《The Five Nations: Crowns of Blood》 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.¡± Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. ¡°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.¡± Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡°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. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. 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.¡± The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°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. The Final Match of the Preliminary Round The battle between Dan and Daki was moments away. The tension in the air was palpable as the announcer¡¯s voice echoed across the packed arena. ¡°This action-packed final match is about to begin!¡± the announcer declared. The crowd roared with excitement. ¡°My money¡¯s on the lightning kid!¡± one voice shouted. ¡°I¡¯m betting on the underdog! Daki for the win!¡± came another. Dan adjusted his stance, his focus razor-sharp. I have to come at him fast and try out my new special move. Just like the last one, it has to be at close range. Across from him, Daki stood tall, gripping his bamboo staff. ¡°Boy, let¡¯s have a good match,¡± he said. Dan nodded respectfully. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The announcer raised his hand. ¡°Alright, begin!¡± Dan wasted no time, charging at Daki with incredible speed. Just as he closed in, Daki drew sharp bamboo sticks from the ground, thrusting them toward Dan. Reacting quickly, Dan ducked beneath the attack, narrowly avoiding a critical hit, and retreated. A sharp cut appeared on Dan¡¯s left cheek, blood trickling down. He wiped it with his hand and smirked. ¡°Wow, you really won¡¯t be an easy win.¡± Daki¡¯s expression remained calm but determined. ¡°I am here only to win. This guy is tough, Dan thought. I have to get close to him and finish this before I lose stamina. At the Knight Administrators'' Office In their office, the Knight administrators watched the match through the Crow bird eye transmitting it on the screen, which transmitted the battle from the arena below. Greg leaned back in his chair, observing the fight intently. ¡°This final match is shaping up to be interesting.¡± Vixen glanced at him with a smirk. ¡°Your bet on who¡¯s going to win?¡± DG responded confidently, ¡°Dan". Greg grinned, his eyes locked on the crow-eye¡¯s glowing surface. ¡°Let¡¯s see how this plays out.¡± Back in the Arena Daki launched a flurry of bamboo sticks from the ground straight at Dan. The lightning user dodged some but couldn¡¯t avoid all of them, sustaining more cuts on his arms and legs. Damn it, Dan thought, wincing from the pain. Why are his bamboo sticks so hard to break? In a desperate move, Dan grabbed one of the bamboo sticks and used all his strength to snap it in half. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Daki raised an eyebrow. ¡°Wow, you actually broke one. But that doesn¡¯t¡ª¡± Before he could finish, Dan threw the broken stick at him. The sharp edge grazed Daki¡¯s left cheek, leaving a small cut. Dan grinned. ¡°Oops, I missed.¡± Daki¡¯s eyes flared with anger. ¡°How dare you¡ª¡± Dan didn¡¯t wait for him to finish. Lightning surged through his body as he charged forward with blinding speed. His fists and legs moved in a flurry, delivering rapid punches and kicks to Daki¡¯s stomach, legs, and face, all enhanced by lightning. With one final blow, Dan tossed Daki across the arena. Finally, the match is going in my favor, Dan thought, his confidence growing. He rushed toward Daki again, aiming a powerful punch at his opponent¡¯s left cheek. But Daki roared in frustration. ¡°Enough!¡± With a wave of his hand, he summoned more bamboo sticks from the ground, forcing Dan to retreat. Dan laughed as he dodged the attacks. ¡°I knew you¡¯d do that.¡± Moving behind Daki, Dan clenched his fist tightly, ready to unleash his ¡°Lightning Karate Straight Punch.¡± Just as he swung, Daki reacted instantly, summoning thick bamboo branches from the ground that pushed Dan away. ¡°What the heck?