The village was quiet, save for the crackling of torches and the distant chirping of insects. A small gathering had formed in the town square, where a single, old-fashioned television sat atop a wooden cart. It was a rare sight in this humble settlement-technology was scarce, and yet, tonight, everyone had gathered to watch. Farmers, blacksmiths, merchants, and children all huddled together, their faces illuminated by the bluish glow of the screen.

Elder Hagan, a grizzled man with a long beard, leaned forward on his cane. "Turn it up, lad," he muttered to the young boy at the front. The child obeyed, twisting the knob.

Just as the broadcast began, the screen flickered, static crackling. Gasps filled the air as the picture distorted. Then, as if emerging from the darkness itself, a tall, thin figure stepped into view. His top hat cast a long shadow, his long coat swayed slightly, and his voice-smooth yet filled with an eerie playfulness-echoed through the village.

"Hello, hello there, viewers~"

The villagers exchanged wary glances. Some clutched their necklaces of prayer, others instinctively reached for their weapons.

"I have hacked everyone's TVs. And I mean... everyone's."

A shiver ran down the spines of the listeners. Even in their secluded village, they felt the weight of his words.

"And you're probably wondering-who am I?"

The man chuckled, twirling his cane lazily before resting it on his shoulder. His presence felt both regal and dangerous, like a king who had long grown bored of his throne.

"I am the strongest man alive."

A hushed silence followed. The baker dropped a loaf of bread. The village guards stood frozen, hands gripping their spears. Even the cattle in the distance seemed to quiet down.

"And I want to be beaten."

Murmurs broke out. The blacksmith's son, a fiery young man, clenched his fists. A cloaked traveler, sitting at the back of the crowd, tilted his head in interest. Even Elder Hagan's eyes glimmered with something between suspicion and curiosity.

"It's been, what, a month since the Supreme Council officially recognized me as the strongest? And let me tell you-it's been so boring."

The villagers whispered amongst themselves. Some laughed nervously, while others frowned, their warrior spirits stirred by his words.

"Now, I won't reveal myself, and I won't say where I am. But here's all you need to know-"

He leaned in closer to the screen, as if speaking directly into their souls.

"Whoever defeats me, kills me, or makes me surrender... will be rewarded handsomely. One trillion gold. The strongest sky ship. Mythical weapons beyond your imagination. Magic scrolls containing spells lost to time. And, best of all... the power to create your own domain."

A stunned silence filled the village.

Then-an uproar.

"Is this a trick?!" a merchant shouted.

"He must be mad!" cried a mother holding her child.

But among the chaos, a few stood still. The ambitious. The fearless. The ones who saw this not as madness, but as an opportunity.

"Invitations have been sent across all worlds. If you accept, know this-you will be hunted by the Supreme Council. But that's fine, isn't it?"

The man in the top hat chuckled again, the sound lingering like a whisper on the wind.

"Anyway, I must go. I wish you all luck."

With a final tip of his hat, the screen went black.

For a moment, the village stood in silence. Then-

"HAHAHAHAHA!"

Laughter erupted from the tavern as a burly warrior slammed his fist onto the table. "A trillion gold?! A sky ship?! I'm joining, no question!"

"This could be our chance," a robed sorcerer murmured, his mind already racing through possibilities.

The village was alive with excitement and fear. Some trembled at the thought of such a challenge, while others felt something awaken within them-a hunger, a thrill, the call of adventure.

As the night stretched on, one thing became clear: the world would never be the same again.

The glow of the television flickered in the small wooden home, casting a warm light over the cozy interior. Plates of half-eaten food sat on the table, and a single candle burned low. Sitting on the floor, wide-eyed and ears perked up, was Eleo, an 8-year-old bunny kid with an energy level that could shatter mountains. Beside him, lounging back in a creaky rocking chair, was his human grandpa, Gou, an old warrior-turned-fisherman with a face like a weathered mountain and a personality as gruff as a shipwrecked sailor.

The TV suddenly cut to black after the mysterious man's challenge, leaving the room in silence. Eleo's nose twitched. Then, without missing a beat-

"GRANDPA GOU!! I WANNA BE THE STRONGEST!!"

Gou rubbed his temples, already regretting his decision to visit. "Boy, did you not listen to a single word that man just said?"

Eleo grinned, his buck teeth shining. "Yeah, I listened! He said if you beat him, you become the strongest!"

Gou facepalmed so hard that his chair nearly tipped over. "Not just that, ya goofy little furball! You'll be hunted by the Supreme Council! You know what that means?!"

Eleo tilted his head, blinking. "Uh... they wanna shake my hand?"

Gou's eye twitched. "No, boy, they wanna KILL you!"

Eleo stood up on the couch, puffing out his tiny chest. "PFFT! I don't care! I'll kick their ass!"

WHAM!

Before Eleo could blink, Gou's fist crashed into his face, sending him flying back into the couch with a loud "OOMPH!" He sat there, dazed, legs sticking up in the air like a knocked-over toy.

