This is the world where strange things often seemed to happen just beneath the surface of everyday life. At the center of this world, a boy named Kouchu Misako was about to take his first step into something that would change everything he knew.

  Kouchu, a 12-year-old dreamer with spiky blue hair, hair bangs shaped like raindrops, lay asleep in his small room, the walls adorned with posters of Crystal Brawlers and Crystal Monsters. His blanket, crooked and half-tucked, suggested that even in his sleep, he couldn’t sit still.

  ?

  Dream Sequence:

  In the dream, Kouchu found himself in a dark, mysterious cave. The air was heavy with an eerie silence, except for the faint sound of something… or someone, breathing softly in the distance. As Kouchu wandered deeper, the faint glow of crystals illuminated his path, casting long shadows against the jagged walls.

  Suddenly, he froze.

  Somnus (a low, haunting voice):

  “You’re here, Kouchu… I have waited for you.”

  Kouchu’s heart raced. Standing before him was Somnus, a towering Crystal Monster. Its body shimmered in the dim light, glowing with streaks of blue and purple, like the night sky on a clear evening. It had the aura of wisdom and power, its eyes full of secrets.

  Kouchu (nervously):

  “W-who are you? And why am I here?”

  Somnus (smiling faintly):

  “You… are destined to become a Crystal Brawler. But only you can unlock your true power.”

  Before Kouchu could respond, Somnus vanished into thin air, leaving only the sound of faint whispers behind. Kouchu reached out desperately, but the dream began to fade.

  ?

  Kouchu (waking up suddenly):

  “What… What was that?”

  He sat up in his bed, breathing heavily as the remnants of the dream clung to his mind like a fog. The words echoed in his head, and his heart beat faster. “Crystal Brawler… is that… really me?”

  Determined, he jumped out of bed and grabbed his blue jacket, blue jeans, and red headband, his eyes filled with newfound resolve. Kouchu had a dream. A dream that would change everything.

  ?

  Scene: Professor Jessica Shari’s Lab

  Kouchu arrived at Professor Jessica Shari’s lab with a combination of excitement and nerves. The lab, a towering structure of glass and steel, was a hub of technology and experimentation. Inside, screens displayed various Crystal Monsters in action, while shelves were lined with strange devices and crystal shards.

  Professor Shari (a woman in her 30s with , long blonde hair and thick glasses, addressing the crowd):

  “To become a Crystal Brawler, one must not only have the right monster partner, but also the strength, skills, and strategy to succeed. And unfortunately, some people simply aren’t cut out for the job.”

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Kouchu raised his hand, the only one in the audience who looked nervous.

  Kouchu (shouting across the room):

  “I’m gonna be a Crystal Brawler! I can do it!”

  The room turned to look at him, and Professor Shari blinked in confusion. She walked over to him, her eyebrow quirked.

  Professor Shari (dryly):

  “You want to be a Brawler? You have no experience… Do you even know what a Crystal Brawler does?”

  Kouchu nodded enthusiastically.

  Kouchu (grinning):

  “I might not know how to fight, but I can learn! I want to be just like the great Brawlers—like my brother, who was a champion!”

  Shari sighed and rolled her eyes. Despite her skepticism, she decided to humor him.

  Professor Shari (sighing, pulling out a device):

  “Alright then. I’ll give you a test, but don’t expect much. Meet your new partner.”

  She pressed a button on her device, and a small pod opened. Inside, a four-legged spider-like creature with crystal patterns glowing on its back stepped out. It was small but looked… fierce.

  Kouchu (eyes widening):

  “Whoa… is that a Crystal Monster?”

  Professor Shari (nodding):

  “Meet Roaracryst. He’s not exactly… normal.”

  Roaracryst tilted his head, staring at Kouchu with wide, curious eyes.

  Roaracryst (chirping in a high-pitched, chipper voice):

  “Hi there, human! I’m Roaracryst! You look… funny!”

  Kouchu blinked, confused.

  Kouchu (awkwardly):

  “You—you’re talking?”

  Roaracryst (beaming):

  “Of course I am! All Crystal Monsters can talk! You humans just don’t pay attention!”

  Kouchu grinned, excited but unsure of what to do next.

  Kouchu:

  “Okay, so… we’re gonna fight together, right?”

  Professor Shari (with a dry smile):

  “Not yet, you’re not. You’ll need to train. And learn to work with your partner. Roaracryst is just as confused about you as you are about him.”

  Roaracryst puffed out his chest proudly.

  Roaracryst (to himself):

  “I don’t need training. I’ve been the best for years.”

  ?

  Scene: The Streets of Justice Town

  Kouchu and Roaracryst left the lab, still trying to figure each other out. As they walked through Justice Town, they stumbled upon another boy, his face intense and serious.

  Kouchu (looking up, puzzled):

  “Hey, you! What’s your name?”

  The boy with long red hair glanced at him briefly before turning his gaze back to the street.

  Sakuro Himensho (gruffly):

  “Sakuro. Why?”

  Before Kouchu could respond, a group of teens appeared out of nowhere. These teens looked sinister, all with a malicious air. Kouchu’s eyes widened as they approached, recognizing them from a previous encounter.

  The leader, Julia Denoku, stepped forward with a smirk.

  Julia Denoku (mockingly):

  “Well, well, if it isn’t the hero of the hour. You really messed up our plans, Kouchu.”

  Kouchu stood his ground, trying to appear tough, though he felt anything but.

  Kouchu (defiantly):

  “Plans? What do you mean by that?”

  Before Julia could answer, Roaracryst jumped in front of Kouchu, his tiny legs pounding the pavement as he let out an excited squeal.

  Roaracryst (puffing out his chest):

  “You leave him alone! He’s my Brawler!”

  The rest of the Menace Five, a ragtag group of evil teens, stepped forward, their eyes narrowed.

  Kathern Honika (snickering):

  “We’ll make sure you regret getting in our way, little guy.”

  With that, the battle was about to begin. Kouchu stood frozen, unsure how to fight, but Roaracryst was ready. He sprang into action, his movements swift and graceful as he darted around the enemies.

  ?

  Narration:

  As the chaos unfolded, Kouchu’s heart raced. He had no idea how to fight, but with Roaracryst by his side, perhaps he didn’t need to.

  The battle raged on, and somehow, through a combination of luck, Roaracryst’s skill, and Kouchu’s stubbornness, they managed to hold their ground. Eventually, the Menace Five retreated, realizing they couldn’t win today.

  Kouchu turned to Roaracryst, breathless.

  Kouchu (grinning):

  “That was amazing! We really did it, didn’t we?”

  Roaracryst (cheerful):

  “Of course we did! Now we’re official partners, right?”

  Kouchu nodded enthusiastically, finally feeling the fire of a true Crystal Brawler awakening inside him.

  Kouchu (smiling):

  “Let’s show everyone what we’re made of!”

  ?

  Narration:

  As the sun set over Justice Town, Kouchu and Roaracryst walked away from the fight, two unlikely partners now bound by a shared fate. The road ahead would be long, filled with challenges, but for the first time, Kouchu felt ready. Ready to face whatever came next.

  And so, the journey of the Crystal Brawler began.

  ?

  End of Episode 1.

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