It was raining.
196Please respect copyright.PENANAwTxR1ItGLr
Not a storm—just that steady kind of drizzle that soaked everything in silence.
196Please respect copyright.PENANAjW3lkh2Z2t
196Please respect copyright.PENANATPl0gZRUDi
196Please respect copyright.PENANANMD4Ak6S6z
Eleo stood motionless in the field behind Master Kuma’s dojo, completely drenched. His soaked fur clung to his tiny bunny body, ears drooping like wet socks. In front of him stood a wooden training dummy. It stared back at him in the most taunting, lifeless way possible.
196Please respect copyright.PENANAb5Yo7yIlZt
196Please respect copyright.PENANA83GzHm1ufn
196Please respect copyright.PENANAdAySuL9VgE
And still… Eleo didn’t move. Not yet.
196Please respect copyright.PENANAiUuRIb6WBY
196Please respect copyright.PENANASDpgp5id65
196Please respect copyright.PENANAbU2demnd8V
Up in the trees, under a wide leafy branch, Abby sat reading a thick spellbook titled Basic Runescript Vol. 1: Beginner-Level Boom Booms. She flipped a page lazily, then peeked down at the soaked bunny below.
196Please respect copyright.PENANA4awbg4Drcr
196Please respect copyright.PENANAH7zwW6CgcW
196Please respect copyright.PENANA3oBm3aOScv
“…What is that idiot up to now?” she muttered. “He’s been standing there in the rain like a statue. A really dumb, wet statue.”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAjngCEZzvY8
196Please respect copyright.PENANA2ozSmLsoNJ
196Please respect copyright.PENANABWteOJkTAm
Finally, Eleo’s muscles tensed. His eyes sharpened. He roared:
196Please respect copyright.PENANAq6xuV0xsIu
196Please respect copyright.PENANAdBJSnwP730
196Please respect copyright.PENANAuiQeaVdeUJ
“RRRAAAHHH!!”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAAFnSJoqN0g
196Please respect copyright.PENANAf62GwC8mml
196Please respect copyright.PENANABZKJ14kps2
He launched forward with a flurry of punches, fists slamming into the wooden dummy over and over.
196Please respect copyright.PENANAo4nV5A6ZDD
196Please respect copyright.PENANAT1jpgHKZpo
196Please respect copyright.PENANAPUH6VOIWBn
“BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAnnzp26gKJi
196Please respect copyright.PENANAT0PnLXDhi6
196Please respect copyright.PENANA3UnKFUtoB8
And then—
196Please respect copyright.PENANA1pENFoZoZg
He stopped.
196Please respect copyright.PENANADDxJdWTgfW
196Please respect copyright.PENANAT1CRFaMM4J
196Please respect copyright.PENANAQ4PBfQo1SS
“…DANG IT!!”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAJ0NwcKWzfL
196Please respect copyright.PENANA5w3vZs1XSv
196Please respect copyright.PENANAx1tBKwUBkI
He flopped onto the grass like a collapsed folding chair, arms spread, face tilted to the gray sky. Raindrops dripped steadily on his fur. But for a moment, as he breathed slowly, it felt… peaceful. Like the rain was washing away all the pressure in his head.
196Please respect copyright.PENANAjCbqvSzciB
196Please respect copyright.PENANAn6tr2g7wKi
196Please respect copyright.PENANAZ0RewkK8ZX
Of course, it didn’t last.
196Please respect copyright.PENANA10m8l8roIz
196Please respect copyright.PENANAqvkiagZBf5
196Please respect copyright.PENANA6ZRNdZBx02
SQUISH. SQUISH.
196Please respect copyright.PENANAZFVx0MFdaf
196Please respect copyright.PENANAdQrMsMbe6K
196Please respect copyright.PENANAKyYGhzdq2G
Wet footsteps approached. Abby stood over him, umbrella in one hand, spellbook in the other.
