TBB: 1

The wind howled, whipping through the dense canopy of the dark forest. Thunder rumbled in the distance, mirroring the storm brewing within Ryder. It was past midnight, and the rain began to lash down, a ferocious symphony against the already chaotic sounds of nature.

Ryder's small hut, a solitary beacon in the vast wilderness, shuddered under the onslaught of the elements. He was out gathering firewood, a meager source of income for the impoverished teenager. Returning home, he was met with a scene of devastation. The door of his hut lay splintered, the wood twisted and broken. Panic seized him as he peered inside.A hulking figure, a magnificent beast of prey, lay sprawled on the earthen floor. It was a leopard, its sleek coat matted with rain, its eyes glowing with predatory intent. Fear, cold and paralyzing, gripped Ryder. He had faced many dangers in the forest, but nothing like this.The leopard stirred, its golden eyes snapping open. A low, guttural growl echoed through the hut, a chilling prelude to its attack. Ryder, armed only with his axe, braced himself. He was no warrior, just a boy trying to survive.The leopard lunged, a blur of motion. Ryder, caught off guard, was thrown back, landing hard on the muddy floor. Pain exploded in his side. A chilling voice, a memory from the past, echoed in his mind:  "I HATE WEAKLINGS LIKE YOU! YOU ARE JUST A DISGRACE TO MY FAMILY MEMBERS! WHY ARE YOU EVEN BORN?? RYDER!"The name, his name, sent a jolt through him. Who was that? And why did those cruel words resonate so deeply? "I REFUSE!" he roared, defiance surging through him. "I REFUSE TO DIE HERE!"Bleeding and bruised, Ryder scrambled to his feet. He swung his axe, a desperate, clumsy blow. The leopard, agile and powerful, easily sidestepped the attack. The fight raged, a brutal dance of life and death. Rain lashed down, blurring the already chaotic scene.Exhausted, Ryder felt himself slipping away. The leopard, wounded but relentless, prepared for the final blow. Despair threatened to consume him. "I was never brave enough," he thought, "to fight for the things I love."Then, a voice, soft and soothing, cut through the maelstrom. "I don't understand why you keep saying that to yourself," a woman's voice whispered. "I didn't love a dumb kid. I loved you. I'm a bit shy, so I won't say everything, but I loved a man stronger than he thinks he is." A gentle hand touched his, conveying a warmth that seeped into his very soul.Who was she? Where did she come from? Hope, a fragile flame, flickered back to life. He had something to fight for.With renewed determination, Ryder lunged at the leopard. Their final clash was a whirlwind of fury. The air crackled with the intensity of their struggle. Then, silence.Ryder lay unconscious, his body battered and bruised. He had no memory of the final blow. When he awoke, he found himself in the village of Valaqus, the doctor tending to his wounds."You are truly kind-hearted, young man," the doctor said, his eyes twinkling. "You didn't kill the leopard. You simply disarmed it."He spent the next month recovering, his mind grappling with the events of that fateful night. Who was the girl in his vision? And why did her words resonate so deeply within him?One thing was certain: he would not succumb to despair. He would become stronger, both physically and mentally. He would seek his fortune in the King's Court, a path fraught with challenges, but one he was now determined to pursue.One day, while walking through the village, he heard a desperate cry for help. A man was drowning in the infamous Serpent Pond, home to the legendary Cobra, a monstrous serpent of immense power. Without hesitation, Ryder plunged into the murky depths.He rescued the man, a stranger named Robert Hussein. As a reward, Robert revealed a startling secret: the Serpent Pond held a hidden treasure, a prize that could catapult Ryder to the heights of power.Intrigued, Ryder accepted the challenge. He would face the Cobra, conquer his fear, and claim the treasure. This was the beginning of his true adventure, a test not only of his physical strength but also of his courage and his will to survive.With a deep breath, Ryder plunged into the icy waters of the Serpent Pond. As he descended, the light above dwindled, replaced by an oppressive darkness. Suddenly, a colossal shape loomed before him. It was the Cobra, a serpent of immense size, its scales shimmering with an eerie luminescence. A golden orb, pulsating with an inner light, adorned its head."You have made a grave mistake, child," the Cobra hissed, its voice a low, resonant growl. "Many have come before you, seeking the treasure, but all have fallen prey to my hunger. I grant you a mere five minutes to survive. If you can withstand my wrath, the treasure is yours.""I accept your challenge!" Ryder declared, his voice firm despite the tremor of fear that ran through him.The Cobra unleashed a torrent of fury. Its tail lashed out, a whip of muscle and bone, striking at Ryder with terrifying speed. He dodged and weaved, desperately trying to avoid the serpent's deadly blows. Blood welled from his wounds, and his strength began to wane.Suddenly, an unexpected sensation washed over him. His body felt lighter, more agile. The water, once a suffocating weight, seemed to recede."Who... who is that?" he gasped, a strange energy surging through him.The Cobra, sensing the shift in Ryder's aura, recoiled. "Your aura... it has changed," the serpent hissed, its voice laced with a newfound respect. "An aura is the essence of one's soul, a reflection of their inner strength. Yours... it is overwhelming.""I... I'm not done yet, Cobra!" Ryder cried, a renewed vigor fueling his movements. "There