There was an airplane in the middle of the ocean, and in this airplane there were about a thousand people, most of whom were developmentalists. There were a few hundred or so Half Step 2s among them, and each one of them had a serious face. They were pleased to have been chosen for this mission, but some people were not as pleased as they were.Ryuga stood in a corner with his knees drawn up and thought.Where had he gone wrong? He should have been asking these questions all along, but it only occurred to him then. He should have quit a long time ago, but he was afraid, just like he was scared now.
Ryuga raised his head and looked around at the hundreds of soldiers like him. They were all ready for a war, but why did it have to be a war? Couldn't there be peace?Yet Ryuga didn't dare say that. He didn't want to die, and he was determined to find a way to keep himself alive.
That morning, he woke up just like he always did, and went straight to the training area. He was a Half Step Step 2 expert, just like everyone else, but there was something special about him. Ryuga was more than just a Half Step. He was also a King.
It had been a long time since Ryuga had been a Half-step, and it was time for him to move up to Step 2, but this time they wouldn't let him.He remembered the moment they disturbed Ryuga.In an unknown area, a handsome man with blue hair and eyes was meditating.Ryuga started meditating as usual, not paying any attention to anyone.Everyone knew he was very suspicious, but they still didn't dare do anything.
Then, a little boy entered the study area.
"Sir, Great General Shao is calling for you."
As soon as Ryuga heard the name of the Great General, he opened his eyes and looked at the little boy. This little boy was startled by just a glance. Ryuga was really very dangerous.
"Why is he calling me?"
"I don't know."
Ryuga stopped listening to the child and got up from his seat to go to the Great General's training center. He was very strict but loved training soldiers and killing developmentalists at every opportunity. There's even a rumor he used to eat children, but he stopped because he said they tasted bad. If there were ever a psychopath king, this man would be one of the top candidates.
Every time Ryuga encountered this general, he felt a tremor of fear. The general was stronger than him, and if he tried to eat him, Ryuga would have no chance of defending himself.
But when Ryuga arrived at the training field, he saw that there were 12 other people there besides him. When he looked at them, he immediately recognized who they were.They were the strongest hunters of the Half-step Step 2. It seemed that Ryuga had also joined this team, but he didn't want to think about that right then. He just wanted to leave this place and go to Step 2 as soon as possible. That way, he could finally get a better assignment than this awful place and, after a while, leave the Hunters for good.
At that moment, General Shao turned his head and looked at the newcomer Ryuga. Ryuga shivered at the sight of him. This man was at the peak of the 2nd Step, and of course, Ryuga was overwhelmed.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
"You! Hurry up! Get ready!!!"
Ryuga didn't want to keep Shao waiting, and suddenly realized how the others were also shaking. They must've heard the stories about General Shao, too.
"I brought you here for a special mission. You're lucky to be here!!!"
Ryuga didn't need to look at the people around him to know that many of them weren't too happy about it, but no one said a word.
Eventually, Shao explained the mission, and they listened. It was clear that it was a mission that put them in a tough spot, but they had no choice at the moment.
"The Immortal Formation is a very strong formation, but it is also a very delicate formation. Big things fall quickly, and that's true everywhere. I want you to break this formation first!"
That was the first task General Shao gave, and the second was the people on the island. He mentioned that some of the Developmentalists were very talented.Of course, neither Ryuga nor the others expected such young people to catch up with them.
Ryuga looked at everyone and, uncaring, put the paper aside and listened to the general.
"Destroy their future generations! That way, after a long war, we will win and they will have no future to fight."
In fact, General Shao was talking about something very logical.They had an opportunity to defeat their enemies and soon a plane would arrive to pick them up.
Ryuga kept to himself and trusted only himself in this world. No one was close enough to him to reassure him. Ryuga had no weaknesses.
'Even though I know I should do this, I can't help but regret it. They will have lost everything without realizing it... How sad.'
These were Ryuga's feelings, but Ryuga only pitied them. He didn't care if they died. Just pity....
That day General Shao not only told them their mission.
“You 13 people must be wondering why you are here with me and not with the others. Because you are strong! Stronger than the others! You will be the ones to lead this war! "You are very strong, even among the Half Steps, and you are our best chance since only people below the 2nd Step can enter the Sky Island. Don't try to make a breakthrough there, or it will only lead to your death."
General Shao had a menacing look, and these 13 people were inevitably afraid of him. Each of them was sure that one day he would be stronger than them, but that didn't matter. The important thing was to survive until that day, since the General could kill them at any moment.
'I'm sorry, but this is the end for you. You should have known from the beginning that there are traitors among you. That day, General Shao was very careful, and none of us dared to run away from it. Our mission was very dangerous and long, and because of it, our passage to Step 2 will be delayed. That's why we're all a bit reluctant, but it doesn't matter...'
There was an incredible noise coming from the back of the plane Ryuga was on.No! It was the sound of other planes! Hundreds of them! There were thousands of them!
'The mission General Shao ordered that day... was the 2nd Sky Battle.'
At that time, in Red Lightning City on Sky Island, many people were gathered around a campfire. After chatting and singing, these people said they were sleepy and left, leaving only a few geniuses.
All the great geniuses, from Quentin to Orion, were gathered in this area, and every one of them was thoughtful.It had been almost three years since they arrived at the World Tournament. Kai, who was just 14 when he arrived, is now well past 17 and will turn 18 in a few months.
It had been such a long time.
"Actually... We've all become very close during this time, but there's still a lot we don't know about each other. I think it would be nice to get to know each other a little bit more now. At least you can tell me your goals."
Elena said these words, and everyone agreed with her. Everyone waited for Elena. Since she spoke first, she would be the first to tell.
What they did now would stay with them forever, and they would always remember these moments that would remind them of their friendship. That's what true friends do.