In the Laybirth Kingdom
The current time was 7:00 a.m.
The sun had just risen, painting the horizon in golden-orange light. A new day was beginning, but in the heart of the Laybirth Kingdom, all that beauty was stained by destruction.
Ryju lay face-down on the ground, his body battered beyond recognition, his cheek pressed against the cold stone, a pool of blood spreading beneath him. His red hair was tangled and soaked, his shirt torn. Jinko stood over him, his glowing blade humming softly, his expression unreadable as he stared down at the broken boy.
But this moment was only the aftermath.
One hour earlier—6:00 a.m.—while Ryju clashed with Jinko in the kingdom's central square, another deadly battle was unfolding on the lower left side of the kingdom.
The Duel: Goro vs. Que
Two figures stood locked in a deadly standoff beneath the fading night sky.
The moon and stars cast a silver glow over the battlefield, their soft light a cruel contrast to the violence about to erupt.
On one side stood Que, smiling darkly as he twisted a strand of his hair around his finger. His eyes gleamed with confidence.
Across from him, fists clenched, stood Goro. His expression was grim and determined, his body tense like a coiled spring.
"So," Que called out with a grin, "what's your name, boy?"
"My name," Goro shouted back, his voice fierce, "is Goro Okada! And you better remember it when you go to hell!"
Que laughed, low and amused. "Such confidence."
And then—he vanished.
"Dammit, he's fast," Goro thought, stumbling back just in time to avoid a slicing strike aimed at his throat.
Que reappeared, smirking. "Quick reflexes. Impressive."
Goro's hand suddenly ignited, glowing orange with heat. Flames danced around his knuckles.
"Bring it on," Goro growled.
The two warriors rushed forward, their first real clash shaking the ground.
Goro threw a blazing punch, but Que weaved effortlessly, countering with a strike toward Goro's stomach. Goro sidestepped, slipping past the blow, and swung at Que's head. For an instant, Que was wide open—
—but his leg shot out, kicking Goro's arm aside and sending him stumbling back.
Que smirked. "Your fists… I can feel the heat. So your ability is to control heat, huh? But you don't know how to control it properly, do you?"
Goro's eyes widened. He read me that fast? After just one clash? This guy's sharp—he studies his opponents.
"Yeah, maybe you're right," Goro admitted, gritting his teeth. "But I'm still going to win!"
He charged, his arms igniting fully this time. Balls of heated energy shot from his palms, streaking through the air like miniature fireballs.
Que sprinted forward, weaving and flipping between them with almost playful ease. His movements were fluid, untouchable.
"Here he comes," Goro muttered, bracing himself.
Que extended two fingers, aiming straight for Goro's chest—
—but Goro caught the strike at the last second, twisting his opponent's wrist. With a roar, he slammed a burning fist into Que's stomach.
The impact forced a grunt out of Que, but he didn't falter. His free hand snapped up, grabbing Goro by the throat. With terrifying strength, he lifted Goro into the air and slammed him down into the stone street.
"Ghhk!" Goro's breath exploded from his lungs.
Que raised his foot, ready to stomp—but Goro rolled, narrowly avoiding the crushing blow. He twisted, sweeping his leg, trying to trip Que, but Que leapt easily over it. Goro attempted a counter-kick, but Que caught his leg midair.
"You really thought that was going to land?" Que asked, grinning wickedly.
"Damn it," Goro spat.
In the next instant, Que swung him around like a rag doll and hurled him across the battlefield.
Before Goro could recover, Que's fist slammed into his gut. The force launched Goro like a cannonball. He smashed through houses, stone buildings, and shattered walls.
"Boom!"
The impact triggered a massive explosion, dust and rubble filling the air.
Que chuckled, twisting his hair again. "That should have killed him."
But from beneath the rubble of a collapsed building, a groan echoed.
"Ughhh…"
Goro staggered to his feet, coughing, brushing debris off his body. His shirt was ripped open, his chest bruised and scorched. He glanced down at his stomach.
"Holy—did my stomach explode? Wait… nope, still here," he muttered. "Lucky me."
Despite his injuries, he squatted low, grinned, and then dashed forward at blinding speed, his aura flaring.
Que had just begun walking away when a voice shouted after him:
"Hey, bastard! Where the hell do you think you're going?!"
Que turned—and too late. Goro's fist, glowing a bright fiery orange, smashed into his jaw.
The punch sent Que flying into a nearby tavern. Tables, chairs, bottles, and even the bar counter shattered as his body crashed through them.
"Gghhh…" Que groaned, clutching his head as he rose. His thoughts raced. He's supposed to be dead. I felt the explosion pass through his body—his stomach should've been obliterated. So how… how is he standing in front of me like nothing happened? Is he even human?
Across the debris-strewn street, Goro stood tall, fist still blazing. He smirked slightly.
"Hey there. How'd the punch taste?"
"You know what?" Que snapped, veins bulging. "It was disgusting!"
He slammed his palm onto the ground.
"Boom!"
The entire tavern erupted in an explosion. Black smoke billowed into the sky, swallowing the street.
When the dust cleared, two silhouettes stood facing each other in the haze—Goro and Que.
"At least give me a warning before you go blowing stuff up," Goro said with a grin.
