Dan stood motionless in the arena, his breath heavy, his body trembling—not 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—"
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."
"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—"
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—where 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—" 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—Mr. 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—I'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—"
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—you'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—until 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."