The road stretched endlessly before Ryuzen.
Behind him stood Kryptoria.
Ahead of him was nothing but wilderness.
No royal guards.
No servants.
No warm bed.
No palace walls.
For the first time in his life, Ryuzen was completely alone.
He continued walking.
His small bag hung over his shoulder, and the wooden bracelet Aster had given him remained around his wrist.
The morning sun slowly climbed into the sky.
At first, Ryuzen felt free.
Then his stomach growled.
He stopped.
“…I’m hungry.”
He looked inside his bag.
One piece of bread.
A small bottle of water.
That was all.
Ryuzen stared at the bread.
“This won’t last long.”
He took a small bite anyway.
The bread was dry, but he didn’t complain.
Back in the palace, he had never thought about where his next meal would come from.
Food had simply appeared.
Water had always been available.
A bed had always been waiting for him.
Now he understood how quickly everything could disappear.
Ryuzen finished the bread and continued walking.
Hours passed.
The road became narrower.
The stone path eventually disappeared completely, replaced by dirt and grass.
Ryuzen looked around.
He had never traveled this far from Kryptoria.
Tall trees surrounded him.
Their branches blocked most of the sunlight.
Birds flew above him.
Strange sounds came from deeper within the forest.
Ryuzen tightened his grip on his bag.
“Great.”
He sighed.
“I don’t even know where I am.”
A sudden rustling came from the bushes.
Ryuzen stopped.
His eyes narrowed.
Another rustle.
Something was moving.
Slowly.
Ryuzen raised his fists.
Blue sparks appeared around his fingers.
“Come out.”
Silence.
Ryuzen waited.
Then a small creature jumped from the bushes.
Ryuzen blinked.
It was a rabbit.
The creature stared at him.
Ryuzen stared back.
“…You scared me.”
The rabbit immediately ran away.
Ryuzen lowered his hands.
He laughed quietly.
“I really need to calm down.”
He continued walking.
But he didn’t know that the forest ahead was not nearly as peaceful as it seemed.
By evening, Ryuzen had found a small stream.
He immediately rushed toward it.
He dropped to his knees and drank.
The cold water felt incredible.
He splashed some across his face.
“Much better.”
Ryuzen sat beside the stream.
His body was exhausted.
His feet hurt.
His stomach was empty again.
He looked toward the darkening sky.
“I need shelter.”
He stood and searched the area.
After a while, he found a large tree with thick roots.
It wasn’t comfortable, but it was better than sleeping in the open.
Ryuzen gathered some dry branches.
He had no experience making fires.
After several failed attempts, he finally managed to create a tiny flame.
He stared at it proudly.
“I actually did it.”
The flame flickered.
Ryuzen smiled.
For a moment, he forgot everything.
Then a voice came from his memory.
Don’t give up.
Aster.
Ryuzen looked at the wooden bracelet.
“I won’t.”
He leaned against the tree.
But sleep didn’t come easily.
Every strange sound made him open his eyes.
A howl echoed through the forest.
Ryuzen immediately sat upright.
Another howl answered.
Then another.
His expression became serious.
“That’s not good.”
Something moved between the trees.
Ryuzen stood.
Blue sparks crawled across his arms.
He tried to control his breathing.
His heart pounded.
The bushes suddenly exploded outward.
Three creatures charged at him.
They looked like wolves, but they were much larger.
Their bodies were covered in dark gray fur.
Their eyes glowed red.
Ryuzen stepped backward.
“Three?”
The first beast lunged.
Ryuzen moved to the side.
Its claws narrowly missed his chest.
He punched it.
BOOM!
Blue thunder exploded from his fist.
The creature was thrown backward.
Ryuzen stared at his hand.
“It worked.”
But the other two beasts attacked at the same time.
Ryuzen barely blocked the first strike.
The second beast slammed into him.
BAM!
He flew several meters and crashed against the ground.
Pain shot through his back.
Ryuzen gritted his teeth.
“Okay…”
He slowly stood.
“One at a time would’ve been nicer.”
The beasts growled.
They surrounded him.
Ryuzen knew he was in trouble.
He had never fought a real battle before.
At the palace, he had practiced basic movements, but nobody had ever allowed him to fight seriously.
Now there was no one to save him.
The first wolf charged.
Ryuzen raised his arm.
Thunder covered his forearm.
CRACK!
He blocked the claws.
The force pushed him backward.
The second beast attacked.
Ryuzen ducked.
He grabbed its leg and released thunder.
BOOM!
The beast was thrown aside.
Ryuzen turned.
The third was already behind him.
Its claws struck his shoulder.
