《The Five Nations》 The Five Nations: Knight Exams Preliminary Round (1) In a small state under the Fire Continent, nestled within a humble noodle shop, the Zaki family prepared for a special day. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s already the big day,¡± Mr. Zaki said, a smile stretching across his face. ¡°His mother would be so proud,¡± Mrs. Zaki added, her tone both wistful and warm. ¡°Quick, quick, he¡¯s coming downstairs!¡± Sofia called excitedly as she glanced toward the staircase. A boy named Dan appeared at the top of the stairs, yawning and rubbing the sleep from his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± he mumbled groggily. ¡°Happy birthday!¡± everyone shouted in unison. Dan blinked, his face lighting up with surprise and joy. ¡°Oh my gosh, thank you so much, guys!¡± Sofia grinned. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re sixteen now! You¡¯re all grown up. You¡¯re like the little brother I never had.¡± ¡°Same for you too.¡± Dan gave her a quick hug. ¡°Now, where¡¯s the cake?¡± Mrs. Zaki appeared with a beautifully frosted cake in hand. ¡°Here it is,¡± she said with a warm smile. ¡°Blow out the candles!¡± Mr. Zaki encouraged. Dan leaned forward and blew out the single candle in the center of the cake. ¡°Thanks so much, everyone. After I eat, I¡¯ll start preparing for the Knight Exams.¡± Sofia sighed audibly. ¡°You still haven¡¯t given up on that? Dan, your mother didn¡¯t want this for you.¡± Dan¡¯s expression softened. ¡°I know. But she also told me to do what makes me happy.¡± Mr. Zaki folded his arms, his expression conflicted. ¡°Dan, we¡¯ve been trying to convince you otherwise for years, but¡­ if you¡¯re determined, I suppose we can¡¯t stop you.¡± ¡°Just be safe,¡± Mrs. Zaki added, worry in her voice. ¡°You know¡­ since you don¡¯t have any chi.¡± Dan nodded, a hint of uncertainty flashing in his eyes. ¡°I know. But that¡¯s why I¡¯ve been training so hard in karate. I¡¯ll be okay.¡± Sofia frowned. ¡°But still¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Mr. Zaki interrupted. ¡°It¡¯s his choice now.¡± Dan smiled gratefully. ¡°Thanks, everyone. I¡¯ll stop by the dojo first, then head to the registration center.¡± ¡°Take care!¡± Sofia called as he turned to leave. Dan gave them one last wave and dashed out the door, excitement and determination written all over his face. At the Dojo The dojo was bustling with activity. ¡°Axel!¡± Zen, the karate teacher, barked. ¡°I told you to clean up before the students arrived!¡± Axel, the assistant teacher, rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. ¡°Sorry, I forgot.¡± Just then, three students¡ªAlexander, Eugene, and Ruby¡ªentered the dojo. ¡°Ugh, you¡¯re still not done?¡± Alexander groaned. ¡°I thought you guys would stop slacking,¡± Eugene added with a disapproving shake of his head. Ruby rolled her eyes. ¡°As expected.¡± The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Hey, show some respect to your teacher!¡± Zen snapped. ¡°Anyway, where¡¯s my top student? Where¡¯s Dan?¡± Alexander grinned. ¡°He should be here soon. You know, it¡¯s his birthday.¡± Zen froze. ¡°What?! None of you told me!¡± ¡°We thought you knew,¡± Eugene said with a shrug. ¡°You¡¯re his teacher. Shouldn¡¯t you know?¡± Ruby teased. ¡°What am I supposed to do now?¡± Zen muttered to himself, looking around in panic. Just then, Dan walked in. ¡°Hey, everyone!¡± Zen stiffened, then forced a wide grin. ¡°Ah, Dan! Happy birthday!¡± ¡°Happy birthday!¡± Alexander, Eugene, and Ruby chorused, handing him small wrapped presents. Dan thanked them all, then looked expectantly at Zen. Zen hesitated. ¡°Uh¡­ Here, Dan.¡± He grabbed his golden trophy¡ªthe one he had won years ago¡ªand handed it over Dan¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Wow, thanks, Master! I know this must be hard for you since it¡¯s your most prized trophy.¡± Zen forced a laugh. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t believe it¡­¡± A single tear escaped his eye. ¡°Still,¡± Alexander chimed in, ¡°I bet nothing beats the bracelet your mom gave you.¡± Dan glanced at the bracelet on his wrist and smiled. ¡°Yeah, nothing will.¡± After some quick farewells, Dan explained he had to head to the registration center. ¡°Good luck!