Mikage tightened his grip on the broken sword, its jagged edge gleaming under the pale light. The weight of his failure bore down on him, and his expression remained grim. Kenji, sensing the tension, approached him with a softer tone.“Don’t worry,” Kenji said, his voice low. “A Swordsmith can repair that blade. It’ll be as good as new.”Mikage nodded, but his eyes stayed fixed on the ground. Kenji moved closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Now, tell me where the castle is—and where I can find Taki.”Mikage’s gaze sharpened, and his mind drifted into the past.Kenji had been navigating through a dense forest, his attention fixed on a map. Without warning, a sharp blow struck his face—a powerful kick that nearly knocked him off his feet. He staggered but quickly regained his balance, his hand instinctively reaching for his sword.The man who had attacked him landed gracefully, his eyes locked onto Kenji. He was tall, with muscular build, and had long, wavy hair that cascaded to his shoulders. His piercing gaze held an unsettling mix of devotion and menace.“You, with the blue hair,” the man said, his voice cold and resolute. “You will not take another step toward the castle.”Kenji rubbed his jaw, glaring at the man. “You could’ve just told me that without the kick, you bastard.”The man, now identified as Taki, remained unfazed. “I won’t let you pass.”Kenji studied Taki, sensing something was off. Taki’s loyalty to Shaddai, the castle’s master, was unnerving. He would die for him without hesitation, his devotion bordering on the fanatical.“All right,” Kenji muttered, drawing his sword. “If you’re looking for a fight, you’ve got one.”Taki’s expression remained unchanged. “If it means dying for my master, then so be it.”Without hesitation, Kenji charged at Taki, who effortlessly sidestepped, delivering a swift roundhouse kick that sent Kenji sprawling across the forest floor. But as Kenji tumbled, Taki was already on him, sprinting with incredible speed. He caught Kenji mid-fall, gripping his neck and slamming him into the ground with bone-rattling force.The impact stunned Kenji, but he wasn’t done yet. With a quick twist of his body, he broke free from Taki’s grip, regaining his footing. The adrenaline surged through him, sharpening his focus.Kenji unleashed his first technique, Phantom Edge. His sword moved in a blur, creating afterimages that surrounded Taki, who struggled to discern the real strike. Kenji’s blade finally connected, cutting into Taki’s side, but the warrior barely flinched, his resolve unbroken.Kenji followed up with Wind Shear. He swung his sword, generating razor-sharp wind currents that tore through the trees and debris. Taki dodged the first wave, but the second grazed his arm, drawing blood. Yet, his face remained impassive, his eyes locked on Kenji with unwavering determination.Kenji decided to end it with Moonlit Crescent. Channeling his energy into the blade, he released a glowing crescent of light that shot toward Taki. The wave of energy sliced through everything in its path, forcing Taki to leap back to avoid being cleaved in two. The crescent struck the ground behind him, erupting in a shower of sparks.Taki’s calm facade began to crack, his frustration evident. He charged at Kenji with newfound aggression, abandoning his usual calculated approach. Kenji blocked a barrage of punches and kicks, each one hammering into him with relentless force. Despite his best efforts, Taki’s sheer power began to overwhelm him.In a final, desperate move, Taki grabbed Kenji by the shoulders and hurled him high into the air, leaping after him with inhuman speed.As they soared through the air, locked in fierce combat, Kenji managed to break free, slashing at Taki with Iron Cleaver. The powerful downward strike sent a shockwave through the air, forcing Taki to block with both arms. The impact drove Taki back to the ground, his feet digging into the earth as he landed heavily.Breathing heavily, Kenji prepared for one last strike. But before he could act, Taki was upon him again. This time, he grabbed Kenji by the throat, lifting him off the ground effortlessly. His grip tightened as he stared into Kenji’s eye,he take one of kenji swords,he then Sense someone “Show yourself!”Mikage, who had been watching from the shadows, stepped forward, his broken sword still in hand. “I’m not here for you, Taki,” he said calmly. “I’m here for Kenji.”Taki’s eyes narrowed. “Good luck, then,” he replied with a grim smile. “Because I’m about to throw him far, far away.”Without another word, Taki hurled Kenji with all his strength, sending him flying into the distance. Kenji’s body hurtled through the air, disappearing into the trees.Mikage watched silently as Kenji vanished, then turned his attention back to Taki. The fight was over, but their paths were far from diverging.the flashback ends.Mikage, still holding his broken sword, stepped closer to Kenji, his voice carrying a weight of experience. “There’s a place… far to the north. That’s where you’ll find the castle. But Kenji, listen to me,” he said, his tone sharpening, “You can’t beat that guy Taki alone. He’s not just strong—he’s relentless. And I’m sure there are more like him guarding that damned fortress.”Kenji’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t give a damn. I need my sword back.”Mikage’s frustration was evident. “You’re a fool if you think you can take on the entire castle by yourself. They’ll tear you apart before you even get through the gate.”Kenji’s resolve didn’t waver. He turned his back to Mikage and started walking, his voice cold and determined. “I’m going.”In the distance, Tony and Eleo had been watching the entire exchange from a window in a rundown bar on the edge of the forest. Tony, a tall, muscular man with a skull-like face and a broad, confident grin, leaned against the windowsill, his arms crossed. He glanced over at Eleo, a young, energetic bunny-eared boy who was practically vibrating with excitement.