NARA PRODIGY

The crowd erupts in cheers as the intense battle for the champion brawler's title unfolds. Tobey charges forward, unleashing a flurry of punches at Magnis, whose defensive prowess deflects most of the strikes, yet each blow reverberates throughout the arena. A powerful body kick from Tobey sends Magnis crashing into the arena wall. Reflecting inwardly, Magnis admits to himself that despite studying numerous video clips of Tobey, he never anticipated the champion's formidable strength. Tobey, basking in the adulation of the crowd, raises his arms triumphantly, eliciting thunderous cheers. Undeterred, Magnis resolves silently that his strategy will eventually bear fruit, even in the face of Tobey's overwhelming strength. 

Magnis charges in with a flurry of spinning attacks, but Tobey effortlessly sidesteps each one. Tobey comments that he's already assessed Magnis's strength and speed, deeming him no match. A powerful right punch from Tobey connects with Magnis's head, sending him tumbling across the arena. Tobey revels in the center of the arena, basking in the crowd's applause. Despite wiping the blood from his nose and attempting to rise, Magnis is caught off guard as Tobey blitzes in with a lightning-fast flying knee. The collision propels them both into the arena wall, leaving a cloud of dust in their wake. Tobey triumphantly declares himself the reigning champion, but the crowd falls silent as he realizes Magnis is nowhere to be seen—his knee only meeting the unyielding arena wall. Sensing impending danger, Tobey looks up just in time to witness Magnis descending with an axe kick. The blow lands squarely on Tobey's head, driving him forcefully into the arena floor and fracturing the entire structure. While this display of power surprises the onlookers, Drais remains the lone voice cheering Magnis on.

Magnis notices Tobey's arms lunging for his leg, prompting him to quickly evade Tobey's grasp. Tobey rises to his feet with a bloody nose, remarking that it appears Magnis has been holding back until now, vowing that he's going to fight with full force now. He clears the blood from his nose and charges forward at lightning speed. In response, Magnis also rushes in, and their clash unleashes a barrage of fists and kicks, sending shockwaves reverberating throughout the arena. The structural integrity of the seating begins to fail, causing panic among the spectators as they flee the crumbling stands. Keto observes the chaos, predicting the imminent destruction of the entire arena. He erects a magical barrier around himself and Drais, who enthusiastically confirms that everything is unfolding according to plan. Keto acknowledges Magnis's exceptional skill and power, noting that few Naras could attain such mastery at his age, highlighting Magnis's extraordinary talent in hand-to-hand combat.

Magnis and Tobey exchange punches to each other's faces, but Tobey quickly recovers and delivers an upward kick to Magnis's body, launching him through the arena roof. The structure collapses as Tobey leaps upward with remarkable agility, executing a powerful high knee strike. Catching up with astonishing speed, Tobey lands the blow on Magnis's head, sending him spinning upwards. Tobey seizes Magnis's leg, spinning him around before hurling him back down into the arena, causing widespread destruction. As Tobey lands amidst the ruins, the crowd erupts in cheers, expecting him to be declared the victor. However, upon seeing the announcer's expression, Tobey senses that the match isn't over. He turns to find Magnis moving with even greater speed than before, realizing that Magnis had been holding back his true strength this whole time for this moment. Tobey acknowledges Magnis's prodigious talent, but before he can react, Magnis unleashes a powerful overhand right that connects with Tobey's jaw, sending him spinning in place hundreds of times before crashing to the ground. As Tobey's vision blurs and his brain reels from the impact, he observes Magnis still standing before him, his eyes glazed over. Tobey realizes that Magnis is unconscious, yet his body remains upright, and understands that the last punch was driven by sheer willpower, with Magnis unwilling to give up.

Tobey rises unsteadily, calmly admitting defeat and declaring Magnis the true champion of the brawler's belt. The crowd is stunned by Tobey's surrender, while the announcer officially declares Magnis as the winner. Emerging from the rubble of the ruined arena, Drais and Keto rush forward. Drais, overcome with excitement, rushes to Magnis, seeing his unconscious son, he embraces him, shedding tears of joy, saying that his son was still willingly to go through with their plan even though he wasn't even conscious anymore. Meanwhile, Keto applauds, joined by the rest of the crowd, as they celebrate Magnis's well-deserved victory. Later that night, Drais tucks Magnis into bed before heading down to the bar to meet up with Keto and Tobey. They order drinks, and Tobey expresses admiration for Magnis's exceptional talent at such a young age. Drais reflects on his decision to stay with his son despite his mother's low clan rank, recognizing his dedication to his craft from a young age. However, he never imagined that his son would have a friend with even greater potential, like Runica. Keto then reveals that he received a message from his wife Alissa, who is currently stationed at the Demon's Gate. According to the letter, Runica has surpassed every Nara in the Draconic village in terms of power and magic. With Runica's assistance, they are already halfway through destroying the Demon's Gate, fulfilling the task passed down by the first Nara. This news surprises both Drais and Tobey.

