With only the stars lighting their path, Zam and Zoku stepped into the infamous Forest of Jangira — a dense, eerie wilderness known to harbor wild Dangerers. This forest was a notorious proving ground where rookie fighters tested their courage, though many never returned.
Zoku glanced around nervously as the wind rustled through the dark trees. "Zam… this place gives me chills. It's getting dark. Shouldn't we wait until morning to start this part of the journey?"
Zam grinned. "Scared already? Come on, if you want to be a fighter, you have to be fearless."
They pressed deeper into the forest. The moon hung low, the air thick with tension. Yet, strangely, there wasn't a single sign of a Dangerer.
"Man… this is boring," Zoku groaned.
"Yeah," Zam admitted, stretching his arms with a yawn. "I was expecting some action too. Kinda disappointing."
After a while, Zam let out a big yawn and declared, "Alright, I'm sleepy. Let's crash here for the night."
Zoku stared wide-eyed. "What?! You want to sleep? In the middle of this creepy forest?! Are you out of your mind?!"
Zam smirked and teased, "What's wrong, scaredy-cat? Weren't you born from a family of dragons? You sure act more like a kitten!"
He burst out laughing and climbed a nearby tree with ease.
Zoku frowned but followed, grumbling, "Tch… I'm not scared…"
"Then come up here and sleep like a man!" Zam giggled, clearly enjoying himself.
"Okkkkkk… but if anything jumps out at us, it's your fault," Zoku warned, settling on the branches.
Perched on thick limbs under the moonlight, the two soon drifted into sleep — unaware that their first real dangerer was already watching them from the shadows.
A low-level E-rank Dangerer, a regular threat in the forest, crept silently closer. Zam and Zoku lay fast asleep, oblivious to the danger approaching. The creature moved carefully, trying not to make a sound, but as it stepped on a dry leaf, a faint crunch echoed through the still night.
Zam's eyes snapped open instinctively. Though he lacked aura, his body had developed instincts sharper than most. Without thinking, he leapt from the tree — but clumsily lost his grip and tumbled to the ground.
The Dangerer smirked. "Are you a fighter or just a traveler? You don't have any aura. Cleaning you up will be a piece of cake."
Wiping the dirt off himself, Zam grinned. "Huh, so this is my first enemy, huh?"
The Dangerer's smile grew wider. "You're a fighter? That's impressive for someone like you. But if this is your first battle, it'll also be your last."
Zam squared his shoulders, meeting the threat with calm confidence. "Bring it on, mister."
Without hesitation, the Dangerer unleashed his attack: Water Bullets — sharp jets of water manipulated with deadly precision. Zam dodged swiftly, though the attack forced him to move carefully.
"Water manipulation, huh?" Zam muttered.
He sprang up into the tree again and grabbed his fighter glasses — special lenses given to fighters that analyze an opponent's power level. Slipping them on, he scanned the Dangerer.
"E-rank," Zam said quietly. "This will be tough."
The noise roused Zoku, who peeked over the edge of the tree, spotting Zam locked in battle.
"Zam! I'm coming too!" Zoku called.
He grabbed his own glasses and his dracoska katana, jumping from the tree — but miscalculated his landing and stumbled clumsily.
"Zam, it's an E-rank," Zoku groaned.
Zam grinned. "Man, let's work together to take him down."
"Of course," Zoku replied, readying his weapon.
Zam lunged forward to punch, but the Dangerer was skilled in close combat and easily dodged the strike. Switching tactics, Zam delivered a swift kick aimed at his opponent's legs, landing a solid hit.
The Dangerer jumped back and smirked. "Water Balls!"
He formed several shimmering spheres of water in his hands and hurled them toward Zam. Zoku swung his katana to slice through the incoming water balls, but the Dangerer slipped behind him and launched a water ball from Zoku's blind spot.
Just in time, Zam stepped in and threw a powerful punch right through the water balls, The Dangerer sneered, a cruel smile twisting his lips. "You brats," he spat, "I'll just kill you both and take the honor for it." A chilling giggle escaped him, echoing through the dark forest.
Zam and Zoku stood firm, their eyes locked on the threat. "Try it, then," Zam said coolly. "This is our first mission. We're ready."
Zam leaned closer to Zoku and whispered, "I guess it's time to use the technique Master Urakaki taught me."
Zoku nodded without hesitation, his voice low but fierce. "Absolutely. This is the right moment."
With a sudden burst of speed, Zam launched forward like a swift gust of wind. "Shojugen: Windly Kick!" he called out, his leg slicing through the air with the smoothness of a breeze. The Dangerer staggered backward from the impact, thrown off balance.
