Scorpion's Plea

Lying motionless on the ground, covered in dirt and blood, was Kiran's grandfather, Ooji. The sight of his broken and unconscious form struck Kiran deeply, stirring a surge of conflicting emotions within him.

"Serves you right, old swine! In your next life, you'll know not to cross The Scorpions," one of Ooji's assailants warned, reveling in his victory.

"The name's DeathStalker... Announce it when you get to hell," he sneered, relishing the sight of the broken old man.

"Now, rest in regret... You're past your expiry date," DeathStalker taunted, swinging his metal bat with lethal force toward Ooji.

However, before the bat could strike its intended target, Kiran materialized in front of Ooji, intercepting the attack with the back of his head.

A resounding clash of metal filled the air as the bat collided with Kiran's unyielding defense, emitting a powerful BANG upon impact.

"Huh?... When did he-" DeathStalker uttered in surprise, realizing that his attack had been thwarted by a mysterious young boy who now kneeled before the battered old man.

"Are you okay? How did you find yourself in such a situation?" Kiran questioned, concern evident in his voice. However, Ooji remained motionless on the floor, his eyes closed and unable to respond.

"Wait, what? The old fart already kicked the bucket?" Yellow Devil, another member of The Scorpions, said sarcastically.

"Huh, seriously? How utterly disappointing... I thought we'd get to have more fun with him... WAHAHAHAHAA!" Leiurus cackled maniacally, embracing his role as a villain.

"What... are you doing here, boy?" Ooji's eyes fluttered open, catching sight of Kiran kneeling before him.

"Ohh shit, he's still breathing. You must really cherish your wretched existence," Black Death, the leader of The Scorpions, remarked mockingly.

"Just hand over the code, and you may cling to your pathetic life."

"Is that your father, boy? Regrettably, he possesses something that now belongs to 'The Scorpions,'" Black Death informed Kiran, pointing to Ooji, who could barely keep his eyes open.

"Give me a moment. These bothersome flies make conversation near impossible," Kiran said, disregarding the five Scorpions behind him. He discarded his uniform, carefully folding it, and used it as makeshift support for Ooji's head.

"Honestly, they call themselves Scorpions, but they buzz louder than flies," Kiran remarked as he prepared to rise, ready to face the impending confrontation. However, Ooji weakly grasped his arm.

"Fear not, this won't take long," Kiran assured, gently pulling his arm free from Ooji's feeble hold.

"B-be careful... You must not awaken it," Ooji whispered to himself as he watched Kiran walk away with darkness in his eyes.

Amidst the chaos, memories of the past flooded Ooji's mind, intertwining with the present. He could vividly recall the rigorous training sessions he and Kiran had shared, honing their skills together. The image of Kiran patiently teaching him various difficult martial art techniques lingered in his thoughts.

"Don't tense your core. To execute the 'Kubi Kudaki,' you must unleash the full potential of your core," Kiran instructed, adjusting Ooji's firm posture.

[*Kubi Kudaki means Neck Breaker.]

"Allow yourself to be carried by the wind, bending without restraint."

Now, facing the five members of The Scorpions, Kiran assumed a resolute stance.

"I hope you've all relished in your amusement, for sadly, the time for games has come to an end," Kiran declared, his voice filled with determination.

"This may be a mere park, kid, but it's no—" Red Indian, a Scorpion member who stood large and mighty like an unmovable wall, began to speak, but Kiran burst forward with unmatched speed.

In a swift whirlwind of motion, Kiran spun past Red Indian, leaving the bewildered Scorpion member's head facing the opposite direction. In that split second of carelessness, Kiran had broken Red Indian's neck.

"...playground," Red Indian completed his sentence as he collapsed to the ground, causing a loud THUD.

"The fat ones just don't know when to shut it," Kiran remarked, standing on top of Red Indian's body, radiating an overwhelming aura.

"Beware, everyone! Something's up with this—" Death Stalker tried to warn the other Scorpions, but before he could finish his sentence, Kiran appeared before him like a gust of rushing wind. In an instant, Kiran plunged his fist into Death Stalker's stomach.

"I suggest you remain silent; you've spoken for too long." With a forceful pull, Kiran extracted his arm from Death Stalker's abdomen, ripping out his spine in the process.

"You... you're just... aver—" Before Black Death could retort, life deserted him, and he lay lifeless on the ground.

"Enough idling, fools! Assume your positions now, or we shall all die in this park!" Black Death, realizing the severity of their predicament, called out to the remaining Scorpions.

