The Underdogs Throne

Ironvale never sleeps. Even at three in the morning, the city buzzed with life. Neon signs lit up the dirty streets in bright colors. Cars honked their horns. People walked fast with their heads down, thinking about their own problems.

Leo wasn't one of those people. He had bigger worries.

He pressed his back against a brick wall and stared at the dumpling cart across the street. The old man running it was spooning sauce over pork buns that looked like golden pillows. The smell hit Leo hard. His empty stomach twisted with hunger.

When did he last eat? Yesterday? Two days ago? Time blurred together when you lived on the streets.

Leo was nineteen and had been homeless for as long as he could remember. He knew which doors stayed unlocked at night. He knew which garbage cans had the best food. He knew which cops would chase him and which ones didn't care. Most important, he knew how to read people. Their habits. Their blind spots. When they weren't paying attention.

The dumpling man was serving a guy in an expensive suit. The customer kept checking his phone and looked annoyed. Perfect.

Leo walked past the cart slowly, hands in his hoodie pockets. Just another person wandering the late night streets. He circled back and timed his move. The businessman was on the phone now, waving his free hand around. The dumpling man had turned away to make another order.

This was it.

Leo grabbed a warm bun and slipped it into his pocket. He kept walking at a normal pace even though his heart was racing. Don't run. Don't look back. Just walk away.

"Hey! Stop! Thief!"

So much for that plan.

The dumpling man's voice cut through the night. A few people turned to look but quickly minded their own business. Nobody wanted trouble in Ironvale.

But someone was coming after him. Leo heard heavy footsteps behind him. Not the dumpling man. Someone younger and faster. More than one person.

Leo ran. His old sneakers slapped against the wet street as he dove into the maze of side alleys. Left turn, right turn, another left. He knew these streets like the back of his hand. But the footsteps never stopped following him.

Who was chasing him? Over a stolen dumpling?

He got his answer when he turned a corner and saw three men blocking the narrow alley ahead. These weren't good people trying to help. They had skull tattoos on their necks and moved like they were used to people being scared of them.

The Skulls gang. Great.

"Well, well," said the tallest one. He was thin like a scarecrow with cold black eyes. "Look what we caught. A little mouse stealing in our neighborhood."

Leo put his hands up. "Look, I didn't know this was your area. I was just hungry. It's not like I robbed a bank."

The shortest guy was built like a brick wall. He cracked his knuckles loud enough for Leo to hear. "You think being hungry means you can steal from us?"

"I stole from a dumpling cart."

"Everything in six blocks pays us protection money," the tall one explained like he was talking to a child. "When you steal from them, you steal from us. And we don't like that."

The third man pulled out a metal pipe. It caught the dim streetlight.

Leo's mouth went dry. "Come on, guys. It was just food."

"Nah," the short guy said, stepping closer. "It's about respect."

The first punch came fast. A big swing aimed right at Leo's face.

But something weird happened.

Time slowed down. Leo could see the fist coming like it was moving through thick honey. His body moved without him thinking about it. He ducked under the punch, spun around, and grabbed the man's arm. He twisted it just right. The guy's own speed worked against him and he went down on his knees, gasping.

The one with the pipe swung it at Leo's head. Again, Leo moved without thinking. He stepped to the side and kicked the man's knee. The attacker fell hard and the pipe clattered across the ground.

The tall guy hesitated for a second. His confidence cracked. But he came at Leo anyway with both fists up.

Leo's right hand shot out by itself. His knuckles hit the man's jaw with a loud crack. The guy's head snapped back and he crashed into the wall before sliding down to the ground.

The whole fight lasted maybe ten seconds.

Leo stood there breathing hard, staring at his hands like they belonged to someone else. They were steady now. Steadier than they had ever been. But there was something else too. A warm feeling spreading through his chest, like drinking hot coffee on a cold day.

"Very good."

The voice came from behind him. Calm and not scared at all. Leo spun around with his fists up, expecting another attacker.