¡± Dan muttered, stumbling back. Daki with a serious stare. ¡°You¡¯re tough, kid. I¡¯ll give you that. But this is where it ends. I have to win, no matter what.¡± The bamboo branches began to grow rapidly, covering the entire battlefield. One after another, they struck Dan, trapping him in a makeshift prison. Daki laughed. ¡°Game over, boy. You¡¯re stuck in my bamboo prison.¡± At the Knight Administrators'' Office Talar smirked. ¡°Hehe, looks like I¡¯m going to win money today.¡± DG frowned, leaning closer to the screen. ¡°Come on, Dan. You overcame tougher fights than this. Don¡¯t give up now.¡± Vixen glanced at Greg. ¡°Does this mean it¡¯s the end of the road for him?¡± Greg laughed. ¡°He won¡¯t give up. Did you forget what I told you about that family line? They think fast on their feet and always pull off surprise victories. They¡¯re not the strongest just for show. That kid has what it takes to deliver.¡± In the Arena Dan gritted his teeth as the bamboo branches struck him repeatedly. This hurts like hell¡­ but I can¡¯t give up yet. With a surge of determination, he jumped onto the branches, hopping from one to another. Daki smirked. ¡°You think I can¡¯t attack you there?¡± The bamboo branches shifted, leaving Dan with nowhere to stand. He fell back to the ground, where the branches resumed their assault. ¡°Fine,¡± Dan muttered, electricity crackling around him. ¡°I¡¯ll destroy all these branches and make my way to you.¡± Lightning engulfed his body as he began to shatter the branches one by one. But when he got close to Daki, he felt a sharp sting in his hand as he punched one of the remaining branches. ¡°What the hell?¡± Dan winced. Daki laughed. ¡°You won¡¯t penetrate these. I¡¯ve made them solid and unbreakable.¡± Dan¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Shut up!¡± He clenched his fist, determination burning in his eyes. I won¡¯t let anything stop me from becoming a knight. If I must break my bones, so be it. Ignoring the pain, Dan continued attacking the branches relentlessly until they began to crack and fall. Daki¡¯s confidence faltered. ¡°What? This is impossible! How are you able to do this?¡± Dan coughed up blood but kept moving forward. Keep going¡­ At the Knight Administrators'' Office DG jumped out of his seat. ¡°Hell yeah!¡± Talar groaned. ¡°Oh no¡­¡± Vixen¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°What a comeback.¡± Greg chuckled. ¡°What did I tell you? This kid is incredible.¡± Back in the Arena Daki gritted his teeth. I¡¯ll just make more. Before he could summon additional branches, Dan charged at him, delivering a barrage of lightning punches. ¡°Time to end this!¡± Dan clenched his fist tightly and unleashed his ¡°Lightning Karate Straight Punch,¡± slamming into Daki¡¯s stomach. Daki coughed up blood, staggering back. This kid¡­ he¡¯s unbelievable. But before Daki could collapse, Dan roared, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare pass out yet!¡± He imbued his hand with lightning once more and performed his finishing move¡ªthe ¡°Lightning Karate Chop.¡± The strike landed on Daki¡¯s neck, sending him crashing to the ground, unconscious. Dan fell to his knees, panting heavily. ¡°Finally¡­ I won.¡± The announcer¡¯s voice rang out. ¡°What a final match, folks! The winner is Dan from the Lightning Nation!¡± The crowd erupted in cheers. Dan blinked, his vision blurry. ¡°Did I¡­ win?¡± He smiled faintly before collapsing to the ground. At the Knight Administrators'' Office Greg grinned. ¡°What an interesting match. That kid is incredible. I wonder what he¡¯ll do in the main exams.¡± Vixen nodded. ¡°So, our work supervising these matches is done.¡± Greg rose from his chair. ¡°Yes. DG, inform the other nations that we¡¯re finished here.¡± ¡°Sure thing, sir,¡± DG said, leaving the office immediately. Preparations for the Main Exams News of the upcoming main exams quickly spread across the nations. In the Air Kingdom¡¯s 2nd branch, White turned to his partner. ¡°Esther, are you done training? We¡¯ll need to leave for the Fire Nation¡¯s 8th branch soon.