¡± Zen called after him. The Knight Exam Registration The registration center was crowded, filled with aspiring knights from across the nations. Dan weaved through the crowd, trying to find his way when a familiar voice called out. ¡°Dan, is that you?¡± Dan froze, his stomach sinking. That asshole. He turned to see Ezekiel, a noble from his state, smirking at him. ¡°Yes, what do yo¡ª¡± Dan¡¯s words were cut off as Ezekiel¡¯s kick landed squarely in his chest. ¡°I thought I told you to give up on this stupid dream,¡± Ezekiel sneered. ¡°Face it. Without chi, you¡¯re nothing.¡± Dan clenched his fists. ¡°Shut up!¡± He swung at Ezekiel, but the noble dodged effortlessly and retaliated with a blast of sound energy that sent Dan sprawling. Before the situation could escalate, a knight in red armor appeared, using his barrier ability to separate them. ¡°Hey, if you two keep this up, I¡¯ll kick you both out,¡± the knight warned. Dan muttered an apology while Ezekiel smiled smugly. ¡°My apologies,¡± he said with mock politeness. The knight stepped back. ¡°Save it for the tournament.¡± Dan and Ezekiel reluctantly agreed before going their separate ways, the tension between them unresolved. That evening, Dan sat on the roof of the noodle shop, staring at the distant horizon. The events of the day played over in his mind, and the anger he felt toward Ezekiel boiled beneath the surface. ¡°Damn him,¡± Dan muttered to himself, clenching his fists. ¡°Damn him!¡± The sound of footsteps on the wooden roof caught his attention. Dan turned to see Damon, his best friend, climbing up to join him. Damon carried a small box in his hand. ¡°Hey, man,¡± Damon greeted casually as he sat down beside Dan. ¡°What¡¯s with the shouting? It¡¯s your birthday, you should be celebrating.¡± Dan sighed and looked away. ¡°Sorry¡­ It¡¯s that damn Ezekiel again. He keeps bullying me because he¡¯s a noble and has chi.¡± ¡°That idiot?¡± Damon scoffed. ¡°Want me to go beat him up for you?¡± Dan chuckled, shaking his head. ¡°As if you could.¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t underestimate me!¡± Damon said, grinning. ¡°Anyway, here. Happy birthday.¡± He handed Dan the small box. Dan opened it to reveal a small wooden carving of a phoenix. His eyes lit up. ¡°Wow, thanks, Damon! This is awesome.¡± Damon shrugged. ¡°Figured you¡¯d like it. But seriously, don¡¯t let that guy get to you. You¡¯ve been dealing with him for years. You¡¯ll get through this.¡± Dan sighed. ¡°Yeah, but tomorrow¡¯s the Knight Exams. It¡¯s the biggest thing I¡¯ve ever faced. I need to prove myself.¡± ¡°That stupid tournament,¡± Damon said with a smirk. ¡°Do you really think it¡¯s worth it?¡± Dan¡¯s expression softened. ¡°Yeah, I do. I¡¯ll become a knight, no matter what it takes. I just wish you were doing it with me.¡± ¡°No way, dude,¡± Damon replied, leaning back on his hands. ¡°I want to be a traveler and see the whole world.¡± Dan laughed. ¡°That means we¡¯ll probably see each other again someday.¡± Damon smirked. ¡°Yeah, just don¡¯t die before then.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± Dan promised, his determination returning. ¡°Good luck tomorrow, man,¡± Damon said, giving him a firm pat on the shoulder. ¡°Thanks,¡± Dan replied. ¡°I¡¯m going to need it.¡± The following day, Dan stood in the competitor¡¯s tunnel, preparing to step into the arena. His heart pounded in his chest as the crowd roared above him. He could hear the announcer¡¯s voice echoing through the space. ¡°And next up, we have Ezekiel, the sound wave user, versus Dan, the karate non-chi user!¡± The crowd erupted into cheers, though Dan could hear murmurs of doubt scattered among them. ¡°My money¡¯s on Ezekiel!¡± ¡°Of course. The other guy doesn¡¯t even have chi.¡± Dan took a deep breath, trying to block out the noise. ¡°I can do this,¡± he whispered to himself. ¡°I¡¯m Daniel Mori. I can do anything.¡± With those words, he stepped out of the tunnel and into the blinding light of the arena. Across from him, Ezekiel stood confidently, a smug grin on his face. ¡°Are you sure you want to go through with this?¡± Ezekiel called out. Dan clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with determination. ¡°Come at me, you asshole.¡± Ezekiel¡¯s grin widened. ¡°Fine. Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you.