Seizing the opportunity, Zoku stepped in confidently. "Don't take all the glory, Zam." He swung his sword, flames licking around the blade in the shape of fierce dragons. "Dragon Misoma: Dragon Slashes!"
The fiery dragon-shaped slashes surged forward, striking the Dangerer with burning force.
The enemy's eyes blazed with fury. "You ugly bastards! You can't knock me out!" he roared, summoning water spheres in his hands. "Water Balls!"
He hurled the shimmering orbs toward them. Zam twisted his body, dodging each one with practiced ease. But Zoku wasn't so lucky. One of the water balls struck him hard, sending him crashing into a tree with a sickening thud.
Zam's heart pounded as he sprinted to his friend's side. "Zoku! Zoku! Are you okay?" he shouted, concern flooding his voice.
Zoku coughed, his body trembling as pain coursed through him. His voice was faint, barely above a whisper.
"This… this is painful," he muttered. "I know that if you want to become a fighter, you have to be fearless… but this really hurts. Zam… can you really fight him alone? I don't think I can move my body anymore…"
Zam clenched his fists, his eyes locked on the approaching Dangerer. "I don't know what I'm truly capable of," he said, voice filled with quiet determination, "but I'll never give up."
The Dangerer stepped closer, a wicked grin stretched across his face. "You just don't know when to give up, do you?" he sneered. "Don't worry… I'll make this the end for you."
Zam took a deep breath and planted his feet firmly into the ground. He whispered to himself, I have to protect Zoku… I can't let it end here. Then he shouted, "Looks like I'm alone right now. Then take this—Shenjugen: Powerful Punch!"
With a sudden burst of energy, Zam hurled himself forward, his fist charged with raw force aimed directly at the Dangerer's chest.
But just before the blow landed, the Dangerer raised his hand, his smile never fading. "Water Barrier," he said calmly.
A shimmering dome of swirling water formed in front of him, absorbing the impact of Zam's punch entirely. The water rippled, but the barrier held strong.
"I'm not falling for the same trick twice," the Dangerer hissed. Without warning, he 6+countered with a brutal punch of his own—driving his fist deep into Zam's chest.
Zam gasped as the air was knocked from his lungs. His body flew backward, crashing into the forest floor with a thud.
The Dangerer chuckled darkly. "I'm done playing with you," he said coldly. "Why don't we end this quickly?"
His smile twisted into something even more sinister as a sudden shift in the atmosphere made the air heavy. He raised his hands and whispered, "Heavenly Void: Water King."
In an instant, a powerful aura erupted around him. Waves of water surged at his feet, swirling upward and wrapping around his body like a crown of living armor. His eyes glowed a piercing blue, cold and merciless.
Zam stared, frozen. "What the hell…?" he muttered. "This is a Heavenly Void… a Dangerer's ultimate form."
He took a step back as fear gripped him. His hands trembled, his breath caught in his throat.
"How… how can I face him like this?" he whispered. "Why are my hands… shaking?"
As Zam stood frozen before the overwhelming power of the Dangerer, his mind drifted back to the days of harsh training…
— Flashback
The sun filtered through the tall pines as sweat dripped down Zam's face. His knuckles were bruised, his legs sore, and his breathing labored from the relentless drills Master Urakaki had put him through.
Urakaki stood firm, arms crossed and eyes sharp beneath his gray, spiky hair. His expression held the weight of experience—and the expectations of a mentor who saw something special in his student.
"Zam," Urakaki said, his voice deep and steady, "you've built up the basic strength needed to become a fighter. Your training has given you a solid foundation."
Zam, sitting cross-legged on the grass, wiped his forehead and looked up with a puzzled expression. "Master… if that's true, then what am I still missing?"
Urakaki narrowed his eyes. "Strength alone won't save you against monsters like Dangerers. If you rely only on raw power, you'll be crushed."
Zam's heart skipped. "Then… what should I learn?"
Urakaki turned away, gazing out at the forest beyond. "Techniques."
Zam blinked. "Techniques?" Then, with a sinking feeling, he added, "But I can't use aura…"
A silence lingered in the air before Urakaki smirked and turned back toward him.
"Don't worry, Zam," he said, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "I'll teach you a technique you can use even without aura. It's called… Shenjugen."
Zam's eyes widened. "Shenjugen? I've never heard of that before."
"Of course you haven't!" Urakaki declared, puffing his chest proudly. "I created it."
Zam couldn't help but smile at the pride in his master's voice.
And so, the training began.
Day after day, Zam poured everything he had into mastering Shenjugen. His movements became smoother, more fluid. He learned to strike without wasting energy, to shift his stance instinctively, and to sense danger before it arrived. Urakaki was a harsh teacher but a wise one, guiding him with both discipline and belief.
