Hattori turns around and attempts to strike Dai Wen, but Dai Wen counter attacks with a swift duck and punch. Hattori flies back but lands on his feet.

“I’m surprised you were able to defeat my disciples so easily. Fool me once, shame on you.” Dai Wen says. He goes into a fighting stance. He is lit with a fiery aura, and his beast spirit glows around him. “Fool me twice, shame on me!”

Hattori cracked a smile and made sure to make eye contact with his opponent. “You’re just making it easy for me! Just tell me, who killed the Silver Wushi?!

Dai Wen neglects to drop his guard. “None of your fucking business.” Dai Wen says. Hattori laughs, and responds. “Well, I gave you a chance, didn’t I?” Hattori cracks the ground beneath him just by stomping. His hand is lit on fire once more. “No more chances.”

Hattori dashes toward Dai Wen at top speed. The two brawl, going all out. Their bird-like auras light the forest. Their acrobatic kicks are deadlier than car crashes.

“Your skills are better than a thought they would be. There’s something about the legendary Commander Dai Wen that Shogun seems to take an interest in, huh?” Hattori remarks.

While fighting, Hattori’s punches and kicks are lit with fire. Hattori is extremely careful when dodging his opponent.

“Come on, Hattori! Look me in the eyes when you’re fighting me!” Dai Wen jokes. Hattori is slightly offended. “Don’t tell me how to fight my opponent!”

Hattori thrusts his palm toward Dai Wen, shooting a large stream of fire at his enemy. Dai Wen redistributes the weight on his heels, attempting to redirect the strike, but is overwhelmed by the attack.

Hattori leaps at Dai Wen and tries to stomp on him, but Dai Wen barely dodges. Dai Wen pushes Hattori to a wall and reveals a small blade from his belt. The blade firmly presses against Hattori’s throat.

“Listen here, General Hattori! I should end your life right now! The battle is over! I will never let you take the boy!”

Hattori laughs and calls Dai Wen’s bluff. “Kill me! Kill me, I dare you! I fucking dare you, kill me! You wouldn’t do it. The death of General Hattori would leave a sour taste in the mouths of the Wushi, wouldn’t it? A loss for the Wushi in numbers is a gain for motivation!”

Dai Wen kicks Hattori’s chest, pushing him back. The General reveals a small sword from his scabbard and dashes at Dai Wen. The two martial artists fight with their blades, then with their hands. The sheer power of Dai Wen’s aura clashes with the force of Hattori’s flame-fueled punches.

“Wow, Hattori. You really use your beast spirit well. It’s a shame I have to kill you.” Dai Wen grins. He tries to swiftly punch Hattori, but the General counters with an acrobatic kick to the back of Dai Wen’s head.

The remaining Wushi surround Mei Lian and Xue Lian. The sisters stand up, severely injured from their fight with Hattori. “Aye, sis. Try not to die.” Mei Lian says, jokingly. “You too.” Xue Lian cockily responds.

Mei Lian and Xue Lian slowly get into fighting stances. About two dozen Wushi surround them. The warriors dash toward the sisters, who are anything but scared.

Mei Lian and Xue Lian combat the Wushi with high flying kicks and swift punches. Mei Lian summons wood to assault her opponents. Xue Lian uses water to assault them.

The sisters have very little trouble killing the Wushi. Their strikes are fast enough to easily overwhelm their opponents. “Dai Wen!” Mei Lian calls to her mentor.

Dai Wen continues his struggle with Hattori. Hattori is starting to tire Dai Wen out, and he notices this. “Need a break, Dai Wen?” We have been fighting for a while now.”

Dai Wen smirks. “I see your men have been defeated, General. Look around you, Hattori! Nobody’s left to help you! You’re completely outnumbered!

Hattori observes his surroundings. Mei Lian and Xue Lian are behind him, in fighting stances. “He’s right, ‘Tori. Give it up already, will ya?!” Xue Lian exclaims.

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The sisters throw barrages of shuriken at Hattori, but he dodges them acrobatically. Hattori throws a few throwing knives back at the sisters.

The three Shinobi fight Hattori at once, able to easily overpower him. Hattori’s blood is shed by Dai Wen’s blade, angering the General.

“Hattori! It’s over! You can’t fight all of us at once.” Mei Lian says. Hattori smirks. “You’re right. I’m no match for three of the finest Shinobi, huh?”

Hattori jumps atop a tree. “Zhique and I appreciate the fight. It’s been fun! But I’m running out of time.” Hattori says, giving the Shinobi anxiety.

Xue Lian grins. “I guess it’s time to reveal the results of my training! Art of the Sea and Rain Gods Working Together!!” Xue Lian discharges energy into the sky, creating rainclouds.

A stream of water coated with lightning crashes down on Hattori. This causes a giant explosion around the General, which leaves Hattori’s body covered in smoke.