¡± The match began with Ezekiel charging at Dan, unleashing a barrage of sound blasts. Dan tried his best to dodge, managing to avoid some of the attacks, but he wasn¡¯t fast enough to avoid them all. A blast caught him square in the chest, sending him sprawling. The crowd erupted in cheers as Ezekiel continued his relentless assault. ¡°Wow! Ezekiel isn¡¯t holding back at all!¡± the announcer exclaimed. ¡°Are you sure you still want to do this?¡± Ezekiel taunted, smirking as he delivered another blast. Dan gritted his teeth and pushed himself to his feet. ¡°Shut up.¡± He charged at Ezekiel, throwing a punch, but Ezekiel easily dodged and countered with another sound wave, knocking him to the ground again. ¡°You¡¯re pathetic,¡± Ezekiel sneered. ¡°What, did you think you were the protagonist in some heroic story? That you¡¯d make some amazing comeback? Newsflash¡ªyou¡¯re not. You¡¯re just a useless non-chi loser.¡± Ezekiel stomped on Dan¡¯s chest, driving the air out of his lungs. As Dan struggled to breathe, Ezekiel¡¯s eyes landed on the bracelet around his wrist. ¡°Oh, what¡¯s this?¡± Ezekiel said, plucking the bracelet off Dan¡¯s wrist. ¡°Is this from someone special? Maybe your mommy?¡± Dan¡¯s eyes widened in alarm. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare¡ª¡± Before he could finish, Ezekiel crushed the bracelet with a single blast. ¡°Noooo!¡± Dan screamed, his voice echoing through the arena. The crowd fell silent, their cheers turning to murmurs of shock. ¡°What will you do now?¡± Ezekiel asked mockingly. ¡°Cry about it?¡± Dan¡¯s body trembled as rage consumed him. His vision blurred, and a strange energy began to surge through his veins. Ezekiel leaned in, smirking. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Gonna give up?¡± Before Ezekiel could react, Dan¡¯s fist shot out, crackling with electricity. The punch connected with Ezekiel¡¯s jaw, sending him staggering back. ¡°What the hell?!¡± Ezekiel shouted, holding his jaw in shock. Dan stood tall, his entire body surrounded by sparks of lightning. His eyes burned with determination as he charged forward, moving at an impossible speed. Punch after punch, kick after kick¡ªeach strike crackled with raw power as Dan unleashed his fury on Ezekiel. ¡°Who will pay for that bracelet?!¡± Dan roared, his voice reverberating through the arena. Finally, Dan clenched his fist and delivered a devastating blow to Ezekiel¡¯s jaw, sending him flying across the arena. The force of the impact echoed like thunder. The crowd erupted into cheers. ¡°The winner is¡­ Dan from the Lightning Nation!¡± the announcer declared. Dan stood frozen in shock, staring at his hands, which still sparked with residual electricity. ¡°What the hell just happened?¡± he whispered to himself. End Knight Exams – Preliminary Round (2) Dan stood motionless in the arena, his breath heavy, his body trembling¡ªnot from exhaustion, but from shock. The crowd roared in excitement, but their cheers faded into background noise for him. His mind raced with questions. What just happened? Am I¡­ from the Lightning Nation? Before Dan could process his thoughts, glowing chains shot out from the sidelines, wrapping around his arms, legs, and torso, immobilizing him. "Sir, I¡¯ve restrained him," said a tall black woman with black hair and a commanding presence. She tightened the chains with a flick of her wrist, ensuring Dan couldn''t move. This was Vixen, a Vice-captain from the Fire Nation and a master of chain chi. ¡°Good work, Vixen,¡± said a man who stepped forward, his calm yet authoritative voice cutting through the tension. This was Talar, a Vice-Lieutenant of the Fire Nation, known for his rare empathy chi abilities. Placing a hand on Dan¡¯s head, Talar¡¯s eyes glowed faintly as he muttered, ¡°Sleep.¡± Dan¡¯s eyelids grew heavy, and within moments, he was unconscious. Dan woke with a jolt, his head throbbing. He found himself seated in a dimly lit office inside the arena. The room reeked of smoke, and the walls were lined with medals, maps, and portraits of past warriors. Across the table sat Talar, flanked by Vixen and DG, the Fire Nation lieutenant known for his unyielding barriers. Dan struggled against his restraints, but the chains binding him wouldn¡¯t budge. ¡°Hey! How dare you tie me up like this¡ª¡± Before he could finish, a chain coiled around his mouth, silencing him. Vixen glared at him, her tone sharp. ¡°Shut it, kid. You have no idea how much trouble you¡¯re in.