Faithless_reader

In a world where strength determines status, Katsu Blazewood dreams of climbing the ranks and proving himself as a powerful fighter. With his fire abilities, he steps into the dangerous world of rankers—warriors who battle for prestige, wealth, and survival. But just as his journey begins, he’s nearly robbed by bandits, only to be saved by Simon Shepard—a ridiculously strong fighter with no elemental powers but enough brute force to flatten mountains.

Simon sees potential in Katsu but quickly realizes the rookie is reckless, cocky, and in desperate need of guidance. As Katsu fights to rise through the ranks, Simon begrudgingly takes him under his wing, helping him navigate rival rankers, deadly creatures, and the ever-growing threats lurking in the wild forest.

With each battle, Katsu gathers allies, faces unexpected enemies, and discovers that power isn’t just about flames and brute strength—it’s about strategy, determination, and a bit of luck. But as stronger foes emerge and hidden forces begin to move, Katsu will need more than just fire to survive.

His journey has just begun, and the road to the top is anything but easy.

The Stone Mask

The tension in the air was almost tangible. The five enemies stood in a loose semicircle, weapons gleaming under the broken sunlight filtering through the forest canopy.

Simon cracked his knuckles, rolling his shoulders. "Alright, Katsu. I've got a test for you."

Katsu raised an eyebrow. "A test? Now?"

Simon smirked, gesturing to the scar-faced leader. "You take him. I'll handle the rest."

The leader chuckled, stepping forward. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and moved with a quiet confidence. His scarred face twisted into a smirk. "So, I get the kid, huh? That's cute."

Katsu frowned, flames crackling at his fingertips. "You're acting like I'm not about to wipe the floor with you."

The leader laughed. "Oh, I like you. Name's Reznor." He tilted his head. "Hope you don't mind loud noises."

Before Katsu could respond, Simon clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Listen, hothead. If you can't beat him, you're dead weight."

Katsu scowled. "I just met you. What do you care?"

Simon grinned. "Oh, I don't. But I don't carry dead weight."

Katsu huffed. "Alright, fine. I'll pass your stupid test."

Simon turned to the rest of the group. "Good. Now, if you'll excuse me…"

And then, in a blink, he was gone.

The closest enemy was already flying through the air before he even registered Simon's movement.

The remaining three barely had time to react before Simon was among them, his speed turning him into a blur of motion.

Katsu forced himself to focus—Simon had his fight, and now he had his own.

Reznor smirked. "Hope you like music."

A sudden, violent pulse of sound erupted around him. The air shook. Katsu's ears rang painfully as the force sent him skidding back.

Reznor didn't wait. He clapped his hands together, and the shockwave hit like a hammer, slamming into Katsu's chest. He barely twisted in time to absorb some of the force, rolling across the dirt.

Katsu groaned, pushing himself up. His whole body vibrated.

Reznor grinned. "What's wrong? Not a fan of the bass?"

Katsu growled, flames roaring to life in his palms. "Okay. That was annoying."

Reznor chuckled. "Oh, kid. That was me warming up."

Katsu barely caught the movement before—

A sonic burst slammed into him from behind. He flew forward, crashing into a tree. The impact rattled his bones.

Reznor stood a few feet away, cracking his neck. "Fire's flashy. But sound? Sound's everywhere."

Katsu coughed, rolling onto his knees. His head pounded. This guy wasn't just fast—he was hitting Katsu with shockwaves before the attacks even landed.

Katsu wiped the blood from his lip, forcing himself up. His flames burned hotter.

"Yeah," he muttered. "Let's dance."

Chapter 4: Trial by Sound (Part 1)