196Please respect copyright.PENANAyB7BlND9Jq
196Please respect copyright.PENANAxQliX2OUIB
196Please respect copyright.PENANAfyVdInXEBd
“Eleo,” she said flatly, “what exactly are you trying to do?”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAqGbLGZWgb1
196Please respect copyright.PENANAPw4DMUqOUL
196Please respect copyright.PENANAAI3wRuSd9M
Eleo sighed dramatically. “I’m trying to bring out my S-Orb power. It’s not working! I’ve been punching for two days straight and nothing happened! My powers just won’t come out!”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAhb6teSnGbn
196Please respect copyright.PENANAngGtJ0exC8
196Please respect copyright.PENANArmfmHdok0d
Abby exhaled, sat beside him, and hugged her knees. “Maybe you need to try harder.”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAKgWLDYqBFQ
196Please respect copyright.PENANA9A79HIcakB
196Please respect copyright.PENANAOJTFLAQJ3I
“I am trying,” Eleo groaned. “I’ve been yelling and punching and meditating and eating spicy noodles and NOTHING is working!”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAEjmwDxhxbD
196Please respect copyright.PENANAMbf0jjHfnX
196Please respect copyright.PENANAFH658wWWIN
Abby rolled her eyes. “That’s not how you unlock powers, you moron.”
196Please respect copyright.PENANA09g04DfQPQ
196Please respect copyright.PENANAmkazhpiVPq
196Please respect copyright.PENANACzMlPuCQRi
Eleo huffed. “I was desperate!”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAVuf2uxA6Lt
196Please respect copyright.PENANAzyqXKgo1AD
196Please respect copyright.PENANA2hTgLHXXle
There was a short pause before Abby asked seriously, “Once you leave to go fight the strongest… how are you even going to make it to the gate?”
196Please respect copyright.PENANA3m1Ow7DcmT
196Please respect copyright.PENANASl1AzwSHGP
196Please respect copyright.PENANAKAjAefRWzd
Eleo blinked. “Gate?”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAbSM5H31Lr8
196Please respect copyright.PENANA8WNHYU9DfF
196Please respect copyright.PENANA7VNdLFHMiI
She nodded. “Yeah. The giant gate that leads into Kaurna Island. That’s where the strongest is.”
196Please respect copyright.PENANABV7u8C9W06
196Please respect copyright.PENANAmjbCOd3pCW
196Please respect copyright.PENANABNVpXvLUuU
Eleo’s eyes lit up. “OHHHHHH! So the strongest must be THERE!”
196Please respect copyright.PENANANDdtGgp8Qv
196Please respect copyright.PENANAAphhGQabJx
196Please respect copyright.PENANAHJov0eztZF
He sprang to his feet and started dancing in the mud.
196Please respect copyright.PENANAVrxFE7A3ly
196Please respect copyright.PENANAjItJInlHZk
196Please respect copyright.PENANAzM6Qv1r2bX
“YEH YEH YEH YEH YEH YEEEEH!!”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAAsrDqtiZRv
196Please respect copyright.PENANAXp9RElZ2S5
196Please respect copyright.PENANARnVuEz1h9t
Abby chuckled despite herself. “He’s so dumb, it’s almost cute…”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAsBI8ibQ2h0
196Please respect copyright.PENANA817Z7UWmW9
196Please respect copyright.PENANAMeLCjsFZwU
Eleo grinned and pointed dramatically at the sky. “I’m gonna go there! I’ll kick down that gate with my SUPER ULTRA BUNNY PUNCH and defeat the strongest and become a LEGEND!!”
196Please respect copyright.PENANA5WWRsnNfPO
196Please respect copyright.PENANA5KNWqK6R3A
196Please respect copyright.PENANAnol79uYuyD
Abby stood up, brushing mud off her cloak. “Yeah, about that… You know you’ll have to train a ton, right? He’s got a really powerful S-Orb. I heard he’s also a top-level Fist User, Sword User, AND Magic User.”
196Please respect copyright.PENANA5ihZw3SjKU
196Please respect copyright.PENANAcXJpWHnDAY
196Please respect copyright.PENANAv2itvtuMCh
Eleo tilted his head. “Huh? What are those?”
