Greatest of All Time – Season 2Chapter 12: The Battle of Tiger Mountain
The sun was rising.
Golden light spread across the peaks of Tiger Mountain.
At the highest training ground...
Arashio stood silently.
His clothes were torn from months of training.
His body had become stronger.
His movements had become faster.
And his eyes...
Were filled with determination.
The 300-kilogram iron weights lay on the ground behind him.
CLANG.
Arashio looked down at them.
For months, they had felt like mountains attached to his legs.
But now...
They were nothing.
Inside his consciousness—
James smiled.
"So..."
"Ready?"
Saku cracked his imaginary knuckles.
"Finally!"
Arashio smiled.
"Yeah."
"I'm ready."
The Tiger Master stood behind him.
"You believe you're ready?"
Arashio nodded.
"I am."
The old man smiled.
"Then prove it."
Suddenly—
BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
The entire mountain shook.
Arashio's smile disappeared.
Birds exploded from the trees.
The ground trembled.
A massive shadow covered the sky.
Arashio looked upward.
Hundreds...
No.
Thousands of dragons were flying toward Tiger Mountain.
Behind them...
A gigantic army descended.
The Dragon Army.
James' expression became serious.
"...That's not good."
Saku looked around.
"Uh..."
"Master?"
The Tiger Master slowly turned toward the sky.
His eyes became cold.
"The Dragon King has arrived."
BOOOOOOM!!
The first dragon crashed into the mountain.
Tiger warriors immediately rushed forward.
"DEFEND THE VILLAGE!!"
Thousands of Tiger Army soldiers appeared.
Their Monster Souls awakened.
Tigers.
Wolves.
Eagles.
Snakes.
Massive beasts appeared across the battlefield.
ROOOOOAR!!
The mountain exploded into chaos.
Arashio stepped forward.
The Tiger Master looked at him.
"Don't use your soul powers."
Arashio froze.
"What?"
"Fight with your body."
Arashio smiled.
"That's easy."
James immediately shouted,
"HE'S LYING!"
Saku laughed.
"He's definitely going to regret that!"
Arashio jumped from the mountain.
BOOOOM!!
He landed directly in front of a Dragon Soldier.
The soldier attacked.
Arashio ducked.
WHOOSH!
A punch.
BAM!!
The Dragon Soldier flew backward.
Another charged.
Arashio stepped sideways.
CRACK!!
A powerful elbow struck its face.
Another.
BAM!!
A knee.
Another.
BOOM!!
A spinning kick.
Arashio moved like lightning.
Years of training had completely changed his fighting style.
James laughed.
"LOOK AT HIM!"
Saku shouted,
"ARASHIO'S A BEAST!"
Arashio grabbed a Dragon Soldier and threw him into another.
BOOOOM!!
Arashio smiled.
"Wow..."
"Those iron weights were actually useful."
James laughed.
"YOU THOUGHT THEY WERE USELESS!"
Arashio jumped.
His body twisted in midair.
BAM!!
He kicked a dragon directly in the jaw.
The creature crashed into the mountain.
The Tiger Army stared.
"Who is that kid?!"
"He isn't even using Monster Soul power!"
"He's fighting like a Tiger Master disciple!"
Arashio landed.
Then—
A massive roar echoed across the battlefield.
ROOOOOOOOOOOOAR!!
Everything stopped.
The Dragon Army parted.
A golden figure slowly walked through the smoke.
The Dragon King.
Arashio's smile disappeared.
The Dragon King looked directly at him.
"So..."
"You survived."
Arashio clenched his fists.
"I told you..."
"I'm coming for you."
The Dragon King smiled.
"Then come."
Arashio disappeared.
BOOOOOOM!!
He launched himself forward.
The battle began.
THE BATTLE OF TIGER MOUNTAIN
Arashio's fist flew toward the Dragon King's face.
WHOOSH!
The Dragon King moved his head slightly.
Miss.
Arashio immediately followed with a kick.
BAM!!
The Dragon King blocked.
Arashio spun.
Another kick.
Blocked.
Punch.
Dodged.
Elbow.
Blocked.
The Dragon King finally countered.
BOOOOM!!
Arashio flew backward.
But before hitting the ground—
He twisted.
THUD!
He landed perfectly.
The Dragon King raised an eyebrow.
"Interesting."
Arashio smiled.
"Thanks to my training."
He charged again.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Three punches.
The Dragon King blocked every one.
Arashio suddenly disappeared.
The Dragon King looked around.
"Where—?"
Arashio appeared above him.
"Mountain Drop!"
BOOOOOOM!!
Arashio kicked downward.
The Dragon King blocked with both arms.
The force shattered the ground beneath him.
Arashio jumped backward.
James screamed,
"KEEP GOING!"
Saku shouted,
"YOU'RE ACTUALLY HURTING HIM!"
Arashio attacked again.
Faster.
Stronger.
Sharper.
The Tiger Master watched from a distance.
His eyes widened.
"His body..."
"He's finally learned."
Arashio suddenly jumped high into the sky.
The Dragon King looked upward.
Arashio's body became a blur.