¡± ¡°Vixen,¡± DG said, his deep voice filled with irritation, ¡°Greg told you to ease up with the chains.¡± Vixen huffed but complied, snapping her fingers. The chains unraveled and slithered back into her palms like obedient snakes. Dan massaged his wrists, glaring at them. What are they going to do to me? he wondered, his heart pounding. The door creaked open, and in walked a man who exuded authority and danger with every step. He wore a sharp crimson uniform and had a cigar hanging loosely between his lips. His sharp eyes locked onto Dan as he sat down across from him.This was Greg, Captain of the Fire Nation and a direct descendant of the Denver family, the thirteenth branch of the Fire Nation''s nobility. Greg leaned back in his chair, exhaling a cloud of smoke. ¡°Well, well, what do we have here?¡± His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it that made Dan feel small. ¡°A lightning user competing in the Fire Nation¡¯s knight exams. Are you a spy?¡± Dan tensed under Greg¡¯s piercing gaze. This guy is no joke, he thought, swallowing hard. ¡°No, sir, I¡¯m not a spy,¡± Dan said, choosing his words carefully. ¡°I¡­ I just found out about my abilities today.¡± Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! ¡°Bullshit!¡± Vixen snapped, her chains rattling in agitation. Greg raised a hand to silence her. ¡°Hmm,¡± he said, studying Dan¡¯s face closely. After a moment, he nodded. ¡°I believe you.¡± Vixen¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°What? Sir, you can¡¯t¡ª¡± Greg waved her off, cutting her short. ¡°The bracelet we found on you explains everything. It¡¯s a chi-blocker.¡± Dan furrowed his brows. ¡°A¡­ what?¡± Greg smirked, taking another drag of his cigar. ¡°A chi-blocker. A tool used to suppress someone¡¯s chi, rendering them powerless. It¡¯s rare, but it exists. Now, tell me¡ªwhere did you get it?¡± Dan hesitated, the words catching in his throat. Why would Mom give me something like that? ¡°My mom gave it to me,¡± he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. Greg leaned forward, his expression unreadable. ¡°I see. Well, kid, here¡¯s the deal: we can¡¯t disqualify you from the exams. You¡¯ll have to finish what you started.¡± ¡°But, sir¡ª¡± Vixen began. ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± DG interrupted, his tone firm. ¡°Boss¡¯s rules are clear. If the kid has chi, he¡¯s eligible.¡± Greg stood, signaling the end of the conversation. ¡°Your next match is in three days. Good luck, kid.¡± Without another word, the three officers left, leaving Dan alone. Dan returned home later that evening, his mind spinning. He gathered everyone in the living room of the noodle shop¡ªMr. and Mrs. Zaki, along with Sofia. Sofia looked at him, her expression serious. ¡°So¡­ you found out, huh?¡± Dan blinked. ¡°Wait, you knew?¡± Mr. Zaki sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. ¡°Your mother knew this day would come. It¡¯s time you learned the truth, Dan.¡± The four of them sat down, and Mrs. Zaki began to speak. ¡°Dan, your mother wasn¡¯t from this nation. She was from the Lightning Nation. She¡­ she slept with the Lightning King and had you.¡± Dan¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°What? The Lightning King is my father? Do I have¡­ any siblings?¡± Mrs. Zaki shook her head. ¡°We don¡¯t know. She didn¡¯t say much. Sixteen years ago, she showed up here carrying you as a crying baby. We offered her a job, and over time, we became a family.¡± Dan clenched his fists. ¡°Then why did she put that bracelet on me?¡± ¡°She didn¡¯t want you to be in danger,¡± Mr. Zaki explained. ¡°She didn¡¯t want you to follow the path of a knight. She wanted to keep you safe, even if it meant suppressing your abilities.¡± Sofia placed a comforting hand on Dan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°She really loved you, Dan.¡± Dan leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. ¡°Fine. I had a tiring day, so I¡¯ll just move on for now. But one thing¡¯s for sure¡ªI¡¯m aiming higher now.¡± Sofia raised an eyebrow. ¡°What could possibly be higher than becoming a knight?