A heavy tension lingered in the air. The sound of wind brushing against leaves in the South Forest Sector was the only thing filling the silence… until it wasn't.
"Oh yeah… I've waited for this fight,"
the Spiritual King said, perched high on his chair full of spiritual energy. His grin was wide. Hungry.
Back with Ryju and Kenshiro
Uzuki stood before them, cloaked in a violet aura that radiated pure pressure.
"Is this a family reunion or what?" Uzuki scoffed, cracking his knuckles.
"Finally… some real action," Kenshiro replied, the corner of his lip twitching into a smirk.
"Yeah," Ryju added, eyes sharp. "But this isn't going to end like last time."
"Oh really, huh?" Uzuki chuckled, vanishing with a blur.
Elsewhere, Team One Observes
From a rocky overlook, Rei watched with folded arms.
"Man… another group down."
A loud chime rang from the distant speakers.
Announcement: Team 22 has been eliminated.
Kuroyami narrowed his eyes. "Next group's up. I wonder how Ryju and Kenshiro are holding up."
In The shadows : The Unknown Team
A cloaked figure came to a halt, eyes glowing faintly.
"We've reached the South Forest Sector," he muttered.
Behind him, more shadows moved.
Back in the Fight
Uzuki's blade flashed.
"100 Consecutive Slashes!"
Ryju and Kenshiro both dodged, leaping to opposite trees.
"C'mon, really now?" Ryju called out, unimpressed.
"We've surpassed that already," Kenshiro added.
Uzuki smirked—and vanished.
"Death Slash!"
He reappeared behind Kenshiro, aiming to end it, but Kenshiro blocked the blow just in time.
"No way you expected that to work," Kenshiro said, sword shimmering into his hand.
Ryju shot up into the air, gathering energy.
"Full Body Spiritual Force!"
Uzuki raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? Finally learning something?"
"Y'all got this!" the Spiritual King shouted from afar, as if watching an arena match.
Meanwhile: Misa's Group
Misa gave a nod.
"Nice job, Zanden."
"Thank you," Zanden beamed.
"Don't get cocky," Azar muttered, arms crossed.
"Jealous, huh?" Zanden teased.
"Shut up!"
"Make me."
"I'll kill you—"
"Stop!" Misa snapped.
"Yes ma'am…" they replied in sync.
Back in Battle
Ryju swung his fist.
"Spiritual Punch!"
Uzuki shook his head.
"That's baby stuff."
Kenshiro's sword hummed.
"Guess it's time…"
"Oh? Trying to be like me now?" Uzuki mocked.
"Nah… not really." Kenshiro raised his blade. "Spiritual Slash!"
"Death Blitz!" Uzuki countered.
The two attacks collided, shaking the ground. Dust and wind burst outward in a brilliant clash of energy.
Uzuki landed, eyes narrowing.
He blocked my slash with just spiritual force? Something's off about this guy…
"I know what you're thinking," Kenshiro said, as if reading Uzuki's mind.
"Never let your guard down," Ryju added.
"Huh—?" Uzuki turned.
"Spiritual Force: Dragon Fist!"
Ryju's fist connected, sending Uzuki flying through the trees.
"Thought you said that was too weak," Ryju taunted.
Uzuki growled, wiping blood from his lip.
"It is. Believe me. But now, I'll show you everything."
He closed his eyes. A violent purple aura began to swirl around him, growing into a massive storm of energy.
"All this spiritual force…" Ryju whispered, stunned.
Back with Misa's Group
Misa's eyes widened.
"That energy—it's him. Follow me!"
"Okay!" Azar and Zanden replied in unison.
The Unknown Team
"He's close," said a young man with glowing marks across his arms. "Let's go."
Team One Reacts
Shun felt it first.
"That spiritual force… it's Uzuki."
"Then we can't wait," Rei said.
"Let's go," Kuroyami ordered.
"Yeah!" Goro shouted, already moving.
The Showdown Gathers Heat
"Let me end this," Uzuki said, his aura rising higher. "I'll destroy this whole sector!"
"Damn it!" Ryju cursed.
"Wait!!" a voice called out.
Uzuki paused, eyes narrowing.
"It's me, Misa!" she ran out from the trees.
"Misa? What're you doing here?" Ryju asked.
"Who's that?" Azar asked, pointing at Ryju.
"Want us to beat him up?" Zanden offered.
"No! He saved me from someone worse!"
Everyone froze.
"Uzuki?" Azar said in disbelief.
"This is bad…" Zanden muttered.
Suddenly, another voice rang out.
"Hey Uzuki, I've been waiting to see you," said a young man stepping into the clearing.
"So everyone wants to show up now, huh?" Uzuki grunted.
From above—
"Not yet!"
Uzuki looked up, stunned.
"Who's flying?" Misa asked, shielding her eyes.
"Oh yeah—coming in hot!" Rei shouted mid-air.
"So this is the party?" Goro grinned.
"Are we too late?" Kuroyami asked.
Ryju smiled.
"Nope. Just in time. But how are you flying? Logs?"
"Where's Shun?" Kenshiro asked.
"Because of him," Rei said.
A new figure stepped into the clearing, walking slowly, spiritual force weighing down the air like a mountain.
Uzuki stepped back, uneasy.
"That presence…"
"So powerful…" the unknown boy whispered.
"Who is that?" Ryju asked.
Kenshiro's eyes widened.
"Shun…?"
"Oh, hey," Shun said with a casual wave. "I see everyone's gathered around our flag. Is there a problem?"
"What happened to you?" Ryju asked.
"I unlocked my ability," Shun said with a small smirk. "I'm strong now."
"Shun…" Misa stepped forward.
"Hey, Misa," he greeted gently.
Then his eyes turned serious.
"The bad thing for all of you… is that this is my territory now. And I control everything here."
Uzuki took a step forward.
"What's his ability…? Doesn't matter. I've never lost."
"Yes," the unknown boy whispered, eyes glowing. "Finally getting interesting."
"This finna get crazy…" Azar said, wide-eyed.
"Yeah," Zanden agreed, fists clenched.
High above, the Spiritual King watched the battlefield unfold.
"So… Team One, Team Eight, Team Seventeen, and Team Fifty… Let's see who comes out on top."
This… is where the real challenge begins.
To be continued…