Eleo rubbed his cheek. "Hey!! What was that for?!"

Gou crossed his arms. "Well, Eleo, my boy, you said a very, very bad word."

Eleo sat up, shaking his head dramatically. "Wait-ass?"

WHAM!

Eleo hopped into the air and double-kicked Gou right in the face, sending the old man skidding back, his chair flipping over. Gou sat up, nose bleeding, and wiped the blood with his thumb, smirking.

"Heh... you made me bleed." His grin widened. "I'm proud of ya, boy."

Eleo beamed like an idiot. "YEAH! I AIN'T WEAK! I BEEN TRAINING WITH MASTER KUMA!"

Gou cracked his neck, standing up. "I can tell. You hit like a malnourished squirrel, but hey, it's somethin'."

Eleo's ears twitched. "Wait... what's a squirrel?"

Gou stared at him for a long, long moment. Then, sighing like a man who had just given up on life, he patted Eleo's head. "Boy, ya ain't got a single brain cell workin', huh?"

Eleo gasped, ears perking up. "WAIT! I GOT A BRAIN?!"

Gou just closed his eyes and took a deep breath, muttering a prayer for patience.

Anyway, brushing off the madness, he stretched his arms. "Alright, I need to hit the sack. I'll be leavin' Pork Island tomorrow."

Eleo's ears drooped. "Already?! But ya just got here!"

Gou shrugged. "I know, I know. But hey, at least you got your lil' friend Abby to keep ya company."

Eleo pouted dramatically. "Ughhh, but Abby's no fun! She always tells me not to punch stuff, and that's, like, my favorite thing to do!"

Gou chuckled. "Good. Maybe she'll knock some sense into that thick skull o' yours." He patted Eleo on the back and started walking toward his room. "Alright, go to bed-"

WHAM!

He punched Eleo in the face again, sending him flying straight into his pillow.

Eleo groaned. "Whyyy...?"

Gou grinned. "Told ya to get some sleep, didn't I?"

Eleo, half-buried in his blanket, gave a thumbs-up. "Night, Grandpa Gou... when I wake up, I'm gonna be the strongest."

Gou chuckled, walking away. "Yeah, yeah, kid. Just don't forget to wake up first."

The sun had barely risen over Pork Island, casting a warm glow through the wooden windows of Gou's home. The salty sea breeze swept in, rustling the curtains. But inside, the peaceful morning was about to be utterly destroyed by an energetic little bunny kid.

BAM!

Eleo kicked open the door to Gou's room, his fluffy tail wagging wildly.

"GOU! GOU! GOU!! WAKE UP, OLD MAN!! I ALREADY WOKE UP FIRST!!"

The only response was the loudest snore imaginable-like a walrus choking on a bagpipe. Gou was sprawled out, arms behind his head, snoring so deeply he might as well have been in another dimension.

Eleo squinted. "Okay... you asked for it."

He hopped onto the bed, crouched like a tiger about to pounce, and-

"GRANDPA WAKE-UP ATTACK!!!"

THUMP!

Eleo flopped down onto Gou's stomach like a sack of bricks.

"BLAGHH!!" Gou gagged, eyes snapping open as he nearly choked on his own spit. "KID, WHAT THE HELL?!"

Eleo, still lying on top of him, grinned innocently. "Well, I didn't want you sleeping all day. Also, I called your name a bunch of times and you wouldn't wake up, so... yeah."

Gou sighed, rubbing his face. "Good grief, boy. If you weren't my grandson, I'd have punted you into the ocean."

The Morning Routine - A Warrior's Start

After prying Eleo off, the two got up and went about their usual morning routine:

Brushed their teeth (Gou had to stop Eleo from eating the toothpaste-again).

Ate breakfast (Eleo devoured an entire stack of pancakes in two bites).

Did push-ups (Gou did them casually while Eleo did them dramatically, yelling, "ONE TRILLION!" after every single rep).

Punched each other for fun (Gou smacked Eleo across the yard, Eleo kicked him in the shin).

After all that, Gou grabbed his travel bag and stretched. "Welp, I'm off."

Eleo pouted. "Man... I'm gonna miss you."

Gou smirked and messed up Eleo's hair. "I'll miss you too, kid. And hey-keep that dumb little smile of yours, alright?"

Eleo grinned wide. "OKAY!!"

Gou glanced at his watch. His eyes widened. "Oh hell, I'm gonna be late-"

WHOOSH!

Without another word, he sprinted off like a madman. "BYE, ELEO!!"

Eleo waved, sighing as he watched the old man disappear. Then his brain caught up.

"OH, WAIT! I GOTTA SEE MASTER KUMA!!"

And just like that-he blasted off.

Eleo raced through the forest, weaving between trees, leaping over logs, accidentally knocking over a guy on a donkey, and finally bursting into the rowdiest bar in town-The Iron Fang.