¡± Dan smirked. ¡°Becoming the freakin¡¯ Lightning King.¡± Over the next three days, Dan pushed himself harder than ever. He returned to the dojo to refine his skills, trained in a forest outside the city to increase his speed and strength, and scaled tall buildings in the city to test his jumping ability. Every ounce of doubt or fear he had was replaced by determination. Finally, the day of his second match arrived. The arena was alive with energy as spectators filled the stands. Dan made his way through the tunnel, talking to himself to calm his nerves. ¡°So, twenty pots, five rounds each. I¡¯m done with the first. Four more to go. I¡¯m hyped.¡± As he stepped into the arena, he overheard an argument. Ezekiel, his former opponent, was ranting to DG. ¡°It¡¯s unfair!¡± Ezekiel yelled. ¡°I had to fight someone who was registered as a non-chi user, and then he suddenly uses lightning powers to win? He¡¯s a liar! A cheater! I demand a rematch!¡± DG crossed his arms, unimpressed. ¡°As an aspiring knight, you don¡¯t need to know your opponent¡¯s powers to defeat them. You were clearly not up to par.¡± Vixen appeared and restrained Ezekiel with her chains. ¡°Get lost,¡± she said coldly. Ezekiel stormed off, but not before spotting Dan. His eyes burned with anger. ¡°You¡ª¡± Before he could finish, Dan grabbed his wrist and flipped him effortlessly, slamming him to the ground. Dan smirked. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear them? You were clearly not up to par. So long, loser.¡± The announcer¡¯s voice boomed through the arena. ¡°The match you¡¯ve all been waiting for: the whip chi user, Icar, versus the surprise competitor from the Lightning Nation, Dan!¡± The crowd erupted into cheers. Dan grinned, hearing his name chanted. ¡°Wow, I¡¯ve really packed a crowd.¡± Icar stepped forward, smirking confidently. ¡°I don¡¯t care where you¡¯re from, kid. You¡¯re going to lose.¡± Dan shrugged. ¡°Okay, okay. Whatever.¡± The announcer raised his hand. ¡°Match start!¡± Icar wasted no time. Whips shot out from his palms, striking Dan and sending him flying backward. ¡°I told you¡ªyou¡¯re going to lose.¡± Dan stood, brushing himself off. ¡°As if.¡± Electricity crackled around his body as Dan charged at Icar, striking him with a flurry of punches and kicks. For a moment, it seemed like Dan had the upper hand¡ªuntil a whip shot out of Icar¡¯s side, slashing Dan¡¯s cheek. Blood dripped down his face. ¡°Sorry, kid" Icar taunted. ¡°But I¡¯m not losing today.¡± Dan grinned, wiping the blood from his cheek. ¡°Same as me, bozo.¡± Knight exams Preminaliry round (3) Dan was pushed back as Icar¡¯s whip chi lashed into him, the force sending him stumbling across the battlefield. Blood dripped from the cuts lining his arms and legs where the sharp edges of the whip had struck. "I thought you said you weren¡¯t going to lose," Icar taunted with a smirk. "Come at me." Icar¡¯s whips lashed out again, this time extending not just from his palms but also from his ribs. Dan dodged the strikes as best he could, his movements a mix of desperation and determination. But for every attack he avoided, another landed, slicing into his flesh. Damn it, Dan thought, gritting his teeth as the pain coursed through his body. This guy¡¯s tougher than I expected. I only had three days to train. My lightning isn¡¯t fast enough to outpace him¡­ What do I do? He clenched his fists, his breathing ragged. I have to catch him off guard and end this with my special attack, or I¡¯m done for. Icar suddenly merged the whips from his palms and ribs into two massive, glowing constructs. With a wicked grin, he lashed both whips toward Dan in a devastating attack. Dan managed to jump out of the way, but not unscathed¡ªone of the whips grazed his side, leaving another deep cut. "Shit," Dan muttered under his breath, staggering as blood trickled from his wounds. Meanwhile, at the Knight Administrators¡¯ office, the senior officials watched the battle unfold on a large screen. ¡°This isn¡¯t looking good for him,¡± Vixen, the Vice-General from the Fire Nation, said coldly, her chain chi swirling lightly around her fingers. Commander DG, a Barrier chi user, shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t believe we¡¯re watching someone from the great Lightning Nation lose so easily. What a disappointment.