CHAPTER 8:THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM

Chapter 8: The Calm Before the Storm

The night before the tournament, the air was tense with anticipation. Ryo stood in the backyard of his house, gripping his sword tightly. He swung it down, sending a streak of light across the darkened yard. He had been training relentlessly, pushing himself beyond his limits.

For him, this was more than just a tournament. It was his chance to prove himself. He had always struggled in school, failing exams and getting scolded by teachers. He wasn't good at much—except this. Fighting, training, and getting stronger were the only things he could rely on.

The thought of losing in front of the world sent a shiver down his spine. "I can't fail this," he muttered. He raised his hand, trying to unleash the Light Slash technique, but the energy didn't respond. His ring, the Equinox Ring, flickered weakly.

"Why is my ring different?" he wondered aloud.

Akira, who had been watching, tilted his head. "Yeah, now that I think about it… our rings match our abilities. My ring is blue, like water. Hajime's ring burns red like fire. Even Ren's ring has a metallic glow. But yours… it's black and white."

Ryo frowned and examined the ring. It had always looked strange, split evenly between dark and light energy. But what did that mean? Was there something special about it? Or was it incomplete?

"Maybe it's because you're a mix of both light and darkness," Hajime said, stepping forward. "You don't seem like the type to be completely good or completely bad. That's probably why it chose you."

Ryo had no answer. He simply clenched his fist and turned back to his training.

They spent the rest of the night sparring. Akira practiced Water Punch, his movements growing smoother with each strike. Hajime unleashed Fire Tornado, controlling his flames with increasing precision. Ren, ever the powerhouse, had perfected his Body Strike, turning his entire body into a living weapon.

Meanwhile, Ryo kept struggling with Light Slash. He could feel the energy, but it wouldn't obey him. No matter how hard he tried, the attack always came out weak.

Ren noticed his frustration. "Relax, man. Overthinking it won't help."

"I don't have time to relax," Ryo snapped. "The tournament is tomorrow. I need to be ready."

"Then let's spar," Ren said with a grin. "If you can beat me, maybe that'll boost your confidence."

Ryo smirked. "Fine. Don't cry when you lose."

They clashed under the moonlight, exchanging blows at incredible speed. Ren used his raw strength to overpower Ryo, but Ryo was faster. He dodged Ren's attacks and countered with quick strikes. Even though he wasn't using his full power yet, he could feel something awakening within him.

As they fought, the memories of their past surfaced in their minds.

Akira had always been a scared child. He was bullied in school for dreaming big, and he never had the courage to fight back. The only person who ever supported him was his mother. "Always save everyone, Akira," she had told him. "Don't let anyone die." That memory kept him going. He wanted to prove to himself that he wasn't weak anymore.

Hajime had been different. He was strong and athletic, but he had no big dreams. He was a normal guy who just happened to be good at fighting. He liked protecting people, but he never thought of himself as a hero.

Ren, on the other hand, was the total package. He was smart, strong, good-looking, and popular. Everything seemed easy for him. But despite that, he had never let his talents make him arrogant. He stayed chill, supporting his friends without bragging about his abilities.

And then there was Ryo—the boy with nothing but his strength. The one who was always overlooked. But now, that was going to change.

The fight between Ryo and Ren reached its climax. Ryo dodged Ren's punch at the last second and countered with Light Strike, landing a direct hit. Ren skidded backward but didn't fall. He rubbed his jaw and grinned. "Not bad."

Ryo smirked, breathing heavily. "Told you I wasn't weak."

They continued training until the sun began to rise. The tournament was only ten hours away. The world had already begun to change.

The news was filled with reports about the Ringborns. Every country was preparing their own warriors, gathering the strongest fighters they could find. Some Ringborns were scared. Others were excited. Some remained silent, watching and waiting.

The government had turned the tournament into a global event. Billboards advertised it, crowds gathered in stadiums, and millions of people prepared to watch it live. For the first time, the world wasn't afraid of the supernatural—they were celebrating it.

People cheered, knowing that with the Ringborns, humanity finally had protectors. The tournament wasn't just for competition—it was a way to give people hope.

As Ryo and his friends stood on the rooftop, watching the city glow with excitement, a strange feeling crept into Ryo's heart.

"This all started because we opened that chest," he muttered.

Hajime nodded. "Yeah. And now the whole world is part of it."

Ren cracked his knuckles. "Well, there's no going back. Let's just make sure we win."

Yuuma smirked. "Yeah, and if we lose, we just have to get stronger."

Akira, who had once been scared, clenched his fists with determination. "We're going to win."

Ryo looked at his Equinox Ring one last time. He still didn't understand its true power, but there was no more time to figure it out.

The tournament was about to begin.