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 — 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 — 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 — don't forget." The crowd falls silent, the warning heavy in the air.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
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 — 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 — 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 — he can’t stop now.