Hattori’s injured body is revealed amongst the disappearing smoke. “Damn. For an S Rank Martial Artists, you damn sure have some impressive skills!!”

Hattori laughs manically. “Art of the Fire God!!” Hattori summons a ring of fire around the Shinobi.

“This might sting a little!” Hattori announces. He expels a literal sea of fire out of his mouth. The fire assaults his opponents. Mei Lian summons a wooden wall, but the fire overwhelms her defense.

“We’re just warming up!! Literally! Art of the Fire Dragon – Type 0!!” Hattori creates a Chinese dragon made from fire. The dragon flies into the air and chirps, intimidating the Shinobi.

Dai Wen calls to his teammates. “This might get a little scary!” The fire dragon dashes toward the sisters. Dai Wen jumps in front of them, taking the bullet. The fire dragon severely burns Dai Wen’s chest. Blood gushes from his wound.

“DAI WEN!!!!” The sisters call to their mentor. They run to assist their friend, but Hattori triggers an explosion around them. Mei Lian and Xue Lian pass out, injured.

Hattori laughs to himself. “That was fun! Real fun. My heart hasn’t raced like that in years!!”

Dai Wen, severely injured, can barely stand. “Aye, Dai Wen. What’s with the eyepatch?” Hattori asks. Dai Wen is befuddled. “What do you mean?”

Hattori is annoyed. “The eyepatch! What happened to your eye?!” Dai Wen attempts to explain. “The sudden interest in me, eh? Well, that’s a very touchy subject.

Dai Wen narrates his story to Hattori. He remembers back to when he was still very young.

I was a boy when I first became a Shinobi. A very young boy, in fact. Grandmaster Jin Liang…

He was like my father, y’know. When my parents died – I was around 12 years old – he took me in. He told my that I had this GREAT potential. And hell, I believed him…

I was weak when I first started. I thought I was strong. B Rank at 12 years old is DEFINITELY over-average. But compared to me now – I was an ant in a world of giants…

I trained hard with Fenghuang. Hell, I never STOPPED training. I didn’t reach SS Rank until I was 24 – and Mei Lian and Xue Lian were still toddlers.

Hell, maybe Jin Liang was right about my potential. Only a handful of people get to reach Super Tier.

After I became SS Rank, I trained six more months, hoping I could defeat Shogun. Finally, I attempted to assassinate Shogun.

In my fight with Shogun, I was easily overwhelmed. Shogun’s beast spirit, Jinshi, was way too strong for me and Fenghuang. Jinshi was an SSS Rank, Mystic Rank Lion with the element of Metal. The lion’s metal armor was like Shogun’s perfect defense, almost impenetrable…

I was almost easily killed by Shogun. I was way in over my head. But Shogun spared me. Me took me in and tried to make me his apprentice, realizing my full potential better than anyone else did.

But I didn’t want to assist Shogun. I attacked him multiple times, but I was never able to win. I was finally able to escape after six months.

The Wushi hunted me down. Not just dozens. A couple HUNDRED of Shogun’s strongest Wushi. I was able to defeat them, but not without any consequences…

Hattori is stunned by Dai Wen’s story. “Wow, Dai Wen. I had no idea you meant so much to Shogun. I apologize on behalf of my Wushi.

Dai Wen smiles. “It’s okay, Hattori. Really.” Dai Wen’s friendliness makes even Hattori smile back. “I envy you. Even through the toughest of times, you always remain wise, composed, and… Happy…” Hattori says.

“…I’m sorry, Dai Wen. But you HAVE to come back with me to Shogun’s Palace…”

Hattori has a change of heart, but his decision has been decided. Hattori picks up Dai Wen and begins his trail to Shogun’s Palace. Holding Dai Wen in his arms, Hattori starts to console him. “Dai Wen… You’ve done well against me… I guess I won’t have to kill you – after all…”

Days later, Dai Wen wakes up CAGED in a luxurious family room. But this feels – different. Wherever he is – He isn’t anywhere near home.

“Hello, Dai Wen.” Dai Wen hears a voice from outside the cage. It’s Shogun, greeting him. “Again, I apologize about your eye--”

“It’s okay, Shogun. Really.” Dai Wen responds. Shogun continues talking. “…I know you want me dead. And it would… Probably be in your best cause, but—”

Dai Wen stops Shogun right there. “I don’t want you dead, Shogun. When I need to be, I’m a warrior. When there is no need – I’m a pacifist. I don’t wish for your death, Shogun. Life is precious. And… All life matters. All life is here for a reason. You and Jin Liang see my potential. The great I can do in this world. And I know what I am on this earth to do… I am on this earth – to make peace. And that’s exactly what I plan on doing.”

Shogun and Dai Wen gaze into each other’s eyes. Shogun too has a change of heart. “Dai Wen… Fenghuang is your legacy, your honor, and your prophecy. Never forget that, Dai Wen...”

TO BE CONTINUED…