Journey in the Ascending muendo
"The Three Stages of Ascension"
Reikar stands there, his body still tingling from the unknown energy surging within him. The glowing mark on his chest pulses faintly, like a heartbeat syncing with something far beyond his comprehension.
AB18 crosses his arms, his usual arrogance shifting into something more serious.
"Listen well, Reikar. This mark… it means you are one of the few who can attempt the impossible."
Reikar narrows his eyes. "The impossible?"
AB18 nods. "There are three stages of Ascension."
He lifts one finger. "The first stage—Ascending Muendo. This is where we are now. It is the foundation. The training grounds. The realm where the strongest mortals push past their limits. I am the ruler here."
A second finger rises. "The second stage—Ascending Hatoshi. A place few have ever seen. Only those who defy the natural order can reach it. Even I…" He pauses for a moment, his expression darkening. "Even I am not strong enough to go there."
Then, he raises the third finger. "The final stage—Ascendings of Gods. A realm beyond power, where gods themselves reside. Only legends have glimpsed it. It is said that no mortal, no warrior, no entity in existence has ever reached it through pure strength alone."
Reikar listens intently, his fists clenching. "And this mark…?"
AB18 smirks. "This mark gives you a slightly better chance of reaching the higher stages. But don't get excited." He leans forward, his eyes sharp. "Many before you have had this mark. They all failed."
Reikar raises a brow. "All of them?"
AB18 chuckles. "Except one."
Reikar's eyes widen. "Who?"
AB18 points to himself.
"Me."
Reikar steps back slightly. "Wait, so you have the mark too?!"
AB18 nods. "That's why I'm the strongest in Ascending Muendo. That's why I rule this realm. And yet…" He looks up toward the endless sky, as if staring at something beyond reality itself. "Even with my power, even with my dominance over this stage—I have never broken past Muendo."
Reikar grits his teeth. "You mean you've never made it to Ascending Hatoshi?"
AB18 nods. "Exactly. The gap between stages is absolute. It is not just about strength, nor endurance. It is about something else. Something we don't understand. And I doubt..." He looks directly at Reikar. "You will be strong enough to get past stage one. Will you?"
The challenge in AB18's voice is clear.
The warriors around them watch in silence.
This is a defining moment.
Reikar looks down at his own hands, feeling the energy within him. He may have been called the weakest soldier, he may have been humiliated, but something inside him tells him—
This isn't his limit.
He lifts his head, eyes burning with determination.
"I will not only surpass Muendo."
He takes a step forward.
"I will reach Hatoshi."
Another step.
"I will reach the Ascendings of Gods."
His aura flares, the mark on his chest glowing brighter.
"And I will go even beyond that."
AB18's smirk fades for a moment. The warriors around them tense.
For the first time in centuries, someone had spoken words even AB18 himself had never dared to say.
What happens next? Does AB18 laugh and challenge Reikar immediately? Or does something—or someone—interrupt this moment?
"The Arrival of Reikar – The Weakest Yet the Most Feared"
AB18 lets out a low chuckle, shaking his head in amusement.
"You really are something else, Reikar. You remind me of myself... except even I wasn't reckless enough to claim I could reach the Ascendings of Gods."
He turns away and raises his hand. The very air trembles.
BOOM!
The ground beneath them shatters, and a deep, resonating sound spreads across all of Ascending Muendo. A call—no, a summoning.
Reikar tenses. "What are you doing?"
AB18 smirks. "It's time you meet the others. If you think you're ready to challenge fate itself, then you should know who you're up against."
The sky rips open.
One by one, figures start to appear. Some are floating. Some are standing atop shattered floating platforms. Others emerge from shadowed realms within Ascending Muendo itself. Their presence alone feels suffocating.
These are the true elites of Muendo.
AB18 stretches out his arms. "Welcome, warriors of Muendo. Before you stands Reikar, the weakest among you. And yet…" His eyes gleam with curiosity. "He believes he can surpass this stage and reach the next."
A wave of laughter erupts. Some warriors smirk, others shake their heads.
"This guy?!" A monstrous warrior with four arms, Darak the Colossus, chuckles. "He's barely standing! I've crushed stronger beings under my heel!"