¡± General Greg, the Fire chi user from the Denver family, leaned back in his chair, puffing on a cigar as he watched the fight with sharp, focused eyes. ¡°Is that how you see it?¡± he asked, exhaling a cloud of smoke. ¡°What do you mean, sir?¡± Vixen raised an eyebrow. ¡°The whip chi guy has him completely covered. That boy doesn¡¯t even look comfortable using his lightning yet.¡± Greg chuckled softly. ¡°True¡­ but do you know what makes the people of the Lightning Nation special?¡± ¡°What?¡± DG asked, intrigued. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Greg tapped his cigar on the edge of the ashtray, his expression serious. ¡°Their blood.¡± ¡°Blood?¡± Vixen frowned, clearly confused. ¡°Their bloodline,¡± Greg said, leaning forward. ¡°People from the Lightning Nation are born prodigies. They may not win every fight, but I¡¯ve never seen one of them lose easily in a knight exam. They¡¯re strong, clever, and always able to think on their feet. Even with minimal training, they can pull off impossible victories. That nation is full of beasts.¡± Back in the arena, the crowd was growing restless. ¡°Why is he defending so much?¡± one spectator shouted. ¡°I thought he was supposed to be from the Lightning Nation!¡± another jeered. Icar¡¯s laughter echoed across the battlefield as he taunted his opponent. ¡°Hehe, looks like your fans are abandoning you.¡± Dan wiped the blood from his lip and glared at Icar. ¡°I don¡¯t care about them.¡± Damn it, he thought. This guy is matching my speed, and his whips keep landing hits. I need to end this fast. I can¡¯t take much more damage¡­ I¡¯ll have to use my special move, even if it drains me completely. Lightning crackled around Dan¡¯s body as he gathered his energy. His focus sharpened, his eyes locked on Icar. With a burst of speed, he charged forward, moving faster than before. Icar¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Did he just get faster? No matter¡ªI can still see him coming.¡± Icar lashed out with his whips, attempting to strike Dan mid-charge. But this time, Dan dodged the attacks with precision, weaving through the strikes and landing punches and kicks on Icar¡¯s body. ¡°This kid¡­¡± Icar growled, staggering back under the relentless blows. Don¡¯t stop now, Dan told himself. Keep going. I¡¯m almost there. Enough!¡± Icar roared, increasing the speed of his whips. The glowing constructs lashed out in rapid succession, striking Dan repeatedly. ¡°Got you now,¡± Icar sneered as his attacks battered Dan. But despite the bruises and cuts covering his body, Dan stood his ground, his resolve unshaken. He gritted his teeth, dodging the strikes as he closed the distance between them. With a sudden burst of speed, he drove his fist into Icar¡¯s stomach, then followed up with a powerful uppercut to his chin. Icar stumbled, dazed and defenseless. Now, Dan thought, gathering all of his remaining energy. Lightning crackled and surged around his right fist as he prepared to unleash his special move. ¡°Take this!¡± he shouted, driving his fist forward in a devastating karate straight punch. The impact was explosive, sending Icar flying across the arena. He crashed into the ground, unconscious The crowd erupted in cheers as the announcer¡¯s voice boomed over the speakers. ¡°Wow, wow, wow! What an incredible match! The winner is Dan, the boy from the Lightning Nation!¡± Back at the administrators¡¯ office, Vixen stared at the screen, her jaw clenched. ¡°What the hell¡­¡± Greg smirked, leaning back in his chair. ¡°I told you. That nation is full of beasts.¡± On the battlefield, the crowd was wild with excitement. ¡°I always believed in him!¡± one fan shouted. Dan staggered to his feet, smiling weakly as the adrenaline began to fade. ¡°I won,¡± he whispered before collapsing to the ground in exhaustion. Hours later, back at home, Sofia greeted him with a proud smile. ¡°Well, well, well, congratulations, Dan!¡± she said. ¡°Thanks,¡± Dan replied, wincing as he sat down. ¡°But my body hurts like hell.¡± ¡°You really won again,¡± she said in disbelief. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re going to be a knight.¡± ¡°Not yet,¡± Dan said. ¡°I still have three more matches to go.¡± Sofia grinned. ¡°But I know you¡¯re going to win.¡± Dan smiled back. ¡°Yeah. I will.