I wake up to the sound of cracking and snoring from someone who seems to be deeply asleep.
"Oi, Dash, wake up! Where are we? Atatatat… my head's burning. I feel like I was dancing on fire. And… for some reason, I don't recall anything that happened. I don't even remember getting on the train," I mutter.
Dash is still sleeping. I tickle his face, try to mess with his faint pink hair—but all in vain. He's completely gone. For some reason, I feel this strange coziness and ease, like the feeling of being a baby again—free from responsibility, free from everything. Now that I'm here on this train, it means I've passed the first obstacle… and others, much harder ones, still remain.
The last thing I remember is the Old Man's persistence to punish Dash for insulting him. After that… nothing. It's all vague, like someone erased that entire part—from that moment up until I woke up. Weird. Maybe I was dreaming. Who knows?But honestly, I'm feeling elated—exuberant even—because finally, I'll meet him again after all these years. And I'll prove that I can fight. Like a true warrior. Like those from myths and old stories.
I try again to wake Dash—he owes me an explanation of what happened. It's not like I lost the cogs and wires in my head.
"Oi, Dash, wake up! Come on! That's enough! We need to talk. Wake up!"Nothing works."Oi, strange-haircut boy, get up!"
Suddenly he jolts from his seat and stands on guard.
"What! I call you by your name and you don't wake up. I call you by that awful nickname, and you jump like a frog. What a strange man! Hahaha!" I tease him as he stretches his back and yawns.
"Yaaawn~ I'm too exhausted! Leave me be! By the way, how are you feeling? Last night you went wild after drinking three mugs of beer. I told you to stop, but you didn't listen, so I let you do as you wished. Your head must be burning now, right? See? I told you not to drink! It's too powerful for children like you! And what was that dance? I didn't know you could shake your body like that! Shake it! Shake it! Huhahahaha!" It's his turn to tease now.
"What?! I didn't know I was drunk! Impossible! I've never drunk before! No way I'd do that—I'm still underage! And dancing!? No waaay! It's not that I can't, but doing that in public? That's embarrassing! But wait… if I really was drunk, then… oh no, that must've been humiliating!"
"You're kidding, right? First of all, how come you're still alive? The Old Man was dead set on finishing you off. You were literally down. No… something's wrong," I question.
Dash averts his eyes to the left. Liar. I knew it—he's hiding something. I'd never drink and forget. At least I'd remember something, even faintly. Right? I'm not wrong!
"Dash, I don't like liars. You know something. I can smell it in the air. Just confess. What happened? There's something fishy," I corner him.
He averts his gaze again and tries to change the subject. "I heard there are strong candidates this year. I'm too excited to fight some," he says, hedging.
"Oi, Dash! Don't change the topic." I grab him from behind. "I asked you what happened that night. Tell me already! If you're afraid of something that might upset me, don't be. I don't bother being angry over silly things."
He tilts his head slightly toward me. "Angry, huh? You have no idea how angry you can get. Anyway, nothing important happened. The Old Man beat your ass after you charged at him. Then it was my turn—I tried to fight, but it was useless. Huhaha! He was insanely powerful. I wonder what kind of food he eats—his muscles were carved like stone. Anyway, rest a bit; we'll arrive soon. I'm going to take a piss. Don't do anything reckless."
He walks away, leaving me with more questions than answers. Damn it, he did me dirty. I know the Old Man—once he sets his mind on something, he never backs down. There was that time I stole one egg and he chased me across the whole town. He caught me and made me clean the chicken coop all night. Aghhh! Disgusting!
Meanwhile, I take my seat and notice weird patterns on both my forearms. They look like my summoned blades—only smaller and… kinda cute. They seem like tattoos, but when I touch them, they feel engraved and yet… not. There's also this heavy feeling in my chest, like something's sitting on me, making it hard to breathe. It's strange.
As I ponder over the symbols and why they look like blades, Dash returns with a bag of food. "Take it. That's all I found. And damn, it sucks! I miss the food from home!" he sighs, clearly homesick. No wonder—wherever you go, you always wish to return, even for a moment. After all, that's what home means: a place where someone's waiting for you.
