Story Arcs

#### Main Plot

Ryota spars with Natsuki in preparation for his upcoming Promotion Gauntlet. Natsuki, who is one rank above him, takes it somewhat easy on him. Ryota performs a judo throw on her and submits her at "fire point". She congratulates him before surprising him with a quick surge of fire from her fingertips, singeing his hair. He panics and she chuckles before waving her hand, dispersing the fire. As Ryota makes a stunned expression, she jokes that his hair is going to get him hurt one day.

Next, they run through the basic katas. She asks him which ones he struggles with the most. He replies with "All of them."

Ryota takes on the Gauntlet, in a batch of fifty other examinees.

* He barely passes the Technical Trials, except for the Flame Whip and Flamethrower Katas. He scores a 5/10.
* He performs well in the Physical Trials, ranking well in speed, toughness, stamina, accuracy and reaction speed. He scores a 9/10.
* He performs moderately well in the Limit Trials, destroying a wall in his Destruction Test and exerting 2,100 kilojoules over 1 minute.

The examinees are given a quick break, and given a regeneration tonic. Ryota's parents and Natsuki give him a pep talk.

For the last part of the Gauntlet, Ryota completes two exhibition duels against his peers and one against his mentor, Master Harashi. He stalemates against his peers. Master Harashi takes it easy on him, giving him a chance to demonstrate his skills. The Master is impressed.

At the end, Ryota is successfully promoted alongside just five other disciples. Two other Masters remark that the students seem to be getting weaker. Master Harashi proudly sticks a patch on Ryota's belt and addresses him by his new rank of Senior.

Ryota and his family, accompanied by Natsuki her brother, have a celebratory dinner at a slightly upscale restaurant. Ryota is shocked and, with his eyes, asks his father how he could afford it. His father says to let it be and to "just enjoy it". Outside the restaurant, the air vibrates and a dark pair of eyes flashes momentarily.

#### Side Plot

In the Emerald Citadel, the Senshuken are holding their annual meeting. The Wind Champion, Kaizen, questions why the Flame Senshuken, Ryokuren, has skipped yet another meeting. He asks if Ryokuren is still on his search, and if anyone has heard any news about him. The Earth Senshuken, Yamasu, states that he's never seen Ryokuren so obsessed over something, and that it must take something truly revolutionary to captivate his interest for so long.

The Senshuken shift their discussion. Eiri, the Water Senshuken, remarks that she has started seeing strange vibrations around the country. She swears that, occasionally, she will see the air simply ripple for a split second before returning to normal. She asks if anyone has seen the same. Kaizen laughs it off. He jokes that she might be delirious with overwork, and Yamasu scolds him. Yamasu claims he has not seen such ripples, but that it is concerning. He mentions that he might visit the Sapphire City, the Water Capital, to investigate personally. Eiri thanks him.

*Editor's note: Ryokuren is investigating strange pulses of Light Energy which have started emerging throughout the country. Light Energy, along with Shadow Energy, has not been felt in over a millennia, when both deities mysteriously vanished and took with them their entire populations of worshippers, as well as their technology. Their civilisations are now abandoned ghost cities.*