Heeding their leader's warning, the remaining Scorpion members hurriedly formed a triangular perimeter around Kiran. Standing in the middle, surrounded by Black Death, Leiurus, and Yellow Devil, Kiran couldn't help but let out a cold grin.

"And then there were three," Kiran remarked, observing the Scorpions.

"I should have known the old fart taught you everything he knew," Yellow Devil sneered.

"But now, in this formation, you won't be able to keep up," Black Death proclaimed, brandishing his blade and assuming a combat-ready stance.

"We are renowned for our lethal poison. Once it courses through your veins, it's lights out," he announced.

"You can ask your dear father, who's clinging to his pitiful life. WAHAHAHAA!" Leiurus erupted into laughter once again.

"He too tried fighting back, and he had skills, but once our blade scratched his flesh, all his skills rotted along with his organs," Leiurus continued, relishing in his cruel words.

"It may be excruciating, but soon you'll lie beside your father in eternal slumber," Black Death taunted.

"All right, gentlemen, for the sake of our fallen Scorpions, let us drag this kid to hell," Black Death rallied Yellow Devil and Leiurus, swinging his blade with menace.

"Without mercy!" Yellow Devil and Leiurus cried in unison, their unified cry piercing the air.

Amidst the chaotic battle, Kiran found himself surrounded by the three Scorpions, their movements too swift for the naked eye to follow.

The three Scorpions ran in a frenzied manner around Kiran, their figures blurring with speed. Their poisonous blades sliced through the air, leaving Kiran's uniform in tatters, yet his flesh remained unscathed.

"Say goodbye, kid. The venom coursing through your veins should be enough to fall an African elephant," Deathstalker taunted.

Kiran, his eyes gleaming with a hint of boredom, retorted, "Are you finished with your little game? Frankly, I was starting to get tired of this futile strategy."

"Wait a minute, why is he still standing? We injected him with enough venom." Leiurus couldn't comprehend Kiran's resilience.

Yellow Devil analyzed Kiran's condition and realized the truth. "No, we didn't inject him. Look closely... Our blades tore his clothes, but his flesh remains unharmed."

Deathstalker contemplated the situation, his voice laced with uncertainty. "Who is this kid?"

"Something's not right here. Let's retreat for now. I have a feeling this kid is more than we can handle." Sensing an ominous presence, Deathstalker made a quick decision.

A dark aura emanated from Kiran, engulfing the surroundings with a suffocating atmosphere. He declared with a chilling tone, "Did you honestly think I would let you escape with your lives after all this?"

Blood splattered in a morbid display, accompanied by agonizing screams that pierced the air.

"ARRHHH!!! Save me... Black... Black Death!" Yellow Devil pleaded for his life as Kiran pulled him apart limb from limb.

Black Death, gripped by a deep dread, ordered an immediate retreat. "Fall back! This boy... he's no ordinary kid. He's the spawn of the devil."

"ARRHHHHH!!!" Black Death's curdled scream roared as Kiran caught up to him.

"Have mercy... PLEASE!" Leiurus the last remaining scorpion, consumed by fear, cried out.

Atlas the Scorpions' pleas for help were drowned in the relentless onslaught.

Following the intense blood bath, Kiran returned to Ooji's motionless body. "Sorry, I'm late. It's a hassle to deal with pesky flies." Kiran expressed a mix of sorrow and frustration.

"Couldn't you have held on a little longer? You had to go before I finished." Kneeling beside Ooji, Kiran's voice filled with regret.

Gazing up at the starry sky, Kiran let out a heavy sigh, his voice tinged with longing and acceptance. "I won't blame you. After all, today's a beautiful day to embrace death. I only wish I were in your place, old man. But perhaps we'll meet again someday."

Kiran's attention turned to Ooji's hand, where he discovered a card tightly clutched between his lifeless fingers.

"So, this is what you were protecting. A card? It must hold great value to you, old man." With a delicate touch, he retrieved the card, sensing its profound significance.

With a heavy heart, Kiran gently lifted Ooji's body, ready to carry him out of the park. As he embarked on his solemn journey, a perched owl observed the aftermath of the battle, its eyes filled with solemn wisdom.

"Contenders 112, 113, 114, 115, and 116 have been eliminated." A mysterious voice resounded through the night that could only be heard by us.

The owl shifted its gaze towards Kiran, who carried Ooji with reverence.

"Contender 179 has been eliminated." The voice continued its proclamation.

As Kiran departed the park cradled by the dark, the voice declared, "A new contender has emerged. Contender No: 200."

Who does this voice belong to? and what are these assigned numbers? A lot of questions without answers.