I eat. I devour the whole bag. I've never been this hungry in my life. It feels like I haven't eaten in centuries. And what's with my body? Since waking up, I've felt light—as if I could fly. I also feel… thinner. Weird.
"Mmph—so good—I can't even—chew chew—wait, where do you come from? Gulp. I never asked before," I say mid-bite.
He sighs, annoyed. "A distant place where everything's boring and monotonous. Nothing happens there. You just sit, eat, and get fat. It's…" He barely finishes his sentence.
I really want to know more, but some things are better left unasked. "Hmm, sounds interesting. Munch, munch—ahum hum!" I cough hard, choking on food.
"Eat first, then talk! Typical peasant—you've got no manners! Ahhh, I'm stuck with you forever!" he scolds.
"Sorry, man! Stuck with me!? What do you mean?" I ask.
"Yeah, dumbass! We're heading to the same place. The Old Man told me you wanted to participate in the SBBAT, right? So that makes me stuck with you."
My eyes glow. "No way, Dash the man! You're bluffing! Fate? Or coincidence!?" I grab his hands, thrilled. "I'm fired up, Dash! I couldn't be happier! Friend!"
Dash suddenly jumps, startled. "Fired up!? Where!? Do you feel any heat!? Are you losing control!?"
What's with him? Those questions are weirder than his haircut. "Seriously, bro? You need a humor update! Hahaha! I said I'm fired up—meaning I'm excited, not burning!" I laugh, half-suspicious. "Oi, bring back the real Dash! Did someone abduct him while he was taking a piss?"
He bursts into laughter, tears forming in his eyes. "Hahaha, don't scare me, dumbass! I thought you were literally on fire! Anyway, calm down. I'll take care of you from now on!" He pats my head.
"Oi, oi, oi! Creepy! Don't pat my head like that! I'm straight!" I protest, leaning away.
"Bastard! I told you not to call me weird names. I'm not gay! I'm like your—uh—older brother!"
"My bro? We're the same age! What are you saying, old man?" I grin.
"Hmph! Blind much? I'm seventeen."
"What? No way! You look twelve! If I had to guess, I'd say between twelve and fourteen tops."
"Idiot! You're insane, you peasant! But fine—I'm starting to adapt to your madness. You?"
"I'm thirteen. But I look like it! You look like you stole a kid's body and stuffed your soul inside! Hahahahaha!" I laugh so hard my stomach hurts.
Half an hour later, after vomiting all over the train floor, I finally feel better. I swear—I'll never eat on a train again. Never!
We've been moving for a while now—since I woke up, maybe even before. "Oi, Dash, why are you participating in the tournament?" I ask as he polishes his sword.
He freezes; his gaze hardens on the blade. "There's someone I need to defeat. A payback." His eyes gleam crimson, like someone fueled by revenge who won't rest until it's done.
For a moment, I just watch him. So serious… I wonder who that person is. But I don't pry. Everyone has their own battles.
"Hmm, same for me," I say softly. "There's someone I met two years ago—he told me to find him when I'm strong enough. I'm still not there yet… but I can't wait forever. I'll keep moving. That person was strong beyond measure—dangerous even. If he were there during the Cataclysm, I bet he could've stopped it easily. I want to prove that I'm strong too."
Dash grins. "Then that makes us rivals. I won't let you shine. I'll always be on top, so prepare yourself."
I can't believe this is the same arrogant Dash from before. But maybe… that's just how rivals are born.
"'Kay, Mr. Rival! You'll never take me down—not even in your dreams! Huuuhhh!" I poke his baby face.
Ahh… I've always wished for a friend. Since the day I was born, I had none. My parents abandoned me, and the town raised me like their own. Yet, for some reason, no one liked me—I was like a scarecrow, a bogeyman. But today… I've found one. A friend with whom I share one goal, one direction.
The Soul Blade Brawl Arena Tournament—Just wait for us.
We're coming!
Next time on Soul Blade Brawl Z: The Crash of Legendz— "The city that never sleeps."