Deep within the forest—silence.
Olgis lowered the carving knife in her hand and stared fixedly at the puppet she was working on. In her eyes, there was a faint, indescribable emotion.
"How is it? Any thoughts?"
Not far from her, the blonde girl sipped her tea while watching Olgis, asking calmly.
"It feels… very strange."
Olgis murmured softly as she reached out, gently stroking the puppet's surface.
"I've never felt anything like this before. Touching it with my fingers… feeling its presence… turning a block of wood into something completely different. It's like giving it a new life entirely… Was Master like this when he created me…?"
"That I do not know."
The blonde girl set down her cup. Immediately, a small, adorable puppet walked up while holding a teapot and refilled her cup.
"Even among dollmakers, everyone's thoughts are different. Their reasons for creating puppets are not the same. But now—you must remember your identity. You are no longer a creation. You possess the ability to create. So you must think about how to use that ability…"
"The ability… to create…"
Hearing her guidance, a contemplative look appeared in Olgis's eyes. She lowered her head, staring at the half-finished puppet.
"The ability… I need…"
Gazing at the figure in her hands, Olgis sank into deep thought.
Meanwhile, Duanmu Huai was currently enjoying—well, more like reliving old memories.
"I really didn't expect that I'd be revisiting a public bathhouse here. How long has it been since I last came to a place like this?"
Looking at the shabby bathhouse before him, Duanmu Huai felt speechless. Because he and Lorena had spent nearly all their Duel Points on skill books today, they were forced to rent two equally shabby apartments—barely better than storage closets. Apart from a bed and toilet, they had nothing. To bathe, they had to come to the nearby public bathhouse.
If I'd known it would be like this, I should've saved more Duel Points. This is pathetic.
"Tomorrow I've got to earn more points. At least enough to live somewhere halfway decent…"
Muttering to himself, Duanmu Huai stepped into the bathhouse.
Not long after he entered, two more silhouettes arrived outside.
"Seriously, why do I have to come to a place like this?"
The black-haired ponytailed man complained with clear annoyance.
"Because you broke the dojo's water pipes during the duel. They need time to repair. Nothing to be done."
The blond man beside him—wearing a martial arts uniform—answered calmly.
"Extreme Style is a major dojo. Can't they at least do better with maintenance?"
"If you want to complain, go tell my dad, Robert."
"Ugh… forget it."
The two men at the entrance were none other than Ryo Sakazaki and Robert Garcia of Kyokugenryu—top fighters and special guests for this year's Duel Tournament. Today, during a match at their dojo, they accidentally damaged the pipes. After being scolded by Ryo's sister Yuri, they were kicked out and forced to use the public bath instead.
But as they undressed and entered, they were surprised to find several men standing outside the large bath, completely naked, hesitating nervously as they stared inside—too afraid to enter.
"What's going on here?"
"Let's go ask."
Suspicious, Ryo and Robert approached. Robert tapped one of the men on the shoulder.
"Hey, what are you staring at? There aren't any women in there."
"Wah—! Ah, you two are from Kyokugenryu…"
Startled by Robert's tap, the men turned, recognized Ryo and Robert, and sighed in relief.
"Well… you see… there's a really scary guy inside the bath. We don't dare go in."
"A scary person?"
Ryo and Robert exchanged glances.
"That's right. Looks like some kind of yakuza… Everyone is terrified, so no one dares enter. I mean, could this be some yakuza tactic? Scare away customers and then demand money from the owner…"
"There's something like THAT?!"
Hearing this, the two couldn't sit still.
"Let's take a look."
They marched into the bathhouse.
The spacious bath was completely empty—no one inside. Clearly the other patrons had been scared off exactly as described.
Who the hell is bold enough to pull such a cheap trick…?
Seeing this, Ryo frowned deeply. To him, this was clearly shady behavior. This was just an old, run-down bathhouse—if gangsters were even harassing places like this, they had gone too far.
Then… where was this "key person"?
"Hey, Ryo. Look—over there."
Robert whispered, pointing ahead. Ryo followed his gaze—
And was shocked.
There, sitting in the hot bath, was a massive black silhouette. Under the light, they could see bulging muscles, dark bronze skin—and worst of all, even while seated, the man's height looked equivalent to them standing.