¡± Esther smiled. ¡°Yes, White.¡± At the Ice Kingdom¡¯s 10th branch, a messenger informed Ash of the exams. He smirked, leaning back as a girl kissed him. ¡°Wonderful. But I¡¯ll miss my girls here.¡± In the Fire Kingdom¡¯s 6th branch, Agi burst into the training room. ¡°Steven, the main exams will start soon!¡± Steven scowled. ¡°Shut up. Don¡¯t go overboard.¡± At the Lightning Nation¡¯s 16th branch, Chase spoke to Rebecca as they played chess. ¡°Looks like the main exams are about to start.¡± Rebecca nodded. ¡°Yes. We need to do great.¡± And at the Weapons Nation¡¯s 3rd branch, Elke approached his master. ¡°Master Alexis¡ª¡± Alexis interrupted, a sword in hand. ¡°Sorry for cutting your arm slightly. I was practicing. What is it?¡± Elke winced but delivered the news. ¡°The main exams are starting in the coming days.¡± Alexis smirked, resting his sword on his shoulder. ¡°Interesting. I can¡¯t wait.¡± Preliminary Round (Epilogue) Three days had passed since Dan¡¯s triumphant victory in the preliminary exams. At Dan¡¯s House Dan stretched lazily, yawning as the sunlight poured into his room. ¡°What a beautiful morning,¡± he muttered to himself, rubbing his aching shoulders. ¡°Ouch, my body still hurts.¡± Before he could get comfortable, his older sister Sofia burst into the room. ¡°Hi hi, how are you doing?¡± she greeted, giving him a playful smack on the back. ¡°Ouch!¡± Dan winced. ¡°I¡¯m doing good¡­ but take it easy, will you?¡± Sofia crossed her arms, pretending to pout. ¡°I still can¡¯t believe today is your last day here.¡± Her eyes filled with tears as her voice cracked. ¡°You¡¯re really leaving to become a knight.¡± Dan smiled warmly. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine. I¡¯ll come back to visit, I promise.¡± Sofia wiped her eyes and gave a small laugh. ¡°Oh, great. You¡¯d better keep your word!¡± ¡°I will,¡± Dan reassured her. ¡°But for now, I need to get going. I¡¯ve got an award ceremony to attend.¡± Sofia pointed a finger at him. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to come back in time for your goodbye party!¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Dan replied with a grin as he headed out the door. At the Town Square The town square was alive with excitement. People gathered in droves to witness the ceremony. Mr. Richmond, a noble in charge of the country, stood proudly at the podium, addressing the crowd. ¡°Hello, everyone! Today, we are here to celebrate the winners of the preliminary exams! These individuals will advance to the main knight exams!¡± The crowd erupted into cheers. ¡°Yeahhhh!¡± ¡°Go, go, go!¡± Behind the stage curtain, Dan peeked out at the energetic crowd. ¡°Wow, what a turnout.¡± A voice interrupted his thoughts. ¡°Hey there, lightning kid,¡± said a young man approaching him. Dan turned around. ¡°Yo. Do I know you?¡± The man chuckled. ¡°Not really. My name¡¯s Ulys. I¡¯ve been watching your matches. I gotta say, I¡¯m impressed. For a kid two years younger than me, you fight like a seasoned warrior.¡± Dan smiled. ¡°Oh, thanks. That means a lot.¡± Ulys tilted his head, curiosity flickering in his eyes. ¡°But¡­ I found it a bit strange that you¡¯re here alone, without your family.¡± Dan hesitated, his expression faltering. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ a long story.¡± Ulys quickly held up his hands. ¡°It¡¯s fine. You don¡¯t have to explain if you don¡¯t want to.¡± Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. On Stage Mr. Richmond continued speaking. ¡°Before we introduce the winners, let¡¯s first give a round of applause to the man who supervised our tournament, Greg Denver, from the 13th branch of the Fire Nation!¡± The crowd went wild. ¡°Wooooo!¡± ¡°That¡¯s one hot man!¡± Greg stepped forward in a sharp suit, exuding confidence. ¡°Thank you all for having me.¡± Dan, still behind the curtain, couldn¡¯t help but marvel. ¡°Wow, he looks good in a suit.