It was a peaceful morning. The gentle chirping of birds echoed across the palace grounds, carried by the soft breeze that rustled through the trees. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a warm golden glow on the marble paths. Inside the palace, Shiro slowly opened his eyes, waking up from a deep, restful sleep. He lay in bed for a few quiet moments, collecting his thoughts. After the intense battles and relentless training, this calm morning felt almost surreal.
Deciding to take in some fresh air, Shiro got out of bed, stretched his arms, and walked out of his room. He wandered through the quiet hallways of the grand palace until he reached the outer garden—a peaceful and beautifully maintained space filled with blooming flowers and small fountains. The air was fresh, and the calmness of the surroundings helped ease his mind.
As he walked deeper into the garden, he spotted Jowa and Kyusu standing near a stone table, seemingly waiting for someone. They noticed Shiro approaching and waved at him.
"Shiro, come here," Jowa called with a welcoming tone.
Shiro walked over to them and nodded politely. "Hello there."
"You're finally awake," Jowa said with a smile. "Are you feeling well today?"
Shiro nodded. "Yeah, I'm feeling fine now. But… what should I do from now on?"
Jowa crossed his arms thoughtfully. "If you're asking for my recommendation, I'd say keep fighting and training with us as much as possible. You've come far, but there's still more room to grow."
Kyusu nodded in agreement, and Jowa continued, "In exactly one month, there will be a major tournament—a battle between all seven kingdoms."
Shiro blinked in surprise. "Wait, what does that even mean? What happens if one kingdom wins?"
Jowa explained calmly, "There's no prize or reward, if that's what you're thinking. The purpose of this annual battle isn't about winning something—it's about showing dominance. The higher a kingdom ranks, the more authority and respect it holds across the world. The strongest kingdoms use this tournament to remind everyone why they are feared and respected."
Shiro frowned, trying to grasp the idea. "So… are the higher kingdoms evil or something?"
Jowa shrugged. "Who knows? Some might be, some might not. But one thing is certain—they're powerful, and their strength gives them control."
Shiro folded his arms, looking thoughtful. "So how exactly are these tournaments held?"
Jowa answered, "It starts with the lower-ranked kingdoms. The 7th and 6th ranked kingdoms face each other first. Their noble fighters battle in teams—five versus five or sometimes six on six. Meanwhile, the kings also face off in a one-on-one battle."
"And after that?" Shiro asked.
"The kingdom that wins moves up and fights the next higher-ranked kingdom," Jowa continued. "This pattern continues until someone reaches the top. That's how it works."
Shiro's eyes widened slightly. "So how strong is the strongest kingdom?"
Jowa's expression turned serious. "The most powerful kingdom is called the Kingdom of Dema. It has ten noble-level fighters, three fighters who are on the same level as Lintaro, and one individual above them all—the man known as 'Daman,' who holds the title of the strongest human on Earth."
Shiro's eyebrows lifted in disbelief. "Three Lintaro-level fighters? Then… we're nowhere near their level."
"That's correct," Jowa admitted. "Sometimes kingdoms may look similar in power from the outside, but in reality, the gap between them can be huge. But don't worry, Shiro. With your strength, we believe we can at least reach the second rank."
Shiro looked down at his hands. "Maybe… but what if my power stops growing? I don't even know how far I can go."
Jowa smiled and placed a hand on Shiro's shoulder. "Then we'll deal with it when the time comes. For now, let's not worry too much about the future."
He gestured toward the table. "Come have some tea with us. You have one full month of training ahead, and we'll be there with you every step of the way."
Shiro finally smiled and nodded. "Yeah… you're right."
As Shiro sat peacefully drinking tea with Jowa and Kyusu in the palace garden, he felt calm. The birds were chirping, the wind was soft, and everything felt peaceful around them. After taking a few sips, Shiro looked at Jowa and said, "I think I should head to the training grounds now."
Jowa nodded and replied, "Alright, we'll come later. You can begin training before we arrive."
Shiro stood up, gave them a small smile, and started walking toward the arena. The path was quiet, and he walked calmly through the palace, passing by the tall trees and colorful flowers. When he reached the arena, he began training alone. He warmed up first, practicing his movements, punches, and defense techniques. He was focused and serious, just like always.
After a while, the five noble fighters arrived. They all came without saying much, ready to train. Shiro smiled slightly, knowing they were going to help him get stronger. First, he sparred with each one of them one by one. They tested his strength, speed, and reactions. Then two of them fought him at the same time. As the training got more intense, all five nobles fought him together. It was tough, but Shiro never gave up. Every day, he fought harder, learned faster, and kept pushing himself.
As the days went by, Shiro continued training nonstop. His body became stronger, his moves faster, and his timing better. He even started sparring with Lintaro again. This time, he wasn't being overwhelmed. He could match Lintaro's speed and strength. The battles were close, and sometimes it even looked like Shiro might win. Everyone could see he was getting stronger with each passing day.
A whole month passed like this—full of training, effort, and growth.
Then, one morning, after a long month of hard work, Shiro slowly woke up in his bed. The sunlight came through the window and lit up the room gently. As he turned his head, he was surprised to see someone sitting next to him.
It was Riku.
Riku was sitting quietly in a chair beside the bed, looking at him. Shiro blinked, still half asleep, and said, "Riku…?"
Riku gave him a calm smile and nodded. He didn't say anything right away, but his presence alone felt familiar and comforting.