Drais proceeds to elucidate Runica's abilities to Tobey and Keto. Tobey observes that Runica possesses the capability to access all the clan's powers, albeit currently limited to summoning two different soul weapons and soul armors. Keto adds that Runica must share a deep connection with a person to acquire their soul weapon and armor. Despite this limitation, Runica surpasses everyone with only a fraction of his true power. Drais acknowledges Runica's remarkable strength but mentions that in the kingdom, Runica's father, now the new king, has assembled a formidable group of individuals, all with his blood, that can even match Runica in power. This group stands ready for a confrontation against the demons if the Draconic clan fails in their task of defending the Demon's Gate. Keto chuckles at the irony, noting that the new king need not worry about the Demon's Gate anymore since the Draconic are determined to complete their mission with Runica's help. 

After a month passes, Magnis approaches Kuma, who stands at the village's front gate. He inquires about the latest update regarding to Belfar. Kuma reassures Magnis, stating that dealing with Belfar falls under his responsibility. Undeterred, Magnis expresses his readiness to join forces with Kuma in the fight against Belfar to protect the village. However, Kuma declines his offer, emphasizing his reluctance to recruit allies out of concern for their safety. He asserts that his own strength is enough to face Belfar and his gang alone. Magnis points out that Kuma has allowed Alice to assist him in certain missions, arguing that his assistance would be no different. Kuma hesitates to respond, acknowledging Alice's familial bond with him and her persistent efforts to aid him. Magnis insists on lending his support, expressing his reluctance to hear about Kuma facing Belfar alone and that they are not alone in this endeavor. Suddenly, Drais, Tobey, and several dozen of Tobey's students gather at the gate, declaring their intention to stand by the Brawler champion until the very end.

Tobey asserts that his powers nearly rival Keto's, indicating that he requires all the assistance available. He emphasizes the importance of preventing Kuma from facing Belfar alone, as the village's residents serve as the actual last line of defense. Therefore, Tobey advocates for confronting Belfar and his gang outside the village's boundaries. After pondering the situation, Kuma reluctantly agrees to their inclusion in his team. Joyous celebrations erupt at the front gate as everyone revels in the decision. Moments later, Tobey proceeds to elaborate on Belfar's recent activities, detailing their raids on the kingdom's outer slums to steal low-ranking soul weapons and armors. Intrigued, Magnis questions the purpose behind Belfar's acquisition of these items. Drais explains that soul weapons and armors possess significant natural energy, speculating that Belfar and his gang are utilizing them for a larger, undisclosed purpose. Kuma adds that Belfar's forces are steadily increasing in size and predicts an imminent attack on the village within the next few months.

Two months passes by, during which Runica and Alice emerge from Demon's Gate and venture into the Draconic cave. Alice mentions that her ancestors left her a gift, prompting Runica's confusion about how they could do so when they're no longer present. Alice assures him that he'll understand once he sees it firsthand. Delving deeper into the cave, they reach a vast chamber adorned with numerous floating bubbles. Alice elaborates that centuries ago, their ancestors customarily prepared gifts for future defenders of Demon's Gate. Upon completing their initial shift, Naras were entitled to receive these gifts. Alice concentrates her magic to locate her gift amidst the bubbles. As several bubbles drift past, one begins to glow and approaches Alice. Extending her finger, she pops the bubble, unveiling a dragon wand. To their amazement, her wand merges with the dragon wand, transforming into a more exquisite version. Gratefully, Alice accepts the wand, expressing her gratitude to her ancestors for imparting a portion of their power to her.

