Douluo Dalu:Shards of Fate

The caravan rolled slowly over the uneven forest path, its wheels creaking rhythmically with each bump. The damp air carried the earthy scent of pine, and the dense canopy overhead muted the light, casting the world below in shifting shadows. Ryo walked beside the caravan, his chains dragging through the mud, carving faint grooves into the ground.

His glowing crimson eyes, faint in the dim light, scanned the forest like a predator. He had chosen to walk rather than sit inside the caravan, finding the cramped space too suffocating. More than that, a deep unease had settled in his chest—an unshakable sense that they were not alone.

On the driver's perch, Li Anye guided the horses with a steady hand. His crescent-shaped mustache curled as he hummed a low tune, seemingly unconcerned by the forest's looming presence. The horses' steady clopping blended with the soft rustle of leaves.

"You're like a ghost, boy," Li said suddenly, breaking the silence. His voice was warm and gruff, laced with amusement. "Quiet, watchful, and carrying a weight far heavier than your years."

Ryo cast a glance his way but remained silent, his attention quickly returning to the shadowed trees. His hands unconsciously tightened their grip on the chains loosely wrapped around his wrists.

Li sighed, stroking his mustache. "Not much for talking, are you? That's all right. The road teaches patience, whether you want it to or not." He looked skyward, his gaze thoughtful. "The Goddess of Life grants us all the time we need, though we seldom recognize it."

The mention of the Goddess stirred no response from Ryo. His eyes stayed fixed ahead, his body taut like a drawn bowstring.

"Stop the caravan," Ryo said suddenly, his voice cold and commanding.

Li blinked, startled. "Hmm?"

"We're not alone," Ryo murmured, his crimson eyes narrowing. There was no fear in his voice, only a steely edge of readiness.

Li tugged gently on the reins, slowing the horses. His expression grew serious as he studied the boy. "You've got sharp senses, boy. Too sharp for your age."

Before Ryo could reply, the forest erupted. Shadows shifted as five men emerged from the trees, their weapons catching the faint light. Rusted swords and jagged knives glinted ominously in their hands. Their ragged clothes and hardened faces bore the marks of desperate men with nothing to lose.

"Well, well," one of the bandits sneered, his scarred face twisting into an ugly grin. "An old merchant and a brat. Looks like we're eating well tonight."

Li remained calm, his hands resting lightly on his knees. "Gentlemen," he said, his voice steady, "I'd advise against whatever you're planning. The Goddess of Life doesn't favor senseless bloodshed."

The bandits laughed harshly, their amusement filling the forest.

"And who's going to stop us? You?" the scarred leader taunted, raising his sword. "You look like a stiff wind could knock you over."

Ryo stepped forward before Li could respond. His glowing red eyes locked onto the bandits, and the air around him seemed to thicken. Without a word, he unwound the chains from his wrists, letting them hang in his hands like coiled serpents.

"Back off, kid," one of the bandits barked, though his voice faltered slightly. There was something unsettling about the boy's presence.

Ryo's steps didn't falter. His voice, cold and devoid of emotion, cut through the tension. "Do you think I fear you? You're nothing. Just scum waiting to die."

The scarred leader's face twisted with rage. "You little—!" He lunged at Ryo, sword raised high.

Ryo moved like lightning. The chains in his hands lashed out with a sharp crack, striking the bandit's face. Blood sprayed as the iron links tore through flesh, and the man collapsed, clutching his ruined face and howling in pain.

The other bandits froze, startled by the boy's ferocity.

"Ryo," Li said softly, his tone a warning. "That's enough."

But Ryo was deaf to him. He leapt at the next bandit, his chains whistling through the air. The man managed to block with his sword, but the sheer force of Ryo's attack sent him stumbling backward. The boy's crimson eyes burned with a hatred far too deep for his years.

Another bandit lunged from behind, locking his arms around Ryo in an attempt to restrain him. Ryo twisted sharply, wrapping his chains around the man's arm and yanking with brutal precision. The sickening snap of bone echoed through the clearing as the man crumpled to the ground, wailing in agony.

The remaining bandits turned their attention to Li, realizing too late that the boy was far more dangerous than they had anticipated.

"Well, old man," the leader growled, his voice tinged with desperation, "looks like you're next."

Li Anye sighed heavily, standing slowly from the driver's perch. He dusted off his hands, his mustache twitching faintly. "I warned you, didn't I?" he said, his voice low and measured. "The Goddess of Life doesn't look kindly on senseless violence."

The leader snarled and lunged, his sword aimed directly for Li's throat.

What followed was a blur of motion. Li sidestepped the attack with a grace that belied his age, his hand snapping out to seize the man's wrist. With a single fluid movement, he twisted, breaking the wrist and sending the sword clattering to the ground.

The remaining bandits charged, but it was futile. Li moved with practiced precision, his wiry frame weaving effortlessly through their clumsy strikes. Each movement ended with a bandit falling, either unconscious or worse. Within moments, the clearing was silent save for the rustle of leaves and the faint groans of the defeated.

Li dusted off his hands once more, glancing at Ryo. The boy stood amidst the carnage, his chains still clenched tightly in his fists, his glowing eyes fixed on the bodies around him.

"You've got a fire in you, boy," Li said quietly. "But it's burning too hot."

Ryo's gaze shifted to the old man, his expression unreadable. Slowly, he released the chains, letting them fall to the ground with a muted clink. "They deserved it," he said flatly, his voice cold.

Li studied him for a long moment, his face etched with a mixture of sadness and understanding. "Maybe they did," he said finally. "But if you keep feeding that fire, it'll consume you before you achieve what you're after." He looked skyward, his voice softening. "The Goddess of Life guides even the lost. I'll pray she helps you find your way, boy. Even if it takes a lifetime."

Ryo said nothing. He bent down, picked up his chains, and began walking back to the caravan.

Li watched him go, his expression tinged with sorrow. The wrath burning in the boy's heart was as fierce as it was dangerous, and he knew it wouldn't be easily extinguished.

"All I can do is pray," Li murmured, "and hope you find what you're looking for before it's too late."