Greatest of All Time – Season 2Chapter 10: The Tiger Master's LegacyThe End of Despair
The battlefield had become silent.
Smoke covered the sky.
Broken buildings burned beneath crimson flames.
Arashio stood trembling.
His clothes were torn.
Blood dripped from every wound.
One blue eye...
One crimson eye...
Were slowly losing their light.
Inside his consciousness...
James breathed heavily.
"Damn..."
"Our power is running out..."
Saku clenched his fists.
"He isn't even using his full strength..."
The Dragon King slowly walked forward.
Each step shattered the ground beneath his feet.
His golden eyes looked at Arashio without emotion.
"So..."
"This is the vessel chosen by two legends?"
"...Pathetic."
Arashio forced himself to stand.
He wiped the blood from his lips.
"I..."
"...won't lose."
Blue lightning burst across the battlefield.
Crimson flames erupted toward the sky.
James roared,
"One last attack!"
Saku smiled fiercely.
"Give him everything!"
Arashio disappeared.
His speed tore apart the air itself.
He appeared behind the Dragon King.
"Crimson Lightning..."
"GOAT BREAKER!!"
A punch powerful enough to split mountains crashed toward the Dragon King's back.
...
Nothing happened.
The Dragon King didn't even turn around.
He caught Arashio's fist...
With one hand.
Silence.
James froze.
"...Impossible."
Saku's smile disappeared.
"No way..."
The Dragon King slowly looked over his shoulder.
"Too slow."
CRACK!!
He crushed Arashio's hand.
A horrifying scream echoed across the battlefield.
Before Arashio could react—
BOOOOOOM!!
A brutal knee struck his stomach.
Blood exploded from Arashio's mouth.
His body bent like broken glass.
The Dragon King grabbed his neck.
Then—
BAM!!
He slammed Arashio into the ground.
The earth collapsed.
A massive crater spread for hundreds of meters.
Arashio coughed blood continuously.
His vision blurred.
But the Dragon King wasn't finished.
He grabbed Arashio's leg...
And swung him through buildings.
BOOM!!
One building.
BOOM!!
Another.
BOOM!!
Another.
Concrete shattered like paper.
Cars exploded.
The entire city shook.
Inside Arashio's consciousness—
James slammed his fist against the darkness.
"STOP!!"
Saku shouted,
"His body's breaking apart!"
The Dragon King lifted Arashio high into the sky.
His voice echoed across the heavens.
"You possess potential..."
"But potential without experience..."
"...is meaningless."
He tightened his grip.
Arashio could barely breathe.
His heartbeat slowed.
His consciousness faded.
The Dragon King leaned closer.
"If you wish to become strong..."
"Go to..."
Tiger Mountain.
"Find the Tiger Master."
"Tell him..."
"The Dragon King has returned."
James' eyes widened.
"...Tiger Master?"
Saku whispered,
"So... he's still alive..."
The Dragon King smiled one last time.
"But first..."
"Survive."
He threw Arashio with terrifying force.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
Arashio became a streak of crimson and blue light.
He flew across mountains...
Across rivers...
Across forests...
Across endless skies.
Finally—
CRAAAAASH!!
His body smashed through hundreds of ancient trees deep inside an unknown jungle.
"The strongest warriors are not born... they are forged through despair."
Darkness.
Silence.
Pain.
Arashio felt as if his body had been torn apart countless times.
His vision was completely black.
Fragments of the Dragon King's laughter echoed inside his mind.
"You are nothing..."
"Find the Tiger Master..."
"If you survive."
His broken body continued falling through endless darkness.
Then...
A warm voice.
"Wake up..."
Another voice followed.
"Idiot... don't die before surpassing us."
James.
Saku.
Suddenly—
A ray of sunlight pierced the darkness.
Tiger Village
Arashio slowly opened his eyes.
A wooden ceiling greeted him.
The smell of medicine filled the room.
His body...
No longer hurt.
"Huh...?"
He slowly sat up.
Bandages wrapped around his chest, but every broken bone had already healed.
Before him stood nearly twenty warriors wearing tiger-emblem armor.
Some carried giant spears.
Others wore massive swords.
Each of them radiated tremendous Monster Soul energy.
One warrior smiled.
"Looks like our guest is awake."
Arashio blinked.
"...Where am I?"
"You are safe."
"The Tiger Army found you unconscious at the foot of Tiger Mountain."
Inside his consciousness...
James frowned.
"...Impossible."
Saku crossed his arms.
"The Dragon King's throw should have killed him."
The warrior laughed.
"Our village healer is famous across the world."
"Even shattered bones can recover."
Arashio lowered his head.
"...Thank you."