"He killed AU, didn't he?" A shadowy figure, Xial of the Abyss, leans forward. "That alone makes him interesting."
Others murmur among themselves. Some dismiss Reikar outright. Others, however, begin to observe him more closely.
But then—
A single presence makes every warrior fall silent.
A tall, armored warrior steps forward. His golden armor radiates power, his eyes glowing with untold strength. His aura alone feels heavier than anything Reikar has ever faced.
AB18's smirk vanishes. "So, even he decided to come, huh?"
Reikar can't breathe for a moment.
This isn't just another warrior.
This is General Kaido—the strongest warrior under AB18.
Kaido slowly steps toward Reikar. The warriors part, giving him space. He stops just in front of Reikar, his towering form making Reikar feel insignificant.
Then, he speaks.
"You killed AU. That means you have strength." His voice is deep, unshaken. "But strength alone is meaningless. Prove to me that you are worthy of standing among us."
He slowly raises his hand. The air grows still. The warriors hold their breath.
"Survive one strike from me."
AB18 crosses his arms, watching closely. "Well, Reikar? If you want to be the strongest, you'd better get used to this."
Reikar clenches his fists. His pride won't let him back down.
"Come at me."
Kaido's hand blurs forward.
And in that moment—Reikar's entire world explodes into white.
---
What happens next? Does Reikar survive the strike? Or does something awaken within him in that split second?
"The Arrival of AB08 – The Phantom of Ascending Muendo"
Just as Kaido's hand is about to make contact with Reikar—
Darkness engulfs the battlefield.
WHOOSH!
A chilling pressure floods the entire area. The warriors of Muendo—beings who feared nothing—freeze where they stand. Even AB18 narrows his eyes.
A voice, smooth yet heavy with authority, echoes from the abyss.
"Enough."
From the shadows, a figure emerges. His presence alone warps the air around him, making the warriors instinctively take a step back.
Draped in a flowing black cloak with silver embroidery, his form is ethereal, like he exists between dimensions. His face is partially concealed beneath a hood, but his piercing silver eyes shine through, sending shivers down everyone's spine.
AB18 smirks, unfazed. "So… even you decided to show yourself?"
The warriors whisper among themselves in shock.
"That's—!"
"No way, he never appears unless it's important!"
"The Phantom of Muendo… the Second-in-Command… AB08!"
Kaido lowers his hand immediately, stepping back without a word. Even he does not wish to challenge AB08.
Reikar, still stunned from the oppressive aura, struggles to remain standing. "Who… who is this?"
AB08 slowly approaches, each step causing the ground beneath him to ripple unnaturally.
He stops before Reikar, looking down at him.
"The newest recruit, and already causing this much chaos?" His voice is unreadable, neither condescending nor impressed. "You have spirit, Reikar. But tell me… do you truly understand what you are claiming to seek?"
Reikar clenches his fists. "I know that I will surpass Muendo. I will reach Ascending Hatoshi and beyond."
AB08 stares at him for a long moment. Then, he chuckles softly.
"Ambitious. I like that."
Then his gaze shifts to AB18. "However… I did not come here to watch meaningless games. I came to deliver news."
AB18 raises an eyebrow. "News?"
AB08 nods. "Something… or someone… has broken into the barrier of Ascending Muendo."
The warriors fall silent. Some exchange uneasy glances.
AB18's smirk fades completely.
"That's impossible."
AB08's silver eyes gleam.
"Then explain why the intruder is already here."
Before anyone can react, a violent explosion erupts in the distance.
BOOOOM!
The ground trembles. The sky cracks. And from the wreckage—a new enemy steps forward.
Reikar's heart pounds. Who—or what—has entered Ascending Muendo?
---
"The Goofy Soldiers of Muendo – Laughter That Conceals Power"
As the smoke clears, laughter erupts.
"HAHAHA! YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN YOUR FACE!"
A group of soldiers, all wearing mismatched armor and ridiculous expressions, stumble forward from the wreckage, howling with laughter. One of them is rolling on the ground, clutching his stomach. Another is wiping fake tears from his eyes.
AB08 closes his eyes, sighing. "You absolute buffoons."