Weeks passed.
One late afternoon, as the sun dipped low, casting golden light over the training grounds, Urakaki called Zam to a halt.
"You've learned the techniques of Shenjugen," he said, watching Zam closely. "But if you want to use them at their full potential, you must go further."
Zam, still catching his breath, looked up curiously. "Further? How?"
Urakaki stepped closer. "Use all five of your senses. Hear everything. See everything. Smell the wind before it shifts. Feel your balance. Taste the moment. Let your body flow—not like stone… but like slime."
"Slime?" Zam raised an eyebrow.
Urakaki nodded. "Soft, unpredictable… untouchable. If you can do that—if you can merge your strength with total sensory awareness—you will be a worthy fighter, even without aura."
Zam didn't say a word. But deep inside, a fire had been lit!
The image faded. The present came crashing back.
Zam clenched his fists, his master's voice still echoing in his mind
Zam steadied his breath, his body low and calm as his thoughts echoed through his mind like a mantra:
See everything. Smell the wind before it shifts. Feel your balance. Taste the moment. Let your body flow… like a slime.
The Dangerer sneered, mistaking Zam's silence for fear. "What are you thinking, kid? Ready for your last moment?" he hissed.
Zam looked up, eyes focused and voice steady. "Yep. Come on, mister."
"Oh, I'll come alright," the Dangerer growled. "I'll put an end to your overconfidence!" He raised his hands, summoning a swirling current of energy. "Water King's Roar!"
A powerful beam of water burst from his palms, roaring toward Zam like a raging river.
But to the Dangerer's surprise, Zam vanished from his spot in a blur of motion. He reappeared closer, swift and smooth, like air slicing through water. The Dangerer lunged, throwing a punch—only to feel his fist caught in Zam's palm.
The Dangerer's lips curled into a dark grin. "What happened to you? A sudden awakening?" He giggled sinisterly.
Zam responded with a punch of his own, aiming straight for the Dangerer's face. It was blocked, but the impact still sent a shock through his enemy's arm.
"I underestimated you," the Dangerer admitted with a grunt. "You're pretty strong for someone with no aura."
He stepped back, summoning a new technique. "Then I'll finish this for real—Water Manipulation: Water King's Spears!"
Dozens of shimmering water spears formed in the air, orbiting the Dangerer like deadly satellites. With a flick of his hand, they shot toward Zam, each aimed with precision.
Zam didn't flinch.
His body moved fluidly—twisting, ducking, sliding forward like slime under pressure. He darted between the spears, the wind of their passage brushing against his skin but never touching him. His expression hardened, fire burning in his eyes.
"You hurt my friend," he said, voice low but filled with resolve. "Now I'll bring your end."
With a shout that echoed through the trees, Zam launched forward.
"SHENJUGEN: OVERPOWERED PUNCH!"
His fist collided with the Dangerer's face with explosive force. The water aura around the Dangerer shattered like glass, and his body was hurled backward, slamming into a tree before collapsing to the ground, unconscious.
Zam's fighter glasses blinked with a bright notification:
"Dangerer defeated. Congratulations on your victory."
He stood still for a moment, breathing hard, then a smile slowly spread across his face.
"My first mission… and it's over."
He turned and sprinted to Zoku's side. The young warrior was lying still, unconscious and bruised. Zam gently shook him.
"Zoku! Hey! Wake up!" he called out in concern.
Zam noticed a small bag hanging from the Dangerer's shoulder. Curious, he opened it and found some bandages and a water bottle. He paused.
Even Dangerers… need food to live. Even they get hurt, he thought.
He took the supplies, wrapped Zoku's wounds carefully, and splashed water gently onto his face.
Zoku stirred with a groan, blinking into the morning light. As his vision cleared, he saw Zam smiling down at him.
"You're finally awake," Zam said, chuckling softly.
Zoku sat up with effort. "Zam… where's the Dangerer?"
"I knocked him out," Zam said proudly.
Zoku looked at him in amazement. "Oh wow… you really are strong!"
Zam grinned. "Yeah, I am."
Zoku's expression shifted to guilt. "Sorry… I was scared. I couldn't help you. I wasn't a man."
Zam patted his shoulder. "Don't worry. Remember what Master Urakaki said—'You'll become fearless with experience.' You'll master your power in time."
"Yeah…" Zoku nodded, eyes brightening.
As the morning sun broke through the trees, Zam stood and stretched. "Never mind all that. It's morning now. Let's continue our journey!"
Zoku smiled and stood beside him. "I promise, Captain… I'll never be scared again. I'll fight beside you until you become the Fighter King!"
Zam laughed. "Then let's go!