《ARK & OUD》


 [[[Chapter 1: The Festival of Chiulrom]]]

    Ark enters the imposing blue gate of the festival, the wind hitting his worn dark blue hoodie that covers his slim chest. His loose light blue pants swing with his legs, and his worn brown shoes squeak on the polished stone. His calloused hands, marked by years of training in the Blue State, tremble slightly ¡ª not from fear, but from urgency. "I can''t lose," he murmurs, his brown eyes fixed on the crowd ahead. He adjusts his hood, feeling the weight of each step.


    The Chiulrom festival pulses with life: voices echo, torches glow on the blue pillars, and the smell of damp earth fills the air. Ark knows this place ¡ª he was born here, grew up hearing about the Chi, the energy that runs through everyone. But today isn¡¯t about studying. It¡¯s about Imi.


    A figure dressed in black cuts through the crowd, stepping onto a stage. The man pulls off his hood, revealing a stern face, short blonde hair, and sharp eyes. "Welcome to the Chiulrom festival," he says, his voice sharp as a blade. "I¡¯m Jion, Toker Sentinel." He clenches his fist and punches the air. A shockwave explodes from the blow, shaking the ground and raising dust. Ark¡¯s eyes widen, his heart racing ¡ª he¡¯s never seen the Chi so raw, so alive. The crowd murmurs, some retreating, others applauding.


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Jion crosses his arms, his black cloak flowing. "This is the test for anyone who wants to become one of us. Show your worth." He steps off the stage, and the participants stir, forming lines. Ark takes a deep breath, his thoughts returning home ¡ª to the simple room in the Blue State, where Imi lies bedridden. The Ultra Cancer has been devouring her for nearly a few weeks, stealing her legs, filling every movement with pain. The healing Tokers say no one survives that long, but she still fights, her weak eyes begging him not to give up.


    "If I pass, I become a Toker. I can take her to the Magistral City," Ark thinks, clenching his fists. The cure is there ¡ª it has to be. He straightens his shoulders and steps forward into the line, the echo of Jion¡¯s punch still buzzing in his ears. This is not just a festival. It¡¯s the chance to save Imi.

 [[[Chapter 2: The Green State]]]

    Ark leaves the Blue State behind, his feet sinking into the soft earth of the Green State. The air is fresh, laced with the sweet scent of herbs, and the pale stone buildings glisten with moss in their cracks. Green banners flutter in the wind, and smaller torches with emerald flames cast gentle shadows along the path. He adjusts his dark blue hoodie, the hood falling slightly over his brown eyes, and follows the stream of participants, his heart already heavy.


    At the center, a small figure waits within a ring of wildflowers. An elderly woman with wrinkled pale skin and long gray hair tied into loose braids stands there. Her green tunic, with a long skirt brushing her heels, sways lightly. Her nearly blind white eyes glow with a gentle warmth¡ªshe "sees" more with Chi than with vision.


    "Welcome to the Green State," she says, her voice soft yet firm, like a nurturing grandmother. "I am Ulina, Toker of Antar. We tend to the wounded¡ªit is what we do best."


    She smiles, deepening the wrinkles on her face, and the crowd applauds, some raising their fists in salute. Ark barely hears them, his thoughts already elsewhere.


    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    He slips away toward a simple tent in the back, his chest tight. Inside, Imi lies on an improvised bed, a thin cloth draped over her frail body. Her skin is pale, nearly gray, and her chest rises and falls in shallow, rasping breaths. The Ultra Cancer eats away at her legs¡ªshe tries to move them, but a whimper escapes, her brown eyes, the same as Ark¡¯s, squeezing shut in pain.


    "Ark..." she whispers, her weak voice trembling between dry coughs.


    He kneels beside her, grasping her small, cold hand.


    "I¡¯m here, Imi. I won¡¯t leave you."


    She forces a smile, her face hollowed by the illness.


    "You¡­ you made it to the festival?" she asks, coughing again.


    Ark nods, his fists pressing against the ground.


    "Yes. And I¡¯m going to win. You¡¯ll be okay."


    Imi squeezes his hand¡ªweak, but firm.


    "Be careful with Chi... sometimes it comes at a cost," she murmurs, her blurred gaze fixed on him.


    Ark frowns¡ªhe knows that, having grown up studying the elements and the power they grant.


    "I know, Imi. But I don¡¯t have a choice."


    The healer Tokers have already warned him: her time is running out.


    He stands, his chest burning.


    "If I hesitate, she won¡¯t make it," he thinks, his expression hardening. Every test matters now.


    Outside, a bell tolls, summoning the participants to the next stage. Ark casts one last look at Imi, silently promising her, then rushes out.


    The Red State awaits¡ªthe battles are about to begin.