The place was alive with laughter, the clinking of mugs, and the occasional bar fight in the background. At the counter, a fox woman with sleek orange fur-Lucy-was busy serving drinks with the speed of a seasoned warrior.

At the biggest table sat a massive, muscular bear in a kung fu gi-Master Kuma. He was laughing heartily, a large mug of beer in his paw. Beside him sat Abby, Lucy's daughter and Eleo's best friend, sipping some juice.

Eleo ran right up to Kuma, jumping onto the table dramatically.

"MASTER KUMA! DID YOU HEAR THE NEWS?!"

Kuma took a sip of his drink, unfazed. "Yep."

Eleo grinned. "THEN YOU KNOW I'M GONNA BE THE STRONGEST!"

Kuma calmly set his mug down. "Boy, you ain't ready."

Abby nodded. "Yeah, Eleo! You gotta be extremely strong! Right, Master Kuma?"

Kuma chuckled. "That's right."

Eleo puffed out his chest. "I am strong! Stronger than you! All you do is sing."

The entire bar went dead silent.

Kuma froze mid-drink. A single drop of beer fell from his mug.

Abby's eye twitched.

SNATCH!

Before Eleo could react, Abby grabbed him by the ear and started twisting.

"YOU WANNA SAY THAT AGAIN, PUNK?!"

Eleo flailed. "OW! OW! OW!! ABBY, STOP!!"

Kuma calmly took another sip. "Abby, no hurting Eleo."

Abby kept twisting. "I'M NOT HURTING HIM! I'M DISCIPLINING HIM!"

Kuma chuckled. "Mhm."

Eleo, dangling by his ear, flailed helplessly. "AAAAH!! KUMA, HELP ME!!"

Kuma smirked. "Nah. You brought this on yourself, boy."

The bar erupted in laughter.

Eleo eventually escaped Abby's wrath, rubbing his sore ear while pouting. Kuma just smiled, watching his student with an amused expression.

Kuma leaned back, crossing his arms. "You really think you can be the strongest, Eleo?"

Eleo grinned, full of unshakable confidence. "NO-I KNOW I CAN!"

Kuma chuckled. "Well then, let's see if you can survive today's training."

Eleo's ears perked up. "TRAINING?! AWESOME!"

Abby sighed. "Oh boy, here we go again..."

And with that, everyone headed twords the woods.

The crowd gathered in the clearing, the trees swaying with the anticipation in the air. The Iron Fang bar regulars stood on the sidelines, drinks in hand, whispering about what was about to unfold.

Master Kuma, towering over the crowd, stepped forward, his massive, fur-covered arms relaxed at his sides. He still held a long wooden mug of beer, taking a slow sip like this was just another ordinary day.

Eleo, standing a few meters away, bounced on his feet like an excited kid-which, to be fair, he was. His fluffy tail twitched, and his ears perked up.

Abby cupped her hands around her mouth. "Eleo, you can do it!"

Eleo turned and grinned wide. "Thanks, Abby!" He then pointed dramatically at Kuma. "Alright, Master! Let's FIGHT-FIGHT!!"

Kuma sighed, swirling his beer. "Boy, you're more impatient than a starving wolf at a feast."

Eleo cracked his knuckles. "Yeah, yeah, enough talking. Time to see if all this 'training' actually made me stronger!"

The crowd went silent. The tension was thick.

Then-

"BEGIN!" someone shouted.

Eleo sprinted forward, fists clenched. His tiny legs kicked up dust as he charged, letting out a war cry that sounded more excited than intimidating.

Kuma?

He yawned and scratched his belly.

The moment Eleo got close, he swung a wild punch straight at Kuma's chest.

Thud.

His fist connected.

With a soft boop noise.

Like he had just punched a pillow.

Eleo blinked. His ears twitched. He looked up.

Kuma just sat there. Unbothered. He blinked back at Eleo.

"...That was it?" Kuma asked, sounding a little disappointed.

Eleo stepped back, shaking his hand. "Owowow-dang, you're built like a brick wall!"

The crowd burst into laughter.

Kuma smirked and finally moved.

BAM.

His massive paw came down, aiming for Eleo's head.

"GAH-"

Eleo barely dodged, tumbling backward and rolling to his feet. His heart pounded.

Kuma had moved so fast for such a big guy.

Eleo gulped. "Alright, okay, so you're actually pretty strong-who knew?"

Abby facepalmed. "EVERYONE KNEW, ELEO!"

Kuma stood up slowly, dusting himself off.

"Well, boy, looks like you at least dodged that one," he said, cracking his knuckles. "Let's see if you can dodge the next."

Eleo's ears stood straight up.

"Oh, crap-"

WHOOSH.

Kuma vanished from his spot.

Eleo's eyes widened. "WHERE'D HE GO-?!"

BAM.

Kuma lightly chopped Eleo on top of the head.

"OWWWW!"

Eleo face-planted into the dirt.

The crowd howled with laughter.

