"You want me to fight you?" Peter asked.
"Yep. Land a solid hit on me."
"Don't you think that's stupid?" Joe, Spiritual King of Taka Village, muttered.
He's not going to land a single hit on Ryuu, Taka thought.
"Okay, let's calm down," Fugiama, the Spiritual King of Shidare Village, intervened.
"Yeah, let's kill this bug!" Lice said proudly, the Spiritual King of Morika Village.
"No, that's not what I meant," Fugiama snapped, frustrated.
"Well, Ryuu's already made up his mind, so there's no stopping him," Sarata, the calm Spiritual King of Koshin Village, replied.
"I don't know about the rest of you, but I want to see this," Louchi, Spiritual King of Osaki Village, said with interest.
The Spiritual Kings and Queens began to argue back and forth. Some wanted to see the fight, others disagreed. While the council debated, Taka and Ryuu stared at Peter. Then Ryuu smiled.
"So, are you up for the challenge?" Ryuu asked with a wide grin.
Peter lowered his eyes to his hand, his thoughts racing.
I must do this for my kingdom. I can't back down. If I can just land one hit on this man, we can have peace. I can attend the meetings and finally understand what's happening across the world. For my people, I must take this risk.
Peter lifted his head with a determined smile and extended his arm, pointing at Ryuu's chest.
"You bet," Peter said firmly.
"I love the confidence," Ryuu answered with a smirk.
In an instant, the council's arguments filled the air—then, suddenly—
SNAP!
The meeting room vanished. Everyone now stood in an open field surrounded by towering mountains.
"Damn it, we can't change his mind," Kein, Spiritual King of Jinkawa Village, groaned.
"Yes, we get to see the fight!" Fias, Spiritual King of Ikato Village, exclaimed.
"You'd better kill him, Ryuu," Lice added coldly.
"Disappear," Ryuu said in a serious tone.
In an instant, everyone vanished from the field and reappeared on the mountainsides, watching from above.
"Well, we might as well enjoy it," Kiara, Spiritual Queen of Rendo Village, said.
"Yeah, you're right. Let's just sit here on the mountains and watch," Oriya, Spiritual Queen of Hanrei Village, agreed.
"Don't go too hard on the boy, Ryuu," Taka said in a calm, low voice.
On the ground—
"Where are we?" Peter asked.
"We're in the mountains near my village—the Great Village," Ryuu explained.
"It's so beautiful… this is what peace looks like." Peter stared at the mountains and the sky in awe.
"Man, I like you. I really hope you land a hit on me," Ryuu said, dropping into a fighting stance, his hand glowing with red spiritual force.
"Then it's time to get serious," Peter replied, his body surrounded by glowing yellow energy.
All I have to do is land one hit. That's it. Even without an ability, I can do this, Peter thought.
"Bring it on," Ryuu taunted, waving his hand, signaling Peter to rush.
Here we go, Peter braced himself.
He charged forward.
"It's beginning," Louchi said, peering down from the mountains.
"This is so stupid," Zerai muttered, Spiritual King of Takari Village.
Peter threw a punch, but Ryuu simply shifted his hand, redirecting it harmlessly aside.
Peter spun into a rapid kick, but Ryuu caught his leg and tripped him, sending him to the ground.
Why does he fight so elegantly? Peter thought, scrambling back to his feet.
He launched another kick, but Ryuu ducked, tapped his leg mid-motion, and adjusted his form.
This is my chance—this challenge is over, Peter thought, raising his leg high and slamming it down with rapid force.
BOOM!
Smoke billowed out, flooding the battlefield.
"No way… he got him?" Suna, Spiritual Queen of Tenshiro Village, gasped.
Taka narrowed his eyes. Ryuu dodged it.
As the smoke swirled, Peter looked around in confusion. Cracks covered the ground, but there was no trace of Ryuu.
"I didn't get him?" Peter muttered in shock.
Out of nowhere, Ryuu appeared behind him, landing a clean punch that sent Peter flying out of the smoke. He hit the ground, rolling with a groan.
