The morning sun had not yet fully risen, but the sky was already turning a soft shade of blue. A cold breeze moved through the cracks of the old wooden room where Shiro slept.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Shiro slowly opened his eyes, annoyed and sleepy.
"Who is here at this time?" he mumbled.
The knocking continued, louder this time.
He sat up and rubbed his eyes, then stood and walked toward the door. As he opened it, he saw Riku standing there with a big grin.
"Good morning, Shiro!" Riku said cheerfully. "Sorry to wake you up so early."
Shiro frowned a little. "It's okay, I guess... but what are you doing here at this time?"
Riku scratched the back of his head. "Well... I didn't really ask for your permission, but something important is happening today."
Shiro raised an eyebrow. "Important?"
"There's a tournament starting this morning. A big one. It only happens once every six months," Riku explained quickly. "There are a lot of rewards for the winner. And I thought... maybe you should join it."
Shiro stared at him, surprised. "Riku… you always do things like this without telling me."
"I'm sorry!" Riku said quickly, hands raised. "I'll ask next time, I promise."
Shiro sighed, then gave a small smile. "Well, now that you're already here… let's go."
Riku smiled back. "Yeah, let's."
They both stepped outside into the quiet morning streets. The air was cool, and the sun had just started rising over the rooftops. As they walked, their footsteps echoed softly between the buildings.
Shiro looked at Riku. "So, tell me... what do we get from winning this tournament?"
Riku grinned. "Actually, if you win, you get more than just money or fame. The champion of this tournament gets a chance to fight a noble fighter."
Shiro blinked. "A noble fighter?"
"Yeah," Riku nodded. "Someone from the royal level. They're incredibly strong. It's rare to even meet one. But if you win the tournament, you get that chance."
Shiro thought for a moment. "And what's the big deal about fighting a noble?"
"If you beat a noble," Riku said seriously, "you'll be respected all over the kingdom. Even if you don't win, just giving them a good fight will earn you a high rank."
Shiro looked up at the sky. "I see... That sounds like a big deal."
"It is," Riku said. "But I believe in you."
Soon, they arrived at the grand gates of the Kingdom's International Arena. The place was massive, with huge stone walls and tall flags waving in the wind. The sound of people talking and cheering could already be heard from inside.
Shiro's eyes widened. "This place is huge…"
"It's the biggest arena in the kingdom," Riku said . "Tournaments here only happen twice a year. And only the best fighters are allowed to enter."
As they walked through the gates, they saw rows of people filling the seats, all waiting for the fights to begin. The arena ground was wide, clean, and had marks showing where the fighters would stand.
Riku looked at a small scroll in his hand. "Your match will be after two more fights."
"There are ten participants in total," Riku continued. "All of them are skilled. You'll need to stay sharp."
Shiro nodded, still looking around. "Wait… how did I even get into this tournament?"
Riku smirked. "The trainer from our arena approved you as the best fighter. That's the only reason you're here."
Shiro blinked. "He did that?"
"Yup," Riku said. " He was Really shocked by your strength."
They found a seat near the front, close enough to see the fights clearly. The first match began, and two strong fighters entered the ring. The crowd grew loud with excitement.
As they watched, Riku leaned closer to Shiro and said quietly, "Be careful. These fighters… they're on another level. I'm sure you'll win, but don't lower your guard."
Shiro stayed quiet for a moment, watching the battle in front of him. Then he spoke, his voice calm but clear.
"You know, Riku… when I first discovered my strength, I didn't know what was happening. I couldn't understand it."
Riku looked at him, listening closely.
"But now," Shiro continued, "I feel something different. I want to fight. I want to push myself. I feel like… I finally have a reason to live."
Riku's eyes widened, surprised by Shiro's words. "You've really changed."
Shiro gave a small nod. "I don't know what lies ahead, but I'm ready."
Riku smiled. "I see… I'll help you as much as I can. I promise."
Shiro looked at him with sincere eyes. "Thank you for everything, Riku. I don't know why you've helped me so much, but… I'm really grateful."
Riku chuckled. "This is nothing. You're just getting started. I am sure there is more to come.
