Split Mountain City.
A city carved into the black stone of the mountain that towered over it, its jagged peak split clean in two as if by the gods themselves. The people here were miners, traders, and fighters. But today, the city buzzed about only one thing:
The Seishin Trials.
Held once every three years, the Trials were where prodigies, soldiers, and lunatics alike tested their resolve. To pass this ultimate test of will was to earn renown and opportunity beyond imagination. To fail was to be forgotten—or worse. Most never made it past the first round. Many never returned.
Seventeen year-old Kai Arashi was not thinking about any of that.
He was thinking about how much his life sucked.
SCREECH
The flute squealed like a dying animal.
Kai lowered it, face burning as his classmates roared with laughter.
"Zero Kai strikes again!"
Even the teacher sighed.
"Sit down, Arashi. Just… sit down."
***
Math was no better.
23%.
The big red circle on his test paper might as well have been a bullseye.
"Hey, Zero Kai! Did you just guess all the answers?"
They passed his paper around the room, giggling like hyenas.
The teacher shook his head.
'Even guessing, he'd statistically score better…'
***
Gym class offered a chance to blow off some steam… but one shove and Kai hit the mat.
"At least try and put up a fight, will you?"
The chant rose again.
"Zero Kai! Zero Kai!"
Kai stayed down, cheek pressed into the floor mat.
Even the floor feels disappointed in me…
***
At lunchtime, Kai was digging through his locker when a shove knocked him aside. His stuff spilled onto the ground—sketchpads, a half-deflated football, a harmonica, even a plastic model kit still in its box.
The bullies laughed as they picked through the mess.
"What is this, a junk shop?"
"Look at him—tries music, tries sports, tries art. Fails at all of it. Why don't you just give up, Zero Kai?"
Kai scrambled to grab his things back.
"I just haven't found what I'm good at yet."
The tallest bully sneered.
"Aw, that's not true, Zero Kai. You're the best in the world—at failing!"
Laughter followed as they walked off, leaving Kai crouched by his scattered belongings.
'They're right. I really do suck at everything…'
His feet carried him past the school's trophy cabinet. Golden cups, polished medals, even a framed newspaper clipping.
"Arashi Ayame Sets New National Record!"
His sister's smiling face stared back at him. The top student in the school's history, Kai sometimes felt like she'd taken all the talent in the family, and left nothing for him.
As Kai stood there, he heard the other students walk by and whisper in admiration.
"Ayame was amazing. She even competed in the Seishin Trials!"
"Can you believe that's her brother?"
"Really? No way!"
Kai clenched his fists. His reflection in the glass looked small next to his sister. In his mind, he heard his father's disappointment.
"Ayame has will. You, Kai… have none."
Kai's jaw tightened.
"You're wrong! I do have will. And someday, I'm going to be great."
"Oh really? And just what are you going to be so great at, Zero Kai?"
Kai didn't realise that he'd made that declaration out loud. Chest pounding, he turned to the sniggering students and before he could stop himself—
"I'm going to win!"
The hallway fell silent as all eyes went to the poster flapping on the notice board.
WIN
100,000 Yen + A Wild Card Entry to the Seishin Trials
Survive 3 Minutes Against Riku the Bull!
Normally, entry into the Seishin Trials was reserved for the elite. The Seishin Committee handpicked candidates from the cream of the crop: national champions, war heroes, geniuses.
But to keep things interesting, there were always two Wild Card entries available to anyone who could claim them.
Of course, these were notoriously difficult tasks. The underground fight scene being among the most dangerous too.
And so when Kai Arashi, the biggest failure in his school's history, vowed to overcome such a task, the other students were rightly skeptical.
"That bull's gonna rip you apart."
"You can't even win gym class!"
The laughter exploded and Kai's face turned red. But if the only way to for him to be recognised by his peers was to do something impossible, then Kai was determined to do it.
***
"You? Forget it. Go home, kid."
Kai leaned forward, palms pressed hard on the registration desk. "Please, sir. Just give me a chance. I need to win that Wild Card."
The organiser, a heavyset man with a ledger, picked his nose. "No way. Rules are rules."
"But you don't understand…"
Kai had never been one to take no for an answer. Despite failing miserably at everything, Kai always insisted that he'd do the next thing well.
But like a stray spark jumping from fire to fire, Kai never stayed long enough to burn bright.
Naturally, Kai's father (along with his teachers) had grown quite frustrated with Kai's bravado, and repeatedly told Kai to stick to something and do the work. Yet somehow, Kai always managed to convince people of what he wanted.
"LET. ME. TRY."
The organiser's pen froze above the page. His pupils dilated slightly, as if caught in a current.
"…Fine. You're in. But don't say I didn't warn you."
Kai blinked, then grinned in relief.
"Really? Ah—Thank you, sir! You won't regret it."
As Kai dashed off, the organiser rubbed his temple.
"Wait… Why did I just agree to that?"
