The forest race only grew more intense as the knight candidates pushed themselves deeper into its heart. Towering trees loomed overhead, their dense foliage casting dancing shadows on the mossy floor below. The sounds of distant battles echoed through the forest—grunts, explosions of chi, cracking branches, and the occasional scream.
Amidst the chaos, Dan and Rebecca moved together through the undergrowth.
Dan's eyes sparkled with excitement as electricity danced faintly across his fingertips. "Wow… this is so cool. My 'Bang'—I wonder what more I can do with it."
Rebecca glanced sideways at him. Her tone was sharp, but her expression betrayed a hint of concern. "Use it well. You're still a newbie. A strong and wise opponent could take you out in seconds."
Dan rubbed the back of his head, embarrassed. "Okay… Hey, by the way, why'd you decide to help me back there?"
Rebecca's steps slowed. A brief flash of memory crossed her mind—the moment Dan had grabbed her hand and saved her from falling in the hotel when a lot of people were moving on the general floor
She looked at him, her amber eyes now glowing faintly with lightning energy. "Because I can't let the Lightning Nation be disgraced. We all have to finish this race."
The static in the air around her flared as she turned away with a serious glare.
Dan blinked, slightly stunned. "Alright then…"
"I'm going ahead. Good luck, Dan," she said, and with a burst of speed, vanished into the forest.
Left alone again, Dan exhaled and looked around. The forest buzzed with life. Birds chirped and the scent of damp earth clung to the air.
"Well, I'm all alone again. Hmm… what to do? I could run and avoid fights... or find strong opponents and gain more experience." A grin crept across his face. "Yeah. Time to find someone strong."
He leaped from tree to tree, the wind rushing past his ears as he scanned for challengers. It didn't take long—he landed in a clearing where a group of candidates fought viciously. He joined in, dispatching a few with ease using his new technique.
"Wow," he said to himself, standing over a defeated fighter. "This new move is awesome."
Just then, he sensed something—an attack from behind.
Dan twisted midair, narrowly dodging, but a branch from a tree unnaturally extended and slashed across his back.
"Shit! What the hell?" He stumbled forward.
Two boys emerged from the foliage, their teeth unnaturally long and sharp. They snarled as they lunged for him. Dan dropped to a crouch and swept their legs out, sending them crashing to the dirt.
"You guys are ganging up on me now?"
One of them, with wild hair and jagged teeth, grinned. "Not just us."
"I'm Scruffy," the first one said, cracking his knuckles.
"And I'm Sud," the second added. "We're Wild Dog Teeth chi users."
Dan glanced around, alert. "Let me guess—an alliance?"
Scruffy nodded. "Me and my twin, Sud. The other guy just joined in so we can survive this hellhole together."
Dan smirked. "Okay then. Come at me. I've got a new ability I'm dying to try."
The brothers charged, teeth bared like beasts. Dan ducked under Sud's swipe and countered with a solid kick, sending him flying into a tree. Scruffy screamed in rage, only for Dan to raise his hand and prepare a lightning strike—but before he could release it, that same mysterious wood attack shot from the trees and slammed him into the ground.
"Argh!" Dan groaned, coughing.
Scruffy stood over him. "Serves you right! You knocked out my brother!"
Dan, still on the ground, flipped Scruffy off.
That was enough. Scruffy lunged in fury, but this time, Dan was ready. The wood attack came again—but Dan, anticipating it, punched forward with a lightning-infused fist. The blast shattered the wood into splinters.
Then, before Scruffy could react, Dan sprang up above him and brought down a Lightning Stomp, slamming him into the earth.
Dan stood over the two unconscious brothers, panting. "Now… 'wood guy,' wherever you are, come out. I've already dismantled your dumb little alliance."
From the shade of the trees, a tall figure emerged. Tattos curled around his arms showing wild vines, and his eyes were deep green.
"So you've got some bite," the stranger said. "Name's Cleve. Wood chi user. Looks like I'll have to take you down myself."
Dan's eyes gleamed. "Bring it on."
Meanwhile, deeper in the forest…
The air grew colder as a trail of ice stretched behind Ash. Several unfortunate candidates were frozen mid-motion, statues of blue and white.
Ash yawned. "Argh… this is boring. I want a real fight."