Abby sighed, rubbing her temples. "This is painful to watch."

Eleo popped back up, clutching his head. "HEY, WHAT KIND OF TEACHER HITS THEIR STUDENT?!"

Kuma took another sip of his beer. "The kind that teaches lessons. Ready to learn?"

Eleo gritted his teeth.

He lunged again, this time swinging a barrage of punches.

Left. Right. Left. Right.

Every punch-dodged.

Kuma simply leaned left, then right, then back, then forward, sipping his beer without spilling a drop.

The crowd gasped.

"He's dodging without even trying!" someone whispered.

Eleo growled in frustration.

"STOP DODGING, OLD MAN! LET ME HIT YOU!!"

Kuma smirked. "Alright."

Eleo's ears twitched. "Huh?"

Before he could react-

WHAM.

Kuma backhanded Eleo across the clearing.

The bunny kid went flying, tumbling through the dirt until he crashed into a bush.

The crowd cheered and laughed.

Kuma stretched his arms. "Welp, that was fun."

Abby ran up and peeked into the bush. "Eleo, are you alive?"

Eleo popped out, twigs stuck in his ears. "Yep! Totally fine! Not even hurt!"

His legs wobbled.

Kuma walked over, standing over Eleo. "You done yet, boy?"

Eleo took a deep breath.

Then, despite everything-

He grinned.

"Not even close."

Kuma raised a brow. "Oh?"

Eleo wiped the dirt off his face, stomping his foot.

"You might be stronger, faster, and way better than me at everything..."

"...BUT..."

Eleo puffed out his chest.

"I REFUSE to stay weak!!"

The crowd went silent.

Kuma watched him for a long moment.

Then-

He laughed.

A deep, hearty laugh that rumbled like thunder.

He put a paw on Eleo's head, ruffling his ears.

"Good answer, boy."

Eleo blinked. "Huh?"

Kuma smirked. "You lost, but you ain't broken. That's good."

Eleo's eyes widened. "Wait... does that mean-?!"

Kuma took one last sip of his beer, then grinned.

"Alright, Eleo. I'll keep training you."

The crowd cheered.

Eleo pumped his fist into the air.

"YEAH!!!"

Abby sighed. "Well, at least he survived."

5 days: later Eleo lay sprawled on the ground, panting like a dog, sweat pouring off his fur. His ears twitched slightly as he tried to lift himself up, only to collapse face-first into the dirt.

Kuma, meanwhile, sat on a log nearby, completely relaxed, drinking beer from an oversized jug.

"Alright, boy," Kuma finally said.

Eleo peeked up. "Y-Yeah?" he wheezed.

Kuma took another sip. "I'm leaving soon."

Eleo shot up immediately. "W-WHAT?!"

Kuma gave a small sigh, stretching his arms. "Gotta handle something big-dangerous stuff. Can't stay here forever, kid."

Eleo's ears drooped, but he forced a smile. "Oh, uh... okay! Yeah! No big deal!"

Kuma's eyebrow twitched. He saw straight through it.

"Follow me," Kuma said, standing up.

Eleo blinked. "Huh? Where we goin'?"

Kuma didn't answer, just started walking. Curious but confused, Eleo scrambled after him.

They stopped in a small clearing, away from the main village. Kuma reached into his coat, pulling out something glowing.

It was an orb, dark blue, swirling with ink-like patterns inside.

Eleo's eyes lit up like fireworks.

"WHOA-WHAT IS THAT?!"

Kuma smirked. "This, boy, is a Soul Orb. We call it an S-Orb for short. Here, take it."

Eleo snatched it immediately and...

Licked it.

Kuma stared. The wind blew softly.

"..."

"..."

"...Boy, what the hell are you doing?"

Eleo wiped his tongue, gagging. "ACK-IT TASTES LIKE A SWEATY ROCK!"

Kuma palmed his face. "You're supposed to absorb it, you idiot."

Eleo blinked. "Oh."

He closed his eyes and concentrated. Slowly, the orb began to sink into his body, and for a brief moment, he felt warm. Powerful.

Then-

PAIN.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

Eleo dropped to the ground, rolling around like a fish out of water. His body felt like it was on FIRE.

Kuma took another sip of beer. "Oh yeah, forgot to mention-it hurts."

"YOU FORGOT TO MENTION THAT?!!" Eleo screamed, flailing.

Abby, who had just walked up, froze in horror. "What did you do to him?!"

Kuma shrugged. "Gave him an S-Orb."

Abby stomped over, pointing an accusatory finger. "You just gave him a legendary artifact like it was a snack?!"

Kuma nodded. "Yep."

"AND YOU DIDN'T WARN HIM?!"

"...Nope."

"ARE YOU EVEN A RESPONSIBLE ADULT?!"

Kuma sipped his beer. "Nope."

Eleo finally stopped twitching, panting heavily. His fur was ruffled, his ears crooked, and his face full of regret.

"I... I think I saw my ancestors..."

