PART THREE

Meanwhile, At the far end of the village, a crowd had gathered around a makeshift platform.

The stakes for the day's bamboo-run game had doubled to fifty silver notes, and the atmosphere was electric with excitement.

Spectators jostled for better views, their cheers and shouts creating a cacophony that drowned out the rest of the village's usual noise.

As the referee raised his hand to signal the start of the race, the crowd's cheers grew deafening. For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath, the tension thick enough to cut with a blade. Then, with a sharp whistle, the runners leaped into action, and the race was on.

The game field sprawled across an open, muddy space, its surface a patchwork of freshly planted bamboo sticks of varying lengths and thicknesses. The sticks, gleaming faintly with moisture, jutted out of the ground like obstacles in a chaotic battlefield.

This wasn't just a race; it was a battle royale. Five runners would dart across the precarious bamboo field, their goal to grab the flag stationed at the far end and return it to the starting line while preventing it from been snatched. The rules were simple yet ruthless: fall into the mud, and you were disqualified.

Use weapons to gain an edge, and you were immediately thrown out. If no one made it back with the flag, the winner was the runner with the most touches on the flag. In the event of a tie, the contenders faced off in a rematch—a brutal, no-holds-barred sprint for victory.

The stakes were especially high today. The prize money had doubled after word spread that Yui and his gang were entering the competition. Yui was the leader of one of the most feared street gangs in Sakai Port Village, a young man whose reputation thrived on dominance and intimidation. Every game was another opportunity for him to assert his power, spreading fear and fame across the village.

Among the runners was Teigen, shy of his fourteen-year-old brother Ichigo by three years. Yet, despite being younger, Teigen stood out. His bright, confident demeanor and striking features made him hard to miss.

A knack for acrobatics had only added to his talents—a skill he had honed after being mesmerized by a circus that had visited Sakai Port Village. Teigen had spent years practicing flips and jumps in the cramped confines of their shelter, mastering techniques from books and instinct.

"Go with the high ones and keep out of reach, you can do this, I believe in you plus think about all the Ice cream and rice bowls we could have if you won," Ichigo said, his voice tinged with excitement and pride. He stood behind Teigen like a coach, his chest puffed out and his grin wide.

He wasn't just cheering; he was performing. Flips, cartwheels, and exaggerated gestures earned him glares from the other supporters. His antics bordered on obnoxious, but Ichigo didn't care. To him, Teigen was a star, and he was his biggest fan.

Runners from Yui's gang, Pit's gang, and two other groups took their places, each pair of eyes fixed on the red flag fluttering at the far end of the field. The crowd buzzed with anticipation, their voices rising like waves crashing against a shore.

"Runners, take your positions… set… run!" the referee bellowed.

The bamboo field erupted into chaos.

Teigen launched himself onto the highest sticks, his movements graceful yet deliberate. The higher sticks swayed under his weight, demanding precision and balance. They were risky but offered the advantage of elevation, keeping him out of reach of most competitors. The lower sticks, though sturdier, were traps in disguise. Trick sticks—designed to tilt or break under pressure—waited to send unsuspecting runners into the mud.

Teigen's agility was unmatched. His feet barely kissed the bamboo before he soared again, moving with the swiftness and grace of a bird of prey. The crowd gasped as he dived and twisted mid-air, avoiding even the faintest attempt to grab him.

Behind him, the first disqualification came swiftly. A runner tried to climb higher, misjudging the bend of the bamboo beneath him. The stick snapped, and he plunged into the mud with a loud splash, drawing roars of laughter and cheers from the spectators.

Teigen's closest rival was Shin, a wiry, determined youth newly recruited into Yui's gang. Shin, no older than Teigen, had once been the reigning champion of the bamboo run before Teigen's recent streak of victories. Now, under Yui's orders, Shin was determined to reclaim his crown. Winning today meant more than just silver notes; it was his ticket to a higher rank within Yui's feared hierarchy.

While Teigen took the high road, Shin darted across the lower sticks, weaving through the field with uncanny speed. His movements were sharp and precise, as though he had memorized every weak point on the field. Even the trick sticks seemed powerless to trip him up.

Behind him, chaos ensued. A runner from Pit's gang, desperate to catch up, lunged forward only to be blindsided by Shin's cunning. With a sudden pivot, Shin kicked one of the bamboo sticks out of place, sending Pit's runner tumbling face-first into the mud.

The crowd erupted in a mix of cheers and boos. Pit himself stood on the sidelines, shouting curses and accusations of foul play. But in a game like this, there was no room for fairness—only survival.

Teigen remained ahead, his focus unshaken despite the noise and chaos around him. He could feel Shin gaining ground, but he didn't look back. His mind was locked on the flag, his body moving in perfect harmony with the unsteady bamboo beneath him. The crowd's chants grew louder, their excitement reaching a fever pitch.