A hollow thud echoed through the forgotten sewer line beneath the old town. The sound carried like a heartbeat inside the tunnels, a reminder of how greed and corruption, centuries ago, had scarred the world beyond repair.
In the shadows, beneath the faint glow of cradle-lights fixed to the damp brick walls, a boy named Kaodin stood still. His breath was slow, measured. His focus drawn inward. Heat coiled in his belly, burning at the Dantian—the core of his energy.
He moved in rhythm.
One… two… punch.
One… two… low kick, high kick.
Father always said I'd need this. "Breathe, control the Qi, make it part of your Muaythai." Back then, I thought he was just pestering me. Now? It's all I have. The only thing keeping me sane… the only thing keeping me alive.
Kaodin's knuckles glowed red with seething aura. Each strike landed against a cement-pole dummy bound with rags. His second punch released a burst of Qi, rattling the pole. He twisted his waist, leg snapping forward in a whip-like arc.
Crack.
A fracture split the surface of the cement.
Then—beep-beep-beep.
The sharp tone of the proximity alert jolted through the silence. Kaodin exhaled slowly. Cee-too must be close. Training would have to wait.
He centered himself one last time. Eyes closed, aura focused inward, he counted the rhythm.
One— left foot forward.
Two— fists raised.
Energy surged into his right leg, glowing crimson. He struck—
POOF.
Dust shook loose from the clothed-covered cement pole.
At the sewer's entrance, a voice rang out, cheerful and unbothered. "Kaodin! We're heading out to scavenge. You comin'?"
Cee-too banged his iron pipe against the mangrove cover as he climbed down, his grin just visible in the half-light.
Kaodin slung his backpack over one shoulder, but before he could answer, the cracked dummy gave way. With a thunderous crash, it toppled and shattered into a heap of pebbles.
Cee-too's eyes widened. "What the hell—? You okay?" He darted over, staring at the rubble. "You… you did that?!"
Kaodin wiped sweat from his brow. "Guess so."
"Damn, that was awesome!" Cee-too crouched, poking the broken cement with his pipe. "You gotta teach me that, man. If I had moves like yours, those bullies would be scared shitless."
Kaodin gave a faint, guarded smile. "Maybe. But only if you keep it a secret. Between us."
Cee-too's grin widened. "Deal."