He paused. "Hope Sage's okay. That girl plays weak but does twisted stuff to people weaker than her…"
Without warning, a man cloaked in shimmering crystal launched himself from the trees, crystal shards spraying from his arms. Ash raised an ice wall, but some shards cut through and sliced his arm.
Ash grinned. "A tough guy. Finally."
"I'm Buston," the attacker said, eyes glowing with determination. "And I will defeat you."
"Sure," Ash replied. "Try it."
The two clashed—Buston fired waves of crystals, Ash countered with icicles and defensive barriers. He summoned an ice move from his right hand."Rose Spears."
They pierced Buston's body, blood dripping, but he didn't flinch.
"My resilience will be the key to victory," Buston growled.
He charged, his body now armored in jagged crystals. Ash barely managed to raise another shield, which shattered on impact. Blow after blow rained down on him.
"Final punch!" Buston yelled.
Ash responded in kind. "Blizzard Scratch!"
The freezing wind slashed across Buston's body, cutting through his armor. Both warriors stumbled back.
"We're even," Ash said, breath heavy.
Buston grinned. "You didn't look down."
Ash glanced at his feet—trapped in solid crystal.
Buston launched into the air, charging energy into a single brutal attack. "Crystal Shower!"
Ash's eyes widened. He braced himself.
Then, from behind, a blur.
A boy with sharp eyes and a spear slashed cleanly across Buston's back with his special move "Spear strike phase 0". The crystal user collapsed, unconscious.
Ash turned, surprised. "Whoa… thanks—"
"Shut up, Ash." The boy, named Josh scowled. "Why'd you let him do all that?"
Ash sighed. "Okay, okay, you caught me. I was bored. Wanted to see how far he'd go. It was… interesting."
"You had three chances to finish it. I couldn't watch your stupidity anymore."
Ash broke free of the crystal restraints with a flex. "Anyway, why are you here, Josh? Looking for your brother?"
"No. Alexis."
Ash raised an eyebrow. "Want to challenge him again?"
"Yes. I want to prove—"
"Just give it up." Ash's voice turned serious. "I've fought Alexis before. Years ago, I could beat him. But now? I'm not sure anymore. He's... beyond, just go and finish the race."
Ash walked away, leaving Josh seething.
Josh screamed in anger, "FUCK!"
Back in the forest…
Dan sprinted through the trees, dodging massive wood attacks that twisted unnaturally to strike him.
"You running now?" Cleve taunted, arms spread. "Thought you were confident."
Dan grit his teeth. Every time I try to get close, he blocks me with that damn wood chi. I'll have to be faster.
A cluster of sharpened wooden tendrils burst from the ground, battering Dan and slamming him to the earth. He winced, bruised and panting.
"Heh… Got you now," Cleve said.
But Dan exploded off the ground, driving a straight karate punch toward him. Cleve threw up a thick wood shield—but it shattered under the force.
"What the—?" Cleve leapt back.
Dan's hands trembled slightly. Damn… he's strong. I'm using everything I've got.
Two enormous wooden hands formed and slammed him from both sides, throwing him into a boulder.
"You're tough," Cleve said. "But not enough. This is where it ends."
Dan lay motionless for a moment… then his fingers twitched. Electricity danced across his skin.
No… not yet… I can't lose… not to someone like him… not when I've come this far!
As the massive wood hands prepared the final strike, Dan launched up with a roar, his fist blazing with lightning.
"Lightning Fist Strike!"
The hands shattered on impact, scattering burning wood everywhere.
Cleve's eyes widened. "You're supposed to be down!"
Dan glared, face bruised but full of fire. "Like hell I will be."
He surged forward, lightning crackling around his legs. Cleve fired multiple wooden spikes, but Dan didn't slow down—he punched through them, each step closing the distance.
Dan struck him in the ribs. Once. Twice. A flurry of lightning punches exploded against Cleve's body.
Cleve spat blood. "How… how can you still fight?"
"Because I still have something I want to achieve!" Dan shouted.
With one final charge, Dan raised his arm and brought it down hard.
"Lightning Karate Chop!"
The energy surged from his hand as it connected with Cleve's shoulder, sending him crashing through the forest floor and knocking him unconscious.
Dan stood there, breathing heavily as the wind whistled through the trees.
He dropped to his knees beside the ruined earth. "Finally… let me rest… just a bit."
The forest fell silent again—only the rustling leaves and his own heartbeat reminding him that he was still in the race… and still standing.