The First Men Chronicles

Draven turned away from Castle and Roshi, his voice cold and dismissive. "I'm not interested in whatever you're offering. Leave me alone."

Castle smirked, his tone dripping with confidence. "Oh, but we have something you *are* interested in. We know his location."

Draven froze, his back still turned. Slowly, he glanced over his shoulder, his golden eyes narrowing. "Whose location?"

Castle's grin widened. "The man who slaughtered your entire family. The man who left you with nothing but revenge burning in your heart. We know where he is."

Draven's face darkened, his fists clenching so tightly his knuckles turned white. The air around him seemed to grow heavier, his Shen flaring with barely contained rage. Roshi stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "If you're not interested, we'll leave. But know this: our master values you. That's why we're here."

Feng, standing protectively in front of Sakamoto, shouted, "Don't listen to them, Draven! They're known for destruction, not salvation!"

Draven's voice was low, trembling with anger. "And what have the police done? What have the top hunters done? It's been years, and no one's brought him to justice. No one's even *tried*."

Castle interrupted, his tone mocking. "Exactly. Only we can give you what you want. Say yes, and we'll take you to him. No one can stop us." He cracked his knuckles, his body radiating anticipation. "And honestly, I'm itching for a fight anyway."

Draven's head dropped, his shoulders shaking. When he looked up, his eyes were filled with resolve. "Yes," he said, his voice steady. "I'll go."

---

### **The Explosion**

Roshi's hands shot forward, his voice echoing through the arena. "**Black Art: Explosive Human!**"

From his palms, a tiny humanoid puppet shot out, expanding rapidly into a massive, grotesque monster. Its body glowed with purple energy, pulsating like a ticking time bomb. Before anyone could react, it exploded.

The blast was deafening, a shockwave of destruction ripping through the arena. The sound was a mix of a thunderous *BOOM* and the shattering of concrete and metal. Debris flew in every direction, the force of the explosion sending shockwaves through the stadium.

Feng moved instantly, grabbing Sakamoto and leaping out of harm's way. They landed a safe distance away, Feng shielding Sakamoto with his body. "Stay down!" Feng barked, his voice barely audible over the chaos.

Cade, meanwhile, activated his technique. "**Crystal Seal: Wall of Deflection!**" A shimmering barrier of crystalline energy formed around him, deflecting the explosion's force. But something unexpected happened—the barrier also enveloped Draven, trapping him inside.

Cade turned to Draven, his voice urgent. "Don't let revenge consume you. The authorities are working to bring that man to justice. You just need to be patient."

Draven's eyes burned with fury. "Patient? It's been years! And these guys found him in what, a few days or minutes ? How can you expect me to trust the system when it's failed me so completely?"

Cade hesitated, but before he could respond, Draven's body erupted with dark energy. "**Od Energy!**" The barrier shattered into a thousand pieces, the force of the explosion sending Cade stumbling backward.

Roshi shielded his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Now I see why the master wants him so badly."

---

Castle placed a hand on Roshi's shoulder. "We've overstayed our welcome. Let's go."

In an instant, the two figures phased through the ground, their bodies dissolving into shadows. They reappeared beside Draven, grabbing him before anyone could react. With another flash, they vanished, leaving the arena in stunned silence.

Feng cursed under his breath. "Castle's ability—**Space-Time Phaser**. He's one of the few legendary S-rankers. This is bad. Really bad."

He turned to check on Sakamoto, only to find the spot empty. "Where the hell did he go?!"

---

###

Far from the chaos, Sakamoto was busy at the registration desk. He leaned over the counter, his usual grin plastered on his face. "Hey, so, uh, I won my match. Where's my cash?"

The attendant behind the desk was slumped over, unconscious. Sakamoto shrugged. "Guess I'll help myself." He spotted a stack of cash and grabbed it, stuffing it into his pockets.

As he walked away, he muttered to himself, "Man, that explosion was crazy. Glad I got out of there. Not my problem anymore. Nope. Not getting involved. Nuh-uh."

He paused, glancing back at the arena. "Well, maybe I'll watch from a distance. You know, for research purposes. Totally not because it's entertaining or anything, or still got to go home for grandma's medicine ."

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###

In the VIP section, the un-ranked hunter yawned, stretching lazily. "What a weak energy. That's what woke me up?" He opened one eye, glancing down at the arena. "Hmph. Boring."

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