The soldiers nodded respectfully.
"The Master is waiting."
Tiger Temple
The temple rested at the mountain's summit.
Thousands of stone steps surrounded waterfalls flowing through ancient forests.
An enormous tiger statue stood before the entrance.
Its eyes glowed faintly.
Inside...
An old man quietly poured tea.
Long white hair.
Gentle eyes.
Simple clothing.
Yet...
His presence felt deeper than the ocean.
He smiled.
"So..."
"The Dragon King really sent you."
Arashio froze.
"You know him?"
The old man slowly nodded.
"I know him..."
"Better than anyone."
James became serious.
"...Tiger Master."
Saku whispered,
"So he's still alive..."
The old man looked toward empty space.
Almost as if...
He could sense James and Saku.
"...Interesting."
"You two have become souls."
James and Saku looked at each other in disbelief.
"He can see us..."
Tiger Master smiled.
"There is no need to hide."
He looked back at Arashio.
"Sit."
The Truth
The room became silent.
Rain began falling outside.
Tiger Master closed his eyes.
"Long ago..."
"The Dragon King wasn't a monster."
"He was my closest friend."
Arashio listened carefully.
"We trained together."
"We laughed together."
"We dreamed together."
"He wished to become Earth's greatest protector."
The old man's expression darkened.
"But..."
"As his power grew..."
"So did his pride."
"He challenged stronger and stronger warriors."
"S-Rank..."
"SS-Rank..."
"Kings..."
"Saints..."
"He defeated them all."
"Until one day..."
"He believed no one deserved to stand beside him."
James clenched his fists.
"So that's why..."
Tiger Master nodded.
"Power consumed his heart."
"He stopped protecting people."
"He began hunting warriors for amusement."
"He called it..."
"The Survival of the Strongest."
Lightning flashed outside.
Arashio slowly asked,
"Then..."
"Why don't you stop him?"
Tiger Master laughed softly.
"Because..."
"I'm old."
"My era ended many years ago."
"My body cannot keep up with his strength anymore."
He looked directly into Arashio's eyes.
"But..."
"You..."
"Still have a future."
Silence filled the room.
Tiger Master stood.
"Tomorrow..."
"Your true training begins."
"You have power."
"But no control."
"If you fight the Dragon King again..."
"You'll die in less than ten seconds."
Arashio lowered his head.
"...I understand."
Tiger Master smiled.
"For today..."
"Forget training."
"Go explore the village."
"Learn what you're fighting to protect."
Tiger Village
The afternoon sun painted the village in golden light.
Children chased each other through the streets.
Blacksmiths forged glowing weapons.
Merchants laughed with travelers.
The peaceful atmosphere felt completely different from the burning cities Arashio had left behind.
Inside his consciousness—
James stretched lazily.
"Haha..."
"I missed places like this."
Saku grabbed a grilled meat skewer from a passing stall.
"I wonder if souls can taste food..."
He took a bite.
"...Still can't."
James burst into laughter.
"You idiot!"
For the first time in days...
Arashio smiled.
"You two never change."
James wrapped an arm around Saku.
"That's why we're legends."
Saku grinned.
"Exactly."
The three continued walking together.
For a brief moment...
It almost felt like they were ordinary friends again.
But then...
Arashio looked toward the distant sky.
His smile disappeared.
"...Siya..."
James noticed immediately.
"You're worried."
"What if..."
"What if she's in danger because of me?"
No one answered.
The silence itself became the answer.
Meanwhile...
At the ruined school...
Smoke still drifted through the broken buildings.
Students were gathered together.
Their hands trembled.
Teachers lay injured on the ground.
A gigantic shadow slowly descended.
BOOOOOOM!!
The Dragon King landed before everyone.
His golden eyes swept across the terrified students.
Siya stepped in front of them.
"Leave them alone."
The Dragon King smiled.
"You still have courage."
He grabbed Siya by the throat.
Students screamed.
"SIYA!!"
She struggled to breathe.
The Dragon King lifted her into the air.
"I'll give Arashio..."
"Three days."
"If he wishes to save you..."
"He knows where to find me."
His eyes became ice cold.
"But if he doesn't come..."
"I won't just kill you."
"I'll erase everyone he loves."
He looked at every student.
"Remember this pain."
"Tell your little hero..."
"The Dragon King is waiting."
He released Siya.
She collapsed onto the ground, coughing violently.
The Dragon King spread his enormous wings.
With one powerful flap—
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!
He disappeared into the clouds.
Only silence remained.
Siya slowly looked toward Tiger Mountain far beyond the horizon.
A single tear rolled down her face.
"...Arashio..."
"...Please come back."
To Be Continued...