Echoes of Ragnarok – Episode 7: The Power of a Dreamer

Echoes of Ragnarok – Episode 7: The Power of a Dreamer

Blood stained the jungle floor. Captain Raizo, clutching the stump where his right hand used to be, staggered back, his breathing heavy. Ironfang Darius, the monstrous pirate, loomed over him, his battle axe dripping with fresh blood. His golden eyes flickered with amusement.

“You’re done, Raizo,” Ironfang sneered, raising his axe for the final strike.

Kai trembled with rage. His whole body burned, his breath sharp. He had never felt so furious, so helpless. His captain—the man who had just saved his life—was about to die.

No.

Not today.

Not ever.

Ironfang’s axe swung down—but before it could land, a blur of movement shot forward. A fist, stretched far beyond human limits, came slamming into Ironfang’s face.

BAM!

The force sent Ironfang flying, his massive body crashing through trees, breaking them like twigs. His crew gasped in shock.

Kai stood there, his fist still extended, steam rising from his arm. His breathing was ragged, but his eyes were burning with something different now.

Power.

“What… the hell was that?” one of Ironfang’s men muttered.

Kai looked down at his hand, flexing his fingers. His body felt light, fast, elastic. His muscles no longer ached—they felt alive.

Raizo chuckled weakly. “Heh… so you’ve finally figured it out.”

Kai cracked his knuckles. “Figured what out?”

Raizo grinned. “Your real power.”

Ironfang growled as he rose from the wreckage, his nose bleeding, his jaw clenched in fury. “You little shit…” He wiped the blood from his mouth and charged, swinging his axe at blinding speed.

But Kai was faster.

With a spring-like motion, he dodged, his body bending in ways no human could. Then—

“Gomu Gomu no… PISTOL!”

Kai’s fist rocketed forward, stretching across the battlefield before smashing into Ironfang’s gut. The impact sent him skidding back, coughing up spit, his massive frame struggling to stay upright.

The jungle fell silent.

Raizo’s crew, who had been fighting Ironfang’s men, paused. They had heard stories of Devil Fruits. Legends of gods and demons who wielded supernatural abilities. But now, they were witnessing it firsthand.

Ironfang clutched his stomach, his rage boiling over. “You… damn brat… you think this changes anything?!”

Kai smirked. “Nah. But it means I’m just getting started.”

He planted his feet, bouncing on the balls of his heels, feeling the way his rubberized body reacted to his movements. His blood was pumping, his adrenaline surging.

For the first time since setting out on this journey—

He felt unstoppable.

Echoes of Ragnarok – Episode 8: The Road to the King

Ironfang Darius gritted his teeth, wiping the blood from his mouth. His crew, seeing their captain struggling to stand, hesitated. They had never seen Ironfang pushed back before, let alone by some rookie brat.

Kai stood tall, his fists clenched, still getting used to the strange rubber power running through his veins. He had barely scratched the surface of his abilities, but one thing was clear—he was far from weak.

Ironfang spat on the ground. “Tch… this isn’t over, brat. You just got lucky.” He glared at Kai, his eyes burning with hatred. “Next time we meet, I’ll rip that fruit out of your corpse.”

With that, he turned and barked at his men, "We're leaving!"

His crew hesitated. They never expected Ironfang to retreat. But they obeyed, grabbing their injured and making their way toward their ship. Within minutes, the Black Fang Pirates had set sail, disappearing into the horizon.

Silence followed. Then—

“Damn, kid,” Raizo chuckled, shaking his head. “That was something else.”

Kai turned to him, noticing the severe wound where Raizo’s hand used to be. His stomach twisted with guilt.

“Raizo, I—”

Raizo held up his remaining hand, stopping him. “No regrets, kid. You’ve got something special.”

Kai stayed silent.

Then, Raizo motioned for his crew. “Bring the boat.”

Kai watched as a small but sturdy ship was pulled to shore. It was nothing fancy—just big enough for three people, with a single mast and a storage room.

Raizo grinned. “This is yours.”

Kai’s eyes widened. “What?”

“You heard me,” Raizo said. “This boat’s got no name, no history. Just like you. But one day, it’ll be legendary.”

Kai stared at the boat, his mind spinning.

Raizo placed a hand on his shoulder. “You’re still young, Kai. Too young. You need to get stronger. Train, learn, fight—and when you're ready, take this boat and sail.”

Raizo’s eyes hardened. “Become the King of the Pirates.”

Kai clenched his fists, his heart pounding.

This was it. His real journey was beginning.

A New Beginning

Raizo’s crew set sail, carrying villagers back to Kai’s home island. When they arrived, Kai’s heart nearly stopped—standing at the docks were his mother and father.

His father, Jiro D. Gantz, a tall man with graying black hair and piercing eyes, studied Kai with a deep, unreadable look.

His mother, Elara Gantz, rushed forward, hugging him tightly. “Kai… you idiot! You disappeared without a word!”

Kai grinned. “I was chasing a dream.”

Jiro crossed his arms. “Then you better not stop now.”

Kai smirked. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

From that day forward, Kai trained relentlessly. He wasn’t just fighting anymore—he was preparing. He would set sail when the time was right.

And he needed moves to match his dream.

Kai’s Signature Moves (Inspired by Guns, Cars, and Bikes)

Gomu Gomu no Pistol Start – A quick punch, like revving up an engine before launching at full speed.

Gomu Gomu no Turbo Punch – Kai spins his arm rapidly, increasing speed before delivering a devastating punch.

Gomu Gomu no Nitro Kick – A spring-loaded kick, launching him forward like a nitro-boosted car.

Gomu Gomu no Bullet Barrage – A rapid-fire series of punches, striking like machine-gun bullets.

Gomu Gomu no Drift Dodge – Using his rubber flexibility, Kai bends his body like a drifting car to evade attacks.

Gomu Gomu no Wheel Spin – Kai twists his legs like spinning tires, delivering a powerful tornado kick.

Gomu Gomu no Engine Smash – Kai stretches both fists back, then slams them forward like the shockwave of a car crash.

Gomu Gomu no Grand Prix – A finishing move where Kai dashes at high speed, ricocheting between walls, trees, or enemies before landing a final powerful punch.

As the sun set, Kai stood on the shore, his new boat behind him. His journey hadn’t started yet—but when it did…

He would race toward his dream at full speed.

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