He still remembered the days of being locked away, trapped alone with his thoughts. He was a hollow shell of himself, a mere shadow of the man he used to be. The emptiness inside him was indescribable, an endless void that consumed everything he once was.
He had nothing left—everything had been taken from him.
His gaze was fixed on the cell floor, his eyes locked on a small pool of water formed from a leak in the ceiling. The rhythmic drip echoed in his ears, each drop a cruel reminder of the fateful day that had destroyed his life.
Food trays came and went, untouched. He ignored them all, remaining motionless as the hours turned into days, and the days stretched into what felt like an eternity. Why wasn't he dead yet? Why hadn't they just killed him? Why couldn't he simply cease to exist?
Ozut and Meln, the guards assigned to watch him, stood inside the cell. Ozut held a fresh tray of food, his expression twisted with frustration as he looked at the wretched figure before him—a man who was barely alive.
"Why can't we just kill him?" Ozut snarled, his voice laced with irritation.
"Beats me," Meln replied, his tone more measured. "Captain Erber's orders."
"We're wasting food on this… trash," Ozut said, slamming the tray down onto the stone floor. With a frustrated growl, he stormed out of the cell.
Meln lingered, crouching beside the prisoner. He grabbed the man's face, forcing him to look up. Lifeless eyes stared back at him, empty and devoid of any spark. For a moment, Meln hesitated, but the harsh reality of their situation pushed his doubt aside. They were low-level knights, barely getting enough food themselves, and here they were squandering what little they had on someone who didn't even eat it.
"Alright. We'll take him out."
Ozut stopped in his tracks and turned back, a malicious grin spreading across his face as he drew his sword.
"Finally!" Ozut said with relish, ready to end the prisoner's misery.
"Not with that, idiot," Meln snapped. "I don't want to clean up the blood, and we'll be the first suspects if there's a mess."
Ozut paused, considering Meln's words. The logic was sound, and it cooled his earlier rage. Slowly, he sheathed his weapon, his grin replaced by a calculating smirk.
"Fine," he said. "We'll throw him out. He'll die soon enough anyway."
They unchained him. Ozut lifted his frail body, startled by how light he was. Slinging him over his shoulder like a sack of grain, Ozut carried him while Meln kept watch. The corridor was eerily quiet as they moved swiftly, keeping to the shadows.
When they neared the exit, the sound of approaching soldiers echoed down the hall. Quickly, they ducked behind a nearby wall, their breaths shallow as they peered around the corner to assess the threat.
As they waited, Matsu stirred. His heavy eyelids fluttered open, and something shiny caught his attention. It glimmered faintly in the dim light—a ring on one of the guards' fingers. His heart skipped. It was the ring his grandfather had worn, the one he thought lost forever.
Something deep within him snapped. Instinct overpowered his frailty, and for the first time in months, his arms moved. They trembled violently as he reached out, his skeletal fingers brushing against the air, yearning for the ring.
"Now!" Meln hissed as the coast cleared.
The two guards moved quickly, rushing toward the exit. Once outside, they didn't stop. They bolted toward the forest, their pace quick and unrelenting until the shadows of the trees enveloped them.
"Dump him here," Meln ordered, his voice sharp and cold.
Ozut didn't hesitate. He hurled Matsu into a bush, his fragile body landing with a painful thud. The guards turned and disappeared into the forest without a backward glance.
Matsu groaned, the impact sending sharp pain radiating through his body. As he opened his hand, the shine of the ring reflected in his tired, sunken eyes. For the first time since that fateful day, a smile broke across his lips. He clutched the ring tightly to his chest, his heart swelling with bittersweet relief.
He whispered softly to himself, "Now, I can die with you Grandpa... Lucky."
But the sharp sting of pain in his ribs pulled him from his moment of peace. He gasped, his grip loosening, and the ring slipped from his fingers.
Panic set in immediately. "Where is it?!" he rasped, his voice hoarse and frantic.