“Man, that was a tough fight,” Tony said, a hint of admiration in his voice. “Didn’t expect that blue-haired guy to hold his own like that.”“Yeah,” Eleo chimed in, eyes wide with excitement. “And that Kenji guy… he was so cool! I’ve got an idea, Tony—why don’t we add him to our team?”Tony smirked, the idea clearly appealing to him. “Not bad, kid. Not bad at all.”Without further hesitation, Tony kicked open the door with a loud bang, swaggering out into the open. Eleo followed, his enthusiasm barely contained.“Ladies and gentlemen!” Tony announced dramatically, his voice booming. “We have the one and only Eleo, the unstoppable bunny boy!”With a wide grin, Eleo performed a front flip, landing gracefully before spreading his arms wide, as if presenting himself. Kenji and Mikage, both still processing their earlier conversation, stared at the pair in utter confusion.“What the hell…?” Kenji muttered, raising an eyebrow.Tony continued, undeterred by the perplexed looks. “Basically, Eleo here is asking if you’d join our team.”Kenji’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Team for what?”Tony’s grin widened. “To fight the strongest, of course.”Kenji scoffed, turning away. “Not interested.”Eleo jumped forward, his eyes pleading. “Please, please, please! We could really use someone like you!”Tony chuckled. “How about this? We help you get your sword back.”Kenji let out a sharp laugh. “You two? Help me? You don’t even look like you could handle a guy like Taki, let alone storming a castle full of who-knows-what.”Tony’s grin faded slightly, his tone becoming more serious. “You haven’t seen us fight.”Mikage stepped in, shaking his head. “And you haven’t seen Taki fight in earnest. You’ll need more than guts to survive in that place.”Eleo, undeterred, leaned in close to Kenji. “Come on, man. What choice do you really have? We’re not asking you to do this alone. Just think about it.”Kenji looked down, the weight of Eleo’s words sinking in. The reality was, storming the castle on his own was a death sentence. After a few tense moments, he let out a resigned sigh.“Fine,” Kenji said, “I’ll join you. But only because I need that sword back.”Tony’s grin returned full force. “Great! Eleo, you know what to do.”Eleo nodded, then turned to Kenji with a formal tone. “Kenji, would you like to officially join my team?”Kenji hesitated for a moment, then gave a small, reluctant nod. “Yeah… I’d like that.”As the words left his mouth, blue letters appeared in the sky above them, glowing softly: Kenji has Joined Eleo’s Team. Eleo’s teammates: Tony and Kenji.With their new alliance formed, the trio set off toward the castle. The forest gradually thinned out as they approached, the towering structure looming ominously in the distance, its dark spires piercing the sky like claws.Mikage watched them go, a mixture of concern and resignation in his eyes. Just as he was about to turn and walk away, a soft rustling in the underbrush caught his attention. He looked down to see a figure stepping out from the shadows—a man with sleek purple fur and sharp, feline eyes. His movements were graceful, almost predatory, as he approached.“Well, well, well,” the cat-man purred, his voice smooth and laid-back. “I’ve been looking for you, Mikage.”Mikage’s hand instinctively tightened around the hilt of his broken sword. “Who are you? Are you from the Animal Kingdom Island?”The cat-man smiled, his sharp teeth gleaming. “Name’s Koshkin. And yeah, I was born there, but that doesn’t matter. What does matter is that I’ve got a proposition for you.”Mikage’s eyes narrowed. “A proposition?”Koshkin’s smile widened, a glint of mischief in his eyes. “How about you join my team? I’ve been watching you, and I could use someone with your… talents.”Mikage hesitated, weighing his options. He didn’t have much left to lose. “Why not?” he finally said. “It’s not like I’ve got anything better to do.”Koshkin’s grin broadened. “Good choice.” He extended a hand, offering a formal handshake. “Mikage, would you like to join my team?”Mikage took his hand, shaking it firmly. “Yeah, I’m in.”As their hands met, the same blue letters appeared in the sky, reading: Mikage has Officially Joined Koshkin’s Team.Koshkin’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “Now then, we’ve got some official business to take care of. After that, we’re heading to World 2.”Mikage’s curiosity piqued. “World 2?”Koshkin chuckled. “You’ll see soon enough.”Meanwhile, back with Eleo, Tony, and Kenji, the trio continued their march toward the castle. Kenji glanced at his new companions, still trying to make sense of the odd pair.“You two sure are an odd couple,” Kenji remarked, his tone half-amused, half-curious. “A skeleton and a bunny kid… How did that even happen?”Eleo beamed with pride. “Yep! And now we’ve got a human on our team, too!”Kenji shook his head, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “This is going to be one hell of a journey.”As they walked, the castle loomed ever closer, its massive iron gates now visible. The air grew colder, the tension thickening with every step. The path ahead was dangerous, filled with unknown perils and enemies more formidable than they could imagine.And yet, with their unlikely alliance forged, they knew one thing for certain: they were no longer walking this path alone

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