The morning of the grand Sirius tournament arrived. Kaito stood staring out of the large window of his room, gazing out at the approaching moon where the tournament would be held. It was a rocky moon with little to no vegetation or water, but was somewhat habitable for life. As they broke through the clouds, he saw it. It was a massive stadium surrounded by thousands of ships.
"Billions of people are going to be watching… They'll see me.. A human." He began to think to himself nervously.
The dream from the night before still lingered in his mind. The mysterious figure, those haunting words…
I found you.
Elara's voice crackled through the ship's intercom.
"Kaito, it's time. Go see Jinx to get your gear at the armory."
Kaito sighed, then left his quarters.
As he entered the armory, he saw weapons, suits, and equipment of all kinds that were neatly organized along the walls of the room. Standing in the middle, leaning against a console wasn't Jinx… It was Talon. She had a smug grin on her face as he approached her.
"Here to get your big-boy gear, little guy?" She asked teasingly.
Kaito rolled his eyes, already anticipating her little games.
"The captain told me to see Jinx."
Talon's smirk widened and she looked him up and down as if she was sizing him up.
"You in combat gear? That's a sight I'd pay to see. Just try not to make yourself look to stupid, okay rookie?"
"Definitely would look better than you ever could." Kaito responded dryly.
Talon's smirk disappeared and her tail flicked around behind her irritatedly.
"What was that rookie?"
"Ohh stop. you know you heard me… co-captain."
Oh she heard that though.
Her bright multi-purple essence flowed around her as she floated over the counter sitting between them, landing right in front of his face. They stood toe-to-toe, noses practically touching each other, neither willing to give an inch. Before the situation could escalate, Elara walked in the room.
"What's going on here?" She asked slightly confused.
Both Kaito and Talon turned to her, speaking in unison, each pointing at the other.
"She/he started it!"
Elara sighed and shook her head, clearly not in the mood for their antics. She stepped forward, her eyes narrowing at Kaito.
"Kaito, you need to focus. Today's important. Now is not the time to play silly games."
The fire in Kaito's attitude simmered down under her gaze. He nodded, straightening up. Meanwhile, Talon crossed her arms as she stuck her tongue out at him from behind Elara. Elara turned slightly and began to speak to her.
"Is Jinx still out?"
Talon nodded before walking over to a locker. She pulled out a sleek black-and-silver suit that shimmered under the lights. It was different from the one Elara gave him during their sparring session.
"This is it, a resonator suit. It's durable, flexible, and it'll absorb energy from basic attacks. But don't think it'll save you from everything—if someone stronger hits you, it'll still hurt." She said as she began to walk over to Kaito.
She tapped a small device on the wrist of the suit, and lines of blue energy began to pulse through the material before continuing.
"It's designed to channel your cosmic essence, enhancing your speed and strikes. Perfect for a brawler like you."
"Thanks, Talon. I really appreciate your help." Kaito said while taking the suit.
For a moment, Talon's demeanor slipped slightly.
"Don't get all sappy on me. Just don't embarrass yourself out there, okay?"
The massive stadium loomed ahead. As Kaito and the crew approached, the scale of the arena became clearer. It was a marvel of galactic architecture, with floating platforms circling its perimeter. Hundreds of ships hovered above, glinting under the light of the white-blue host star. The stands were packed with a variety of alien races and factions waving banners and sigils. The roar of the crowd was deafening. Kaito could feel the vibrations of the crowd reverberating through the walls. He closed his eyes and took deep breaths to steady his nerves. The announcer's voice boomed through the stadium's speakers.
"Welcome to the Grand Sirius Tournament! The Viridion galaxy's fiercest warriors have gathered here to battle for this year's suprise ultimate prize—a celestial codex fragment!"
Kaito's name flashed on the massive holo-screen, and his stomach almost turned from the nerves and anxiety.
"There I am... This is real." He thought to himself.
He scanned the other names—some familiar from the profiles Elara showed him, others unknown but equally intimidating. The arena speakers blared again.
"And the first match of the day... Kaito versus Dargan!"
The blood drained from his face instantly.
"First? Already?!"
The crowd erupted at the announcement. The Rok'Thar warrior was a beast known across the western part of the galaxy for his brutality in combat. Massive, with four muscular arms and a reputation for leaving his opponents broken on the battlefield, he was a fan favorite. The crowd's cheers became chants of his name.
"Dargan's gonna crush that human in seconds!" One spectator said.
"How did a filthy human get into this tournament? I thought they were extinct?" Another random spectator said.
The disdain for Kaito was still felt even though the Viridion galaxy wasn't under the Accord's control. Humans were seen as scum, insignificant in the broader galactic order, and few expected him to last more than a minute against someone like Dargan. But Kaito wasn't here for their approval.
He could hear their words from backstage. He'd heard it all before.
Humans were scum… humans didn't belong… But this time, the scale was so much larger.
Billions of people were expecting him to fail.
His childhood memories of being beaten and mocked flooded back, and the weight of it all felt like it might overwhelm him. Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Elara standing beside him.
"Don't lose focus, Kaito." She said, her voice was calm and reassuring as she looked him in the eyes.