Kuma patted Eleo's head. "You'll be fine, kid. Might not be strong now, but that orb will be useful someday."

Eleo groaned. "D-Does it at least give me super strength?"

"Nope."

"Super speed?"

"Nope."

"Heat vision?!"

Kuma tilted his head. "Why would a bunny need heat vision?"

Eleo gasped. "I'M STILL WEAK?!"

Kuma grinned and stood up. "No, but now you've got potential."

Eleo blinked. "...What does that even mean?"

Kuma ignored him. "C'mon, let's all head to the docks."

A few minutes later, the three of them stood at the docks, watching as Kuma prepared to leave.

A massive sky ship with wings like a dragon floated above them, its sails billowing in the wind. The engines hummed softly, filling the air with a low rumble.

Kuma stood at the edge of the boarding ramp, his usual grin replaced by something softer.

Eleo's ears drooped. "You really gotta go?"

Kuma sighed, looking at his small student. "Yeah. But don't worry, kid. I'll be back someday."

Eleo forced a grin. "Heh, y-you better! 'Cause by then, I'm gonna be the strongest!"

Kuma chuckled. "That so?"

Eleo puffed his chest. "YUP! And next time, I won't lose!"

Kuma smirked. "Looking forward to it."

Abby smiled next to Eleo, but her eyes were a little sad. "Stay safe, Master Kuma."

Kuma ruffled her hair. "You too, kiddo. Watch over Eleo for me."

Abby sighed. "Ugh, that's a full-time job."

Kuma laughed and turned to board the ship. As he stepped up, Eleo waved wildly.

"BYE, KUMA!!"

Abby waved as well. "Come back in one piece, old man!"

Kuma grinned, raising his hand. "You bet."

With a final whoosh, the sky ship lifted off, vanishing into the clouds.

Eleo and Abby stood there for a moment, watching until the ship was gone.

Then-

Eleo suddenly collapsed, twitching.

Abby panicked. "ELEO?!"

Eleo groaned, rolling onto his back. "...That orb still hurts."

Abby sighed. "You're hopeless."

Eleo grinned up at the sky. "Yeah... but I'm gonna be the strongest, anyway."

It was raining.

Not a storm-just that steady kind of drizzle that soaked everything in silence.

Eleo stood motionless in the field behind Master Kuma's dojo, completely drenched. His soaked fur clung to his tiny bunny body, ears drooping like wet socks. In front of him stood a wooden training dummy. It stared back at him in the most taunting, lifeless way possible.

And still... Eleo didn't move. Not yet.

Up in the trees, under a wide leafy branch, Abby sat reading a thick spellbook titled Basic Runescript Vol. 1: Beginner-Level Boom Booms. She flipped a page lazily, then peeked down at the soaked bunny below.

"...What is that idiot up to now?" she muttered. "He's been standing there in the rain like a statue. A really dumb, wet statue."

Finally, Eleo's muscles tensed. His eyes sharpened. He roared:

"RRRAAAHHH!!"

He launched forward with a flurry of punches, fists slamming into the wooden dummy over and over.

"BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!"

And then-

He stopped.

"...DANG IT!!"

He flopped onto the grass like a collapsed folding chair, arms spread, face tilted to the gray sky. Raindrops dripped steadily on his fur. But for a moment, as he breathed slowly, it felt... peaceful. Like the rain was washing away all the pressure in his head.

Of course, it didn't last.

SQUISH. SQUISH.

Wet footsteps approached. Abby stood over him, umbrella in one hand, spellbook in the other.

"Eleo," she said flatly, "what exactly are you trying to do?"

Eleo sighed dramatically. "I'm trying to bring out my S-Orb power. It's not working! I've been punching for two days straight and nothing happened! My powers just won't come out!"

Abby exhaled, sat beside him, and hugged her knees. "Maybe you need to try harder."

"I am trying," Eleo groaned. "I've been yelling and punching and meditating and eating spicy noodles and NOTHING is working!"

Abby rolled her eyes. "That's not how you unlock powers, you moron."

Eleo huffed. "I was desperate!"

There was a short pause before Abby asked seriously, "Once you leave to fight the strongest... how are you even going to find him?"

Eleo blinked. "Find him?"

She nodded. "Yeah. Nobody knows where he is. They say he's hidden somewhere on a dangerous Island."

Eleo's eyes lit up. "OHHHHHH! So he's on that island for sure!"

He sprang to his feet and started dancing in the mud.

"YEH YEH YEH YEH YEH YEEEEH!!"

Abby chuckled despite herself. "He's so dumb, it's almost cute..."

Eleo grinned and pointed dramatically at the sky. "I'm gonna track him down! I'll smash through anything with my SUPER ULTRA BUNNY PUNCH and defeat the strongest and become a LEGEND!!"

Abby stood up, brushing mud off her cloak. "Yeah, about that... You know you'll have to train a ton, right? He's got a really powerful S-Orb. I heard he's also a top-level Fist User, Sword User, AND Magic User."