Indeed it was a reasonable question because nobody under eighteen years of age could participate in such fights—this was a strict rule. He stared at Kai's name which had somehow made its way onto the sign-up sheet.
'And in my handwriting?'
The organiser couldn't understand. He clicked his pen, intending to cross out the entry, but he suddenly hesitated. He couldn't deny the kid had had a certain light in his eyes, and his determination had been almost endearing. But right now something else—something almost tangible—seemed to be preventing him from doing his duty.
He stared at his shaking hand. It felt like someone was literally pulling it away…
________________
"Did you see that? That kid just signed up against Riku. Does he have a death wish?"
"Keep quiet will you! I don't want anyone else to know."
"What? Why?"
"Because if we keep quiet, we might just be able to get some good odds."
"Oooh, good idea! A kid like that won't last long. One look at Riku and he's gonna lose the will to live."
The two gamblers grinned from ear to ear.
"And just what would you know about WILL?"
To the untrained eye, the man who asked this question looked frail and senile. Sadly the two gamblers to which he was speaking had neither a trained eye, nor mouth.
"Stay out of it, geezer."
"Yeah, buzz off, jiji. Take your walking stick and shove it up—"
SHUDDER
The floor of the contest hall shook and the two uncouth gamblers fell to the ground. Split Mountain City was prone to earthquakes—but surely it was a bit too fortunate that a small tremor should've saved this old man from a beating…?
The old man tapped his stick and stepped over the fallen men. He too had been watching Kai.
"Hmm, that kid is definitely unexpected. A WILL user in a place like this? I wonder how Riku will react? Perhaps there's some profit to be made this year, after all…"
The old man grinned.
***
PART 2
***
The arena shook as a man's body crashed into the stands.
"Another knockout!"
The announcer bellowed into his microphone, playing to the crowd and riling them up for another spectacle.
"Is there nobody who can tame the great bull, Riku?"
The horned beast stood roaring in the ring. A mountain of scars and muscle, the terrifying animal had already bludgeoned a string of challengers. No wonder a Seishin Wild Card was the prize for surviving.
The bull pawed at the ground, tossing his head as if to call forth the next challenger.
"You're up, kid. You better not make a mess."
The announcer pushed Kai forward.
"I—I think made a mistake—"
Kai's mouth hung open like a black hole. Unlike the steel gate which slammed shut behind him.
The circle of spectators howled like a pack of hungry wolves.
"Guess the orphanage had some extra stock!"
"Twenty says he shits himself."
The air reeked of sweat, alcohol, and fried food. The lights burned hot above the ring, around which the steel fence had been built.
There was no escape now.
Kai gasped as the bull's mad eyes locked onto him.
"Kai Arashi, you have three minutes. Good luck!"
A buzzer sounded. Above the ring a digital board began counting down.
WHACK!!
Kai was suddenly face down, like a swatted fly.
'Did I… faint?'
'No. The digital board must have fallen on me. I can't move at all.'
If these were his options, he hoped for the second—it was too embarrassing to faint from fear. But either option was preferable to being ripped apart by a wild animal.
How unfortunate that this is exactly what was happening.
***
"No no no no—"
SMACK!
The world spun. Kai's stomach lurched.
THUD!
His body punched into the ground, blood spraying from his lip.
The crowd jeered.
"Get up you little shit! I bet good money on you!"
Kai struggled to his feet. His entire body was shaking from fear and adrenaline. He ran for the steel fence, desperately trying to climb over it—but once again the crowd pushed him back into the ring.
STOMP—STOMP—STOMP
The bull's hooves thundered and Kai was smacked across the ring. Sprawled on the ground, he coughed blood and let out a painful cry.
"Let me out!"
But the bull only came charging back.
Kai had been hit so many times already that he had little energy left. He scrambled to a knee, barely dodging a horn to the face.
"Not bad kid!"
"Yeah, hang in there!"
Is that the crowd? Are they actually cheering for me?
Kai wiped the blood from his forehead. Above him, the clock showed just sixty seconds left.
Oh, so that's why they're cheering. They've placed bets…
It didn't matter. His lungs burned and his body was broken. Just like in gym class Kai knew there was little point in getting back up—and indeed, the moment Kai got to his feet, the bull slammed him again.
CRACK
Kai's body smashed against the steel fence and slid slowly to the ground.
"Get up kid!"
"Get back up!"
Kai tried to lift his chin. Even if the crowd was only interested in their bets, it still felt good to have people cheering for him.
'I just wish I could be worthy of that kind of praise. I wish I could've found what I'm good at.'
"Get up you shit!"
A tattooed man reached over the fence and hauled Kai up by his hair. Two more grabbed his arms, holding Kai in place.
As long the contestant was standing, the contest wasn't over. Through swollen eyes, Kai watched as the musclebound bull charged from across the ring.
"I… I don't want to be Zero Kai anymore."
