"Bro, how are you so strong?" Sharin asked, panting slightly. "Your moves were insane. The way you blocked that kick—I mean, damn! Where did you learn to fight like that?"
Lioran gave a modest shrug, though a flicker of memory stirred within him. "I used to take martial arts back in middle school."
His mind drifted to 7–8 years ago—a younger version of himself, smaller, nervous, standing in a dojo. He had just been thrown to the ground by another kid.
Thud!
Due to embarrassment, he was scared and started crying.
"Why are you crying?" his mother had shouted from the sidelines. "Did you forget what I had told you? If you lose, try harder. If you lose again, try even harder.
Always remember, it didn't matter that you win or lose, the most important thing is that you gave your best or not. So stand up and show them you're not a crybaby."
He stood to his feet, teeth clenched, the sting in his eyes fading into determination. He fought again.
Back in the present, Sharin grinned and nudged him. "Still, that move—you know the one I'm talking about. That guy was about to kick you, and bam, you just… moved your kick so fast, it was like a blur. You blocked his leg midair like it was nothing."
Lioran hesitated. He gave a sheepish smile. "Maybe I got lucky."
But inside, he knew.
It wasn't luck. It all started when I turned eighteen.
---
It had been a quiet evening. After his birthday dinner, Lioran had gone for a walk.
Bark! Bark!
As he passed a pond near the edge of the neighborhood, he heard desperate barking.
A puppy had fallen into the water.
Without thinking, he dove in.
Splash!
He reached the struggling pup and wrapped his arms around it. He turned to swim up—but something yanked him back.
Tug!
His foot was caught in trash tangled beneath the surface—plastic, rope, metal.
He kicked hard, panic rising as his lungs screamed for air. He started fainting.
Bubble bubble...
Then, everything went black.
But in that darkness, golden particles shimmered.
Shiiinngg!
Below his foot, a glowing circle appeared—complex, ancient symbols rotating within it.
Boom!
In an instant, it released a burst of energy that hurled him out of the water.
He landed hard on the land, gasping and coughing up pond water.
Cough! Cough!
The puppy squirmed weakly beside him.
Ever since that day, the strange dreams had started.
---
Now, in class beside Sharin, Lioran struggled to stay awake. His head swam, and his eyes drooped. He slept.
A dark street. A red sky overhead.
He saw it again: the creature, shadowy and grotesque, hunched over a corpse, devouring it with monstrous hunger.
Chomp! Chomp!
Then—two people arrived. One of them raised a hand, flames igniting around his fingers.
Fwoosh!
"You'll go no further, creature," he growled. "Ember Ring!"
A ring of fire erupted around the monster, trapping it.
Crackle!
But the creature released a swirling cloud of black gas.
Wooooosh!
The flames flickered and died.
The two men exchanged stunned glances.
Then it vanished.
Snap!
A breath later, it attacked behind them.
Slashhh!
Lioran gasped and jolted upright in his seat, knocking his chair slightly.
Clatter!
"Is everything alright, Lioran?" the teacher asked.
"Yes, ma'am. Just… dozed off," he mumbled, rubbing his face.
Sharin glanced at him with concern but said nothing.
---
That evening, they walked home together under the fading light.
"You sure you're okay?" Sharin asked. "You looked like you saw a ghost in class."
Lioran hesitated. "It's just… I've been having these weird dreams. Really vivid, dark stuff. They're messing with my head. I guess I'm not sleeping well."
"You should take it easy then. Get some rest." Sharin gave him a small smile. "See you tomorrow, alright?"
"Yeah. See you."
They parted ways at the corner. Lioran continued toward home.
What are these dreams? he thought. Why do they feel so real?
Suddenly, a person rushed at him—a man, face covered by a cap and mask, swinging a rod.
Swoosh!
Lioran barely dodged. The attacker ran from there.
"Hey! Get back here!" Lioran yelled, sprinting after him.
The chase led deeper into the winding alleys of the city. Finally, the attacker stopped beneath a flickering street lamp.
Buzz… flicker…
He pulled off his mask and cap.
Lioran surprised. That person was actually Tamrik.
"Tamrik?" Lioran's steps faltered. "What is your problem?"
The boy's face twisted in rage. "You. You're my problem."
"You embarrassed me! You humiliated me in front of everyone."
"You were beating Sharin!" Lioran shot back. "I wasn't just going to stand there—"
"Shut up!" Tamrik screamed.
Footsteps approaching…
From the shadows, more figures emerged. One by one, they surrounded Lioran.
Tamrik smirked. "Meet the strongest gang in the city. I hired them especially for you."
The gang leader stepped forward. "We'll handle this quickly."
Lioran dropped his bag.
Thud!
"Come on, then."
The first two attacked—Lioran ducked under a punch, elbowed one in the ribs, spun and kicked the other square in the chest.
More came at him. He blocked, dodged and struck. Every hit he landed felt sharper, stronger than it should have. His body moved on instinct.
Bam! Crack! Thud!
But he was outnumbered. Slowly, they began to wear him down.
---
Far away, there was a high-tech control room filled with monitors.
Ring! Ring!
An old man talked to someone on call.
"Narvan has escaped", those people who were fighting that creature, speak.
One of them was badly injured.
A voice crackled in response. "I'll take care of it."
---
Back in the alley, Lioran was bleeding now. Scrapes, bruises, a gash above his eyebrow. His breath came ragged.
Tamrik, desperate, gestured to two gang members. They grabbed Lioran from behind, pinning his arms.
Grunt! Struggle!
Tamrik approached, lifting an iron rod.
Screechhh!
"This is what you get."
Lioran struggled. "I can't get free… What do I do?"
Tamrik hit the rod.
Clang!
Lioran blocked it with his one leg.
"I had to use it."
Shiiiinnnggg!
Lioran used his power and that circle appeared again between his leg and the rod.
Boom!
Lioran pushed Tamrik away. He landed, rolled, and sprang back up.
Slide! Flip!
He grabbed the rod from Tamrik and slammed it against his shoulder.
Crack! Aaaaghhh!
Lioran pointed the rod at him. "Leave. Now. Before I change my mind."
Bang!
But a sudden gunshot cracked through the air.
Lioran staggered. He looked down. Blood poured from a hole in his stomach.
Drip… drip…
He fell to his knees.
Thump!
Tamrik stared in horror. "What the hell?! We weren't supposed to kill him!"
The gang leader sneered, lowering the gun. "He embarrassed me. He dies."
"You're insane!"
"Say that again, and I'll shoot you too."
Lioran tried to rise but collapsed. His vision blurred. Everything tilted.
Ringing… fading…
The gang leader stepped forward, raising a rod.
"And now," he said coldly, "you'll never stand again."
He hit the rod.
Blood spread on the wall.
Then, everything went black.
Silence.
---
After a few minutes, golden particles showed, dancing like fireflies.
Ting! Ting! Ting!
Lioran came to consciousness. His head throbbed. His shirt was soaked in blood. His body felt like it had been through hell—but he was still alive.
He forced himself to stand, barely. Every muscle screamed. His vision swam.
He reached for his bag and stumbled out of the alley.
Behind him, silence.
No footsteps. No voices.
Just the Dead bodies of Tamrik's gang, scattered in the shadows.
---
To be continued…