The air in the Shadow Clan compound was heavy with tension. Whispers circulated among the disciples, yet no one dared to act.

Hiro, the #3 disciple, sat quietly near the edge of the courtyard. His calm presence was a stark contrast to the simmering chaos around him.

Zane, the #4 disciple, couldn’t stand it. His fiery ambition to climb higher in the ranks burned every time he saw Hiro’s calm demeanor.

"Look at him," Zane sneered to Jace, the #6 disciple. "Sitting there like he owns the place."

Jace smirked, twirling a dagger in his hand. "Thinks he’s untouchable. Let’s remind him why he’s not."

The pair approached Hiro, their steps heavy with arrogance. Hiro glanced at them, his expression as neutral as ever.

"Hiro," Zane called out, his voice laced with mockery. "Still hiding behind that peaceful act? Maybe it’s time you proved you’re worthy of that spot."

Hiro didn’t flinch. "I have nothing to prove to you."

Jace laughed, his voice echoing across the courtyard. "That sounds like fear to me. What do you think, Zane?"

Zane grinned wickedly. "Definitely fear. Let’s give him a little encouragement."

Without warning, Zane lunged, his fist aimed directly at Hiro’s chest. Hiro managed to sidestep the first blow, but Jace was already behind him, landing a sharp kick against his side.

Hiro stumbled but recovered quickly, his stance steady as he tried to defend himself. "Come on, Hiro," Zane taunted, throwing another punch. "Show us why you’re #3."

Hiro deflected the blow, but the two-on-one assault was relentless. Jace’s dagger flashed, its blunt side catching Hiro’s shoulder and forcing him back.

Ren, the #8 disciple, had been watching from nearby. Seeing Hiro struggle, he stepped forward, his voice sharp. "That’s enough!"

Zane turned, his grin widening. "Oh, look. Hiro’s got a protector."

Ren’s fists clenched as he stepped between them. "Back off. Hiro doesn’t need to waste his time on you."

Zane raised an eyebrow, a cruel grin spreading across his face. "And who are you to speak for him?"

Ren didn’t back down. "His friend."

Jace’s smirk widened as he tightened his grip on his dagger. "Oh, this just got interesting."

The fight that followed was brutal. Ren held his own at first, landing a solid hit on Jace’s side, but the two-on-one assault quickly overwhelmed him.

Zane’s fist collided with Ren’s jaw, sending him crashing to the ground. Jace kicked him hard in the ribs, drawing a pained gasp.

"You should’ve stayed out of this," Jace sneered. Ren tried to rise, but Zane slammed a foot down on his chest, pinning him.

Blood trickled from Ren’s split lip, his eye already swelling shut. "Pathetic," Zane sneered. "You’re not even worth the effort."

Hiro moved to help, but Zane shoved him back with a glare. "Stay down, Hiro, or you’re next."

The next day, Tanaka made his way to the training grounds for his weekly sparring session with Ren. He found his friend sitting under a tree, his head bowed, and his body bruised and battered.

"Ren! What happened?" Tanaka demanded, kneeling beside him. Ren looked up, his voice hoarse. "Zane and Jace. They’ve been after Hiro for weeks. I tried to stop them."

Tanaka’s brow furrowed as anger flashed in his eyes. "And Hiro?" he asked. Ren shook his head. "He got hit a few times, but they focused on me. Said I should’ve kept my nose out of their business."

Tanaka’s fists tightened, his tone growing firm. "They’ve gone too far." Ren grabbed Tanaka’s arm, his voice weak. "Don’t. You’ll only end up like me."

Tanaka shook his head as he rose to his feet. "I’m not letting this slide," he said firmly.

Tanaka stormed across the courtyard, spotting Zane and Jace near the training dummies. Their smug laughter grated on his nerves as he approached.

"Zane! Jace!" Tanaka shouted, his voice cutting through the air. They turned, their expressions turning amused.

"Oh, look. Another hero," Zane said, smirking. Tanaka stopped a few feet away, his stance rigid. "Leave Hiro and Ren alone. This ends now."

Jace chuckled as he twirled his dagger. "Or what? You’ll stop us?" Tanaka didn’t hesitate. "Try me," he said.

The fight began instantly as Zane and Jace attacked with ferocity, their strikes coordinated and relentless. Tanaka fought back fiercely, his twin daggers flashing as he countered their blows.

But the two-on-one advantage quickly wore him down. Zane landed a solid punch to Tanaka’s stomach, sending him staggering.

Jace followed with a kick to his side, knocking him to the ground. "This is what happens when you get involved in things that are none of your business," Zane said, standing over him.

Floki, passing by the courtyard, noticed the commotion. He saw Tanaka on the ground, struggling to rise, while Zane and Jace loomed over him.