AB18 crosses his arms, smirking. "I should have known…"
Reikar, still trying to process what just happened, looks at them in disbelief. "Who the hell are these guys?"
One of the soldiers, a guy with messy white hair and an oversized helmet that keeps sliding over his eyes, grins.
"Ohhh, the new guy doesn't know us?!" He dramatically places a hand on his chest. "I'm actually offended! Let's introduce ourselves, boys!"
The squad immediately lines up, striking absurd poses.
"We are…"
"THE CHAOTIC ELITE!"
"THE FEARSOME FOUR!"
"THE NIGHTMARE OF MUENDO!"
"THE LORDS OF DESTRUCTION!"
A long silence follows.
AB18 shakes his head. "You guys aren't called any of that."
One of them—a short, stocky guy with a helmet twice his size—nods. "Yeah, but it sounds cool."
The tall, lanky one with green eyes leans toward Reikar, grinning. "Anyway, rookie, don't let our awesomeness intimidate you."
Another soldier, a huge guy with neon pink armor, slaps Reikar on the back, nearly knocking him over. "Hey, what's up, lil' guy? Heard you're the new weakest soldier! Must be nice getting carried to the top without earning it, huh?"
Reikar stiffens. "What did you say?"
The white-haired soldier smirks. "Oh? Did that sting a little?" He leans in closer. "You do know that position you hold—the weakest soldier of Muendo—takes millions of years of training to obtain, right? And yet… you? A mere human? You got it in a single day."**
The short one chuckles. "Man, talk about privilege."
The pink-armored giant throws an arm around Reikar's shoulders. "What, you think you deserve it?" His voice, though playful, carries a sharp edge. **"Look around you, kid. You're surrounded by warriors who have given up everything—**centuries of blood, sweat, and pain—just to be recognized in Muendo.
The white-haired soldier gestures dramatically. "And yet here you are, handed the title on a silver platter. How humiliating is that?"
Reikar clenches his fists. His pride burns.
He wants to lash out—to prove himself right then and there.
But then—
AB08 speaks.
"That's enough."
The room falls silent.
The Chaotic Squad straightens up, grinning but stepping back.
AB08 turns to Reikar, eyes unreadable. "You want to be respected here? Then prove yourself. You're not special just because you have that mark. Not here."
AB18 grins. "He's right. If you want these guys to shut up, you better earn it."
Reikar takes a deep breath.
"Then let me fight them."
The Chaotic Soldiers grin.
"Ohoho? You wanna throw hands, rookie?"
AB18 chuckles. "Fine by me. One fight. One opponent of your choosing."
Reikar smirks.
"I'll take all four at once."
Silence.
Then—
Laughter erupts again.
"HAHAHAHA! HE THINKS HE CAN FIGHT US?!"
The pink-armored giant grins. "Alright, kid. Let's see if you can back up that big mouth of yours."
Reikar cracks his knuckles.
This is it. His first real battle in Muendo.
And he will not lose.
---
Does Reikar stand a chance against the Chaotic Elite? Or is he about to be completely humiliated?
"The Battle That Changed Everything – Reikar vs. Ash"
The arena is set.
Reikar stands at one end, his fists clenched. Across from him is Ash, the so-called weakest of the Chaotic Elite.
Ash doesn't look like much—he's smaller than the others, his armor slightly mismatched, his posture lazy. He scratches his head, yawning. "Man… fighting some rookie? Feels like a waste of time."
The other members of the squad snicker.
"Try not to hurt him too bad, Ash!"
"Or let him land a punch, just for fun!"
Reikar grits his teeth. They're underestimating me.
AB18 leans back, amused. AB08 watches silently, his silver eyes cold and calculating.
Then—
"BEGIN!"
Ash doesn't move.
He stands there, hands in his pockets, watching Reikar. "Well? You gonna throw the first punch?"
Reikar doesn't hesitate. He charges forward, fist glowing with power.
"HAAAAAAAH!"
BAM!
A direct hit—Reikar's punch slams into Ash's stomach.
For a second, nothing happens. Then—
Ash smiles.
"Not bad, rookie."
Then, with blinding speed, he kicks Reikar across the arena.
CRASH!
Reikar tumbles, barely stopping himself before slamming into the wall. His eyes widen. I couldn't even see him move.
