The First Men Chronicles

#######…Chapter 18: Divided Paths

Feng and the rest of the team emerged from the cave, the faint glow of the sun filtering through the dense forest. Feng exhaled heavily, his hands on his hips, staring into the distance as if searching for answers in the trees. He turned to Gong, his sharp gaze locking onto the Sensory Hunter.

"How long will the seal hold before the spirit takes over Sakamoto's body?" Feng asked, his tone clipped.

Gong hesitated, his brow furrowed in frustration. "I… I don't know. That spirit is unlike anything I've ever encountered. It's impossible to gauge its power because nothing about it shows its level. For all I know, the seal could last a day—or it could break in the next hour."

Feng clenched his fists, his frustration mounting. After a moment of silence, he spoke with resolve. "Fine. Here's the plan. We'll split up. Gong, you're with me—we're continuing the mission for Draven. Cregan, you're to take Sakamoto back to Seoul and report this to the top hunters. The Hunter Association needs to know about this spirit so they can find a solution."

Cregan nodded, glancing at Sakamoto. "Understood. I'll make sure he gets there safely."

Sakamoto, his face calm and serious, adjusted his bag. "I'm fine on my own, but I'll play along for now. Just make sure you handle your part."

Feng smirked faintly. "Don't get cocky, Sakamoto. You're carrying a time bomb inside you. Be careful with it."

With that, the team divided. Feng and Gong disappeared into the forest, continuing their pursuit of Draven. Cregan and Sakamoto turned back toward the city, beginning their long journey home.

The City Tournament:

Back in the packed arena, the commentator hyped up the crowd, his booming voice amplified by the speakers.

"Ladies and gentlemen, are you ready for the next match? This is going to be a good one! Zuko vs. Chiro!"

The giant screen above the ring lit up, displaying the two fighters' names alongside brief profiles. The crowd erupted in cheers as the fighters stepped into the ring.

Zuko, a tall, burly man with wild orange hair, grinned confidently as he cracked his knuckles. His stance radiated arrogance.

Chiro, a lean but fierce woman with short black hair tied into a bun, strode into the ring with a calm, almost dismissive demeanor. Her sharp eyes scanned Zuko as if sizing up a weak opponent.

As the fighters faced each other, Chiro smirked. "Zuko, there's no point in fighting me. You'll just embarrass yourself when you lose to a girl. Why not save yourself the trouble and step down?"

Zuko laughed loudly, his voice dripping with mockery. "A girl telling me to step down? That's as embarrassing as me shitting my pants in public." He shook his head. "No thanks. Let's see what you've got."

Chiro's smirk didn't falter. "Very well then."

The commentator raised his hand. "BEGIN!"

Zuko immediately stretched out both hands, locking them together as he chanted, "Summoning Technique: Three-Headed Dogs!"

Dark energy spiraled around him, materializing into a towering, ferocious three-headed beast. The dogs growled, their sharp teeth glistening as saliva dripped from their massive jaws.

The crowd gasped in awe, the sheer size of the summoned creature sending a wave of excitement through the arena.

Zuko laughed mockingly, pointing at Chiro. "Go ahead, wet your pants! These dogs are going to eat you alive!"

The three-headed dogs charged toward Chiro, their heavy paws shaking the ground with each step. The commentator shouted, "Look at the size of that summon! Can Chiro defend herself against this monstrous attack?"

Chiro remained calm, shaking her head. "Amateurs," she muttered. "Once they cross my circle, they'll regret it."

As the dogs approached, a red ribbon materialized in the air, moving with godlike speed. In an instant, the ribbon coiled around the three-headed beast and Zuko himself.

"What the—?!" Zuko yelled, struggling against the ribbon's tight grip.

With a powerful motion, the ribbon smashed the dogs into the ground, shattering them into wisps of energy. The summon dispelled instantly. The ribbon didn't stop there—it tightened around Zuko, lifting him high into the air before slamming him into the ground with a resounding CRASH.

The crowd fell silent for a moment, stunned by the speed and efficiency of Chiro's technique. Then, the arena erupted into cheers and gasps of disbelief.

The commentator shouted, "Unbelievable! Chiro's technique has completely neutralized Zuko in mere seconds! What raw power!"

Zuko lay motionless on the ground, groaning in pain. The red ribbon disappeared as Chiro turned and walked calmly out of the ring.

"Your technique was sloppy," she said, not even glancing back at Zuko.

The commentator declared, "The winner is… CHIRO!"

The crowd roared, but whispers spread among the spectators.

"How did she do that so fast?"

"That ribbon is insane. It's like it has a mind of its own."

"She didn't even break a sweat."

In the VIP section, Thomas of Light House leaned forward, watching her intently. "A red ribbon user. Rare. I wonder how far her ability goes."

As Chiro left the ring, her calm, composed demeanor never wavered.

By the time Sakamoto and Cregan arrived back in the city, night had fallen. The bright lights of Seoul illuminated the streets, and the distant roar of the tournament crowd echoed through the air.

Sakamoto glanced up at the massive screen outside the Hunter Association building, which displayed highlights of the tournament matches. He paused for a moment, watching the footage.

Cregan looked at him, curious. "What's on your mind?"

Sakamoto smirked faintly. "Nothing much. Just thinking about how I'm still going to win that five million yen. This spirit problem isn't going to stop me."

Cregan frowned. "You're still thinking about the tournament? You've got something way more dangerous inside you right now."

Sakamoto's expression darkened slightly. "One thing at a time. First, I'll deal with this spirit. Then, I'll get back to the ring and finish what I started."

Cregan shook his head but didn't argue further. Together, they headed into the Hunter Association building, ready to report the events at the cave.