Eleo tilted his head. "Huh? What are those?"

Abby froze. "...HUH?! You don't know what they are?!"

Eleo shook his head innocently. "Nope."

Abby facepalmed so hard it echoed.

"Okay, okay, I'll explain. Just-ugh-try not to forget this time."

Eleo nodded, ears twitching. "Got it!"

Abby cleared her throat, flipping her book to a blank page and pretending it was a lecture scroll.

Fist Users

"These are martial artists who fight with their fists and feet. No magic, just technique, strength, and crazy training that makes their punches hit like meteors."

S-Orb Users

"You sorta know this, but let me make it clear. S-Orbs are magical relics you absorb. Each one gives you a unique, powerful supernatural ability based on the soul it was forged from. Once it fuses with you, that power becomes yours permanently."

She narrowed her eyes.

"Note: You don't need to train magic to use an S-Orb-but you DO need to learn how to control it."

Sword Users

"These are blade experts. Some are so good, they can cut through lightning. Others channel energy or aura into their swords. It's flashy, dangerous, and super cool."

Magic Users

"People who use spells. Duh. They study Runescript, use staffs, incantations, magic circles-some are born with it, others learn it. They're brainy and dangerous."

Eleo stared at her blankly. Then he nodded.

"Ohhhhh. Oookaaay. That makes sense. Thanks!"

Abby smiled slightly. "Anytime."

Eleo turned back to the dummy, fists clenched. The rain hadn't stopped. But neither had his determination.

He threw another series of punches.

"BAM! BAM! BAM!"

Still no glow. No shockwave. No power.

Eleo grabbed his floppy ears and screamed:

"DANG IT!!"

Abby frowned. "Are you trying to infuse your fists with your S-Orb power?"

"YES, actually!" Eleo snapped. "I feel it inside me, like it's THERE... but it just won't come out!"

Abby tilted her head thoughtfully. "Maybe you're thinking too hard about it. Try feeling it instead."

"...Feeling it?"

"Yeah. Don't just try to use it. Try to be it."

Eleo blinked.

"...What does that mean?"

Abby smirked. "Figure it out, Bunny

Boy. That's what training is for."

Eleo clenched his fists tighter.

The rain still hadn't let up. Eleo stared at the dummy with sharp, focused eyes-determined not to leave the field empty-handed.

Then-he charged.

"RAAAAHH!!"

He sprinted forward, his fists clenched, ears bouncing wildly as he picked up speed. And then-

SMACK!!

His fist slammed directly into the dummy's wooden face.

There was a strange sound.

Not just impact-but something else...

SPLAT.

Black ink exploded from his knuckles, splashing across the dummy's face-and his own.

"Wha-huh-BLAUGH!!"

Ink dripped from his cheeks, matting his fur. He blinked rapidly, stunned.

Up in the trees, Abby burst out laughing.

"PFFFT-HAHAHAHA!! What even was that?! You look like a squirted squid!!"

Eleo froze for a second, eyes wide.

Then he threw both fists into the air.

"YAHOO!!! I DID IT!! I DID IT!!!"

He spun around in the mud, doing a ridiculous bunny dance that flung more ink everywhere.

"I GOT POWERS!!! I'M NOT USELESS!!!"

He slipped and fell flat on his back.

"...Ow."

Abby just shook her head, still giggling.

"You're still an idiot... but hey. You've officially got an S-Orb ability."

The rain had stopped, leaving behind the fresh smell of wet leaves and clean air.

Inside Abby's room at the Iron Fang bar, things were peaceful. Abby lay on her bed, reading a magic scroll by candlelight. Eleo snored softly on the floor, curled up in a blanket like a fluffy rug.

Creak.

The door opened slowly. Lucy, Abby's mom, peeked inside.

"Good night, sweetie. And good night, Eleo," she whispered. "I'll make you both breakfast tomorrow."

Abby smiled sleepily. "Night, Mom."

Eleo peeked one eye open. "Night, Miss Abby's Mom..."

Lucy chuckled quietly and closed the door.

The room was silent again-until Eleo sat up a little, whispering:

"I can't believe I did it... I actually used my powers. My ink powers..."

Abby, still lying on her back, smiled without opening her eyes. "Yeah... and now you've gotta come up with cool abilities. You're gonna need 'em."

Eleo grinned. "I already got one in mind."

Abby yawned. "Mmm... save it for tomorrow..."

Eleo lay back down. "'Kay... good night, Abby."

"Good night, Bunny Boy."

Within moments, both of them were asleep.

The candle flickered one last time... and went out.

Eleo, now 12 years old, sat at the kitchen table, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly. Across from him, Abby and Lucy stared in shock.

"I'm leaving," Eleo said, matter-of-factly.

Silence.

Lucy, eyes wide, slammed her hands on the table. "ELEO, ARE YOU SERIOUS?!"

Abby's ears drooped. "But... why?"