196Please respect copyright.PENANADbMO06Uv5c
196Please respect copyright.PENANAc8YQQwNkXC
196Please respect copyright.PENANAeJl5Z6YffR
Abby froze. “…HUH?! You don’t know what they are?!”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAMBKmh9uBrQ
196Please respect copyright.PENANAMIjWZbLd1Q
196Please respect copyright.PENANADsyuFtELfJ
Eleo shook his head innocently. “Nope.”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAFf9j5LeyAL
196Please respect copyright.PENANABC7EBIt3dh
196Please respect copyright.PENANA8CjBRbC8WI
Abby facepalmed so hard it echoed.
196Please respect copyright.PENANANBIF3wm8Zm
196Please respect copyright.PENANAkZZra4opxb
196Please respect copyright.PENANAHzAQa3m64r
“Okay, okay, I’ll explain. Just—ugh—try not to forget this time.”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAnPOoFiAxBe
196Please respect copyright.PENANAmCKHpkvUsv
196Please respect copyright.PENANAIozHJewvYu
Eleo nodded, ears twitching. “Got it!”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAkywqwNqqMK
196Please respect copyright.PENANAplfHQT9drf
196Please respect copyright.PENANAokuWYMLBQ3
Abby cleared her throat, flipping her book to a blank page and pretending it was a lecture scroll.
196Please respect copyright.PENANAzsx8EE7sis
196Please respect copyright.PENANAHwtw1fPMel
196Please respect copyright.PENANAryrxY0Wanb
196Please respect copyright.PENANAtCIkPiuXs3
196Please respect copyright.PENANA7Pryu5F4Tt
196Please respect copyright.PENANAjY3JJYJb6D
196Please respect copyright.PENANAp9Z2cZBTKP
1. Fist Users
196Please respect copyright.PENANARj5d2mYcJT
“These are martial artists who fight with their fists and feet. No magic, just technique, strength, and crazy training that makes their punches hit like meteors.”
196Please respect copyright.PENANA7PzDlTWWOI
196Please respect copyright.PENANALCDwq2hONc
196Please respect copyright.PENANA5URr4xxASm
2. S-Orb Users
196Please respect copyright.PENANAdZegqdEmjL
“You sorta know this, but let me make it clear. S-Orbs are magical relics you absorb. Each one gives you a unique, powerful supernatural ability based on the soul it was forged from. Once it fuses with you, that power becomes yours permanently.”
196Please respect copyright.PENANApPQp1wYvrm
196Please respect copyright.PENANAvJWHLIaZyt
196Please respect copyright.PENANAnUbFGAT025
She narrowed her eyes.
196Please respect copyright.PENANAXUuZ31TWbs
“Note: You don’t need to train magic to use an S-Orb—but you DO need to learn how to control it.”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAtpa7phhkY0
196Please respect copyright.PENANAEzJxOpmd2c
196Please respect copyright.PENANAaxd0vpDwja
3. Sword Users
196Please respect copyright.PENANA2taUoLeFy2
“These are blade experts. Some are so good, they can cut through lightning. Others channel energy or aura into their swords. It’s flashy, dangerous, and super cool.”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAVkHHvebciW
196Please respect copyright.PENANATMl87bQRSN
196Please respect copyright.PENANAGogYcDmL4y
4. Magic Users
196Please respect copyright.PENANABTp3q6QSyU
“People who use spells. Duh. They study Runescript, use staffs, incantations, magic circles—some are born with it, others learn it. They’re brainy and dangerous.”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAznJ3Q9vOvo
196Please respect copyright.PENANA2NT6NEEvgr
196Please respect copyright.PENANAHya3cgRmd0
196Please respect copyright.PENANA9D2PrjP1rP
196Please respect copyright.PENANASq44nkzV5t
196Please respect copyright.PENANAGX0WjD0P94
196Please respect copyright.PENANA0YIS7aFys8
196Please respect copyright.PENANAsZZ2woA6J8
196Please respect copyright.PENANAYDjsOhalT9
Eleo stared at her blankly. Then he nodded.