¡± The ceremony proceeded, with Mr. Richmond calling the names of the 19 winners one by one. Finally, it was Dan¡¯s turn. ¡°And now,¡± Mr. Richmond announced, ¡°our final winner¡ªa surprise contestant who gave us some of the best fights we¡¯ve seen in a long time! Let¡¯s hear it for Dan Mori!¡± The crowd erupted. ¡°Dan, my man!¡± ¡°This boy made me rich!¡± Dan stepped onto the stage, overwhelmed by the cheers. Wow, the crowd really loves me. He accepted his award¡ªa certificate and a bag of gold¡ªwith a wide grin. Greg approached him, giving an approving nod. ¡°Nice matches, kid.¡± Dan smiled back. ¡°Thank you.¡± After the ceremony, the winners were invited to a grand party at Mr. Richmond¡¯s house. ¡°Heck yeah, I¡¯m going!¡± Ulys said enthusiastically, rallying the other contestants. Dan, however, declined with a polite smile. ¡°You guys go ahead. I¡¯ve got other plans tonight.¡± Ulys shrugged. ¡°Suit yourself. Let¡¯s go, everyone!¡± As Dan walked through the bustling streets, he muttered to himself, ¡°What a day. Maybe I¡¯ll stop by Damon¡¯s place.¡± Before he could go far, a familiar voice called out to him. ¡°Dan.¡± Dan turned to see Greg standing a few steps ahead. ¡°Huh? Oh, it¡¯s you. What¡¯s up?¡± Greg grinned. ¡°Come on, Dan. Let¡¯s have a little chat.¡± Dan hesitated but eventually nodded. ¡°Sure. What harm could one little chat do?¡± Later at a Bar Hours later, Dan found himself in a noisy bar. Greg, now drunk, was laughing loudly with a group of women surrounding him. ¡°Hahaha! What a fun day! Keep the drinks and the girls coming!¡± Greg exclaimed. Dan, sipping on a glass of juice, looked uncomfortable. ¡°Uh, Greg¡­ are you sure you haven¡¯t had enough?¡± Greg glared at him playfully. ¡°Huh? You talkin¡¯ to me like that?¡± Dan shrank back. ¡°Eek! Sorry, sorry!¡± Greg burst into laughter. ¡°Relax, kid! I¡¯m just messing with you.¡± He clapped Dan on the back. ¡°You¡¯re a funny one.¡± Dan sighed internally. Why did I decide to hang out with this maniac? Greg leaned closer, his expression suddenly serious. ¡°So, boy, what do you want to achieve as a knight?¡± Dan straightened up. ¡°Well¡­ before I discovered my abilities, I just wanted to be a regular knight. But now, with this chi, I want to do something no one¡¯s ever done before¡ªI want to become the Lightning King.¡± Greg laughed heartily. ¡°Hah! Ambitious, aren¡¯t you? But do you even know the ranks of the knights?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Dan replied confidently. ¡°Private, Vice-Commander, Commander, Vice-General, General,Vice-Lieutenant, Lieutenant, Vice-Captain, and captain .¡± Greg smirked. ¡°You forgot the Imperial Knights. And here¡¯s the kicker¡ªonly the princes and princesses from each nation can compete for the King or Queen role.¡± Dan froze. ¡°Wait¡­ what?¡± Greg leaned back, his eyes glinting. ¡°Yep. Since the Five Nations were created, there has been Five rulers of the air nation, Three rulers of the ice nations, Two rulers from the fire nation but Only the weapons and lightning nations ruler that has never been changed,That title has never changed hands. If you really want to become the Lightning King, you¡¯ve got your work cut out for you.¡± Dan stared at him in shock. ¡°What the what?!¡± Greg laughed again. ¡°I like your spirit, kid. But you¡¯ve got a long way to go. Learn how to use your abilities properly. You¡¯ll figure it out during the main exams.¡± Dan frowned. ¡°Wait, what do you mean?¡± Greg waved him off. ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough. Anyway, I¡¯m off to the next bar. I¡¯m partying all night!¡± Dan sighed as Greg stumbled away. This guy¡­ I feel bad for his health. At the Goodbye Party Dan rushed back home just in time for the farewell party. ¡°You made it!¡± Sofia cheered. ¡°Welcome, knight boy!¡± Damon added. Dan grinned. ¡°How could I miss this? Let¡¯s eat!¡± The night was filled with laughter, food, and celebration. Dan spent time with his foster parents, his karate teacher, classmates, and his best friend Damon. Later, Dan and Damon sat on the roof, staring at the stars. ¡°What a day, huh?