Ryuu emerged calmly from the smoke. It parted before him like it bent to his will.
Peter quickly stood and locked eyes with him.
He rushed forward with a punch, but Ryuu caught his arm and flipped him onto his back with ease.
"C'mon, go with the flow," Ryuu said with a smile, looking down at him.
"Shut up!" Peter spat, springing back to his feet.
He threw another kick, but Ryuu sidestepped, grabbed his leg, and adjusted it.
"See? This is how you should kick. Leg straightened, speed rapid."
"…Are you guiding me?" Peter asked.
"Yep. Go with the flow," Ryuu replied calmly.
Peter backflipped for distance, then rushed with a punch. Ryuu grabbed his arm, corrected his stance, and spoke:
"See? This is a proper punch. You'd do more damage this way instead of with sloppy swings."
Peter flipped over Ryuu, trying another strike, but Ryuu spun around, tapping his stomach, chest, and neck in quick succession.
"Dam—" Peter's voice cut off mid-thought.
I feel… so light. Like I can move at any speed, he realized.
"You should feel lighter now," Ryuu said.
"How did you do that?"
"All with my Flow ability," Ryuu explained.
"Flow ability…?" Peter repeated.
"I'll show you."
Ryuu vanished, reappeared with a strike to Peter's stomach, then rushed in. Peter kicked, but Ryuu dodged, grabbed his leg, and threw him. Peter crashed, but landed gracefully, sliding across the grass.
Damn, he's so quick and smooth… Peter thought.
Ryuu appeared again, but when Peter punched, Ryuu slapped it aside effortlessly.
Flow State—Rapid Tap! Ryuu thought.
He tapped Peter's body repeatedly, sending him flying back to the ground.
My body feels heavy… Peter realized.
Ryuu stood tall.
"Patience is key. Reading movements is key. Technique is key. I move at the flow of the universe. I can read your movements, see your attacks before they happen. To me, everything slows down. The universe itself reveals its pace. I can control everything around me—and even your body. Let me show you."
He rushed Peter. Peter ducked, but Ryuu tapped the center of his back, making him collapse under sudden heaviness.
Damn it—I feel so heavy… Peter groaned.
Ryuu kicked him aside. Peter rolled, got back up, and looked around. Ryuu was gone.
Where is he?
Leaves swirled. Ryuu appeared among them, landing a punch to Peter's face. He slid with the leaves, appearing behind him. Peter countered with flips, punches, and kicks, but Ryuu moved like the wind itself. With eyes closed, a soft grin, he dodged every strike effortlessly.
He's moving like he's dancing… Peter thought in awe.
Frustrated, he screamed, "Stop just defending! Damnit, it's annoying!"
Ryuu opened one eye. "So… would you like me to play offense?" he asked with a smile.
His movements changed. Now, with the same flowing dance, he attacked relentlessly. Peter couldn't stop him—his own body seemed to move against him.
It's like… my body is guiding his attacks. I can't control it…
Ryuu crouched low.
Huh? Peter thought.
"Let the leaves guide you to the mountain," Ryuu whispered with a smirk.
Suddenly, the wind and leaves pressed against Peter, guiding him backward.
He's… controlling this wind and these leaves?!
The force carried him at rapid speed straight toward a mountain.
"I can't stop—I'll crash!" Peter shouted.
BOOM!
The mountain crumbled under the impact.
Ryuu stood still, watching calmly.
"You're a good man, Peter. But you couldn't even land a single hit on me. The other Spiritual Kings and Queens can. Therefore, you cannot attend the meeting." Ryuu turned away.
"That… was like zero percent," Taka muttered.
"Ryuu's no joke. He just destroyed a mountain with wind and leaves," Joe said, eyes wide.
"What else did you expect from him?" Kiara added.
"Even though I knew Peter couldn't land a hit on Ryuu… at least he tried," Louchi said softly.
Inside the ruins of the mountain, a faint whisper echoed—
"…Laybirth Kingdom…"
To Be Continued.