As they sat in the crowded arena, the announcer's voice echoed through the air. "The fight is over! The next match will begin in ten minutes. Fighters, prepare yourselves!"
Shiro stood up and stretched his arms. It was time.
He made his way toward the massive stage in the center, where battles determined more than just winners—they determined legends.
His opponent, Lansho, was already waiting. Both of them stepped into the arena, the ground buzzing with the energy of the crowd. The announcer's voice rang out again, loud and clear. "Now entering the stage, two rising stars from different training grounds. Let's welcome Shiro and Lansho!"
The referee raised his hand and then brought it down sharply. "Begin!"
For a moment, neither fighter moved. They simply stared at each other, both waiting for the other to make the first move. The crowd leaned in, silent in anticipation.
Lansho broke the silence. "Are you just going to stand there, or are you going to attack?"
In a flash, Shiro leaped forward and struck with a powerful punch. Lansho barely managed to block it with his forearms—but the impact was so strong, his arms almost gave out.
"What kind of speed is that?!" Lansho muttered, eyes wide.
The announcer shouted, "Incredible! Shiro moved faster than the eye can see! What a display of speed and power!"
Gasps spread through the crowd. Fighters watching from the stands stared in disbelief.
Lansho gritted his teeth and launched a full-powered attack, landing a heavy blow that pushed Shiro to the edge of the arena. But Shiro didn't flinch.
"So that's your full power?" Shiro whispered.
He jumped forward and delivered a devastating kick to Lansho's stomach. The impact echoed through the entire arena.
Lansho dropped to the ground, unconscious.
The announcer roared into the mic, "And just like that—Shiro wins! With almost no effort! Who is this guy?!"
The crowd erupted into cheers and whispers. Even the other fighters couldn't hide their shock.
As Shiro returned to his seat, murmurs followed him.
"Who is he?" "What kind of power is that?" "Is he even allowed to be here?"
One fighter stood up. "You must be using illegal power. There's no way you're this strong."
Shiro glanced at him and calmly replied, "I'd like to know that myself."
Riku smiled beside him. "I knew you could win. Now, just one more fight, and we'll know where you stand."
Shiro nodded. "When's my next match?"
"Most likely, you'll be the first fight in the next round. Your performance was the best so far."
As they watched the last match of the round, a fighter named Sesho took the stage. He was ruthless—his movements sharp and deadly. His opponent didn't stand a chance.
The announcer spoke in a tense tone, "As always, Sesho dominates! He nearly killed his opponent again!"
Riku looked serious. "Sesho's been winning since his first tournament. No one has ever made him sweat. He even held his ground against a noble fighter."
Shiro's eyes narrowed. "I've never seen techniques like his. I want to fight him. I want to know how far I can push myself."
The second round began. On the board, the next match was clear: Shiro vs. Kisu.
Kisu knew Shiro's strength and didn't waste a second. He attacked right away.
Shiro dodged, blocked, and countered with a punch. Kisu managed to block—but barely. He attacked again, nearly landing a hit, but Shiro backed away and struck with a sudden, lightning-fast kick.
Kisu fell to the ground, defeated.
The announcer gasped, "History is being made here today. We might be witnessing power that of a noble Fighter ."
As Shiro walked away, the crowd stared in awe.
Sesho watched from a distance and approached him. "This is the first time I've had to be careful."
Shiro replied, "Same goes for me."
Sesho studied him. "You're strong... and yet I've never seen you before."
Riku answered, "He only recently discovered his power."
Sesho smirked. "Then you better watch yourself."
Shiro raised an eyebrow and walked off.
Sesho's next match began, and once again, he won with ease. It was no surprise when the board updated: Final Battle – Shiro vs. Sesho.
The announcer's voice trembled with excitement. "We are about to witness history! Shiro, the mysterious new fighter, versus Sesho, the undefeated warrior. Who will rise? Who will fall?"
The stadium roared with energy. Every fighter, every citizen, every noble was watching.
The two stepped into the arena.
"Begin!" the referee shouted.
Sesho could see the see overwhelming Aura of Shiro .
Sesho smiled and dashed forward, fists flying with incredible speed. Shiro blocked every punch, his arms absorbing each blow. Then Sesho jumped back, eyes narrowed.