¡± Dan said, leaning back. Damon nodded. ¡°I can¡¯t believe this is the last time we¡¯ll do this.¡± Dan frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯re off on your knight journey, and I¡¯m traveling to see the world,¡± Damon replied. Dan smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t say never, my good man. I¡¯ll come back to visit. We¡¯ll write letters to each other.¡± Damon laughed. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll write to your branch once you get drafted.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Dan said with a grin. Meanwhile, at the Edwin Household Ezekiel, the noble¡¯s son who had lost to Dan in the first preliminary match, sat in his room, seething with anger. ¡°Damn him,¡± he muttered. ¡°I deserved to be there, not him. He just beat me by luck.¡± A voice emerged from the shadows. ¡°Anger¡­ hatred¡­ it reeks off you.¡± Ezekiel spun around. ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± The voice chuckled darkly. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t attack if I were you. My master sees something in you.¡± Ezekiel growled. ¡°Who is your master?!¡± Another voice, smaller and more sinister, joined in. ¡°Hello, Ezekiel.¡± Ezekiel¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You¡­¡± The smaller voice chuckled. ¡°Shush. I have a proposal for you. Join us, and you¡¯ll have the power to take what¡¯s rightfully yours. Become a king in a new world order. The choice is yours,If you want to take what is rightfully yours, be a king, you will join us. If you want more time to decide i will give you a week to choose" Ezekiel glared at the shadowy figure, his fists clenched. ¡°Wait... I already know what I want.¡± His voice dripped with resentment and determination. ¡°I...¡± The shadowy voice cut him off, its tone low and commanding. ¡°Good. If that is your choice, then you will serve our purpose well. But remember, Ezekiel... there is no turning back.¡± Ezekiel¡¯s heart pounded as the weight of the words sank in. The room fell silent except for the faint rustling of the night breeze. Whatever path he was about to choose, h e knew it would forever change his destiny. And as the figures faded into the darkness, a sinister grin crept across his Ezekiel''s. ¡°Dan Mori... I¡¯ll make sure you regret ever crossing me.¡± A new friend It was the next day, and Dan had just arrived at the gate of the country. Greg stood impatiently, scanning the area. ¡°Where is the lightning boy? You share drinks with a guy, and suddenly, you think you know them.¡± DG, standing beside him, frowned. ¡°Sir, I really don¡¯t think you should be drinking with a kid.¡± Greg smiled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. ¡°Hehe, well, I can¡¯t control myself sometimes.¡± Vixen crossed her arms, her foot tapping against the ground. ¡°Sir, we should¡¯ve left thirty minutes ago. I swear, when I find that kid, I¡¯m going to¡ª¡± ¡°Heyyyy, wait for me!¡± Dan yelled as he ran toward them, panting. Vixen immediately wrapped her chains around him, her eyes narrowing. ¡°You! Where the hell have you been?¡± Dan chuckled nervously. ¡°Erm¡­ I slept late last night, and my older sister was hugging me for too long. Sorry¡­¡± Vixen glared at him but loosened the chains. ¡°You¡¯re lucky the general decided to wait for you, or else you¡¯d have been left behind to do the long travel on your own.¡± Dan blinked. ¡°Long travel? Won¡¯t it take us three or four days to get there?¡± Greg burst into laughter. ¡°You really are a funny one.¡± DG explained, ¡°Well, you see, the five nations use horses energized by a special substance. It makes traveling much faster.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Vixen added. ¡°Do you really think we¡¯d waste three days getting to a kingdom under attack when we could get there in hours or a day?¡± Dan¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s amazing! So, how long will it take?¡± ¡°Five to eight hours,¡± Greg said with a grin. ¡°Super fast!