"My arm is gone."
Goro's voice was oddly calm, even though he was staring at the empty space where his right arm used to be.
"Yep," Kenshiro replied casually, hands in his pockets.
"It actually went into a black hole…" Goro mumbled in disbelief, eyes widening.
"Yeah?"
"Give me my arm back."
"Okay then, giv—"
"I give up."
"…Actually."
Rei raised a brow. "Well, that was quick."
"I can understand," Shun added with a smirk.
Suddenly, Goro looked more relaxed. "Alright, give me my arm back now. I feel… comfortable."
Kenshiro sighed, stepping forward. He tapped Goro's shoulder.
A swirling void blinked into existence, and from it, Goro's missing arm reappeared and reattached with a flicker of spiritual light.
Rei cracked her knuckles. "Looks like it's our turn."
Kenshiro shrugged. "That wasn't hard."
Without warning, Goro leapt onto Kenshiro's back.
"Why would you take your friend's arm, huh?!"
"Can you please get off me?" Kenshiro grunted, trying to shake him loose as Rei and Shun burst out laughing.
Meanwhile...
Team 17 stood in a wide clearing. The sun beat down, casting long shadows on the dusty ground.
"Remember, this is training," Yuna reminded.
Azar clenched his fists, heat rising around him. "Okay, but me and my rival take it seriously."
"You damn right," Zanden said, eyes narrowed and sand swirling at his feet.
"If it gets out of hand—" Yuna began.
"Let's see if you're ready to fight for Misa!" Zanden challenged.
Azar didn't hesitate. He rushed forward.
"Infernal Fist!"
A blazing punch shot through the air.
Zanden raised his arm. "Sand Armor."
The flames struck hardened sand, bursting into cinders. Smoke trailed off as Zanden pushed forward. "Not bad—but it won't be enough."
Azar smirked and jumped back.
"Sand Lance Barrage!"
Dozens of sharp sand lances erupted from the ground and launched toward Azar.
"Fire Blast!"
Azar countered with a wide wave of flames that incinerated several lances mid-air.
Watching from a distance, Taro nodded. "This is intense."
"You're right about that," Jett added.
"You think that's enough?" Azar growled.
He dashed forward again.
"Fire Punch!"
Zanden leapt into a flip and soared over him. "Granite Fang."
Behind him, sand molded into the shape of a massive beast's jaw, surging after Azar.
"What the hell is this?!" Azar exclaimed, leaping back again.
"It won't stop until it eats something."
"Thanks for the heads up," Azar muttered sarcastically.
"Flame Arrow!"
A searing arrow formed in Azar's palm and launched into the jaw, exploding in fire and smoke.
Not bad, Zanden thought.
But Azar was already forming another.
The second arrow flew straight at Zanden.
"That's an easy dodge."
Zanden sidestepped—but too easily.
Azar smirked to himself. No way you thought it'd be that easy.
The arrow split midair into five flaming bullets that curved in on Zanden.
"Huh?"
Two bullets grazed his cheek.
"Not bad, Azar."
Zanden responded fast.
"Scorching Sand Bullets!"
Blazing pellets of sand flew at high speed. Azar barely evaded, but one grazed his leg.
"Sand Burial!"
A massive sand wave surged forward. Azar dashed in, dodging the edge of the wave.
"Sand Strike!"
Zanden's arm turned spiky and charged.
"Infernal Fist!"
They clashed in a burst of heat and grit.
"I'm going to win!" Azar shouted.
"You're holding back… something new," Zanden muttered.
Azar leapt back. "How do you know?"
"I know my rival."
"Then try this—Fire Blast!"
Azar blew a roaring flame from his mouth. Zanden raised his shield again.
"Sand Armor!"
He withstood it, then flicked his fingers. "Sand Needles."
Tiny glints in the air blurred toward Azar.
"I can't see anything!" he shouted. Small cuts started appearing on his arms and chest.
"Where are these slashes coming from?!"
Zanden dashed in and kicked him in the face. Azar flew backward but sprang to his feet.
He ducked under a punch, slammed one into Zanden's gut. "Damn," Zanden growled.
Zanden wrapped around him and slammed him into the ground.
"Gruh!"
Azar flipped back up on his hands and launched a spinning kick. It connected.
"Okay, I see how it is," Zanden grunted.
The two exchanged blows—kicks, counters, ducking, slamming. Azar blasted fire point-blank, Zanden hardened his sand arm to deflect. Grabbing Azar, he swung him and smashed him down again.
Azar rolled and launched another flame barrage.
The two charged.
Azar's fist burned with fire. "Be ready to feel heat!"
Zanden's fist glowed with crystalized sand. "Let's see if it compares to my sand!"
Their fists collided—BOOM!
Yuna's eyes narrowed. It's time for this fight to end.
She stepped in, sweeping Zanden off his feet and slamming Azar with a gust of wind into the ground.
"Why did you stop it?!" Zanden barked.
"Yeah, it was getting to the good part!" Azar protested.
"I stopped it before both of you lost your arms," Yuna said flatly.
"Man…" Azar groaned.
"I definitely won," Zanden said confidently.
"No you didn't—I did!"
"Because I said so."
"That doesn't even make sense!"
"Well, it does to me."
Yuna sighed. "Taro, Kaien—you're up."
Ten Minutes Earlier...
In another part of the forest, two figures faced each other.
Renji gripped his sword. His expression was calm, but his eyes were sharp.
"I hope you're ready."
Ryju smiled.
"I've been ready."
To be continued…