Eleo stretched, yawning. "I don't wanna stay on this island forever. I wanna see the world, get stronger!" He crossed his arms, nodding proudly. "And besides, I've already spent my whole life here."

Lucy facepalmed. "Eleo, you're literally twelve. That's not a 'whole life,' that's like... one lunch break in adult years!"

Abby gripped her sleeves, staring at the table. "But what about me...? We're best friends."

Eleo sighed. "I know, Abby... but c'mon, I'm pretty sure you can make other friends."

Abby clenched her fists. "But you're my only friend, Eleo! My best friend!"

The words hit Eleo like a punch. He opened his mouth but couldn't find the right words.

Abby's voice trembled. "I remember when we first met... it was snowing. We were both five... and that big jerk Nico was picking on me."

Flashback:

The air was freezing, snowflakes drifting lazily from the sky.

A small, five-year-old Abby stood alone, trembling. Surrounding her were a group of kids, all laughing.

At the front of the group stood Nico, a young wolf kid, with a smug grin plastered across his face. He pointed at Abby, sneering.

"Look at her, all alone! Guess no one wants to be friends with a weakling!"

The kids snickered. Abby's ears flattened against her head.

Then-

SMACK!

A snowball slammed right into Nico's face.

Silence.

Everyone turned.

A short bunny kid with messy fur and a determined scowl stood a few feet away, huffing and puffing.

Eleo pointed dramatically. "HEY! LEAVE HER ALONE!"

Nico wiped the snow from his face, gritting his teeth.

"Oh, you wanna play hero, huh?" He cracked his knuckles. "GET HIM!"

Eleo's eyes widened. "Oh."

A second later-

BAM! SMACK! THUD!

The bullies beat the absolute crap outta him.

The bullies finally walked away, laughing. Nico dusted himself off.

"These two losers deserve each other!" he sneered before leaving with his gang.

Snow continued to fall.

A badly injured Eleo lay face-first in the snow, twitching.

Abby, still stunned, slowly walked over. She hesitated, then reached down and pulled him out.

Eleo's face was swollen, bruised, and covered in snow.

Tears welled up in Abby's eyes. A single drop fell from her cheek onto Eleo's face.

"Why...?" she whispered. "Why did you help me?"

Silence.

She thought he was unconscious.

She sniffled, blaming herself. "It's my fault... if I wasn't weak, you wouldn't have gotten hurt..."

Then-

Eleo suddenly leaped up.

With a big, goofy grin, he threw his arms in the air.

"BECAUSE I THINK YOU'RE COOL~!"

...And then he immediately collapsed back into the snow.

Abby stared.

Silence.

She covered her mouth... and laughed.

For the first time that day, she felt warm.

Back to the Present

Abby wiped her eyes, smiling bitterly. "That was the day we became friends. You were a total idiot... but you were my idiot."

Eleo, sitting across from her, scratched his head, feeling guilty. "Well, y'know... I'm still an idiot."

Lucy sighed. "At least you're self-aware."

Abby took a deep breath. "Eleo... do you really have to go?"

Eleo stood up, putting on his best confident grin. "Yeah. But hey! I'll come back someday!"

Abby clenched her fists. "Promise?"

Eleo held up his pinky. "Pinky swear."

Abby hesitated... then linked her pinky with his.

"Fine," she muttered. "But if you die, I'm gonna find a way to bring you back just to kill you again."

Lucy crossed her arms. "And I'll help."

Eleo laughed. "Hah! I like the confidence!"

But as he turned toward the door, his smile faded just a little.

This was it.

His journey was finally beginning.

"Wait, Eleo!" she called out, running up to him.

Eleo paused, blinking in confusion. "Huh? Did I forget something? My bag? My carrots?! MY EARS?! OH MY GOSH, ARE THEY GONE?!"

Lucy smacked the back of his head. "Your ears are on your head, you idiot!"

Eleo sighed in relief. "Oh, phew! That was close."

Abby chuckled despite herself and held out the necklace. "Here. I want you to have this."

Eleo stared at it, tilting his head. "Is it food?"

Lucy groaned. "It's a necklace, you moron!"

Abby nodded. "It has a little carving of me on it... so you won't forget me."

Eleo grinned and slung it around his neck immediately. "Wow, now I have my own tiny Abby! I'll never be lonely!"

Abby's eyes watered slightly. "Please don't forget me, Eleo."

Eleo gave her a thumbs up. "Pfft! Like I could forget you! I promise!"

Abby sighed, crossing her arms. "Just don't do anything stupid out there."

Lucy muttered, "That's literally impossible for him."

Eleo hopped onto his tiny wooden boat, waving wildly. "BYE, LUCY! BYE, ABBY! BYE, EVERYONE!"

The whole village gathered, waving and cheering as Eleo's tiny vessel drifted out to sea.

Abby and Lucy stood side by side, watching him go.

Abby whispered, "Be safe, Eleo..."