"You've trained for this. You're ready. Trust in yourself."
Kaito nodded, feeling a little of the tension drain from his body. He took a deep breath, still anxious as could be, but now a little better.
Finn walked up next and gave him a supportive grin.
"You've got this, man. We're all rooting for you. Just think about Dargan's face when you knock him out. It's going to be so funny!" He said as he lightly patted him on the back.
Kaito chuckled, despite the anxiety gnawing at him.
"Thanks, Finn. I needed that."
Elara stepped back, her calm demeanor returning as she gave him one last piece of advice.
"Remember Kaito, control your essence. Don't let it control you. You're not here to prove anything to them. You're here to prove it to yourself. To follow your dreams… remember that."
Her words hit home, grounding him in the moment. This wasn't about the crowd. It wasn't about earning their approval. It was about him and everything he'd fought for to get here. He took a deep breath, focusing his attention. His essence stirred within him, like something waiting to be called upon.
"I've fought my whole life for this. I won't back down now." He thought to himself as he turned towards the huge double doors.
The doors to the arena slid open and the blinding light flooded in. He stepped forward into the blinding brightness and what he saw was exactly how he imagined it would be watching from the old holo screen in the orphanage growing up… no. It was beyond what he imagined.
The roar of the crowd was deafening as he stepped into the arena looking up at the countless layers of seats, some floating some not. The stadium was larger than any structure he'd ever seen in his life up to that moment. It stretched up into the sky, packed with countless spectators from every corner of the galaxy.
Sweat rolled down from his back to his ass due to the nerves, but he focused on steadying his breathing. Every single eye in the stadium was on him.
"And now, our first competitor—Kaito, the human!" The announcer called out through numerous speakers.
The boos were almost immediate. Every filthy name that could possibly exist was thrown at him. Jeers and laughter filled the stadium, echoing all around him.
He felt the sting of their words and laughter, but he didn't let it show. He had learned long ago from Farro that the only way to survive was to keep moving forward, no matter what others thought of him.
His eyes scanned the crowd and he saw Elara standing still, watching him with quiet confidence. Her expression didn't change, but her gaze alone spoke to him clearly.
You belong here.
The massive doors on the far end of the arena battleground opened and Dargan walked in. The crowd roared. He was towering and muscular. His four arms flexed and his sharp fangs seemed to cut into his swampy green skin on his face as a cocky grin spreaded.
His presence alone was enough to intimidate, and he played to the crowd, raising one of his arms in victory before the fight had even begun. His confidence bordered on arrogance, and why wouldn't it? He was a proven warrior, and to him, Kaito was just another poor victim. His eyes locked onto Kaito after feeding his ego with the crowd's cheers for a bit longer.
"A human? Really? I thought the Accord dealt with you filthy beasts."
The crowd laughed at his words, but Kaito didn't react. Instead he focused inward, feeling the wild flow of cosmic essence inside him.
"I'll try to make it quick for you human. You'll meet your fellow filth in the afterlife once I'm finished." Dargan said, cracking his knuckles.
The anticipation reached a fever pitch as the crowd waited for the first clash of the tournament. Billions of eyes from across the galaxy were glued to their screens, some eagerly awaiting Dargan's inevitable victory, while others were curious about Kaito's existence.
"Let the first battle... begin!" The announcer excitedly yelled out.
Before the echoes of the announcement faded, Dargan charge forward like a fullback. His sheer size and momentum were like an unstoppable force barreling toward Kaito.
He closed the distance and his fists flew down toward Kaito. His strength was mind boggling. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the ground.
Kaito rolled to the side just in time, narrowly avoiding what could have been a fight-ending blow. The crowd roared as debris flew into the air.
But Kaito wasn't staying still. He dodged Dargan's next swing with agility that left the crowd gasping and in subtle awe.
Each one of Dargan's fists blasted through the air with a thunderous whoosh, but Kaito was faster, weaving between the crushing blows.
"Keep moving. Don't stop." He thought to himself while dodging.
Dargan's relentless onslaught seemed unstoppable, but Kaito noticed something.
"He's strong, but he's reckless and has zero technique. If I can keep dodging, I should be able to find an opening."
Dargan snarled in frustration as yet another of his punches smashed into the arena floor, missing Kaito by mere inches. His four arms lashed out in a whirlwind of strikes, but Kaito was darting around him like an annoying nat.
The thing is, he wasn't just dodging… he was calculating.
Every step, every dodge, was bringing him closer to the opening he needed. He could feel it, his body responding to the essence coursing through his veins.
And then, he saw it—an opening.
With a burst of speed, he dashed forward, closing the distance between himself and Dargan in a blink.
Dargan barely had time to raise one of his arms up to block.
Kaito's fist glowed with purple essence as he slammed one into his arm with such force that a shockwave rippled out.
"What...?!" Dargan let out as he stumbled back slightly.
The crowd gasped.
"I can do this!" Kaito thought to himself seeing his massive foe's confidence falter.
But Dargan wasn't finished yet.
With a furious roar, his cosmic essence flared to life, surrounding his body in a crackling dark green aura.
