Episode 5: Let’s Have Fun

“This is stupid!”

Ven shouts as he stomps through the forest, searching for a way out of this strange place.

“Maybe I’m dreaming. Yeah, that’s it. I’m having a dream. Well... more like a nightmare. A very long one. With an evil Kakashi look-alike. Yeah.”

He stumbles over sticks and twigs as he walks aimlessly, beads of sweat dripping down his face.

“Do people even sweat in their dreams?” he asks himself, wiping the sweat from his forehead. “I don’t even know where I am.”

He stops walking and takes in his surroundings. Nothing but trees and shrubs surround him. There is no sign of life anywhere. And for a forest? It is strangely quiet.

Tears begin forming in Ven’s eyes. He tries blinking them away, but they roll down his cheeks.

“Help,” Ven cries softly. “Help.”

His legs give out, and he falls to his knees and begins sobbing uncontrollably.

“Hey, kid.”

A pair of worn black boots appear in front of him.

Ven looks up. Standing before him is a man wearing a black battle suit. He has a caramel complexion, silver dreadlocks, a medium-muscular build, and gray eyes. He is quite handsome as well.

“What are you doing out here?” the man asks in a silky, smooth voice.

“I... I need help,” Ven stammers. “I don’t know what’s going on. I just want to go home.”

He wipes his snot-covered nose.

“Where are you from?”

“I’m from Japan.” Ven answers.

“Japan?” The man scratches his head. “I’ve never heard of that place before. Where is that?”

“What do you mean?” Ven asks.

The man shrugs. “Exactly what I asked.”

Ven stares at him, confused.

The man simply stares back with a blank expression.

There is something off about this guy... His energy feels weird.

Ven slowly gets to his feet and stares at the man, completely bewildered.

“I’m Japanese?”

“No.” The man shakes his head. “I don’t think that’s it.”

“What?” Ven tilts his head.

Something is REALLY off about this guy...

“Then what am I?” Ven asks.

He instinctively took a step backward. His body tensed, and his ears perked up. Something about the man was setting off every warning inside him.

Danger.

The man stares at him blankly before giving him a sly smile. “I know what you are...” His voice suddenly becomes cold. “Tenari.”

The man then locks eyes with Ven and quickly reaches for his neck. Ven barely manages to dodge the attack and stumbles backward.

“A Tenari what?! What is that?!” Ven demands.

“You know exactly what you are!” the man snaps. “You’re a spy, aren’t you?!”

A powerful gust of wind suddenly exploded from the man's body and launched Ven backward. He flew several feet before hitting the ground hard. Ven looked up just in time to see the man holding a swirling sphere of wind in his palm. The compressed air spun violently, forming what looked like a miniature tornado.

“Oh, hell no!”

Ven immediately turns and runs.

“Get your ass back here!” the man shouted.

He chased after Ven, firing bursts of wind as he ran. The attacks tore through the forest, slamming into trees and sending branches crashing to the ground.

“Ahhhhhhh! HELP ME!” Ven screamed as he ran, desperately dodging the attacks.

“Coward!” the man yells. “How could a Tenari run?! How pathetic!”

Ven dives into a pile of bushes, attempting to hide.

“I can smell your fear, Tenari,” the man hisses. “Come out. This will be much easier.”

Ven holds his breath, trying to silence his heavy breathing.

Please don’t find me... Please don’t find me.

A powerful gust tears through the shrubs, revealing Ven’s hiding place.

“Found you!”

The man grabs Ven by the neck and pulls him out before driving his fist into his face.

Hard.

Ven's head snaps backward from the impact, and his eyes water from the pain. Before he can recover, another punch strikes him directly in the nose. Blood immediately begins dripping down his face.

“Absolutely pathetic!” the man taunts. He drives his fist into Ven’s stomach. “So disappointing! How could a Madokai—better yet, a TENARI—not fight back?!” He grabs Ven again. “Show me something!” He continues to strike Ven, each blow accompanied by another insult. Ven tries to protect himself, but he can't keep up with the man's attacks. Every attempt to defend himself is met with another punch.

Finally, the man throws him to the ground. Ven collapses onto his knees, fighting back tears as pain courses through his body. He spits blood onto the forest floor, his face twisting in agony as he struggles to keep himself from crying.

“What’s the matter?” the man asks mockingly. “Can’t fight back?”

He walks over and places his black boot against Ven's back. His face twists in agony as he refuses to cry.

“Do something!” The man presses down harder. “Do you want to die... like your mother?” A cruel smile spreads across his face.

Ven says nothing.

The man's words remain in his mind.

Like your mother.

For a moment, Ven simply remains there, trembling beneath the man's boot. The pain is overwhelming, and fear still grips his body.

But something else is beginning to rise beneath it.

Anger.

The man lifts his boot from Ven's back and prepares to stomp down. Then a deep growl escapes from Ven's throat. The man pauses and cocks his head to the side. Ven slowly pushes himself upright. His body trembles as he forces himself to stand. Steam begins to rise from his skin, curling into the air around him. The man stares at him, his expression slowly changing. Ven lifts his head and something in his eyes are different. The irises that were once ordinary are now a deep, crimson red. He locks eyes with the man and for the first time, the man's confident expression disappears.

Ven raises his fist.

Something inside him is burning.

He doesn't understand what is happening. He doesn't know where the power comes from or why his body suddenly feels different. He only knows that he wants to hit this man and the man seems to realize the same thing.

Ven throws his punch.

The moment his fist moves forward, flames erupt around it.

And then—

Everything goes black.