Reckoning Warriors.

Ling and Ming found themselves being dragged through a dark and foreboding portal. They stumbled and fell, skinning their knees on the rough stone floor.

As they looked up, they saw that they were in a terrible darkness realm. The air was thick with the stench of decay and death. They were surrounded by twisted, gnarled trees that seemed to reach out like skeletal fingers.

Suddenly, a group of shadowy figures emerged from the darkness. They were armed with cruel-looking whips and clubs, and they set upon Ling and Ming with a ferocity that was almost animalistic.

Ling and Ming tried to defend themselves, but they were vastly outnumbered. They were beaten severely, their bodies covered in blood and bruises.

But even as they lay there, helpless and in pain, Ming managed to crack a joke. "Hey, guys, I think you're overdoing it a bit," he said, his voice weak but defiant. "We're not going to be able to attend the party looking like this."

The shadowy figures paused, taken aback by Ming's bravery. But then, their leader appeared, a towering figure with a cruel smile on his face.

He kicked Ming in the lip, and Ming cried out in pain. The leader sneered. "Childish," he said.

Ming's eyes flashed with anger. "If I get out of here, I'll cut you into pieces, you moron," he snarled.

The leader laughed, his eyes glinting with amusement. He reached out and grabbed Ming's cheeks, holding them tightly. "Never," he said.

Ming spat in his face, and the leader's eyes narrowed. He drew his sword, ready to strike.

But just as he was about to cut off their heads, his sword broke in two. Ming laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "You fool," he said.

But in his mind, Ming was shocked. What had just happened? How had the sword broken?

The leader's face turned red with rage. He signaled to his men, and they dragged Ling and Ming away, throwing them into a pit filled with lions and tigers.

As the animals closed in, Ling and Ming closed their eyes, preparing for the worst. But instead of feeling teeth and claws, they felt something unexpected - a warm, wet tongue licking their faces.

They opened their eyes to find a lion standing over them, its eyes curious and friendly. Ming reached out a hand, and the lion nuzzled it gently.

As they spent more time with the animals, Ling and Ming began to understand their language. They learned that the animals were not savage beasts, but noble creatures who had been imprisoned and mistreated.

Ming turned to the lion, who was now their friend. "Hey, big guy, can you help us out? Can you free us from this place?"

The lion nodded its great head, and with a swipe of its paw, the gates of the pit swung open. Ling and Ming stumbled out, blinking in the bright sunlight.

As they looked around, they saw the leader of the shadowy figures standing before them, a sneer on his face. Ming grinned, his eyes glinting with mischief.

"Hey, ugly man, come here," Ming said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

The leader's face turned red with rage, and he took a step forward, his hand on the hilt of his sword.

But Ling and Ming were not afraid. They stood tall, their eyes flashing with defiance. They knew that they had each other, and that together, they could overcome anything.

The leader's face twisted with rage as he took another step closer to Ming. "You dare to mock me?" he spat, his voice venomous.

Ming smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I'm not mocking you, ugly man," he said. "I'm just stating the obvious."

The leader's eyes narrowed, his hand tightening on the hilt of his sword. "You'll pay for your insolence," he snarled.

But before he could attack, Ling stepped forward, his eyes flashing with warning. "I don't think so," he said, his voice firm.

The leader sneered, but he hesitated, clearly unsure of what to do. Ming took advantage of the momentary distraction to land a quick kick on the leader's stomach.

The leader doubled over, gasping for breath, and Ming followed up with a series of rapid-fire punches. The leader stumbled backward, his eyes wide with shock and pain.

Ling watched with a mixture of admiration and concern as Ming took down the leader. He knew that Ming was a skilled fighter, but he also knew that Ming's temper could sometimes get the better of him.

As the leader fell to the ground, defeated, Ming turned to Ling, a triumphant grin on his face. "See, Ling? I told you I could take him down."

Ling smiled, relieved that the fight was over. "You did great, Ming," he said. "But next time, let's try to avoid fighting, okay?"

Ming chuckled, clapping Ling on the back. "Aww, come on, Ling. Where's the fun in that?"

As they walked away from the defeated leader, Ling couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and admiration for his friend. Ming might be hot-headed and impulsive at times, but he was also fiercely loyal and protective of those he cared about.

And as they journeyed on, Ling knew that he could always count on Ming to have his back, no matter what dangers or challenges lay ahead.

As they walked, they noticed a figure watching them from the shadows. The figure was tall and gaunt, with eyes that seemed to bore into their souls.

Ming frowned, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Who's that?" he asked, his voice low.

Ling shook his head. "I don't know, but I don't like the look of him."

The figure stepped forward, its eyes glinting with malevolence. "My name is Malakai," it said, its voice dripping with malice. "And I have been waiting for you, Ling and Ming."

Ming's eyes flashed with anger. "What do you want, Malakai?" he demanded.

Malakai smiled, its eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh, I think you know what I want," it said. "I want to destroy you, Ling and Ming. And I will stop at nothing to achieve my goal."

Ling's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with strategies and plans. He knew that they had to be careful, that Malakai was a formidable foe who would not hesitate to use every trick in the book to defeat them.

But he also knew that they could not back down, that they had to stand up to Malakai and fight for what was right.

"We're not afraid of you, Malakai," Ming said, his voice firm.

Malakai laughed, its eyes glinting with amusement. "We'll see about that," it said.

And with that, the battle between Ling, Ming, and Malakai began.