The Path Of A True King.
Chapter 43: Tony (1)

Chapter 43: Tony (1)

Chapter 82: Rio Vs The Whip Twins

Rio stood with casual menace, chain in hand, each link glinting like a predator’s smile.

The metal slithered around his arm, coiled and ready.

Across from him, two Moon Gang fighters moved in tandem—twin brothers with matching sneers and whips crackling with Ki.

They didn’t speak.

They didn’t have to.

The air between them sparked with anticipation.

Rio tilted his head, a crooked grin spreading across his face. "Pretty boys," he said, voice low and mocking. "Let’s tangle."

The twins moved like mirror images—perfect sync.

Their whips snapped out with a shrill whistle, slicing through the air with deadly precision.

Rio slid left, feet skimming across the gravel, chain spinning with measured grace.

One whip came too close—he caught it mid-swing with his chain, the metal links snagging the tip in a tight coil. With a sharp tug, he pulled.

The first twin stumbled forward, off-balance, eyes wide.

That’s all Rio needed.

He surged forward, chain whistling through the air.

The weighted end moved like a comet.

Crack!

It smashed into the twin’s temple, sending him twisting midair like a ragdoll. He slammed into a stack of rusted pipes behind him, the crash echoing like a gong.

One down.

Rio pivoted, eyes narrowing.

The second twin let out a low growl and lunged.

His whip was already in motion—a blur of red and raw velocity.

Rio responded with precision.

His chain moved like a serpent—coiling, deflecting, striking.

But this twin was sharper.

Quicker.

The whip danced low, slicing through Rio’s pants leg and drawing a thin line of blood along his calf.

Rio grunted and twisted on reflex, barely avoiding a second lash to the ribs.

The twin was in close now—too close.

A mistake.

Rio spun, wrapping the chain around the man’s arm in a blur of motion.

The metal constricted, tightening like a noose.

Then came the grunt of exertion.

Rio used his whole body—hips, legs, shoulders—and yanked.

The twin was pulled off balance just long enough.

Rio planted his boot and drove the man downward, slamming his face hard into the gravel with a sickening thud. Dust exploded around them.

No hesitation.

Rio reared the chain back like a whip of his own, then cracked it down onto the man’s spine.

The twin spasmed once—then went limp.

Silence returned, broken only by the clinking of Rio’s chain as it settled.

He exhaled through his nose and stood tall, spinning the chain lazily around his wrist.

"Two-for-one special," he muttered, flicking blood off the links with a casual snap.

Then he turned, already searching for his next dance partner.

Tony vs Orion

The clearing around them had descended into chaos—shouts, crashes, the metallic ring of weapons clashing—but for Tony, all of that fell into silence.

His world had narrowed.

Just him and the man before him.

Vice Leader Orion.

The man stood motionless, a picture of calm authority, his grip loose on the katana resting at his side. His eyes, sharp and unreadable, held no fear—only calculation. His long coat shifted with the wind, giving him an almost regal silhouette amid the storm of violence.

Tony rolled his shoulders, spinning his bat once in a casual, practiced motion. Then he let his Ki flow—gold and wild, igniting along the weapon’s length like fire eating through dry wood.

Orion raised an eyebrow. A faint, amused smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

"Peak of the Beginner Knight stage," he said, his tone cold and measured, like a scientist observing a rare experiment. "You’re almost worthy of me."

Tony didn’t answer. He didn’t need to.

The silence between them cracked—

And then they vanished.

To the untrained eye, they’d disappeared entirely. But for those attuned to the flow of Ki, it was a blur of movement and light.

A sonic boom split the air as their auras collided mid-strike.

Ki clashed with Ki.

Orion’s katana came down like a flash of lightning, almost imperceptible, slicing through the air with enough force to fracture stone.

But Tony saw it.

He dropped his stance low, knees bending into a deep crouch as the blade missed by mere inches. He twisted sharply, bringing his bat upward in a sweeping arc. His Ki exploded outward as it connected with Orion’s ribs, the impact releasing a small shockwave that cracked the gravel underfoot.

Orion skidded back, boots digging shallow trenches as he regained balance. His breath came sharp, but his expression didn’t waver.

No pain. No fear.

Just focus.

Then came a blur of slashes—surgical, calculated, deadly.

Orion’s movements were more than just fast—they were layered, predictive, like he was dancing with the future. His katana sang as it moved, carving glowing arcs and symbols into the air with every swing.

Tony gritted his teeth, bringing his bat up in a flurry of parries. Each impact rang like a bell, sending painful reverberations up his arms. Sparks flew. His Ki strained, the pressure building like a dam ready to burst.

But he was smiling.

Not out of arrogance.

Out of thrill.

This was the kind of fight that made him feel alive.

He planted one foot firmly into the earth and roared, slamming his bat downward with all his might. Ki detonated in a wide cone of force—pure, explosive energy.

Orion flew backward, flipping in midair before landing in a crouch, sliding several meters.

Tony didn’t hesitate.

He advanced—step by measured step.

Each stride stronger than the last.

His bat pulsed in sync with his heartbeat, the Ki flowing through him like a storm given form.

He wasn’t reacting anymore.

He was controlling the tempo.

Reading Orion’s rhythm.

Leading the dance.

Orion stood once more, brushing a speck of dust from his shoulder. A thin cut now lined his side—shallow, but visible.

He looked at Tony differently now.

Not as a thug with a weapon.

But as a warrior.

"You’re better than I expected," Orion said, raising his katana again, this time with both hands. "But don’t think for a second that you’ve seen all I can do."

Tony gave a small chuckle. "Wouldn’t dream of it."

Their auras flared once again, Ki howling as the ground between them cracked under the pressure of their presence.

This fight was far from over.

To be continued...