Is that even human!?
Even experienced fighters like Ryo and Robert were shaken. They assumed the "scary guy" would simply be rude—but instead what they found was a monster. That fierce face… even with his eyes closed, the oppressive aura rolling off him made their hearts tighten.
It felt less like a bathhouse and more like standing at the mouth of a cave in the wilderness—face to face with a sleeping tiger.
…No. Maybe a tiger would be easier to deal with.
Without realizing it, both men instinctively softened their breathing, as if afraid of waking the beast before them.
Wait—this isn't right…!
They suddenly snapped back to their senses.
They were Kyokugenryu fighters—how could they let themselves be intimidated by a single individual?!
If word got out, they'd never live it down!
"I'm going over there. This kind of behavior just inconveniences the shop!"
Gritting his teeth, Ryo clenched his fists and whispered sternly. He tried to steady himself, but the oppressive aura the man radiated—even while sitting—made him more tense than any match he'd fought in.
"Be careful," Robert whispered, clenching his fists as well. Then he chuckled lightly.
"But there's no need to be too worried. I've seen big guys like him. All muscle, no substance. Nothing to fear…"
"…Right…"
Ryo nodded, took a deep breath, and stepped forward.
"Hey, you—!"
"Hm?"
Hearing someone call him, Duanmu Huai opened his eyes and looked toward them. When he saw the two, he blinked.
Aren't these Ryo Sakazaki and Robert? I don't know these guys. What do they want with me?
"What is it?"
"———————!!"
What kind of eyes are those!?
The instant Duanmu Huai looked at them, both Ryo and Robert felt a terror unlike anything before. It was like the thing in the hot spring wasn't a man—but a dragon.
A dragon awakening and staring directly at them—its gaze conveying that if it wished, it could swallow them whole in the next moment.
What kind of monster IS this!?
Robert instinctively took a step back, raising his guard—not out of hostility, but because his body reacted on its own.
If he didn't defend himself—
He would die.
"A-are you… a martial artist?"
Despite trembling, Ryo forced himself to stay calm and asked.
"That's right. Do you two wish to challenge me?"
Duanmu Huai nodded. That wasn't strange. In Duel City, once one's win streak became high enough, reputation rose—and challengers would naturally appear. But Duanmu Huai didn't expect to get their challenge. Both of them were top-tier fighters. Normally, he would need quite a bit more reputation to receive such an invitation.
"Ah… yes!"
Realizing he had already spoken, Ryo had no choice but to continue.
"Tomorrow. Kyokugenryu Dojo. We'll be waiting for you!"
"No problem."
Duanmu Huai didn't think much of it. Kyokugenryu Dojo was a popular landmark even among players—if he got an invitation, of course he wouldn't refuse.
"Then we'll meet tomorrow."
Ryo and Robert carefully backed away. Seeing they were leaving, Duanmu Huai stood politely and nodded.
"Alright. I'll head to the dojo tomorrow—oh—"
As he moved, his bath towel slipped off his waist. Reflexively, Duanmu Huai bent to pick it up. When he looked up—
Ryo and Robert were already gone.
They left? Well, this isn't exactly the best place to chat anyway.
Duanmu Huai scratched his head, shrugged, and sat back down.
Tomorrow, he'd visit Kyokugenryu.
Meanwhile, in the changing room outside, Ryo and Robert were slumped against the wall—faces pale, gasping for breath.
"Hey… Robert… did you see that?"
"I saw… What WAS that thing?! No way that's something a human should have!"
Recalling the sight, Robert trembled again.
That ferocious dragon-like presence—did such a being really exist in the world?
Robert looked down at himself—and felt despair.
Before that creature, he was nothing more than a fragile, wriggling little worm.
"Don't give up!"
Ryo grabbed Robert's shoulder and glared into his eyes.
"We haven't lost yet! A man's battle has only just begun! Tomorrow, at the Kyokugenryu Dojo—we WILL defeat him! Stand tall, Robert! Do not surrender to fear!!"
"…Yeah. You're right, Ryo."
With Ryo's encouragement, Robert's dim gaze slowly regained its sharpness.
"Thank you… I won't bow down that easily!"
He turned toward the bathhouse entrance.
"Tomorrow… is the real battle!"
(End of Chapter)