196Please respect copyright.PENANA5OgQ1q8TTR
“Ohhhhh. Oookaaay. That makes sense. Thanks!”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAGyKpBlcsiw
196Please respect copyright.PENANAOKGeGChnX8
196Please respect copyright.PENANAxjv4wQyXJp
Abby smiled slightly. “Anytime.”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAe7gsgtCkLP
196Please respect copyright.PENANAWCShADGzuV
196Please respect copyright.PENANAekY3H7zbFm
Eleo turned back to the dummy, fists clenched. The rain hadn’t stopped. But neither had his determination.
196Please respect copyright.PENANAMsgQ6IH1HL
196Please respect copyright.PENANAJkR0Uw8Smd
196Please respect copyright.PENANAkckIg73mEB
He threw another series of punches.
196Please respect copyright.PENANAQ2mldyHnj3
196Please respect copyright.PENANAPvK8Y0kTJN
196Please respect copyright.PENANAl1eQsMlqvV
“BAM! BAM! BAM!”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAKg8lkfJEEe
196Please respect copyright.PENANAhafZcXIQCs
196Please respect copyright.PENANAQKk91AWcBr
Still no glow. No shockwave. No power.
196Please respect copyright.PENANARLsnhKoMV5
196Please respect copyright.PENANAOMw3OfpsGq
196Please respect copyright.PENANAVltlkFMESD
Eleo grabbed his floppy ears and screamed:
196Please respect copyright.PENANAIN1LZFBsot
196Please respect copyright.PENANAdmDqe7tpJy
196Please respect copyright.PENANAh9DMh88HID
“DANG IT!!”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAiK9nD24URF
196Please respect copyright.PENANALMF70q0tO8
196Please respect copyright.PENANApdkzfVHMMK
Abby frowned. “Are you trying to infuse your fists with your S-Orb power?”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAZyfChAu62e
196Please respect copyright.PENANA7sJiHZ4c8x
196Please respect copyright.PENANAftKaXFvOdI
“YES, actually!” Eleo snapped. “I feel it inside me, like it’s THERE… but it just won’t come out!”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAgvbnTcVQZU
196Please respect copyright.PENANAkAIGMdvJsl
196Please respect copyright.PENANAHXEAdPOeuK
Abby tilted her head thoughtfully. “Maybe you're thinking too hard about it. Try feeling it instead.”
196Please respect copyright.PENANA9ZjixN9K1q
196Please respect copyright.PENANARQT4mlmL4X
196Please respect copyright.PENANAEo0OIlTIXy
“…Feeling it?”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAIdSbo9epqs
196Please respect copyright.PENANAdETPWL5zmp
196Please respect copyright.PENANAtGxAMzKyiy
“Yeah. Don’t just try to use it. Try to be it.”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAB3ddb6U43R
196Please respect copyright.PENANABICiR2tSLd
196Please respect copyright.PENANAcYJynSwzgJ
Eleo blinked.
196Please respect copyright.PENANA1RYR1iqBmv
196Please respect copyright.PENANAahxw2WTmGQ
196Please respect copyright.PENANAwzxzwzYKch
“…What does that mean?”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAZJfQVLkDwH
196Please respect copyright.PENANAASE3Dy6SGB
196Please respect copyright.PENANAwKPOfEpYM8
Abby smirked. “Figure it out, Bunny
196Please respect copyright.PENANAcLu2s8TegW
Boy. That’s what training is for.”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAaJgrEY2j7g
196Please respect copyright.PENANA6HrLyHQ6Ux
196Please respect copyright.PENANAco3yq6KYLK
Eleo clenched his fists tighter.
196Please respect copyright.PENANAkbBqsU4LUC
196Please respect copyright.PENANAnkKLJmfXMu
196Please respect copyright.PENANAE7qYoXbooo
The rain still hadn’t let up. Eleo stared at the dummy with sharp, focused eyes—determined not to leave the field empty-handed.
196Please respect copyright.PENANA9LZ4d83lDz
196Please respect copyright.PENANAe60X1XB7h6
196Please respect copyright.PENANAHHHGtT0lN1
Then—he charged.