 [[[Chapter 3: Fights in the Red State]]]

    Ark climbs into a strange vehicle in the Green State, the soft seat vibrating beneath him. Half-futuristic, with smooth, curved details, the car hums as a Toker in a red tunic tightens his wrists. A transparent wave of Chi shoots out, spinning the rubber wheels, and the vehicle accelerates, cutting the distance between the states. Ark holds on tight, his brown eyes wide. "Incredible," he thinks, the wind messing up the hood of his dark blue sweatshirt. Minutes later, the ground changes to a dark red hue, the heat rises, and the Red State emerges ¡ª red flags fluttering over towers with metallic red details.


    In the central area, a crowd surrounds a combat circle. A tall man in a red cloak with loose black hair stands in the center. He raises his hand, a light glowing on his fingers, the air crackling. The blow explodes on the ground, cracking the stone. "That''s Jin," someone whispers next to Ark. "The first to master Tangible Light. Many died trying." Ark gulps, his fists clenched in his light blue pants. That¡¯s real power ¡ª he feels small in the face of it.


    Jion appears at the edge of the circle, his black cloak contrasting with the warm red. Beside him, a woman with short brown hair and lively eyes smiles at the participants. "Not this guy again," murmurs Ark, frowning. Jion crosses his arms. "Welcome to the strength test. Here you prove if you can be Tokers. This is Illia, my wife," he says, pointing to her with a slight nod. Illia tilts her head, her smile growing. Jion continues, his voice sharp: "The Tokers of the Order, in red, defend Chiulrom out there. And you''ll meet the legendary Jin, my father-in-law, right here. But listen well: the Cactus, Reality, and Space elements are forbidden. Space is the worst ¡ª don''t forget." The crowd falls silent, the warning heavy in the air.


    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Ark takes a deep breath and steps into the circle. The first opponent is skinny but fast. He tenses his arm, a transparent energy glowing on his forehead, and a wave runs down to his fist, exploding into a punch. Ark focuses, feeling the Chi pulse ¡ª the same light shines on his forehead, the wave running down his arm, and he strikes. The impact knocks the opponent down with a precise kick, and the crowd applauds. Too easy, he thinks, wiping his hands.


    The second is different ¡ª tall, broad-shouldered, with hard eyes. He advances, Chi pulsing strongly. A transparent wave shoots from his forehead to his legs, and a kick makes the ground tremble. Ark barely dodges, the air whistling past his ear. He counters, the energy glowing on his forehead, exploding into a punch, but the man blocks, retaliating with a blow that hits his shoulder. Ark staggers, sweat dripping, his chest heaving. "He''s strong," he thinks, gritting his teeth. With a shout, he tenses everything, the Chi wave running down to his fist, and strikes the opponent in the chest. The man falls, but Ark nearly goes down with him, his legs trembling. The crowd roars, but he barely hears it. "I almost lost. Imi needs more than this."


    A bell rings in the distance, signaling the next stage. Ark wipes his face, determination burning despite the exhaustion. The Black State is next ¡ª he can¡¯t stop now.

 [[[Chapter 4: Arks Defeat]]]

    Before leaving the Red State, Ark stops near a tent at the exit. Two Sentinel Tokers, dressed in black cloaks, hold a man with restless eyes. One of them picks up a small, bright, light-red stone and presses it against the suspect''s forehead. The Toker closes his eyes, his face tense, and murmurs, "He stole a bag at the festival." The thief tries to break free, but the other Sentinel immobilizes him. Ark furrows his brow, his chest still heaving from the fights. "So that''s the psychic element stone," he thinks, just as the bell rings again, calling them to the Black State.


    The vehicle speeds toward the next destination, and the Black State emerges¡ªa sharp contrast to the red heat. Tall towers of dark stone, painted in matte black, reflect cold lights, with metallic black details gleaming at the edges. Luxurious houses line the wide streets, the smooth ground resembling black glass, and black flags flutter silently. The air carries a low hum, like hidden machines. Ark steps off, his brown shoes creaking against the polished floor, and follows the crowd to a circular arena, different from the previous combat circle. Black pillars surround the space, and a platform floats in the center, held up by nothing.


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    A Toker in a black robe steps onto the platform, holding another light-red stone. "This is the test of the mind," he says, his deep voice echoing. "Resist, or be revealed." He points the stone at the participants, and a light pulses from it, reaching each one. Ark feels a cold sensation crawl up his neck, his forehead tingling. Images flash in his mind¡ªImi smiling in their small room in the Blue State, then coughing in bed in the Green State, then himself, stronger, dominating everyone. "I want power," he thinks, his fists clenching, before trying to push the sensation away. But the stone doesn''t stop.


    The Toker steps down, pointing. "You. Out." Ark blinks, his heart sinking. The crowd murmurs as he stumbles out of the arena, the weight of defeat hitting him like a stone. "I lost," he thinks, frustration in his tone. "If I''m not strong enough, Imi will die back in the Blue State. I can''t let that happen." He returns to a simple lodging in the Black State¡ªa cold room, dark matte black walls, a hard bed. Sitting there, eyes fixed on the floor, he murmurs to himself, a nervous smile slipping out: "Brilliant, Ark. Running from Sentinel Tokers with mind-reading stones? Good luck with that."


    But deep inside, something burns. He needs more¡ªmore than common Chi can give.