Chapter 19: The First Battle in the Baki

Riku squared his shoulders, feeling the weight of the challenge ahead. "I'm ready!" he shouted, determination flooding his veins. The muscular fighter lunged at him, throwing a powerful punch aimed at Riku's face.

Riku dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the blow. He could feel the rush of wind as the punch whizzed past him. "I've trained for this!" he thought, recalling the techniques he had learned in both his dream and his training back home.

With a swift motion, Riku countered with a series of rapid punches, each one landing with surprising accuracy. The fighter staggered back, clearly taken aback by Riku's speed. "Not bad, kid!" he grunted, wiping blood from his lip.

"Thanks! But I'm just getting started!" Riku replied, feeling the energy within him surging. He focused on the energy manipulation he had practiced, channeling it into his next attack. "Kamehameha!" he shouted, unleashing a concentrated wave of energy toward the fighter.

The blast struck the ground near the muscular man, sending him flying backward and crashing into a pile of crates. The other fighters gasped, their expressions shifting from amusement to shock.

"Who is this kid?" one of them whispered, eyes wide.

Riku felt a rush of exhilaration. "I can do this!" he thought, adrenaline pumping through his veins. He turned to the smaller man, who was watching in awe. "Are you okay?"

"Y-Yeah! Thank you!" the man stammered, his eyes shining with gratitude.