Chapter 1: Vision
The moon had turned the color of blood.
A teenage boy, roughly 5.7 feet tall, walked alone through the woods, a katana in his left hand. His pace was calm, deliberate. Above him, ancient trees stood like titans, their tangled branches blotting out the crimson moonlight, casting long, ominous shadows across the forest floor.
Each step echoed through the silence of the forest.
Then—light.
A single beam of moonlight pierced the canopy, cutting through the darkness and pointing toward a clearing ahead. With steady breath and unwavering eyes, the boy followed it.
He stepped into the moonlight.
From where he now stood atop a steep hill, a wide and broken world stretched out before him. The land below was scarred—deep gouges in the earth, like wounds clawed by gods. Flames devoured the horizon, and black smoke twisted into the sky like dying screams.
The boy said nothing.
Without hesitation, he descended the hill, leaping without fear of the height. He landed with a whisper, the katana humming softly in his grip.
Flames engulfed everything in front of him.
Then—movement.
A dark figure emerged from the inferno. Shrouded in shadow, distorted by the heat, it stood silent.
The boy narrowed his eyes, blinded by the intensity of the moonlight behind the figure. He couldn't make out its face. But the tension was undeniable.
He raised his katana, adopting a fighting stance.
The figure mirrored him.
Without words, they charged.
Just as their weapons were about to clash—
A gasp.
A boy awoke from sleep.
8:44 AM – Hosi Household
The dream faded like smoke.
In the quiet of a warm home, a boy named Lloyd stood in front of a wooden door, gently knocking.
"Clark… Clark," he said, knocking again. "Wake up."
From within, a muffled voice replied.
MOLE (14): "I'm awake. You can stop knocking now."
Lloyd turned away, eyes drifting toward the stairs. He waited a few minutes, anxious.
"Are we going to make it on time?" he muttered.
Inside, Mole, his older brother, sat on his bed, holding his head. Sweat clung to his brow.
MOLE (to himself):
"This pain… and that dream. What was that?"
He shook it off, changed his clothes, and headed downstairs.
In the kitchen, Shawn, the eldest brother, was cooking breakfast. Lloyd sat at the table, tapping his fingers impatiently.
The three brothers soon gathered to eat.
As they cleaned up, Lloyd checked the time.
His eyes widened.
"I called it—we're going to be late."
They rushed, locking up the house, and sprinted through the bustling streets of Ignisia, weaving between carts, guards, and cheering citizens.
Ignisia Royal Colosseum – Youth Elemental Tournament
The roars of thousands echoed through a stone arena shaped like a massive bowl of history and combat. Fireworks boomed. Banners danced in the wind.
A man stood near the ring, microphone crystal in hand.
COMMENTATOR DAZZLE:
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! WELCOME TO THE YOUTH ELEMENTAL TOURNAMENT!!"
The crowd erupted.
DAZZLE:
"I'm your host, DAZZLE! And today's finals are about to ignite—literally!"
The crowd surged with excitement.
DAZZLE:
"Introducing first—from the stony spires of Terraverde—the titan of terra, the unshakable, the mountain himself—LEEEEEEE!!"
Lee stepped into the arena.
Tall. Broad. His muscles carved like cliffs, his sleeveless top revealing tattoos of roots and stone. Calm and grounded, he walked like the earth answered to him.
DAZZLE:
"And his opponent—our very own blazing prodigy from the heart of Ignisia—the wildfire that won't be tamed—BLAAAAAAZE!!"
Blaze strode forward, lean and fast, fire flickering across his knuckles. His hair flared red like sparks. His eyes—burning comets locked on Lee.
The Bell Rang.
Lee immediately slammed the ground—twin walls of stone rose like fangs and lunged toward Blaze.
Blaze darted sideways, his flames propelling him through the air. He spun mid-air, hurling a fiery crescent.
Lee blocked with a stone gauntlet, the flames crashing against it.
The crowd roared.
Mole and his brothers arrived just in time, slipping into seats as the intensity rose.
Lee planted his feet and raised a pillar beneath Blaze—knocking him upward.
Blaze flipped, blasting downward with a pillar of fire.
BOOM!
Stone shattered. Lee skid back, unharmed. He smiled.
LEE:
"You'll need more than heat to melt a mountain."
BLAZE:
"Then I'll show you the sun."
The Fight Grew Fierce.
Lee stomped again—Earth Geysers erupted, chasing Blaze like stone serpents. Blaze dodged, igniting each step with explosive bursts.
He formed a ring of flame around Lee, trying to trap him.
Lee smashed the ground—an earthquake wave broke the fire ring and knocked Blaze off his feet.
Still, Blaze recovered fast—launching a flurry of flame spears, each burning white-hot.
Lee summoned a stone shield, blocking the first few—then burst through the last, charging with raw fists.
They met at the center—punch to flame, stone to heat.
The arena shook.
The audience screamed.
DAZZLE (commentating):
"I CAN'T BELIEVE MY EYES!! This is like watching volcanoes punch each other!!"
Flames danced.
Earth cracked.
Ash rose like snow.
Both fighters stood, burnt and bleeding, but unyielding.
Then—
Blaze raised his hand.
BLAZE:
"Let's end this. Phoenix Spear."
A massive inferno gathered behind him, forming a blazing spear with wings of fire.
Lee clenched his fists.
LEE:
"Stone Titan's Wrath."
From beneath, a massive stone golem rose, mimicking his stance. Its arm raised, ready to strike.
Blaze hurled the Phoenix Spear.
Lee punched through it with the golem's fist.
BOOOOOOM!!
A tidal wave of fire and stone engulfed the arena. Debris scattered. The audience shielded themselves from the blast.
When the smoke cleared—
Both fighters were down.
But Blaze's foot was barely outside the boundary.
DAZZLE:
"OUT OF BOUNDS!! VICTORY—GOES TO LEE OF TERRAVERDE!!"
The crowd exploded in cheers.
Lee rose, chest heaving, victorious.
Blaze, still smiling, lay on the ground.
BLAZE:
"Guess I flew a little too close to the sun…"
LEE:
"You almost turned the mountain to ash."
In the stands, Mole sat in silence.
That dream.
The blood-red moon. The figure in flames.
Was it just a vision?
Or a warning?
And far above the cheering stadium… the red moon still hovered, unseen in the daylight sky.