196Please respect copyright.PENANAu2bK5RswtN
196Please respect copyright.PENANAvodJQgNdlH
196Please respect copyright.PENANANpnD3PqNCk
“RAAAAHH!!”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAjP63C1CTAH
196Please respect copyright.PENANAlD4yFvwHom
196Please respect copyright.PENANAGXgfdliasA
He sprinted forward, his fists clenched, ears bouncing wildly as he picked up speed. And then—
196Please respect copyright.PENANATVRImXouBP
196Please respect copyright.PENANAqJIvUwuRst
196Please respect copyright.PENANAl68VDq2qTw
SMACK!!
196Please respect copyright.PENANAIUaxBArwQK
196Please respect copyright.PENANAFKlV7ROZih
196Please respect copyright.PENANAkahqD9fWiv
His fist slammed directly into the dummy’s wooden face.
196Please respect copyright.PENANAjqTOVTL5pd
196Please respect copyright.PENANAREJqvcApiy
196Please respect copyright.PENANA9mpkEzoC37
There was a strange sound.
196Please respect copyright.PENANACNh49kK0Jb
Not just impact—but something else…
196Please respect copyright.PENANAf5roU1NYBc
196Please respect copyright.PENANAGTI2jBD7XH
196Please respect copyright.PENANAj9QsR7MvEm
SPLAT.
196Please respect copyright.PENANAVvEEoKZwsU
196Please respect copyright.PENANA2LPd2noxOY
196Please respect copyright.PENANAeQZjiaCeb8
Black ink exploded from his knuckles, splashing across the dummy’s face—and his own.
196Please respect copyright.PENANA21NyvCQQ9n
196Please respect copyright.PENANAA1D5jifOau
196Please respect copyright.PENANA78mXqw7bMF
“Wha—huh—BLAUGH!!”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAGOg6sEd27u
196Please respect copyright.PENANA2STu3tTr1r
196Please respect copyright.PENANAvh9yMCazTo
Ink dripped from his cheeks, matting his fur. He blinked rapidly, stunned.
196Please respect copyright.PENANARCplLWhfDG
196Please respect copyright.PENANAXhwBPNpmwY
196Please respect copyright.PENANAvw72oUAfDp
Up in the trees, Abby burst out laughing.
196Please respect copyright.PENANANqQxIjhUUu
196Please respect copyright.PENANAUjGePSHQgi
196Please respect copyright.PENANAAGVn0OTR4K
“PFFFT—HAHAHAHA!! What even was that?! You look like a squirted squid!!”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAY1HV1Ekzrt
196Please respect copyright.PENANAWWKTDV0P7x
196Please respect copyright.PENANAZd25MASrwf
Eleo froze for a second, eyes wide.
196Please respect copyright.PENANAlmNUmYjHBH
196Please respect copyright.PENANAUvSvd3VwXs
196Please respect copyright.PENANALipVSdO0Hw
Then he threw both fists into the air.
196Please respect copyright.PENANA6WyI30hBeE
196Please respect copyright.PENANAY5hUbEFFb5
196Please respect copyright.PENANAlTi2JCr8QP
“YAHOO!!! I DID IT!! I DID IT!!!”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAVqQz94aX9s
196Please respect copyright.PENANAJPIesxhWCm
196Please respect copyright.PENANAbliByn8cr7
He spun around in the mud, doing a ridiculous bunny dance that flung more ink everywhere.
196Please respect copyright.PENANAuAmAiZoO8S
196Please respect copyright.PENANA4Hpj56JW40
196Please respect copyright.PENANAeHJJHpquwk
“I GOT POWERS!!! I’M NOT USELESS!!!”
196Please respect copyright.PENANA65ShCSj8PD
He slipped and fell flat on his back.
196Please respect copyright.PENANAuqi4SbD932
“…Ow.”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAOLXohw6qvA
196Please respect copyright.PENANAhJsGx1EEMH
196Please respect copyright.PENANAI3aJOq8la1
Abby just shook her head, still giggling.
196Please respect copyright.PENANAm7IJwoZ6Z7
196Please respect copyright.PENANAwSJEPupXcR
196Please respect copyright.PENANAQmGwEQ7uPa
“You’re still an idiot... but hey. You’ve officially got an S-Orb ability.”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAcHL2hIm0TO
196Please respect copyright.PENANA8IdbIuwolK
196Please respect copyright.PENANAV4SspLrx6p
The rain had stopped, leaving behind the fresh smell of wet leaves and clean air.