¡± Over the next three days, Dan threw himself into training. He refined his techniques at the karate dojo, pushed his limits in the forest outside the city, and tested his agility by leaping across tall buildings. By the time the day of his next match arrived, he was battered but determined. At the arena, the announcer¡¯s voice rang out again. ¡°Welcome, ladies and gentlemen! The boy you¡¯ve all been waiting to see¡ªDan, the lightning boy! And his opponent, Dosu, the mouth acid chi user!¡± Dan stood in the arena, his body still sore from his last fight. He clenched his fists, trying to shake off the fatigue. Damn it, he thought. I haven¡¯t fully recovered yet¡­ and now I¡¯m up against another tough opponent. Just my luck. Knight Exams - Preliminary Round (4) Dan stood in the center of the battleground, his body still sore from the previous fight. Despite his injuries and exhaustion, he clenched his fists, refusing to back down. (My body is still in pain after the last fight. I trained for three days straight, but I won¡¯t back down now. I have to push forward.) Across from him, his opponent, Dosu, stood sweating nervously. His hands trembled slightly as he tried to steady his breathing. (This aura... it''s dangerous. His last two opponents were left badly injured. There''s no way I''m fighting him. I have to think of something...) Dosu suddenly began coughing violently, clutching his chest. Moments later, he collapsed to the ground, groaning in feigned agony. ¡°Medic! I need help!¡± Dosu called out desperately. The crowd watched in confusion as medical staff rushed in to assist. Dosu was quickly carried off the field, his supposed illness disqualifying him from the match. The announcer stepped forward, his voice booming through the arena. ¡°There you have it, folks! Due to illness, Dosu is unable to continue, and Dan is the winner!¡± The crowd erupted in cheers. ¡°Yessss!¡± ¡°Go, Dan!¡± Dan scratched his head, a mix of confusion and amusement on his face. ¡°What the... he just got sick on the spot? Well, doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯m in the next round.¡± A grin spread across his face as he waved to the cheering crowd. At the Knight Administrators¡¯ Office Vixen, the Vice-General from the Fire Nation, leaned back in her chair, watching the match¡¯s conclusion on the Crow bird eye transmitting it on a screen. ¡°Looks like he¡¯ll actually make it to the main exams. I hope Dosu¡¯s illness isn¡¯t anything serious.¡± Greg, the General from the Fire Nation and a member of the 13th branch family, the Denvers, chuckled. ¡°Illness? You¡¯re too kind. That boy isn¡¯t sick. I saw him earlier this morning checking the match board. The moment he saw he¡¯d be fighting the lightning boy, he started shaking like a leaf.¡± DG, the Fire Nation¡¯s Barrier Chi user and Commander, crossed his arms. ¡°So they¡¯re all scared to face him, huh?¡± Greg nodded. ¡°Exactly. I¡¯m not surprised, though. This kingdom isn¡¯t exactly known for having the strongest fighters.¡± Vixen sighed. ¡°At least the Lightning Nation will be pleased their bloodline is making it to the main stage.¡± Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. ¡°Speaking of the Lightning Nation,¡± Greg said, turning to DG, ¡°did you contact them about him?¡± ¡°I did,¡± DG replied. ¡°They said they¡¯ve never heard of him. But if he truly is one of theirs, they¡¯re confident he¡¯ll pass this ¡®teacup round¡¯ and make it to the finals.¡± Greg smirked. ¡°The finals, huh? The children from the other nations finished their preliminaries a week before this one started, right?¡± ¡°Yes, sir,¡± DG confirmed. ¡°This is shaping up to be an interesting tournament, especially since the Fire Nation is hosting it at the 8th branch.¡± Greg leaned forward, a glint of excitement in his eyes. ¡°I want to see what Dan is truly capable of.¡± Golock¡¯s Healing Shop Dan jumped across rooftops, weaving through the city until he reached his destination: Golock¡¯s Healing Shop. As he entered, he called out, ¡°Damon, are you there?¡± Damon, a shop worker and Dan¡¯s friend, emerged from the back, wiping his hands on his apron. ¡°You¡¯re here early. Was your opponent weak?¡± Dan chuckled. ¡°Not exactly. He got sick and was disqualified.