Nearby, Ren and Hiro watched helplessly, their expressions pained. Ren’s voice was hoarse as he explained, "This has been happening for weeks. They won’t stop."

Floki’s grin faded, replaced by a rare look of anger. Memories of Thor’s mocking laughter echoed in his mind. The times he’d been beaten down, humiliated, and left wishing someone had stood up for him.

His grip on his staff tightened. "I hate bullies," he muttered. Floki stepped into the courtyard, his voice sharp. "Hey!"

Zane and Jace turned, their smug expressions faltering as they saw Floki. "What do you want?" Zane demanded.

Floki’s grin returned, but it was cold and menacing. "To teach you two some manners."

Jace sneered, his voice dripping with arrogance. "You think you can take us both?"

Floki rested his staff on his shoulder. "I know I can."

The courtyard fell silent as disciples gathered, sensing a fight worth watching. Floki’s grin widened as Chang stepped forward to oversee the fight.

"No killing," Chang said simply. "Begin."

Zane and Jace attacked with confidence, their movements aggressive and calculated. Floki sidestepped Jace’s strike, his staff spinning to deflect Zane’s blow.

"Is that all you’ve got?" Floki taunted, his tone mocking. Jace snarled, lunging again, but Floki’s staff cracked against his wrist, sending the weapon clattering to the ground.

"That’s one," Floki said, his voice dripping with amusement. Zane lunged with a shadow-infused strike, but Floki activated his Shadow Veil, his figure blurring and reappearing behind him.

"Two," Floki whispered, striking Zane’s ribs with the end of his staff. The crowd watched in stunned silence as Floki dismantled his opponents with ease.

Jace attempted a final charge, but Floki summoned his Shadow Clone. The clone intercepted Jace, blocking his attack entirely.

The courtyard went silent, the unexpected defense shocking both Jace and Chang, who was overseeing the fight. Even Floki paused for a moment, his eyes narrowing in confusion.

Before he could process it, the system pulsed in his mind. [System Alert: Shadow Clone Technique Leveled Up. New Attribute Gained: Physical Interaction.]

Floki’s grin widened as he processed the information. "Looks like you’re in for more surprises," he said, sweeping Jace’s legs out from under him with ease.

Zane, breathing heavily, raised his blade for another attack. Floki’s staff moved faster, knocking the weapon from Zane’s grip and delivering a solid blow to his chest.

"Three," Floki said coldly as Zane crumpled to the ground. The courtyard erupted in whispers as Floki rested his staff on his shoulder, his grin sharp.

"Maybe next time, try picking on someone your own size," Floki said with a smirk. Chang stepped forward, his expression unusually impressed.

"Floki," Chang began, his tone curious. "How did you manage that? I’ve never seen a Shadow Clone block an attack."

Floki shrugged casually, though his mind raced as the system chimed in again. [System Explanation: Emotional State Triggered Advancement. Shadow Clone Technique, enhanced by Current Emotional Intensity.]

Floki chuckled, his tone light. "What can I say? I’m a fast learner. Maybe the gods decided to bless me today."

As the crowd began to thin, Ren, Hiro, and Tanaka approached Floki. Their voices were filled with gratitude. "Thank you."

Floki shrugged, his tone casual. "Don’t thank me yet. They’ll be back."

Meanwhile, in a quieter corner of the compound, Kaida and Lian, the #7 Disciple, faced each other in their usual sparring area. Kaida’s blade gleamed in the sunlight as she adjusted her stance.

"Ready?" she asked. Lian nodded, her defensive posture steady. "Always."

The two moved simultaneously, their strikes precise and calculated. Kaida’s speed clashed against Lian’s patience, the sound of steel ringing through the air.

"You’ve gotten faster," Lian remarked, parrying a quick thrust. Kaida smirked. "And you’re still as stubborn as ever."

The exchange continued, each pushing the other to their limits. Sweat dripped from their brows, but neither showed any sign of backing down.

Lian shifted her stance, her movements fluid as she countered Kaida’s aggressive strikes. "Still relying on brute force?"

Kaida laughed, her blade flashing. "It works, doesn’t it?"

The spar ended with both women stepping back, their breaths heavy but their smiles genuine. "One day, I’ll beat you," Kaida said, her tone light but determined.

Lian raised an eyebrow, her expression calm. "Keep dreaming."

As they sheathed their weapons, a faint camaraderie lingered in the air. Their rivalry was fierce, but it was built on mutual respect.

Kaida glanced toward the main courtyard, where the echoes of Floki’s fight still lingered. "Sounds like Floki’s been busy."

Lian smirked, her tone amused. "He always is."

The two walked back toward the compound together, their steps steady as they prepared for the challenges yet to come.