Training Grounds – Midday
Fighters moved like weapons being sharpened.
Blaze Kuronuma, fists ablaze with flickering chi, trained by punching through solid logs, burning handprints left behind.
Xao Min Feng sat on a boulder, meditating, her chi flowing like invisible silk, undulating around her.
Erik Janzen, the cocky Dutch brawler with the lion tattoo on his chest, slammed his fists into training poles, laughing. "These guys are jokes. That red-eyed boy? What's his name? Genji? He won't last past me."
Genji, passing by on his way to water, simply looked at him. "You'll find out in the ring."
Erik smirked. "Ooh, scary. Don't forget, I sent two fighters home in the prelims. You're just lucky you didn't draw me yet."
Before Genji could respond, a soft voice chimed in.
"Ease up, Erik," said Natsuki Muroi, a calm but strong-looking girl with silver hair and a wooden bokken strapped to her back. "This isn't the place to start unnecessary fights."
Erik raised a brow. "You siding with him, Natsuki?"
"I'm siding with respect," she said gently, but firmly.
Erik scoffed and stepped closer to Genji. "Just remember, Takashima. When I break your face, it's not personal. Just a reality check."
Tension ignited in the air. Genji's fists clenched.
"Alright, that's enough," came a loud voice.
Chris Navarro stepped between them, tossing a can of soda in the air and catching it without looking. His summer shirt was half unbuttoned, sunglasses perched on his nose.
"Erik, you're strong. But you talk too much. You want to prove something? Wait for the tournament."
Erik's eyes narrowed. "This doesn't concern you, Navarro."
"It does now," Chris replied, the grin gone. His tone was calm, but behind the sunglasses, his gaze was a cold warning.
Erik paused, then backed off with a mutter. "Whatever."
Chris turned to Genji. "You alright?"
Genji nodded. "I've dealt with worse."
Chris smiled again, patting his shoulder. "Good. Save that fire. You'll need it when you face me."
Genji gave a rare smile. "Looking forward to it."
---
That Night – Ryujin Temple Grounds
Mini's voice echoed over the loudspeakers spread across the mountain.
"ATTENTION! All 25 fighters, the official bracket will be revealed tomorrow morning! Matches will begin in front of Shin Mishima, owner of G-Cooperation and sponsor of the tournament!"
The announcement crackled off.
Genji stood at the cliff's edge, watching the ocean. The wind whipped at his hair. He sensed a presence.
Natsuki approached with two tea cups.
"You seemed like you needed one," she said.
Genji accepted the cup. "Thanks."
"Don't mind Erik," she added. "He lost his sister in a fight a year ago. Ever since, he's been trying to prove he's invincible."
Genji looked over. "We all fight for something."
Natsuki gave a faint smile. "True. But don't lose your heart in the middle of it. You strike like someone burning from the inside."
He glanced at her, surprised.
She looked back. "I'm a swordswoman. I read people through their rhythm. Yours is… painful."
Before Genji could answer, a small tremor rattled the ground.
A column of blue light erupted from the southern side of the island.
Chi.
Massive, unstable chi.
Fighters came running. Kazuya and Asumi too.
From the smoke walked a cloaked figure.
Tora no Kami, a dark horse from the western tribes—rumored to have trained with beasts rather than men. His face was half-covered by a porcelain tiger mask.
"What was that?" Blaze asked, fists already lit.
Tora simply muttered, "I was practicing."
Double Pace Sensei stepped into the crowd from a nearby shrine. "Enough. No unauthorized outbursts of chi! Mishima-sama's watching. And he dislikes chaos."
Chris folded his arms. "Tora's a wildcard."
Kazuya nodded, stepping beside him. "He could be dangerous."
Chris didn't reply at first. Then he chuckled. "So are we."
---
Later That Night – Control Room
Ken watched the feeds once again. Cameras embedded in the trees, rocks, and even the sky showed every fighter's movement.
His assistant approached. "Sir… we've detected a strange fluctuation in Genji's chi. Brief. Violent. Like a pulse."
Ken nodded. "Keep monitoring. He's close. So is Chris."
He looked at another screen—showing Shin Mishima, seated in a massive white hall, surrounded by bodyguards.
"The real tournament begins tomorrow," Ken said to himself. "And by the end… the dragon will awaken."
---
To be continued