¡± Dan exclaimed. Vixen sighed and shook her head. ¡°Alright, we¡¯re heading out.¡± As they rode in the horse-drawn carriages, Dan leaned back and smiled to himself. ¡°Boy, oh boy, I can¡¯t wait. I¡¯m going to the grand stage. I have to do it¡ªlearn more, train more, express myself more. I will do it. I will become the Lightning King and prove I¡¯m the strongest knight.¡± The group arrived the next day after an unexpected delay. ¡°I can¡¯t believe we had to stop yesterday because of those fallen trees,¡± Dan muttered as they approached the city gates. ¡°At least we¡¯re finally here now.¡± Greg turned to the group of candidates. ¡°Alright, kiddos, head to your rooms. We¡¯ll brief you on the event tomorrow.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± the contestants responded in unison. Dan stared at the massive hotel in awe. ¡°Wow, this place is huge! Time to rest on a proper bed.¡± Greg spoke to DG as the candidates scattered. ¡°Have the other kids arrived yet?¡± ¡°Yes, sir,¡± DG replied. ¡°Though Ash had a tiny¡­ incident the other day and wrecked a bar.¡± Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. ¡°That idiot,¡± Greg muttered. ¡°Lady Esther arrived yesterday too,¡± DG added. ¡°And White?¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t show up. Said he had more important things to do.¡± Greg smirked. ¡°This year is going to be¡­ interesting.¡± Dan wandered into the crowded lounge, struggling to find a seat amidst the throng of knights and candidates. ¡°This place is packed,¡± he muttered, squeezing past several large men. Nearby, a young girl was trying to move through the crowd as well. ¡°Hey! Move!¡± she shouted. She lost her balance and was about to fall when Dan rushed forward, catching her just in time. ¡°Hey, bozo! The girl said move!¡± Dan snapped at the man blocking her path. The man turned around, startled. ¡°Oh, sorry about that. I¡¯m just too pumped for the exams.¡± Dan relaxed. ¡°Oh, okay. Hey, are you alright?¡± he asked the girl. The girl, brushing herself off, nodded. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine.¡± Before Dan could say more, the girl¡¯s companion appeared. ¡°Rebecca, there you are!¡± the boy called out. ¡°Did anything happen?¡± ¡°Nothing at all,¡± Rebecca knight exam candidate from the lightning nation 16th branch replied quickly. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± the boy, Chase Knight exam candidate from the lightning nation 16th sub- branch muttered as they walked away. Dan sighed and finally found an empty seat, only to see someone already sitting down. ¡°Finally a place to¡ª¡± ¡°Sit and relax,¡± the stranger finished with a grin. ¡°Huh? Who are you?¡± Dan asked, startled. ¡°Oh, didn¡¯t see you there,¡± the boy said, looking around the room. ¡°This place is packed. I just needed a spot to sit and relax.¡± Dan shrugged. ¡°Same as me.¡± The boy chuckled. ¡°Hope I¡¯m not disturbing you.¡± ¡°Nah,¡± Dan replied. ¡°Okay, since we¡¯re both stuck here, it¡¯d be weird not to talk. How old are you?¡± ¡°Sixteen,¡± the boy said. ¡°You?¡± Dan¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Wow, same age! Where did you qualify from?¡± ¡°A kingdom in the Fire Continent. You?¡± ¡°Same,¡± Dan said with a grin. ¡°Favorite food?¡± ¡°Rice balls,¡± the boy replied. ¡°Same too!¡± Dan exclaimed. ¡°Favorite drink?¡± ¡°Berry.¡± Dan cringed. ¡°Ew. Mine¡¯s mango juice.¡± The two laughed and continued talking for a while. Eventually, Dan stood up. ¡°Wow, look at the time. I need to get my room number. Bye! Oh, by the way, what¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Samuel,¡± the boy said. ¡°You?¡± ¡°Dan. See you later!¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Dan got his room key and was taken to a special floor where all the children from the five nations were staying. Entering his room, he threw himself onto the bed. ¡°Time to relax,¡± he muttered. Hours passed, but he couldn¡¯t sleep. ¡°Oh, come on,¡± he groaned. ¡°I¡¯m too hyped up to sleep, and the exams aren¡¯t even tomorrow. Ugh, I¡¯ll just go outside for a bit.