196Please respect copyright.PENANAgHJqJgbBBJ
196Please respect copyright.PENANAtnervfYA0h
196Please respect copyright.PENANAlxWYv1E6Uj
Inside Abby’s room at the Iron Fang bar, things were peaceful. Abby lay on her bed, reading a magic scroll by candlelight. Eleo snored softly on the floor, curled up in a blanket like a fluffy rug.
196Please respect copyright.PENANAsdEMf0omcW
196Please respect copyright.PENANAZ8hWDcF52M
196Please respect copyright.PENANAqsTofPo5tw
Creak.
196Please respect copyright.PENANAm3DcyYqMsU
196Please respect copyright.PENANA5ZImMz5sXn
196Please respect copyright.PENANA4R82aKmp58
The door opened slowly. Lucy, Abby’s mom, peeked inside.
196Please respect copyright.PENANAsWSgaqsmnF
196Please respect copyright.PENANAWx0Ez7mu66
196Please respect copyright.PENANArKAUzfFdv1
“Good night, sweetie. And good night, Eleo,” she whispered. “I’ll make you both breakfast tomorrow.”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAwj2cW6et8g
196Please respect copyright.PENANAaZgpyGHHZK
196Please respect copyright.PENANAT44JAax9MO
Abby smiled sleepily. “Night, Mom.”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAo8rIfGJpCf
196Please respect copyright.PENANAXamSejTYEO
196Please respect copyright.PENANA3SZpeeqI3k
Eleo peeked one eye open. “Night, Miss Abby’s Mom…”
196Please respect copyright.PENANA7tMzzWL01v
196Please respect copyright.PENANAYHBCwSDOxk
196Please respect copyright.PENANAXWxzqGk7z5
Lucy chuckled quietly and closed the door.
196Please respect copyright.PENANAmGUbkZnTSR
196Please respect copyright.PENANA4pJUpBt83t
196Please respect copyright.PENANARwt1x53Lvc
The room was silent again—until Eleo sat up a little, whispering:
196Please respect copyright.PENANAl9bQQuEaJL
196Please respect copyright.PENANAmwfsiunM1V
196Please respect copyright.PENANAS3ynNqV9WI
“I can’t believe I did it… I actually used my powers. My ink powers…”
196Please respect copyright.PENANA5dt9emvdGu
196Please respect copyright.PENANAhRrS9vonL0
196Please respect copyright.PENANAtGltXFFwmd
Abby, still lying on her back, smiled without opening her eyes. “Yeah… and now you’ve gotta come up with cool abilities. You’re gonna need ‘em.”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAOdbyhnWNWH
196Please respect copyright.PENANAoIuU7pOePk
196Please respect copyright.PENANAcsZCBq6ejN
Eleo grinned. “I already got one in mind.”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAQ7taanXjeq
196Please respect copyright.PENANAzzkgfYyWYH
196Please respect copyright.PENANA8Q8HOA4a0Q
Abby yawned. “Mmm... save it for tomorrow…”
196Please respect copyright.PENANA2waUmUT6RQ
196Please respect copyright.PENANAPUa3uw5fX4
196Please respect copyright.PENANANkjgl4Z4lv
Eleo lay back down. “’Kay… good night, Abby.”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAmXbsb0IqAx
196Please respect copyright.PENANA8UQ2XDps2t
196Please respect copyright.PENANAyHQlfJXbRO
“Good night, Bunny Boy.”
196Please respect copyright.PENANAfzwuh7D3hd
196Please respect copyright.PENANA76JVVUrug2
196Please respect copyright.PENANAgLlBPArvAf
Within moments, both of them were asleep.
196Please respect copyright.PENANAwr3pN6XCOR
196Please respect copyright.PENANAxYm5uFvL3S
196Please respect copyright.PENANAgIpyUR9XHU
The candle flickered one last time… and went out.
ns216.73.216.22da2