The Underdogs Throne

Chapter 2: The Hidden Dojo

Leo sat wide awake in his little shelter. He stared at the pendant in his palm.

It was still glowing. Just a little. A soft green light blinked every few seconds like a slow heartbeat.

Leo had barely slept.

The strange figure from last night hadn't come back. The whisper that called his name was gone. But he couldn't shake the feeling that something inside the pendant was alive. Watching him.

And he couldn't stop thinking about Master Shen.

"You are the last heir of the Tian Clan."

Those words kept playing in his head over and over.

Leo got up and brushed dust off his jeans. He looked out at the busy city. He had no plan and no idea where to go. But something told him he needed to find Shen again. Not just because of the pendant. For the first time in his life, he felt like he might belong somewhere. Be part of something bigger than just surviving on the streets.

That thought scared him more than anything.

Leo followed his gut feeling. He walked back through the alleys where he had fought those gang members. Past closed shops and walls covered in graffiti. Then he saw something that made him stop.

A old warehouse with broken windows and a faded sign that said "Monarch Textiles." It looked empty like everything else in this part of town.

But as Leo got closer, the pendant grew warm against his chest.

He pushed open the rusty door and stepped inside.

Dust floated in the air. Sunlight came through holes in the roof. But in the middle of the room was something strange. A large circle on the floor covered in symbols that looked just like the ones on his pendant.

Leo knelt down and placed the pendant into a small groove in the circle. It fit perfectly.

The floor shook. With a deep rumble, the circle dropped down and showed stone stairs going into darkness.

Leo waited for a moment. Then he took a deep breath and went down.

The underground tunnel was cool and quiet. The stone walls were smooth but looked very old. Torches lit up as he walked past them, casting dancing shadows. At the bottom was a wide wooden door with the same strange marks carved into it.

The door opened before he could knock.

Master Shen stood there waiting with a calm smile on his face.

"I knew you would come," he said.

Leo stepped inside and his eyes went wide.

The dojo was nothing like he expected. Soft mats covered the floors. Training weapons hung on the walls. A small waterfall ran down one side into a clear pool. Everything felt peaceful and sacred. Almost magical.

"What is this place?" Leo asked.

"The last hidden dojo of the Tian Clan," Shen said. "Built under the city long ago. Safe from our enemies."

Leo looked around in wonder. "And I really belong here?"

Shen nodded. "You are the last of us."

They sat across from each other on the mat. The pendant rested between them, still glowing softly.

Shen spoke slowly like he was telling an old story. "Hundreds of years ago, the Tian Clan was chosen by the Spirit of War. An ancient power that gave us the Battle Core. It made our warriors fast and strong. It helped them see clearly in battle. We used this gift to protect Ironvale from those who wanted to destroy it."

"But we were betrayed," Shen continued. His voice got sadder. "Other clans like the Fang grew jealous of our power. They attacked us from the inside. They killed our leaders and destroyed almost everything we built."

Leo frowned. "Why would they do that?"

"Because they want what we have. The source of the Battle Core's power. The spirit that gives us strength still lives, hidden somewhere. Now that you have awakened, they will come looking for it. And for you."

Leo leaned back, feeling overwhelmed. "So what, you want me to fight them? I don't even know how to punch someone the right way."

"You don't need to learn everything today," Shen said gently. "But you do need to start."

The first training session was hard.

Shen had Leo stand in the center of the dojo with his palms open and breathing steady.

"Feel the energy inside you," Shen told him. "Let the Battle Core flow through your body."

Leo closed his eyes.

At first he felt nothing. Then a tiny spark. Heat in his chest that rose up like pressure behind his ribs.

It felt powerful. Like it could do anything.

But when Leo tried to control it, his body jerked forward suddenly. A blast of invisible force knocked over a rack of weapons. Leo stumbled backward, gasping for air and almost fell down.

Shen caught him just in time.

"You tried to rush it," Shen said calmly. "The Core must be guided, not forced."

Leo sat down hard, wiping sweat from his face. "That thing feels like a wild animal inside me. I thought I was going to explode."

Shen nodded. "You are not wrong about that."

The pain in Leo's arms and chest was real. His muscles hurt. His head felt dizzy. But deep inside, he felt something waking up. Something he couldn't put into words.

Later that evening, after hours of practice, Shen left to make tea. Leo stayed in the dojo, sitting by the pool to cool off.

That's when he heard it.

A soft creak near the back wall. A shadow moving where no one should be.

Leo stood up quickly with his fists ready, just like Shen had taught him.

A man dressed in dark clothes stepped into the light. He had a nasty smirk on his face.

"Well, well. The little Tian puppy."

Leo didn't move. "Who are you?"

The man tilted his head like he was enjoying this. "Just bringing a message. The Fang Clan has been watching you. And now we know exactly where you are."

He turned to leave.

Leo rushed at him but the man disappeared in a puff of black smoke before Leo could reach him.

Shen ran in moments later, looking worried. "I felt it. Someone was here."

Leo pointed to where the man had been. "He said he was from the Fang Clan. He saw me training."

Shen's face went dark. "Then it has begun."

That night, Shen told Leo the truth about what the Fang Clan really wanted.

"They have searched for the source of the Battle Core for many years. If they find it, they won't just control Ironvale. They will destroy everything good in this world."

Leo swallowed hard. "Why does it have to be me? Why can't someone else do this?"

Shen looked him straight in the eye. "Because you are the only one left who can."

Leo didn't sleep that night. He lay on a mat in the corner of the dojo, staring at the ceiling. The pendant felt warm in his hand.

He felt alone but not completely powerless anymore.

Just before the sun came up, Leo stood in the center of the dojo again. Everyone else was still asleep. He wanted to try using his power again. This time slowly and carefully.

He closed his eyes and breathed in deep.

The pendant pulsed once.

Then something incredible happened.

The green stone began to glow much brighter. It shimmered and threw a vision into the air right in front of him.

A girl appeared in the light.

She looked about his age with fierce eyes and short black hair. A long scar ran down her left cheek. She wore dark fighting clothes and stared right at him like she could actually see him through the vision.

Her voice was clear and sharp. "You're not ready."

Leo stepped back, shocked.

"Who are you?" he asked.

But the vision broke apart into sparks of light before she could answer.

The dojo went quiet again. The pendant stopped glowing.

Leo stood there frozen, his heart beating fast and loud.

Who was that girl? And why did it feel like she was coming for him?