Raiyokan and the Fibonacci Sequence

Chapter 14: Why, Peter?

The fear of the opponent's strength reached its peak, yet the ignorance of Peter's origin frightened me even more.

Mariana, defenseless, remained at the center of this clash, an involuntary piece in a conflict she had not provoked. The natives, in their unwavering faith, formed the front line against the storm. With each repetition of "Baba Yetu," the atmosphere carried a tension that would decide the fate of everyone present.

The moment I stood before Mariana, facing Peter's threat, a stillness descended upon the small county of Yetu. The floating chorus found its rest. Silence now served as the prelude to battle, and the natives, aware they had fulfilled their duty, waited expectantly.

I, too, waited for Peter's first move, preparing for what was to come. Yet what unfolded was unexpected. With a fluid motion, he removed a seed from his pocket, tossing it mysteriously to the ground.

The small object, seemingly insignificant, became a mystery. A resident of Yetu, as if guided by an invisible force, ran toward the seed, grabbed it, and without hesitation, swallowed it swiftly. The silence in the air intensified; everyone watched the event with apprehension.

The man, now the bearer of the mysterious seed, swallowed it quickly, undergoing an extraordinary transformation. His martial arts abilities, previously nonexistent, awakened with overwhelming intensity. These were not supernatural powers, but a dark dexterity, a mastery of martial arts absorbed effortlessly.

Every movement was a dance, a choreography revealing exceptional skill. The resident's eyes shone with a unique intensity, as if an internal flame had been ignited by the swallowed seed. He became a formidable Kung-fu practitioner, a force to be feared even without the blessing of superhuman powers.

On the battlefield, it became clear that Peter's intention in creating this new warrior was not to confront me directly. No—the target of his ingenuity was Mariana, a Kung-fu master, a warrior whose expertise had been forged through arduous dedication and countless sacrifices. The flame in her eyes bore witness to her journeys and the challenges she had overcome.

Amid the tension of the battlefield, I realized I would only be able to face Peter. Mariana, bearer of indomitable courage, would have to confront this monumental challenge alone. It was a test of her skill, a trial of her martial arts mastery beyond ordinary limits.

Mariana positioned herself swiftly, her movements shaped by tradition and the strength she had honed over the years. The scene was set for a duel where skill, courage, and strength would be put to the test. Mariana would face this shadow-forged warrior.

The battlefield pulsed with the raw energy of the impending confrontation, and to my surprise, it was skilled Mariana who initiated the fight against the warrior—before any confrontation occurred between Peter and me.

At first, the reason behind Peter's delay in entering the battle escaped me. But the smile he cast in my direction, his eyes flashing, lifted the curtains of understanding. By letting Mariana fight alone, it seemed he sought to challenge my resilience and also pose a question about the essence of humanity.

Peter leveled silent accusations. He wanted to show me how even those aided by kindness could easily succumb to the greed for power. It was a cruel mirror reflecting humanity's fragility, a narrative challenging the faith Mariana embodied.

The arena became a stage for combat, where each of Mariana's moves responded to Peter's accusations. Every strike, every defense, was a declaration of resistance against the story he sought to weave. The physical clash mirrored an inner struggle, a battle of principles unfolding under the watchful eyes of the spectators.

A tightening in my chest arose from the betrayal in that man's actions, who, driven by greed, had turned his back on Mariana—a woman whose dedication to Yetu was a living testament to altruism and courage. Anguish gripped me at this betrayal.