¡± Damon smirked. ¡°So you came to visit me, or¡­¡± Dan grinned sheepishly. ¡°You know me too well. I need some healing herbs.¡± Damon chuckled and shook his head. ¡°Fine, fine. Let me grab them for you.¡± He disappeared into the back room for a moment before returning with a small pouch. ¡°Here you go.¡± Dan accepted the herbs with a grateful smile. ¡°Thanks. By the way, when¡¯s your traveling adventure starting?¡± ¡°This time next week,¡± Damon replied. ¡°That¡¯s the same time as my final match,¡± Dan noted. Damon smiled. ¡°Guess it¡¯ll be a big day for both of us.¡± ¡°Definitely. I¡¯ll see you later, Damon. Thanks again!¡± Dan called as he left the shop, heading back home. Over the next three days, Dan trained relentlessly, balancing his recovery with refining his abilities. He spent hours in the forest outside town, focusing on a new technique. (Whenever I try to shoot from a distance, the impact isn¡¯t strong enough, or the lightning fades before it hits. I need to change my approach. Maybe... just maybe... if I combine my karate with this...) A smirk crossed his face as he continued to practice. The Next Match Day Dan stood in the arena, stretching as he awaited his opponent. A buzz of anticipation filled the crowd. The announcer¡¯s voice echoed across the stadium. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, I regret to inform you that Dan¡¯s opponent has resigned from the match!¡± The crowd erupted into boos. ¡°Boo!¡± ¡°This is the second time!¡± Dan frowned in frustration. (Come on. What the hell?) At the Knight Administrators¡¯ Office Greg leaned back in his chair, amused. ¡°The boy doesn¡¯t look happy about this.¡± Vixen nodded. ¡°Understandable. He¡¯s clearly eager to test his abilities, but his opponents keep backing out.¡± ¡°The crowd isn¡¯t enjoying it either,¡± DG added, watching the screen. Greg smirked. ¡°All the more reason to see how he handles the finals.¡± Frustrated, Dan left the arena, grumbling to himself. ¡°Two people now? They¡¯re afraid because of my chi abilities? I just hope the next one actually shows up.¡± For the next three days, Dan pushed himself harder, determined to perfect his new special move. He couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that the finals would be his chance to prove himself. The Final Match of the Preliminary Round Dan stood in the arena, stretching as he awaited his opponent. A buzz of anticipation filled the crowd. Across from him, Daki, a tall and muscular man armed with a bamboo staff, stepped forward confidently. (Finally, someone who didn¡¯t chicken out.) Dan smiled to himself. Earlier That Day ¨C Golock¡¯s Healing Shop Dan entered the shop, his steps light despite the heaviness of his upcoming match. "Hey, Damon!" he called out. Damon peeked out from behind the counter, a warm smile on his face. "Dan, you''re here. Ready for the big match?" Dan chuckled. "Not yet, but I wanted to see you before it starts. Today''s your last day in the shop before your adventure, right?" "Yeah," Damon said, leaning against the counter. "You¡¯re about to make it to the finals, and I¡¯m about to start my journey. Big day for both of us." Dan nodded. "After my match, let¡¯s meet on top of my house. I want to hear all about your plans before you leave." Damon grinned. "You¡¯ve got yourself a deal, lightning boy. Good luck out there, and don¡¯t get yourself too beaten up." Dan smiled, leaving the shop with renewed confidence. "Don¡¯t worry¡ªI¡¯ve got this." Back to the Battle The announcer¡¯s voice boomed, pulling Dan¡¯s focus back to the present. ¡°Welcome, everyone, to the last round of the preliminary exams for this group! Today, we have Dan, the lightning chi user from the Lightning Nation, versus Daki, the bamboo chi user!¡± Dan couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. "Bamboo?" Daki raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. ¡°Boy, don¡¯t mock someone¡¯s abilities until you¡¯ve seen them in action.¡± Dan quickly raised his hands in mock surrender. ¡°Alright, alright. My bad. I¡¯m just happy you didn¡¯t quit.¡± Daki smirked. ¡°Quit? This is my chance to prove to the world that I¡¯m no pushover.¡± Dan grinned. ¡°Fair enough. Let¡¯s have a good fight.¡± Both fighters readied their stances as the crowd roared in excitement. The final battle of the preliminary round was about to begin.