"Not bad," he said.
He attacked again—this time faster. Kicks, punches, a flurry of movements so fast the crowd couldn't follow.
But Shiro responded in kind.
The two of them clashed in the center of the arena. Shockwaves rippled across the battlefield. The announcer was stunned.
"We... we can't even see them! Their speed is beyond what anyone's seen before!"
Back and forth they went—blow after blow, neither backing down. But then Shiro stopped.
He looked Sesho in the eye. "It's over."
Sesho blinked. "Huh?"
In that split second, Shiro disappeared from sight and reappeared with a crushing punch to Sesho's stomach.
The crowd went silent.
A second later, Sesho hit the ground. He was still conscious—but he knew he'd lost.
He raised his hand. "I give up."
Gasps echoed around the arena. The announcer could barely speak. "What... What did we just witness? Is Shiro even human?!"
Riku stood in the stands, a huge smile on his face, filled with pride and disbelief.
The crowd erupted in cheers. Fighters shouted in awe. "He's not human!"
Shiro stood in the center of the arena, calm and silent. The champion of the tournament.
As the crowd erupted into cheers, voices rising in waves, the two referees stepped into the center of the arena. They approached Shiro, both holding one of his arms, and raised them high into the air.
A thunderous roar followed.
"And there you have it!" the announcer's voice echoed through the stadium. "A new champion has risen! Witness the man who might just be stronger than a Noble Fighter! Today, history has been made in this kingdom!"
Shiro stood quietly, staring at the sea of people shouting his name. His heart wasn't racing, but something deep inside him stirred. For the first time, he felt something close to recognition—not just for his strength, but for the person he was becoming.
As the arena slowly emptied and the sun began to set behind the distant hills, a man in elegant clothing approached him. His presence was commanding, his expression serious. It was the owner of the entire arena.
"Shiro," the man said, his voice deep and formal. "You've shown extraordinary strength. I've seen many tournaments in this arena… but never a fight like that. You were calm, precise, and powerful—like a Noble Fighter."
Shiro stayed silent, listening.
"As the champion, you'll receive all the rewards—gold, artifacts, and the respect of every fighter in this kingdom," the man continued. "But I must ask you something more important… Would you consider fighting a Noble Fighter?"
Riku's eyes lit up, but Shiro looked thoughtful. He wasn't the type to speak without thinking.
"I think... yes," Shiro finally answered, nodding slowly. "If it means learning more about myself and what I can do... then I'll fight."
The owner gave a satisfied smile. "Good. Then we'll notify you once we receive approval from the palace."
Riku stepped forward. "Please notify me directly. I'll inform Shiro when the time comes."
"Very well," the owner said, giving a nod of respect. He turned to his assistant and said, "Make sure they receive all the winner's rewards. Every single one."
The assistant, holding a list and several heavy bags, handed them over with a bow.
"This includes a rare spirit core, enchanted armor fragments, and enough gold to last a normal man a lifetime," the assistant added.
"Thank you," Riku said, taking the rewards carefully.
As they left the arena, the night air felt cooler, calmer. The stars above the kingdom sparkled clearly.
Riku was grinning like a kid. "Shiro, you don't know what you just did. Accepting that fight... It changes everything. If we get the approval from the palace, you won't just be known as a champion anymore."
Shiro looked at him. "Where would the fight happen?"
"There's a sacred training ground built For The Nobles ," Riku replied. "It's where Noble Fighters train. The ground is made of reinforced soulstone. Normal fighters would break bones just walking around in there."
He paused, letting it sink in.
"If you're chosen to fight, and if you do well... you'll be added to the kingdom's elite. The top five fighters who duel with Other kingdoms —if you win, you'll become the sixth."
Shiro didn't respond immediately. He stared into the distance, thinking.
"Then... I'll go home and rest," he finally said. "We'll wait for the call."
Riku smiled and nodded. "Alright. When I hear anything, I'll come straight to you."
Shiro heading toward his house with the stars guiding his path. His thoughts were calm, but something inside him burned—a quiet fire growing stronger with every step he took.
...