Tears pooled in his eyes. He recalled the faces of his classmates as they mocked him. Of his father's disappointment. Even that of his sister, her face full of life and determination to succeed.
"I don't want to be Zero Kai…"
He didn't want to be a failure anymore. And if he left this ring crippled, he'd be even worse.
STOMP—STOMP—STOMP
Riku the bull thundered closer, horns aimed at Kai's gut.
Kai's body trembled, but he didn't look away.
Maybe I do suck at everything.Maybe I don't have any will. But right now… just once… I WILL—
His eyes flashed and dust curled around his feet.
"KEE-YAH!
***
"Hey, what the hell just happened?"
When Kai's own voice stoped ringing in his ears, he saw the bull lying on the ground, its heavy tongue lolling from its mouth.
The tattooed man who'd held Kai was staring.
In fact, the whole crowd was staring too.
"Is this a joke, or what?"
"Yeah. Something stinks. They're trying to rip us off."
"I want my money back!"
Kai looked between his shaking fist, the unconscious animal, and the digital clock which now read 0:00.
"I… won?"
The announcer was equally confused, but the scene said it all. He had no choice but to call the result in Kai's favour.
The arena erupted.
"Cheaters!"
"Scam artists!"
The angry mob clambered over the steel fence, closing in from all sides.
Kai wanted to run but his body shook and wouldn't move. He was in shock.
"If anyone so much as lays a hand on that boy, I will personally end them."
The strong voice immediately drew everyone's attention. Heads turned and the crowd parted to reveal the old man from the contest hall lobby. His walking stick tapped the floor as he walked forward.
"What'd you say, old man?"
"Yeah, don't you get it? This contest was rigged. They ripped us off."
"Shut up, you idiots! That's Master Renji Okami!"
This third spectator might have saved fifty lives through his astute observation. For indeed, the old man was none other than the famed martial arts master. The man said to have created the Mountain Breaker—a strike so powerful it could split stone.
"You are all understandably disappointed. You have bet money and lost it. But to all those who claim foul play, let me assure you of the opposite."
Okami came and stood between Kai and the angry mob. From his pocket he pulled out a fistful of cash.
"And to all those who wish to reclaim their losses… I say: FUCK YOU!"
A silence followed.
And then the tattooed man who'd restrained Kai stepped forward.
"I don't care who you are, old man. I want my money back."
"Me too!"
Four men burst forth from the mob, fists flying—
TAP
The sound of Okami's walking stick meeting the ground was unusually loud.
Kai couldn't see the old man's face, only the terror etched on the faces of the four men—all of whom were now frozen solid.
The air grew heavy, pressing on Kai's chest, and stealing his already ragged breath. It seemed the other men were experiencing the same sensation.
"What… the hell… is happening?"
The tattooed man's words were almost strangled.
TAP
RUMBLE
Okami's stick came down again and the four men, along with everyone else, were toppled by an intense tremor.
"Earthquake!"
"RUN!"
The old man grinned—
"That's enough, Okami."
If the terror on the mob's faces was bad before, it became a thousand times worse now.
Kai quickly understood why when he too turned to see the bull getting to its feet: first to all fours, and then, slowly, it stood upright on two feet.
'Monster…'
The man was more muscled than any bodybuilder. His biceps and chest were knotted with sinew, and his thick coat of black hair was far coarser than any animal hide. He was the most terrifying man, Kai had ever seen.
"What are you doin', Okami?"
Even his voice was animalistic.
But the old man didn't flinch.
"Stay down, Riku. I'm teaching these WILL-less fools a lesson."
"That's not your place. But know well that it's mine to stop you if you cross the line. You've already damaged this city enough."
At that remark, Okami turned his head and the two men stared each other down.
Kai was caught in the middle and felt an immense pressure bearing down on him, as if gravity had become stronger.
"Still playing errand boy for the Council, then?"
"Still preying on the weak with your cheap scams like a coward? How dishonourable."
Riku's eyes had gone to the fistful of cash in Okami's hand.
Okami sneered.
"I see. So I should've let this angry mob have its way with the kid, then?"
"Make no mistake. That is the only reason I haven't already tackled you to the ground."
"Ha! I'd like to see you try."
RUMBLE
Again the floor shook and it was the strongest tremor yet. Some of the angry mob had tried to quietly get to their feet and leave—but they fell right back down.
The tattooed man gritted his teeth.
"Hey, bull man. If you're saying the old guy cheated us then you're on our side!"
"Silence, degenerate. I saw your wickedness when you unfairly restrained this kid during our battle. And I shall deal with you in a minute."
Riku's wild eyes blazed and the tattooed man lost all colour in his face. Behind him, the rest of the mob likewise bleated like scared sheep.
Kai was struggling even more. The intense pressure he felt between Okami and Riku seemed to be growing heavier and he was finding it hard to breathe. Whatever this strange sensation was, he knew he couldn't take it for much longer.
In fact it was at this point, that Kai Arashi blacked out.