¡± Dan wandered outside, holding a bottle of mango juice in his hand. ¡°What a¡ª¡± ¡°Night,¡± a familiar voice interrupted. Dan turned and saw Samuel standing nearby. ¡°You again?¡± Dan said with mock irritation. ¡°Hey, what do you mean by that?¡± Samuel replied with a smirk. ¡°Nothing.¡± Samuel studied him for a moment. ¡°Are you bothered by something?¡± Dan sighed. ¡°Yeah. I can¡¯t sleep. I¡¯m too excited about the exams.¡± ¡°Same here,¡± Samuel admitted. Dan perked up. ¡°I forgot to ask¡ªwhat chi ability do you have?¡± Samuel grinned. ¡°Let me show you.¡± He raised his hand to the sky and shot out a brilliant beam of light. Dan¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Wait¡ªyou have light chi abilities? That¡¯s freakin¡¯ cool!¡± Samuel smirked. ¡°Yeah, I know I¡¯m awesome. What about you?¡± Dan straightened up. ¡°Lightning.¡± Samuel¡¯s mouth fell open. ¡°What?! I thought you said you qualified from a Fire Nation kingdom!¡± ¡°I did,¡± Dan explained, ¡°because I didn¡¯t know I had it. I was wearing a chi-blocker bracelet the whole time. It¡¯s¡­ kinda complicated.¡± Samuel stared at him in awe. ¡°You¡¯re awesome, dude.¡± Dan laughed. ¡°Thanks.¡± He smiled to himself. This guy is fun¡­ he reminds me of Damon. It¡¯s okay for a guy to have two best friends, right? The two talked until they were tired, then went back to their rooms to sleep. The next morning, Dan woke up with a yawn. ¡°What a night. Tomorrow¡¯s the big day.¡± A knock at the door startled him. Dan opened it to find a man standing there. ¡°Hello, Mr. Dan,¡± the man said politely. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°You¡¯re wanted in the main hall of the hotel,¡± the man explained. ¡°For what?¡± ¡°The children from all five nations participating in the exams are having a get-together.¡± Dan hesitated but nodded. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be right there.¡± On his way to the hall, he muttered to himself. ¡°My hands are shaking. Just stay calm. I¡¯m meeting the people from my nation for the first time¡­ and others too. I just hope they don¡¯t judge me.¡± Entering the hall, Dan plastered a smile on his face. He was about to greet everyone when a sword suddenly flew toward him. It missed him by a hair and embedded itself in the wall behind him. Dan froze. ¡°What the hell?! How did that sword almost hit me?¡± A boy walked up to him, smiling nonchalantly. ¡°Apologies if that harmed you,¡± the boy said, pulling the sword from the wall. ¡°But you should be smart enough to dodge it, since I didn¡¯t aim for you.¡± He turned and called out, ¡°Anyways, how dare you, Steven, for knocking my sword out of my hand like that?¡± Another boy stepped forward, glaring. ¡°How dare you point it at my face, asshole?¡± The swordsman smirked and walked up to him. ¡°So what if I did? What will you do¡ªbeat me?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t push me,¡± Steven growled. Before things could escalate, a young man stepped between them, smiling. ¡°Ash, Knight Exams Candidate from the Ice Nation¡¯s 10th Branch,¡± he said with an almost cheerful tone, ¡°You guys should chill out. We¡¯re all friends here!¡± Steven, Knight Exams Candidate from the Fire Nation¡¯s 6th Branch, and Alexis, Knight Exams Candidate from the Weapon Nation¡¯s 3rd Branch (Sword Nation), turned to him in unison. ¡°Don¡¯t touch my shoulder, you disgusting idiot,¡± Steven growled, shrugging Ash¡¯s hand off. ¡°Yeah, get your hand off my hair,¡± Alexis snapped, swatting Ash away. Ash¡¯s grin didn¡¯t falter. ¡°Oh, come on. Let¡¯s be nice to each other, huh?¡± Dan stood at the entrance, frozen. He watched the three with wide eyes as their overwhelming auras seemed to dominate the entire room. What the hell? Why do these three stand out the most? And why does their presence fe el so terrifying? Who the hell are they? Dan swallowed hard, quietly stepping aside as the candidates continued their tense standoff. His smile from earlier had faded completely, replaced by a mixture of fear and awe.