Summoning every ounce of strength left in his frail body, he crawled out of the bush, dragging himself forward with trembling arms. His eyes darted wildly until they landed on the ring, glinting a few feet away.
He clawed his way toward it, inch by agonizing inch, until his fingers finally closed around it. Relief washed over him, but something about the ring felt different. His eyes narrowed as he noticed a small section of the ring's surface protruding slightly.
"Did I break it?" Matsu wondered, his brows furrowing.
Curiosity overtook him. He examined it closely and discovered a tiny hatch cleverly concealed within the band. With great effort, he used his scrawny fingers to pry it open. Something small fell out, landing softly on the ground before him.
It was…
A punch.
"Don't haze out on me now," Knife snarled, his voice a low growl, fist already mid-swing. "We're just getting started."
And something inside Matsu snapped awake.
His body moved before his mind caught up.
He jerked his head to the side just enough.
Knife's punch crashed into the ground beside Matsu's head, sending a web of cracks spidering through the earth. Chunks of stone flew, dust blasted into the air, and the force rang in Matsu's skull like a gong.
A sudden, violent twist—his body surged sideways, and his wooden leg shot out in a brutal kick.
WHAM!
The heel caught Knife square in the side of the head, knocking him off balance. He staggered back with a snarl, hand snapping to the ground for support as he skidded through the dirt.
Matsu coughed, dragging himself up with one arm, shovel clenched in the other.
Breathing hard. Hurt bad. This guy was way different from the other bounty hunters sent after him.
Knife was also at his limit, red spots started to appear on his body as old wound had started to open up. Despite that, Knife still had a grin on his face. It was fun, so much fun.
It had been a while since he had fought on equal footing with someone, he wished this could keep on going for ever.
They stared each other down, and it was then they both realized something, that they were equal.
It was time to end this.
With no more words, they both lunged—
meeting in the middle.
BAM!
Their elbows collided with a thunderous crack, the shockwave bursting through the clearing like a cannon shot.
They recoiled, then both struck again—
But Knife was faster.
CRACK!
A brutal right hook smashed into Matsu's jaw.
Knife grinned—until Matsu's shovel thrust upward, jamming straight into his face and jerking his head sideways with a sickening snap.
Knife staggered.
But Matsu didn't stop.
He used the recoil to flip himself backward, slamming the shovel toward the ground—using the motion to stabilize.
Knife wiped the blood off his lip, snarling.
"I told you…"
His foot whipped around in a wide arc—backhanding Matsu mid-air.
"…I won't let you touch the ground."
SMACK!
The kick launched Matsu upward again. The shovel's blade missed the dirt by an inch.
Knife's eyes gleamed.
"Let's take it higher," he growled.
He grabbed Matsu by the collar mid-air—
And hurled him into the sky.
WHOOSH!
Matsu flew upward like a ragdoll, the wind screaming past his ears.
Below, Knife crouched—
All his muscles flexed tight.
His boots cracked the earth.
"This is it," Knife whispered, his grin spreading. "I'll go all out."
The ground trembled beneath his feet.
Then—
BOOM!!!
He vanished in a burst of speed.
A silver streak shot upward—
SILVER MISSILE!
He flew upwards towards matsu like a rocket.
Knife charged a punch. Aiming it at matsu head.
Matsu's hood flared in the wind and you could see his green eye. The eye looking into-
A seed.
It was a seed
Matsu stared at it, confusion etched across his face. Why would his grandfather have hidden a seed inside his wedding ring? Then, like a distant echo, the memory of his grandfather's words surfaced in his mind:
"I used to have a dream," his grandfather had said one evening at the dining table, his voice wistful and full of warmth.
Understanding hit Matsu like a wave. "So… you wanted to plant this," he murmured, tears welling in his eyes. He clutched the seed tightly, his shoulders shaking as emotions he'd buried for so long surged forth.
