Chapter 24 – The Party Begins
Jin Yuan leapt down from the towering blue stairs, his boots echoing across the metallic floor. The place stretched endlessly — layers of stairways twisting up and down through a labyrinth of high-tech buildings glowing in pale blue light.
He unsheathed his massive katana, eyes scanning every corner for a sign of threat.
Moments later, Musukoni approached from the mist, his twin daggers hanging at his sides.
Jin Yuan: "Where's Yusikuna? Did he get lost in this place?"
Musukoni's gaze dropped, his tone quiet and heavy.
Musukoni: "...Yusikuna's gone."
Jin Yuan's eyes widened slightly — just for a moment — before he continued walking in silence.
Musukoni followed behind, voice trembling as he spoke again.
Musukoni: "We fought our own alternate clones… he died saving me."
Jin Yuan said nothing. But in his mind, flashes of Yusikuna's grin, his loud jokes, and fiery energy played like faint echoes — memories too vivid to ignore.
They pressed on.
---
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Blue Realm—
Yuzurei spun his four katanas lazily in the air as he walked, the blades glinting like silver lightning.
Yuzurei: "Eh? Nothing here either… this place is so boring."
With a reckless grin, he descended even deeper into the mist, completely unfazed by the eerie silence around him. He didn't know he was walking right toward the Blue Knights, sworn defenders of this realm.
---
Back on the opposite side, Jin Yuan and Musukoni advanced through a mirrored corridor, their steps synchronized.
Suddenly — BOOM!
A shockwave shook the entire building as a muscular figure dropped from above. His landing cracked the metal floor beneath him.
He was massive — jet-black hair falling over one red eye and one blue. Metallic gauntlets gleamed on his forearms, each etched with glowing runes. On the right gauntlet, a name was engraved:
"Blue Knight – No. 3: Kaizen."
Musukoni's eyes narrowed, instantly analyzing.
Musukoni: "Jin Yuan... he's the third strongest here."
Jin Yuan gave a silent nod, shifting his stance. His katana hummed with energy.
Kaizen raised his gauntleted fists, his grin sharp and confident.
Kaizen: "Come on, then... let's get this party started."
The ground beneath them trembled as the battle of the Blue Realm began.