Blood splashed across his clothes.
Ryuzen stumbled.
He touched the wound.
His fingers were red.
For a moment, fear filled his chest.
I’m going to die.
The thought came suddenly.
He looked at the three beasts.
They were preparing to attack again.
Ryuzen clenched his fists.
“No.”
Blue thunder surrounded his body.
“I just left the palace.”
His breathing became heavier.
“I’m not dying here.”
He charged.
The first beast attacked.
Ryuzen moved beneath its claws and punched its stomach.
BOOM!
The beast crashed into a tree.
The second beast came from his left.
Ryuzen turned too slowly.
Its claws struck his side.
He cried out and fell to one knee.
The beast raised its claws again.
Ryuzen reacted instinctively.
Thunder exploded from his body.
CRACK!
The creature was pushed away.
Ryuzen’s body shook.
His muscles screamed.
The thunder was hurting him.
He knew it.
Every time he used too much power, his own Inner Beast damaged his body.
But he couldn’t stop.
The final wolf charged.
Ryuzen stepped forward.
Instead of releasing thunder everywhere, he focused everything into his right fist.
The electricity became tighter.
Smaller.
More controlled.
His fist trembled.
“Come on…”
The wolf jumped.
Ryuzen waited.
At the final moment, he punched.
BOOOOM!
The thunder struck the beast directly.
The creature was sent flying through the bushes.
It didn’t move.
The other two beasts stared at their fallen companion.
Then they ran.
Ryuzen remained standing for several seconds.
Then his knees gave out.
He collapsed.
His breathing was heavy.
Blue sparks still moved across his body.
He looked at the dark sky.
“I won…”
A weak smile appeared on his face.
“But that hurt.”
He closed his eyes.
For the first time since leaving Kryptoria, Ryuzen understood something important.
Power wasn’t enough.
If he wanted to survive…
He needed control.
The next morning, Ryuzen woke beside the stream.
His wounds had stopped bleeding.
His body still hurt.
He slowly stood.
“Everything hurts.”
He washed his face.
Then he looked at his reflection in the water.
His clothes were dirty.
His hair was messy.
His shoulder was wrapped with a piece of cloth he had torn from his shirt.
He looked nothing like a prince.
Ryuzen smiled.
“Good.”
He picked up his bag.
“That prince is gone anyway.”
He began walking again.
Two days passed.
Ryuzen traveled deeper into the wilderness.
He learned quickly.
He learned which berries were safe.
He learned how to make a better fire.
He learned to sleep lightly.
He learned to listen.
Most importantly, he learned to control his thunder.
Instead of releasing everything at once, he practiced creating small sparks.
One spark.
Then two.
Then ten.
Every time his body began to hurt, he stopped.
He hated stopping.
But he remembered the battle with the wolves.
Power without control could kill him.
So he practiced patience.
One afternoon, while walking through a rocky area, Ryuzen heard shouting.
He stopped.
Someone was yelling.
“Help!”
Ryuzen immediately ran toward the sound.
He reached the top of a small hill.
Below him was a narrow road.
A wooden cart had overturned.
Three people stood beside it.
An elderly man.
A young woman.
And a small boy.
In front of them stood a huge beast.
Ryuzen’s eyes widened.
The creature looked like a giant boar.
Its body was covered in thick black armor-like skin.
Two enormous tusks extended from its mouth.
The old man was holding a wooden stick, but his hands were shaking.
“Stay behind me!”
The young woman grabbed the boy.
The beast charged.
Ryuzen didn’t think.
He jumped down the hill.
“HEY!”
Everyone looked at him.
The beast turned.
Ryuzen landed between them.
The boar-like monster stared at him.
Ryuzen raised his fists.
The old man shouted,
“Run! You can’t fight that thing!”
Ryuzen glanced back.
“Then I’ll make sure you can.”
The beast roared.
Ryuzen swallowed.
“That’s a lot bigger than the wolves.”
The creature charged.
Ryuzen moved.
Its tusk passed inches from his chest.
He struck its side.
BOOM!
The thunder hit.
But the beast barely moved.
Ryuzen’s eyes widened.
“You’re kidding.”
The monster turned and struck him with its head.
BAM!
Ryuzen flew backward.
He rolled across the dirt.
The young boy shouted,
“He’s hurt!”
Ryuzen pushed himself up.
Blood ran from his mouth.
He wiped it away.
“I’m fine.”
The monster charged again.
Ryuzen ran toward it.
He jumped.
The beast passed underneath him.
Ryuzen landed on its back.
He grabbed its thick hide.
“Let’s see how tough you are!”
