his master teasing him. " That hit was more powerful than I have ever seen before," he said. "It was not your fault, I pushed you too hard. If you didn't use it, I would have been disappointed. You are a lucky fellow, receiving such a powerful MIGHTY PLANT. Chief said, 'A mighty plant talks to you if you are worthy.' It seems I'm not worthy enough."
Safal was shocked to see Varun's disappointment. He couldn't believe his master was jealous of his power. Arjun came rushing in, announcing, "Master, We've loaded everything we need for a three day journey!"
Varun, feigning a tough demeanor, addressed everyone, "My friends, students, and leaders, we are going to participate in the tournament in the Lion's Kin Kingdom. We need money for our missions. So, be sure to give your best. Now, everyone move inside the ship, we'll depart within two hours!" Everyone cheered, excited for the journey, especially Arjun and Meera, who were taking enough luggage and food for a full year.
As they boarded the ship, Safal, his mind still grappling with his newly discovered power and the strange realm he had glimpsed, questioned Varun, "Won't the Peacekeeper force catch us if they see us at the tournament?"
Varun shook his head. "You don't know about the tournament-treaty, do you?"
"The what? "Safal asked.
Varun explained, "Every kingdom needs funds, especially those above us in the Flying Castle Kingdom, the so-called light kings, they organize these tournaments for their own entertainment. They think they are the rulers of the world, and consider us as scum. The Peacekeeper force are allowed to catch any of us, no matter who you are. If they do, well, that is equal to a declaration of war against the Arsenal, the great three bands of freedom fighters." A tear fell from Varun's eye as he continued, "Those Light Kings, they enjoy seeing human battle human. They even rape human. Supreme Highkeeper, Light Kings and Arsenal, these are the people you should never mess with" Varun added, "They are strong enough to shake and destroy the whole world."
Safal listened intently, the pieces of the puzzle slowly starting to fall into place. The world he lived in was far more complicated, dangerous, and layered than he had ever imagined. He had the feeling that this tournament was going to be more than just a means to earn money, but also an opportunity to understand both his powers, and the world.