But then he stopped himself. "No," he said firmly, wiping the tears away. "I won't cry anymore."
A newfound determination began to stir within him, not rage, not vengeance. Purpose. Igniting a spark in the emptiness he thought would consume him forever. He pressed his trembling hands against the ground, willing his frail legs to support him as he stood. He swayed, almost falling backward, but managed to steady himself.
He took a deep breath.
"I WILL MAKE YOUR DREAM COME TRUE, GRANDPA!" Matsu shouted, his voice filled with resolve. Hoping his voice would reach the heavens.
He looked up toward the sky, his gaze steely and unwavering. "But I won't just plant it. I'll plant it so high up so that the whole world will see."
With the ring and the seed clenched tightly in his hand, Matsu took a deep breath. He would honor his grandfather's dream, no matter the cost.
"I'll make it happen. I promise."
His hood flew off.
Knife's eyes widened mid-air.
This guy… he was smiling?
A real smile.
"My name is Matsu Molfo," the boy shouted,"And I have a promise to fulfill!"
Matsu's fist flew down to meet Knife's.
Two fists. Two souls.
One collision.
SWISH—
SWUSCH—
CRACK!
Matsu's jaw snapped sideways from the blow.
Knife's inhuman reflex kicked in. He slipped just slightly—dodging the counter by instinct.
He exhaled with a grin, wind whipping past his face.
"You're awesome. Even in your last moment…you still threw a perfect counter."
But then—Matsu smiled again.
ROOT FARM!
Knife blinked. "What?"
WHAM!
A massive wooden fist burst from nowhere—slamming directly into Knife's jaw.
He reeled, spinning in the air.
Shocked.
"What the hell—?! We're in the air! Where did that even come from?!"
He looked down—
His eyes widened in disbelief.
Matsu had driven his shovel through his own prosthetic wooden leg—
Planting it.
Using it to grow mid-air.
The vines had sprung from the wood like a coiled trap.
Knife grunted—
and both men fell.
CRASH!!!
They hit the ground like meteors—bodies torn, bloodied, exhausted.
Silence followed.
Leaves drifted down from the sky.
The wind whispered again.
As the smoke began to clear, Matsu groaned, staggering to his feet.
Every part of Matsu's body screamed.
That last punch… it was like getting hit by a freight train.
He clutched his ribs, breathing hard, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.
But at least…It was over
Then he looked up—
—and his eyes widened.
Across the battlefield, Knife was getting up too.
No way…
The white-haired bounty hunter trembled as he rose, blood soaking through his clothes, his body covered in bruises, cuts, and mud.
But he stood, hunched and grinning.
"Amazing," Knife rasped through bloodied teeth. "So strong…"
His eyes glowed faintly, almost red.
He looked like a dying beast—but one still ready to kill.
Matsu spat blood, barely able to keep his balance.
Neither of them had anything left…
But still—they charged.
Slow.
Stumbling.
Screaming.
Two battered titans, dragging themselves toward one final blow.
Then—
"WAIT!!!"
A voice cracked through the air like lightning.
Both of them froze mid-step, arms raised—fists inches from each other.
They turned their heads at the same time.
Lin.
She was running toward them, eyes wide, face streaked with tears.
But it was too late.
Their punches, already set in motion—couldn't be stopped.
WHAM!
Both fists collided—
Crack!
They flew backward, crashing into the dirt with thuds.
Silence.
"Why are big brothers fighting?!" she cried, her voice breaking as she stood between them.
Lin dropped to her knees between them, sobbing as she looked down at the two collapsed bodies—
Both completely spent.
Breathing hard.
Bloodied.
Broken.
Matsu groaned, barely able to lift his head.
"…What… are you doing here, Lin?" he muttered.
Knife coughed, a lopsided grin on his bloodied face.
"Stupid brat…"
And then—
Both of them fainted.
Out cold.
Lin's eyes widened in panic. "BIG BROTHERS!!!" she screamed, tears welling in her eyes.