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."
"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 – 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—I'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.