Alice then instructs Runica to concentrate on his magic and summon his gift. Surprised, Runica questions whether he would receive a gift despite not being part of the Draconic clan. Alice reminds him that these gifts are for any Nara defending Demon's Gate. With determination, Runica focuses his magic, causing numerous bubbles to swirl around them. Observing the scene, Alice notices a glowing bubble flying quickly towards them. Suddenly, the bubble collides with Runica's face, bursting and causing him to tumble backward. As he opens his eyes, he sees a magical flower materializing before him. Grasping the flower, he marvels at its magical radiance, admitting he has never seen such a flower before. Alice, surprised, explains that this flower is special—it can generate the bubbles just like those that are surrounding them, allowing the user to store items for future Naras. Disappointed, Runica expresses his desire for a gift like Alice's—a powerful weapon from the past. Alice advises him not to dismiss his gift, emphasizing the uniqueness of gifts from the past and urging him to appreciate it, as no other Nara has been bestowed with such a magic flower. Upon closer inspection, Runica wonders if he can store living beings in a bubble. Alice reflects, mentioning attempts by past Naras to travel to the future using the bubbles, but all failed due to their insufficient magic power. She concludes that the magic flower he received likely spent only a short time in the bubble, explaining why it is still alive despite the passage of centuries outside the bubble.

Shortly afterward, they reunite with the Dragon, Alissa, and Team B at the cave entrance. The Dragon lays down, indicating she could use some good rest after the intensive past six months. She notes a diminished sense of danger emanating from the Demon Gate compared to months prior. Addressing Runica, the Dragon acknowledges him as a symbol of a true Nara, comparable to the first Nara. However, she advises him to temper his pace, cautioning that rushing may lead to future setbacks. Runica acknowledges her counsel, reflecting on his unprecedented experiences during his time here. He admits to making questionable decisions but expresses gratitude to everyone who maintained hope that his actions would advance their cause against the Demon's Gate. In response, the group bows respectfully. Alissa shares her initial skepticism but after seeing Runica's efforts it renew her hope in a brighter future for all Naras.

Keto and Team A arrive at the cave, and everyone respectfully bows to Runica. Keto approaches him, remarking on Runica's significant growth since their last encounter. He speculates that the next time he visits Demon's Gate could mark the end of their role in defending it, as the gate may be destroyed by then. Encouraged by this prospect, the group raises their fists, urging Runica to rest and prepare for the eventual confrontation with the demons. Shortly after, Alissa and Team B retire to the sleeping chamber, while Alice and Runica make their way to the front gates, where they find Kuma, Magnis, Drais, Tobey, and others gathered. Kuma delivers news of Belfar and his army's readiness for battle, as they are going to wage war in following day. Runica and Alice exchange worried glances, expressing a desire to postpone the war due to their exhaustion from their time at Demon's Gate. Overwhelmed, they both collapse to the ground. Recognizing their fatigue, Kuma suggests they may have to proceed without them. Alice drifts off to sleep, while Runica, barely conscious, insists that one night of rest is all he needs before joining the fight. He declares his intention to confront Belfar with a few choice words when the time comes.

Runica hands Magnis a box with instructions to open it later. As night falls, Runica lies in bed while Magnis sits in his room, curious about the contents of the box. Inside, he finds numerous letters detailing the events at Demon's Gate and Runica's reactions upon learning about Magnis's ascension to the position of Brawler champion. Among the letters are several apologies for utilizing Magnis's weapon the whole time without his consent during their time at Demon's Gate. As he continues reading, Magnis discovers a letter where Runica confesses to having a slight crush on Alice. Amused, Magnis chuckles, realizing that Runica must have found some enjoyment during his tenure at Demon's Gate. Finally, he reads a letter in which Runica predicts that he may be too fatigued to assist in the impending war with Belfar. However, Runica promises to join the fight after a brief nap and assures Magnis that he will take his magic staff next to his bed. With this staff, Magnis can call upon Runica's aid by simply striking it into the ground when needed during the battle with Belfar.

In the middle of the night, Runica stirs, opening one eye slowly. With a deliberate motion, he raises his right hand and summons the magic flower into his palm. Murmuring softly, he acknowledges that his magical reserves are currently lacking, but he decides it's worth a try, especially if it involves Alice. As he chants the magic words, the magic flower gleams, emitting a radiant beam of magic that streaks out of the window. The beam traverses a long and far distance to Alice's room and envelops her, encasing her in a protective magic bubble. Satisfied with his action, Runica settles back into slumber, remarking that with Alice's presence, their need for his assistance tomorrow might not arise as quick because he may needs more sleep than he thought would of needed.