is someone... someone who believes in me. Someone who showed me who I truly am."The Cobra, intrigued by this display of unexpected resilience, observed Ryder with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. "Such courage... I have rarely witnessed such determination in the face of certain death."The battle raged on, a desperate struggle for survival. Ryder, fueled by an unknown force, fought with a ferocity that surprised even himself. He dodged, he countered, he unleashed a flurry of attacks, each one more desperate than the last.Time was running out. Three minutes. Two minutes. One minute.With a final, desperate lunge, Ryder aimed for the Cobra's head, the golden orb his target. The serpent, caught off guard, was unable to react. Ryder's fist connected with a resounding thud, cracking the golden orb.Exhausted, Ryder sank beneath the surface, unconscious."I am sorry," he murmured, his final breath escaping his lips. "I was not strong enough."A soft voice, a whisper on the wind, reached his ears. "Shush," it soothed. "You did well, my hero. You survived longer than any other. I am proud of you."Ryder's eyes fluttered closed. As per the Cobra's rule, he had won. But would he survive? And would he ever reach the King's Court?This was just the beginning of his epic journey.As time passed, Ryder lay completely unconscious. It seemed as if there was no hope for his recovery. Robert waited outside, despairing that his friend would never return. As time wore on, his certainty grew, and he was about to leave when COBRA emerged from the pond."Are you his friend?" COBRA asked Robert.Ryder lay on his back, seemingly lifeless. Cobra said, "There's nothing to fear. This is my first defeat, and I'm happy about it. He defeated me. Here is the treasure. You can present it to the King's Court and tell them he defeated me." Cobra smiled.Robert, though surprised, accepted the task. He would tell the King of Ryder's heroic deed.Meanwhile, in the village, Ryder was taken to the doctor. Seeing him covered in blood, the doctor despaired. "There's little chance of his survival," the doctor declared. "We must act quickly – he's lost a significant amount of blood."Suddenly, Ryder murmured, "You know that, I was wondering why we had such a strange confession for each other? You're shy, I'm shy, but we knew we liked each other. Will you come find me?" He was tearing up, remembering this.The doctor replied, "These must be unconscious memories. He's remembering something that's making him emotional. There are three parts to the brain: the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain. Consciousness resides in the cerebral cortex, the outer layer of the brain, while unconsciousness is linked to the cerebellum. The unconscious mind holds vast amounts of information and memories we don't even realize we possess. We only utilize a small fraction of our brain – perhaps 4 to 6%. Even the most brilliant scientists have only tapped into a maximum of 10% of their brainpower."The doctor did everything in his power to save Ryder.At the King's Court, Robert presented the treasure. The King and his advisors were astonished that Robert had returned with the treasure, having faced the fearsome Cobra."My Lord," Robert began, "a true hero accomplished this impossible feat. He defeated the King of Snakes, COBRA, and brought back this treasure for our village. This man is fighting for his life back at the village hospital. He dreams of serving you and dedicating his life to our village. I assure you, my Lord, he has a bright future."The King replied, "You have a way with words, young man. It is no ordinary feat to defeat COBRA. I am impressed by his bravery and his spirit. He will be appointed Chief of the Court! What was his name? I... I remember now! Ryder! Send the royal physicians to the village immediately. I want that young man to live! I want to meet the one who defeated the legendary Cobra!"Eight days later, Ryder was discharged from the hospital, though still recovering. He wished to meet Robert, but Robert had already left. Two Chiefs arrived to escort Ryder to the King's palace. The King welcomed him warmly and recounted Ryder's heroic deed in defeating COBRA. Ryder, in a moment of honesty, revealed the presence of a "blue aura" surrounding him, though he didn't know if anyone else could perceive it.The King simply told him to rest. The next day, as per the King's decree, Ryder was appointed Chief. Over the year, Ryder trained rigorously, pushing his limits and honing his skills. He could now hold his own in a duel against many of the King's Court.One day, the King appeared and declared, "The day has come, Ryder! I challenge you to a duel!" The Army Men were excited to witness this epic clash between the King and his newly appointed Chief.Suddenly, three figures emerged from the shadows, their faces obscured by masks."We are from the 'Dark Side'," they declared, their voices echoing through the court. "Sacrifice your kingdom, and we will spare your lives. You will all serve Him."Fear gripped the court. The King confessed, "We are in grave danger. 'He' is the most powerful being alive, but we must find a way to resist. Otherwise, we are doomed."Looking at the fear in the eyes of his people, Ryder roared, "Are we cowards? My life has meaning! I will not surrender, even if I die! If there's a chance, even a single percent, I will fight for it! Bring it on!"The King exclaimed, "He's a true warrior! Prepare for the Death War! If this is our fate, I entrust our destiny to you, Ryder!"And so, the battle began: "VALAQUS vs. DARK SIDE." The King, known as King Thors, faced off against the leader of the Dark Side, known as King Destroyer.