Que twisted his hair again, his grin returning. "So you survived that too. Wonderful."
They charged once more. Goro flipped over Que's strike, landing a kick to his back. Que spun instantly, hand snapping forward—his palm stopped inches from Goro's face.
"Close one," Goro whispered.
But Que's grin widened. He stomped the ground.
"Boom!"
The explosion hurled Goro into the air, his body trailing smoke. He crashed, bouncing across the ruined street before slamming into a stone wall.
"Holy hell, this guy really loves explosions," Goro groaned.
Suddenly Que appeared, fist cocked back. "Hey there," he sneered.
The last thing Goro saw was the fist slamming into his stomach—before another explosion tore through him. He blasted through multiple buildings, finally smashing against the massive outer kingdom wall.
Coughing black smoke, Goro collapsed.
But he moved. Slowly, painfully, he pushed himself back to his feet.
Que's eyes widened. Impossible. I saw the blast rip through his body! How is this brat still alive?!
Time ticked by. The sky grew brighter. Current time: 6:40 a.m.
"Aw man… that hurt," Goro rasped, coughing more smoke.
"How… how the hell do you do it?" Que demanded.
Goro smirked, grabbing his shirt collar. With a dramatic rip, he tore the shirt away, revealing his muscular frame.
"You ask how I do it? It's because of my beautiful physique… and excellent abs!" he declared proudly, flexing.
"Really? That's your answer?" Que said, disgusted. "You lost a chunk of aura just flexing like that."
"What? But my physique's incredible for my age!" Goro protested, looking genuinely hurt.
"Ew. You disgust me," Que muttered, vanishing in a blur.
He reappeared behind Goro, hand extended. But Goro was ready—he leapt aside, unleashing a flurry of burning heat orbs that hovered in the air before shooting at Que like guided missiles.
Que dodged with ease, slipping through the barrage, closing the distance. His strike lashed out—but Goro sidestepped, seizing Que's arm and burning it with searing heat.
"Ghhhhh—!!" Que screamed, yanking back, clutching his scorched skin.
In retaliation, he stomped again.
"Boom!"
Another explosion shook the city.
Far above, sitting on the crumbling kingdom wall, Kaji observed the chaos with a calm smile.
"Right now, everyone's losing," he murmured. "But no matter. As I said before… you grow stronger in battle. If you survive this, you'll become the strongest of all ninjas."
His eyes glittered with excitement.
Back in the ruins, Goro and Que clashed again. Punch met block, kick met counter, the air vibrating with the shockwaves of their strikes.
Que launched a lightning-fast kick, but Goro slid low, darting behind him. Que whirled, striking—Goro flipped over him, slamming a punch into his ribs.
Que crashed into a wall but recovered instantly, using the surface as a springboard to rocket toward Goro like a missile. His hand aimed for Goro's heart.
Goro braced. At the last second, his fist connected with the back of Que's skull, sending him crashing down.
"Holy crap, that was close," Goro muttered, leaping back.
Que rose slowly, trembling with rage.
"I'm done playing games. Let me show you the difference between a B-rank… and a C-rank."
"Huh?" Goro frowned.
In a blur, Que vanished.
Then—SLAM!
Goro was smashed into the wall, stone cracking under the force.
"Ughhh…" Goro staggered.
That speed… I couldn't even see him move. He was just… gone.
Que struck again, his fist whistling past Goro's face by mere inches.
"That was way too close," Goro thought, heart pounding.
Que's grin widened. The world seemed to freeze.
Then—
"BOOM!"
The largest explosion yet ripped through the kingdom. The great wall crumbled, stones collapsing like thunder.
The wall's destroyed?! Goro thought, horrified.
Que appeared again, slamming a punch into Goro's stomach. The blow hurled him across the ruins. As he flew, Que sprinted alongside him, keeping pace with unnatural speed.
"What the hell?!" Goro cursed, gasping for air.
Que slapped his hand against a nearby house—
"Boom!"
The explosion shifted Goro's trajectory, blasting him into another collapsing building.
Smoke flooded the battlefield. Houses, streets, entire blocks lay in ruins.
Inside the rubble, Goro lay motionless. No sound, no movement. His aura nearly gone.
I'm finished… I'm out of spiritual force. I can't even move. At this rate, I'm dead, he thought bitterly.
Darkness threatened to consume him. But deep within, a light sparked. A memory. A promise.
Ten Years Ago — The Great Village
Back when Ryuu was the 99th Spiritual King, Lloyd, Kaji, Okata, and the others were nothing more than C-Rank.
The year was marked by hope. In the great hospital, two newborn cries rang out.
A young mother cradled twin boys in her arms, tears of joy streaming down her cheeks. The father stood beside her, trembling with pride.
"Let's each give them a name," the mother said softly, smiling at her children.
"Alright. You first," the father replied.
She gazed lovingly at the child with bright yellow hair. "This one… I'll name him Yoro."
The father's eyes watered as he looked at the other child, his fiery orange hair gleaming under the lantern light.
"And you, my son—the oldest. You will protect this family when I'm not here. I believe in you. I'll name you… Goro."
Both parents smiled, their hearts full.
"Welcome to this world, my sons—Yoro and Goro."
To Be Continued…