Smoke still hung over the village. Bodies scattered. Fear and chaos everywhere.
Ryuji's fists burned. The golden energy pulsed through him. His first instinct? Fight. But the enemies were too many. Too strong.
"Stop!" The old master's voice cut through the chaos. Ryuji turned. The master's eyes glowed with power. "Focus, not fury. You cannot control the Dragon with just anger."
Ryuji clenched his teeth. Control? He barely understood what was happening inside him.
"You will train," the master said. "If you cannot master your inner power, the Dark Cloud Sect will destroy everything."
The next day, Ryuji arrived at a hidden cliff temple. The master handed him a simple wooden staff. "Today, you begin with the basics. Balance, focus, discipline."
Ryuji groaned. Basics? After the fire in his fists yesterday, this felt… boring.
Suddenly, a shadow darted across the training ground. A boy, slightly older, with sharp eyes and a confident smirk.
"Who are you?" Ryuji asked.
"I'm Kael," the boy said. "I train with the Iron Tiger Clan. Heard you survived the Dark Cloud attack. Not bad… for a weakling."
Ryuji's fists clenched. Weakling? That word burned more than the training yesterday.
"Let's see if your Dragon is real," Kael said, rushing forward in a blur.
Ryuji barely had time to raise his staff. The world slowed. The energy inside him flared. His first true battle had begun.
Strike after strike, block after block, Ryuji realized something terrifying—and exhilarating: his Dragon energy could amplify his reflexes.
But Kael wasn't holding back. Every strike, every step tested Ryuji's control, his speed, his courage.
"Focus… control…" Ryuji muttered, feeling the Dragon energy settle, like a fire being tamed.
At the cliff's edge, Kael lunged for a final strike. Ryuji gritted his teeth. In a golden flash, he blocked it, sending Kael stumbling back.
"Not bad," Kael said, panting. "Looks like you've got potential. But don't think the Dragon is all power. Control comes first."
Ryuji's chest heaved. Golden energy shimmered faintly around him. This was just the beginning.
The Dark Cloud Sect was out there. The clans were waiting. And Ryuji had just taken his first step toward awakening the Inner Dragon.