Thunder gathered in both hands.
CRACK!
He released it.
The monster roared.
It shook violently.
Ryuzen was thrown from its back.
He landed hard.
His body was beginning to tremble.
Too much.
His Inner Beast was pushing his body beyond its limit.
His vision blurred.
The monster charged again.
Ryuzen tried to stand.
His legs refused.
The beast was almost upon him.
Suddenly—
A stone struck the monster’s head.
“HEY!”
The old man shouted.
The beast turned toward him.
Ryuzen’s eyes widened.
“Don’t!”
The monster charged the old man.
Ryuzen forced himself up.
Every muscle screamed.
He ran.
He didn’t have enough strength to use a powerful attack.
So he changed his strategy.
Ryuzen grabbed a fallen branch and threw it toward the beast’s face.
The monster slowed for a moment.
That was enough.
Ryuzen reached the old man.
He grabbed him and pulled him aside.
The beast’s tusk smashed into the ground.
Ryuzen looked at the monster.
Then he noticed something.
Its right leg was injured.
It wasn’t moving properly.
Ryuzen smiled.
“There.”
He rushed toward the injured leg.
The monster swung its head.
Ryuzen ducked.
He struck the leg.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
The monster roared.
Ryuzen gathered thunder into his fist.
But this time, he didn’t release everything.
He compressed it.
Just like he had done against the wolf.
His arm shook violently.
“One hit…”
The thunder grew brighter.
“…is enough.”
He struck.
BOOOOOOM!
The thunder exploded through the beast’s injured leg.
The creature collapsed.
Ryuzen jumped away.
The monster struggled to stand.
Then it finally ran into the forest.
Silence returned.
Ryuzen stood there, breathing heavily.
The young woman rushed toward the boy.
The old man stared at Ryuzen.
“You…”
Ryuzen looked at him.
“Are you hurt?”
The old man shook his head.
“No.”
“Good.”
Ryuzen turned to leave.
The old man called after him.
“Wait!”
Ryuzen stopped.
“You saved us.”
Ryuzen shrugged.
“Anyone would’ve done the same.”
The old man smiled sadly.
“Perhaps.”
He looked at Ryuzen’s clothes.
“You look like you’ve been traveling alone for some time.”
“I have.”
“Where are you going?”
Ryuzen looked ahead.
He had no answer.
“I don’t know yet.”
The old man studied him.
“You don’t have anywhere to go?”
Ryuzen shook his head.
“No.”
The old man pointed toward the distant mountains.
“There is a small village beyond those hills. You can find food and shelter there.”
Ryuzen’s eyes brightened.
“Really?”
The old man nodded.
“But be careful.”
“Why?”
The old man’s smile disappeared.
“Because the wilderness is becoming more dangerous.”
Ryuzen looked toward the forest.
“What do you mean?”
“Strange beasts have appeared recently. Some are stronger than anything we’ve seen before.”
Ryuzen became quiet.
The old man continued.
“And travelers have been disappearing.”
Ryuzen looked at his hands.
A tiny spark appeared between his fingers.
For some reason, he felt excited rather than afraid.
The old man noticed the spark.
“Your Inner Beast…”
Ryuzen closed his hand.
“Electric Eel.”
The old man looked surprised.
“An Electric Eel?”
Ryuzen nodded.
The old man didn’t laugh.
He simply looked at him.
“Then perhaps the gods have a strange sense of humor.”
Ryuzen smiled.
“That’s what everyone says.”
The old man pointed toward the mountains again.
“Follow the road.”
Ryuzen nodded.
“Thank you.”
He started walking.
After a few steps, the boy shouted,
“Big brother!”
Ryuzen turned.
The boy smiled.
“Thank you for saving us!”
Ryuzen smiled back.
“Stay strong.”
The boy nodded.
Ryuzen continued toward the mountains.
For the first time since leaving Kryptoria, someone had looked at him without seeing a weak prince.
They had simply seen Ryuzen.
And somehow, that meant more to him than he expected.
He looked toward the distant mountains.
“I need to get stronger.”
His hand tightened.
“Much stronger.”
A faint rumble of thunder echoed inside his body.
Ryuzen stopped.
His eyes widened.
For just a moment, the blue sparks around his hand became unusually intense.
Then they disappeared.
Ryuzen stared at his palm.
“What was that?”
He didn’t know.
He had no idea what his Electric Eel truly was.
He didn’t know why his body struggled to contain it.
He didn’t know what waited beyond the mountains.
But somewhere in that vast wilderness…
Something had begun to notice him.
And Ryuzen’s journey had only just started.