He dove directly toward the Dragon King's army.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!
The impact created a massive explosion.
Dust covered the battlefield.
Arashio stood in the center.
The Dragon King stared.
"Not bad."
Arashio grinned.
"That was just the beginning."
The Dragon King's smile disappeared.
"Then..."
"Let me show you mine."
Suddenly—
His Monster Soul erupted.
ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAR!!
The sky turned black.
A gigantic dragon appeared behind him.
Its wings covered the entire mountain.
Its eyes glowed golden.
The Dragon King raised his hand.
"Soul Release."
The dragon opened its mouth.
Arashio froze.
James screamed.
"ARASHIO!!"
Saku shouted,
"DODGE!!"
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
A massive golden blast exploded.
Arashio was caught directly inside it.
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!"
His body flew through the air.
Blood sprayed across the battlefield.
CRAAAAASH!!
He hit the mountain.
The entire cliff collapsed.
Silence.
"ARASHIO!!"
Siya's voice echoed from far away.
She was watching from the evacuation area with the other students.
Her eyes filled with tears.
"No..."
Arashio slowly tried to stand.
His body was covered in blood.
His vision blurred.
But before he could move—
CLANG!!
Iron chains wrapped around his arms.
Another chain grabbed his legs.
Another around his chest.
Arashio struggled.
"Ugh!"
The Dragon Army pulled the chains.
Arashio was forced onto his knees.
The Dragon King slowly approached.
"Your training..."
"Your friends..."
"Your determination..."
"None of it matters."
He raised his fist.
Arashio looked up.
Suddenly—
"STOP!"
The Tiger Master appeared.
The Dragon King turned.
A smile slowly appeared.
"You."
The Tiger Master stepped forward.
"Let him go."
The Dragon King laughed.
"You've become old."
The Tiger Master removed his coat.
Arashio's eyes widened.
"Master..."
The Tiger Master looked back.
"Stay down."
Then—
BOOOOOOM!!
The Tiger Master disappeared.
He struck the Dragon King directly in the face.
The Dragon King flew backward.
The Tiger Army cheered.
"MASTER!!"
"THE TIGER MASTER IS FIGHTING!"
The Dragon King stood.
Blood dripped from his mouth.
He smiled.
"Finally."
"Show me..."
"How much strength you have left."
The two legends clashed.
BOOM!!
BAM!!
CRAAAAASH!!
Their fists collided.
Mountains shattered.
The sky exploded.
The Tiger Master moved with incredible speed.
The Dragon King countered.
For a moment...
It looked equal.
Arashio watched in disbelief.
"He's actually fighting him..."
James whispered,
"That's the Tiger Master."
Saku smiled.
"He's incredible."
The Tiger Master suddenly struck the Dragon King with a devastating attack.
BOOOOOOM!!
The Dragon King crashed into the mountain.
Everyone cheered.
But then...
Silence.
The Dragon King stood.
He wiped the blood from his mouth.
"That..."
"Was your best?"
The Tiger Master's eyes widened.
The Dragon King disappeared.
BAM!!
A fist struck the Tiger Master's stomach.
Blood exploded from his mouth.
BOOM!!
Another punch.
CRACK!!
Another.
The Tiger Master flew across the battlefield.
CRAAAAASH!!
He landed beside Arashio.
Arashio's eyes widened.
"MASTER!!"
The Tiger Master slowly tried to stand.
But his body refused.
Arashio stared at him.
"Why..."
"Why can't you win?"
The Tiger Master smiled weakly.
"Because..."
"When I fought him..."
"I was only using one power."
Arashio froze.
"What?"
The Tiger Master looked at the Dragon King.
"I thought..."
"One power would be enough."
He laughed softly.
"I was wrong."
Arashio's eyes filled with tears.
"Master..."
The Tiger Master looked at him.
"Don't cry."
"You still have a future."
Arashio shook his head.
"No..."
"Please..."
"Don't say that..."
The Tiger Master smiled.
"Arashio..."
"Remember what I taught you."
"The strongest warriors..."
"Are not born."
"They are forged..."
"Through despair."
His eyes slowly closed.
Arashio screamed.
"MASTER!!"
The battlefield became completely silent.
Siya covered her mouth.
Tears flowed down her face.
The students stared helplessly.
The Tiger Army lowered their weapons.
Everyone knew.
They had lost.
The Dragon King slowly walked forward.
Arashio looked at him through tears.
"You..."
"You killed him..."
The Dragon King raised his fist.
"Now..."
"I'll finish you."
Arashio's eyes widened.
Inside his consciousness—
James screamed.
"ARASHIO!!"
Saku shouted,
"GET UP!!"
Arashio tried.
His body wouldn't move.
He looked toward Siya.
She was crying.
He looked toward the Tiger Army.
They were broken.
He looked at James.
Then Saku.
His two closest friends.
And finally...
The Dragon King's fist rose.
Arashio whispered.
"...I'm sorry."
The Dragon King attacked.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
The screen of the battlefield disappeared into darkness.
One final sound echoed.
CRACK.
Silence.
Then—
Nothing.
TO BE CONTINUED...