Instead he saw an old man who looked completely out of place in this dirty alley. He was small and thin with a long gray beard that reached almost to his waist. He wore strange clothes that looked like they came from an old movie. Blue silk robes tied with a red belt that seemed to shimmer in the light. But his eyes caught Leo's attention most. They were old eyes, full of knowledge and sadness and something else Leo couldn't name.

"Who are you?" Leo asked, keeping his guard up.

The old man stepped closer, moving smooth like water. "My name is Shen. I have been looking for you for a very long time, Leo Chen."

Leo felt ice in his veins. "How do you know my name?"

"Because you are the last member of the Tian family," Shen said gently. "A bloodline everyone thought was gone. Until tonight."

"Tian family?" Leo shook his head. "I don't know what you're talking about. I don't have a family."

"You do. You always have. They were warriors, Leo. Protectors. The power that ran through their blood runs through yours too."

Leo pointed at the three men groaning behind him. "You're saying this is what? Magic?"

"Not magic. Something older than that. It is called the Battle Core. Your body's true power waking up. Your ancestors could move like lightning and hit like thunder. They could survive things that would kill normal people. That power has been sleeping in your blood your whole life. Tonight it finally woke up."

Shen reached into his robes and pulled out something that made Leo catch his breath. It was a pendant made of the most beautiful green stone Leo had ever seen. Strange symbols were carved into it that seemed to move in the light. It hung from a simple cord but something about it felt warm and familiar.

"This belonged to your mother," Shen said softly. "Li Mei Tian. She died protecting you when you were three years old."

Leo stared at the pendant. For just a moment he could almost hear something. A woman's voice singing a song in a language he didn't know but somehow understood. The memory was there and gone before he could grab it. It left an ache in his chest.

"That's not possible," he whispered.

"Take it," Shen said, holding out the pendant. "It will help you control what is happening to you."

Leo didn't want to trust this stranger. But something made him reach out and take the green stone. The moment it touched his skin, that warm feeling in his chest grew bigger. It spread through his whole body like sunshine breaking through clouds. For the first time in years, maybe in his whole life, he felt complete.

"What's happening to me?" he asked.

"You are remembering who you really are," Shen said. "But Leo, you need to understand something. Your family was not killed by accident. There are people in this world who spent years hunting down anyone with Tian blood. And now that your power has awakened..."

He didn't need to finish.

"Why?" Leo asked. "What did we do?"

"You stood in their way. And now, after all these years, they know you are alive."

Leo stared at the old man. “Even if what you’re saying is true… why now? Why me?”

“Because the world needs you,” Shen said. “Dark things are rising again. And you, Leo, are meant to stand against them.”

Leo shook his head. “I’m not a hero. I’m just some kid trying not to starve.”

“You’re more than that. You always have been. The Battle Core doesn’t awaken for just anyone.”

Leo looked down at the pendant. It was warm, almost like it was alive, he could feel the energy radiating from it..

“I don’t know if I can believe you,” he said quietly.

“Take your time,” Shen said. “But keep the pendant. It will protect you. And when you're ready, come find me.”

With that, the old man turned and walked away, vanishing into the dark.

Leo stood alone, the pendant clutched in his hand.

Later that night, he found a spot to sleep behind an old warehouse. He curled up under a piece of cardboard and held the jade close to his chest. He wasn’t sure why, but he felt safer with it near him.

As he started to doze off, something strange happened.

The pendant glowed once, softly. Then again.

Leo opened his eyes.

And then he heard a whisper, so quiet it could’ve been the wind.

“Leo…” The voice called.

He sat up quickly, heart pounding heavily. “Who’s there?”, he said.

No answer.

The pendant glowed faintly, just for a second. Then it went still.

Leo looked around and saw a man, wrapped in black, with red eyes glowing in the dark.

“The Tian heir lives,” the figure muttered. “He doesn’t even know who’s coming for him.”

Then, without a sound, the figure disappeared into the night.