The sun was high in the sky, and Eleo sat cross-legged in his boat, arms crossed, nodding seriously to himself.

"Alright!" he declared. "Now it's time to... uh..."

Silence.

He scratched his head. "Wait... where do I go exactly?"

A long pause.

He blinked.

He scratched his head harder.

Then, with complete confidence, he shouted-

"MEH! I'LL JUST GO STRAIGHT! THAT ALWAYS WORKS!"

His stomach growled.

"Luckily, I have all my carrots in this bag!" He patted the big cloth sack filled with bright orange carrots. "As long as I have these, I won't starve to death!"

He pulled one out, took a big chomp, and grinned.

"Yup! I'm a genius!"

Then-

SPLASH.

A dark fin rose from the water.

Eleo's chewing slowed.

"Uhhh..."

The fin circled his tiny boat.

His eyes widened. "WAIT A SECOND. DON'T TELL ME... OH NO... IT'S..."

A massive BEAR SHARK leaped out of the water, snarling-a terrifying beast with the body of a shark and the massive, furry arms of a bear.

Eleo's eyes sparkled.

"COOL! I'VE NEVER SEEN ONE UP CLOSE BEFORE!"

The bear shark roared, opening its enormous jaws, ready to chomp Eleo in half.

Eleo beamed. "Wait, does this mean I get to fight it?! FINALLY!"

The shark lunged.

Eleo stood up in the boat, cracked his knuckles, and grinned like an idiot.

"INK BARRAGE!"

He started swinging his fists wildly, flailing like a madman.

WHAM! BAM! POW!

His punches landed at random, smacking the bear shark's face over and over until-

BOOM!

The massive creature was sent flying across the ocean, spiraling into the sky like a Team Rocket villain.

Eleo stood on his boat, panting, hands on his hips.

"Haha! THAT'S WHAT YOU GET, YA BIG JERK!"

The bear shark disappeared into the distance, leaving only a tiny sparkle in the sky.

Eleo nodded to himself. "Welp. That takes care of that!"

Then-

CRACK.

His eyes widened.

He slowly looked down.

His tiny wooden boat now had a giant hole in it.

"...Oh."

The boat sank immediately.

A long pause.

Eleo floated in the water, blinking.

Then, grinning like an idiot, he pumped his fist in the air.

"I'M WINNING AT LIFE!"

And then he sank.

Eleo floated in the water, arms crossed, nodding to himself.

"Okay, so maybe punching the bear shark so hard that I sunk my own boat wasn't my best idea... BUT! I won the fight, and that's what really matters!"

Then-

"Huh?"

His ears twitched.

A massive ship drifted nearby, its golden sails shimmering under the sun, its polished wooden hull gleaming.

Eleo's eyes sparkled.

"OH, JUST MY LUCK! A NEW BOAT!"

He grinned, raising his hand. "Time to use my big brain!"

He formed an ink rope, twirling it like a lasso.

"Three... two... ONE!"

He threw it-

THWIP! The ink rope wrapped around the ship's rail.

Eleo grabbed his precious carrot bag and yanked himself up-

"WHOOOOAAAA-!"

THUD!

He landed face-first on the deck.

Silence.

Fancy music played. Dozens of people in elegant suits and gowns were drinking wine, dancing, and laughing.

One man, holding a monocle, slowly turned. "My word... what is that?"

A lady in a luxurious purple dress gasped. "Oh, dear, did a wild animal sneak aboard?"

Eleo pushed himself up, rubbing his face.

"Wow! I've never seen anything like this before!" His ears twitched as he glanced around. "It's so shiny and fancy and..."

He paused, blinking.

Everyone sipped tea.

A man adjusted his perfectly polished shoes.

A lady fanned herself gracefully.

A waiter poured a glass of wine.

Eleo squinted. "...Boring."

The entire fancy crowd gasped.

"HOW DARE HE?!"

"THIS IS A HIGH-CLASS EVENT!"

"WHO EVEN IS THIS RUFFIAN?!"

Eleo, completely ignoring their outrage, turned his head and saw something even crazier.

Another massive ship- but this one was flying.

"WHOA."

The ship hovered in the air, sleek black with blue energy glowing beneath it.

A cannon on the side charged up, glowing bright green-

BOOM!

A massive beam ball blasted toward the fancy ship.

"WOW!" Eleo grinned, watching as everyone else screamed.

"OH NOOOO!"

"WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!"

The crew of the fancy ship suddenly sprang into action.

A bunch of men in sleek white uniforms, each one bearing an eagle emblem on their chest, stormed the deck.

One of them adjusted his gloves. "Activate battle protocol!"

Another pulled out a sleek, futuristic-looking blaster.

"FIRE!"

PYEW! PYEW! PYEW!

Bright laser shots tore through the sky, aiming at the flying ship.

Eleo sat criss-crossed on the deck, munching a carrot, eyes sparkling.

"THIS. IS. AWESOME!"