The courtyard was bathed in the intense heat of the midday sun, the air heavy and thick around the warriors who stood in disciplined lines.
Beads of sweat formed on their foreheads, trickling down their faces and necks. Each exhale was a faint wisp of steam that quickly vanished in the sweltering heat.
The warriors, ranging in age from young teens to those approaching adulthood, were dressed in traditional training attire.
Simple but sturdy, designed to withstand the rigors of their training.
Erik who was now eleven, stood with a fierce determination in his eyes, his posture straight despite the hot temperature.
His clothes, slightly loose on his still-growing frame, bore the signs of countless hours of training.
Next to him was Li Ching-Lin, or "Death Dealer" as he generally preferred to be called. Just two year older but already showing a lot of confidence. His gaze was focused, his breath steady, as if the heat was of no concern to him.
Further down the line were Feng and Midnight. Both younger than most but already proving themselves to be exceptional.
Feng, at 14, had a demeanor as calm and unyielding as stone. His face was perpetually stoic, rarely betraying a smile or any hint of emotion. His long black hair was tied back in a neat ponytail, adding to his disciplined appearance. With sharp eyebrows and piercing brown eyes, the boy possessed a quiet intensity that made him seem older than his years.
Midnight, on the other hand was a mystery to everyone around him. He always wore a black mask that covered his face. Since his arrival, no one had ever seen what lay beneath it. The secrecy surrounding his appearance fueled endless speculation and rumors among the other members of the Ten Rings. Some whispered about disfigurements, disease or a tragic past. But Erik, who had grown closer to the boy over time, knew better than to press him for answers.
Midnight never spoke about it and Erik respected that. The only thing he knew for certain was that Midnight hailed from a small village in Africa.
His skin, was darker than his. When he spoke, it was with a thick African accent, a reminder of the distant land he came from.
At the far end of the line was Gao Lei, towering over many of the others. His stature made him an imposing figure, but there was a noticeable tension in his posture. He had been among the best of the younger generation, but the rapid progress of Erik, Li, Feng, and Midnight had left him feeling overshadowed.
Despite this, he stood with the others, his expression carefully controlled, hiding the resentment that simmered beneath the surface.
Each warrior's face was a mask of focus and discipline. The courtyard was silent except for the occasional sound of birds.
Xu Wenwu stood before them, his presence commanding and authoritative.
Dressed in a dark suit, he appeared unaffected by the heat, his gaze sweeping over the assembled warriors. His voice calm but commanding as he recounted some history.
"Long ago, within our organization.. The Five Weapons Society was created, led by their five most powerful fighters known as the Deadly Warriors."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle on them. "The Five Weapons Society comprises martial artists and assassins, divided into five Houses.
These Houses played pivotal roles in China's history, from resisting the British Army during the Opium Wars to supporting anti-colonial uprisings in the 1900'."
Xu Wenwu's gaze swept across the crowd, his expression unreadable.
"In each of these five Houses, the best fighter earn the title of Champion, becoming one of the five Deadly Warriors. And each champion.. Becomes my personal disciple."
The atmosphere in the room grew tense, each member acutely aware of the significance of this statement.
To become one of Xu Wenwu's personal disciples was the highest honor and the dream of every Ten Rings member.
"The Houses are scattered across the world." Xu Wenwu continued, his tone steady. "Except for the House of the Deadly Hand. You stand within it now."
The surprise was palpable, with many not expecting such a revelation.
Xu Wenwu's lips curled into a slight smile as he observed their reactions. "The Houses are as follow..." He began, preparing to divulge the details of each.
The House of the Deadly Hand: Use Unarmed Combat, Color Red.
The House of the Deadly Staff: Use Staves, Color Green.
The House of the Deadly Hammer: Use War Hammers, Color Yellow
The House of the Deadly Sabre: Use Blades, Color White.
The House of the Deadly Dagger: Use Throwing Daggers, Color Black.
Erik could feel Xu Wenwu's gaze lingering on him, a heavy, calculating stare that he chose to ignore.
Instead, his thoughts drifted towards the mention of the Five Weapons Society, a detail that hadn't been included in the first Shang-Chi movie.
As Erik stood there, surrounded by the other warriors. He pondered the significance of this secretive inner group and its future.
"We're in 1995." He thought, piecing together the timeline he remembered from the movies. "In a year, around 96' if my memory's right. Xu Wenwu will head to Ta Lo, losing most of his elite members in the process. That's when he'll meet Ying Li, fall in love, and marry her."
The thought of Xu Wenwu, the fearsome leader of the Ten Rings, abandoning his power for love was almost surreal to Erik.
He knew that by 1999 or 2000, Shang-Chi would be born, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Xu Wenwu's life.
"From that point on.." Erik mused, "He'll put away the Ten Rings, renounce the organization and live a normal life with his wife."
The Ten Rings... Erik pondered.
Around 2007, his wife Ying Li would die. But before that, between 1999 to 2007, the rings would be locked away in a box, ownerless.
That's an opportunity too good to not seize. Erik tought silently. Heimdall himself once told Odin that the rings were said to have the power to destroy a god. I don't know how much of that is true, or what kind of god he was talkin' about.. But I do know one thing tho. If Xu Wenwu can wield that kind of strength.. What would happen if the wielder was a spider enhanced individual? Erik wondered, feeling the weight of that possibility.
But there's still time before that..
"Today we are passing to the next step. Who amongst you is willing to fight?" Xu Wenwu's voice cut through the air, commanding the attention of every warrior present.
Without hesitation, hands shot up across the lines. Each one eager to seize the opportunity to impress their formidable leader.
This was their chance to earn his favor, to prove themselves worthy in the eyes of the Ten Rings master.
Xu Wenwu surveyed the sea of raised hands a faint, knowing smile playing on his lips. "I see…" He began, pausing for effect. "I forgot to mention that the fights will be to the death."
The atmosphere shifted instantly. The warriors confidence wavered as the weight of his words sank in.
Hands that had been confidently raised now hesitated, faltering. For the first time, the reality of what they were being asked to do became clear.
Silence gripped the courtyard until Gao Lei, eyes burning with ambition took a bold step forward.
"I am willing to fight, sir!" He declared, bowing deeply. His voice echoed through the air, breaking the tension.
Gao Lei knew this was his moment. If he wanted to impress Xu Wenwu and secure his place in the hierarchy of the Ten Rings, he had to be the first to accept the challenge.
In his mind, he calculated the risks. He was confident that none of his peers could truly threaten him.
Erik and his little group might be prodigies, but they were still young.
Despite their talent, they couldn't match the years of experience he had over them.
This was his chance to prove that he was more than just another operative.. That he had the potential to one day be an elite member worthy of Xu Wenwu's recognition.
The others watched him in a mix of admiration and unease, the gravity of the situation settling in.
The stakes had never been higher, and while bravery could earn favor, it could also lead to a deadly end.