The squad laughs. "Oh man, this is embarrassing!"
Ash rolls his shoulders. "Alright, my turn."
And then he's gone.
WHAM!
Reikar is sent flying again, this time smashing into the ground. The impact shakes the arena.
He coughs, blood dripping from his mouth. He's fast… too fast.
Ash chuckles, cracking his knuckles. "C'mon, man. You're supposed to be special, right?"
Reikar gets up, wiping the blood from his lip. "Shut up."
He focuses. I can't rely on brute strength. I need to predict his movement.
"HASHIMO… 50!"
A golden glow surrounds Reikar. His body feels lighter, sharper.
Ash raises an eyebrow. "Ooooh? Now we're talking."
Reikar vanishes.
BOOM!
This time, it's Ash who gets hit. He stumbles back, eyes widening.
Reikar appears behind him. "Not laughing now, huh?"
Ash grins. "Now we're talking!"
The fight intensifies. Blow after blow, speed against strategy. The arena shakes from the sheer force of their battle.
The squad stops laughing.
They're watching seriously now.
Reikar pushes himself beyond his limits. He refuses to be looked down on.
Then—
He loses control.
"HASHIMO… 100!"
A golden wave of energy explodes from him, shaking the entire arena.
His rage takes over.
He moves too fast, hits too hard.
Ash struggles to keep up.
And then—
"RAAAAAAH!"
Reikar's fist glows white-hot as he aims a final strike at Ash's chest.
Ash's eyes widen. "Oh shi—"
BOOOOOOOM!
A cloud of dust engulfs the arena.
Silence.
When the dust clears, Ash is on his knees, breathing heavily. Blood drips from his mouth.
But Reikar is on the ground, unconscious.
Ash barely stands. He wipes his mouth, looking down at his fallen opponent.
Then—
He laughs.
A real laugh.
"Holy crap… that was amazing."
The squad stares.
"Wait… Ash won?"
"Yeah, but…"
AB18 smirks. "He might have won the fight, but Reikar won something more valuable."
Everyone realizes it.
Reikar had proven himself.
Not through victory—but through sheer will, skill, and power.
Even AB08 gives a small nod of approval.
Ash sighs, walking away. "He'll be out for a while. Someone carry him."
The squad, once mocking, now watches Reikar with newfound respect.
He had arrived as a joke.
Now?
He was one of them.
---
What's next for Reikar? Does AB18 finally acknowledge him? Or does another test await?
"Reikar's Unstoppable Rise – The 3rd Weakest Soldier"
Reikar woke up after his battle with Ash, his body aching, his energy drained—but his spirit stronger than ever.
He had earned his place, but that wasn't enough.
He wanted more.
The Relentless Training Begins
From that day forward, Reikar became a machine.
While others rested, he trained.
While others talked, he fought.
While others hesitated, he pushed forward.
His routine was brutal:
10,000 strikes a day.
Endurance battles against the strongest soldiers.
Gravity chambers crushing his bones until they became unbreakable.
Meditation in the Dark Abyss, unlocking more of his Hashimo power.
The squad watched in disbelief.
"Is this guy insane?"
"No one trains like that."
"He's not human…"
AB18 observed silently, his arms crossed. "...Interesting."
AB08, the second-in-command, watched from the shadows, intrigued.
The Shocking Promotion
Only two weeks passed.
Yet, in that short time, Reikar had done the impossible.
AB18 called for an assembly. The entire Ascending Muendo stood in attendance.
"I have an announcement."
Everyone fell silent.
AB18's eyes scanned the crowd before landing on one person—Reikar.
"Effective immediately, Reikar is now the 3rd Weakest Soldier under my command."
The entire army erupted.
"WHAT?!"
"That's impossible!"
"It takes 100 million years to get that position—HE DID IT IN TWO WEEKS?!"
Even Ash, who had once mocked Reikar, stood speechless.
AB08 narrowed his eyes. "Tch… This guy..."
Reikar stepped forward, standing tall.
He had earned this.
And this was only the beginning.
---
But what's next for Reikar? Will AB08 accept him? Or will stronger enemies start to take notice?
We'll see that in next chapter.