Kaito's CPI scanner flickered to life.
"60,000?! I'm up against a beast!" He thought to himself shocked.
He ducked under a punch, then vaulted over another. But he could feel it, Dargan's strength was overwhelming. His movements became faster, even more violent. He couldn't keep dodging forever.
Sweat dripped from his brow. As he evaded yet another blow, but that's when he felt something… something strange stirring within him. For a split second, he felt a surge of energy. He glanced down at his hands, noticing a faint flicker of a white energy partially enveloping his fingertips.
"What was that...?" He thought to himself.
There was no time to dwell on it. Dargan's fists came crashing down that very next moment.
Kaito barely rolled out of the way, the impact sending cracks through the arena floor where he stood.
"Shit…Focus Kaito! I need to end this now."
Dargan charged again, thinking he had him on the ropes, but that's when Kaito's movements shifted into another gear. He zipped around the four-armed muscle head, leaving dozens of afterimages all around him.
"How is this human... so fast?!" Daragan thought to himself, shocked.
He swung his four arms wildly hoping one of them would connect, but all he felt was the air.
Elara, watched from a distance, her CPI scanner flickered.
"42,000... no, 50,000 and rising. He's developing faster than I anticipated, almost on the pace of a young elf. Did he naturally pick that much from that one training session…? That's fascinating… I guess the rumors about humans and their knack for battle might hold some truth to it after all, but still… his essence control is absolutely horrendous."
With a sudden burst of speed, Kaito made his move. He leapt into the air, twisting his body for a vicious kick. The impact was thunderous, sending Dargan stumbling backwards.
Without missing a beat, Kaito fell back to the ground and dropped low, sweeping Dargan's legs from under his feet and knocking him off balance.
While Dargan was falling to the ground, Kaito leapt up from the ground and delivered a powerful upward kick that launched him into the air like a rocket, his massive body flying above the arena as the crowd gasped in disbelief.
But Kaito wasn't done.
He focused essence to his legs that flared wildly like an uncontrolled wildfire.
That very next moment, he exploded upwards, leaving the ground below cracked and scarred from the sheer force.
In the blink of an eye, he was high in the sky above Dargan, his fists glowing brightly with his purple essence.
"I'M TIRED OF YOU FOUR ARMED FREAKS!!" He yelled out.
One after another, his fists came down in rapid succession. Each punch landed with devastating force.
His final punch, charged with an immense amount of essence, sent Dargan screeching downward.
His body crashed into the ground with such force that the arena floor caved in, dust and debris exploding into the air covering the battlefield in a cloud of smoke.
For a moment, there was nothing but silence.
As the dust slowly settled the crowd leaned forward, holding their breath. Then, they saw it—Dargan laid motionless in a massive crater. Kaito hovered above him, his body still covered with residual purple aura as he landed gracefully on the ground. The announcer's voice came booming through the arena speakers.
"Kaito... wins! Unbelievable!"
The crowd's silence was deafening. The once-mocked human had just taken down one of the galaxy's fiercest warriors in the first match of the tournament.
Suddenly, that silence was broken by no one other than Jinx.
"FUCK YEAHHH KIDDD!!! WOOOOHHH HOOOOOOO!!!! " She screamed from one of the nosebleed seats while holding a drink almost bigger than her, being heard by any and everyone there.
Elysia covered her mouth in shock.
"Such raw power... And he's only just scratched the surface of his potential. Ohhh Kaito dear… you're truly fascinating. I knew I was right about you..." She thought to herself with the look of someone who finally found something they've been searching for tirelessly all their life.
And she did...
Finn began to jump up and down pumping his fist.
"He did it! Kaito actually did it!"
Even Talon couldn't help but let a small smirk tug at her lips.
"Not bad… rookie."
Rorik's voice boomed over the cheers.
"Hah! Knew you had it in you, kid! That's how you make an entrance!"
But in the far corners of the stadium, other eyes were watching as well.
In a private box reserved for powerful factions, star traveler crews, and others, a group of star travelers observed the match. One of them, a figure with eyes that gleamed with an otherworldly blue light, watched in silence. His crew chattered excitedly around him.
"Did you see that, captain?! A human just took down Dargan! That's insane! He kinda looks like an elf out there don't he?" A dark blue skinned alien woman with subtle cybernetic enhancements in her face said.
"Dargan was too cocky. Serves him right... But still, that human—he's something else." A tall yellow alien man with funny looking round glasses jumped in with.
Their captain remained silent, his blue glowing eyes fixed on Kaito. His crew's excitement faded into the background as he focused on Kaito.
"So this is the power of a human… I see." He thought to himself, almost fascinated.
Back in the arena Kaito stood in the center of it, his chest heaving with each heavy breath. His fists were still clenched, his body still tense from the battle. But he had done it.
He had won.
As the dust settled Kaito looked up at the stands, his eyes locking onto Elara. She smirked gave him a small nod. He smiled slightly and nodded back.
"I'm not finished yet. Just you watch, captain."
The Grand Sirius Tournament had only just begun, and Kaito's journey was far from over.