Previously on Hakuna, a new kid named Hakuna impressed his new friends with an impeccable strategy to tackle two issues in Milner. However, Super remains unconvinced, eager to find out just how strong the prince really is. The whole of Milner seems to sense the brewing tension, gathering around the group of friends, all keen to see how the fight unfolds. The question remains: will the challenge prove too much for Hakuna?
The Unseen Battle
The scene fades in, and the atmosphere is electric. A crowd of students has gathered, their whispers a low hum of anticipation. "There's no way he can handle Enzo, right?" Super says, a skeptical edge to his voice. His eyes are fixed on the two boys in the center of the crowd, disbelief evident in his face. He's unable to reconcile the new kid with the confidence he now sees.
Freddie, ever the keen observer, replies, "Surely Enzo is stronger, but his confidence... it's unsettling." He's watching not just their physical forms, but the way their auras are shifting, the way they hold themselves.
"Hmph, my guess is that it's a bluff," Super declares, shaking his head in denial. He simply can't fathom a newcomer posing a real threat to the legendary Enzo.
Bodega, however, is a silent observer of a different kind. He can see the truth in Enzo's eyes. "Enzo seems to think otherwise," he chimes in, his voice calm and knowing.
Hakuna prepares a menacing stance, his body a coiled spring of potential energy. He charges at Enzo, a fist shrouded in dancing flames. The blow is swift and powerful. The crowd gasps as his fist connects. A cloud of dust billows up from the impact, settling slowly to reveal an incredible sight: Enzo has caught the flaming punch with his bare hand, his smirk a silent testament to his immense power.
Enzo responds with a lightning-fast counter-punch, but Hakuna is already gone, a mere afterimage left in his place. He appears behind Enzo and lands his own punch with an impossible speed. The force of the blow sends Enzo flying back towards a brick wall. The impact creates a shockwave that blows the spectators away, their hair and clothes whipping in the sudden gale. Enzo, a small groan escaping his lips, climbs out of the hole in the wall, and a wide, exhilarated smirk spreads across his face.
"Impossible! Enzo is bruised!" Super exclaims, his eyes wide with genuine shock. A dark mark is visible on Enzo's forearm, a testament to Hakuna's strength.
Enzo, filled with an almost manic excitement, cheers. "Ha! I knew this was going to be interesting!" He lunges towards Hakuna with such immense power that he ripples the ground beneath his feet, cracks spiderwebbing out from his starting position as he lifts into the air. Hakuna prepares his defenses, a firm and unwavering stance. Enzo lands a ground-shaking punch, and though Hakuna manages to block it, the force pushes him back, his feet leaving a trail of two-foot-sized lines etched into the pavement.
Hakuna, with smoke coming from his forearm, begins to power up, a low rumble building in his chest. He roars, a deep, guttural sound that seems to shake the very foundation of the school. "HAAAAAAAAAAAAAA, HAAaa!" A bright aura glows around his body, a brilliant light that illuminates the space around them, before quickly fading as he sprints towards Enzo. Their fists collide, a loud bang echoing through the schoolyard. The two fighters vanish, their speed too great for the human eye to track. The crowd can only hear the continuous sound of them clashing, a rapid-fire symphony of blows that fills the air.
"They're moving too fast for the naked eye..." Freddie comments, his eyes straining to find the pair.
Super, a newfound seriousness in his voice, declares, "This is way too serious to be a sparring match."
Everyone is shocked. They all think the same thing: Who is this kid? How is he keeping up with Enzo at this rate? This is unreal.
The bout continues, and Hakuna begins to get faster than Enzo, his dodges, blocks, and strikes becoming more unpredictable with each passing moment. He is a blur of motion, a dance of power that leaves Enzo struggling to keep up. As Enzo prepares to deliver a finishing blow, Hakuna dodges it with a fluid grace and lands his own.
"Fist of Inferno!" he yells out, the name of his signature technique echoing with power.
He launches a fist shrouded in flames, and the impact sends Enzo flying back into the wall. Hakuna, not relenting, charges his fist with even more energy, the flames roaring to life around his knuckles. He lunges and jumps towards Enzo with a finishing blow, but someone blocks it. A new presence, a powerful force of nature, has stepped in to stop the fight.
"Who is this guy? Where did he come from? How did he stop my attack?" the boy thinks to himself, his mind racing to process this new, unexpected variable.
Master Mokoto, a teacher at Milner, speaks calmly, almost too calmly. "I think that's enough... you're already late for class..."
He turns his head towards the other learners, and his eyes burn with a pure, unadulterated intimidation. "THAT MEANS YOU SHOULD RUN!" he says, his voice still calm, yet echoing all around them. All the learners except Enzo and Hakuna run away to their classes, their fear an almost palpable thing.
Master Mokoto turns to the boys to address them. "Enzo Maleshane, I thought you were done testing rookies. What changed?"
Enzo, a cheeky grin on his face, replies, "Well, sir, this new kid is part of my team. It's customary for me to test his skills in battle. We don't want weaklings in the BBC now, do we?"
Master Mokoto, noticing Hakuna's immense potential, thinks to himself, "He seems gifted, but he hasn't realized his potential..."
He then speaks, his voice a gentle authority. "You should meet me tomorrow so I can test you myself, kid. Is that a deal?"
"Yes, sir..." the prince agrees, his voice filled with a newfound respect.
"Now get to class; you're late," Master Mokoto says, a finality to his tone.
They both walk to class, and on the way there, Hakuna is met with a sincere gesture. Enzo, nodding his head in approval, beckons the prince. "You're pretty strong, Hakuna. I'm impressed."
Hakuna returns the compliment. "Hmm, you almost had me there, too..."
Enzo then deliberates. "Listen, I told everyone that we should go to Fight Club later today to reclaim our reputation. You should come, too. It starts at 5 PM."
"Yeah, I'll be there..." the prince agrees, with little to no hesitation.
They go on separate ways to their classes, and Hakuna carries on with his day, attending classes and meditating in his free time. Eventually, the bell rings to go home. As he walks out of the gates of Milner, he sees a beautiful girl. He can't believe his eyes; is she real? It can't be...
The girl notices Hakuna staring at her and a subtle, knowing smile touches her lips. He is taken aback, his heart thumping in his chest.
Hakuna thinks to himself, "She smiled at me. She really smiled at me! Wow!"
Hakuna lifts his head and finds her already gone. "Ah, where is she? I have to find her..." he says, determined to find the girl who had captivated him with a single smile.
Later that day, Hakuna is at home. He tells his mom about his day and gets ready to go to Fight Club. As he walks out, Super is already standing at the gate.
Hakuna, thinking out loud, asks himself, "How does he always do that?"
"Pick up the pace, New Kid; we're gonna be late," Super says, his voice filled with command.
Hakuna, annoyed with the nickname, replies, "Alright, alright, I'm coming..."
They get to Fight Club, and there stands Enzo, Freddie, and Bodega.
"Where's MXO and Rems?" Hakuna asks.
Enzo replies, "They only fight when it's necessary. Right now, they're just studying or doing some homework..."
The PA system turns on. The announcer speaks, his voice a booming echo. "Alrighty then, everyone, welcome to the biggest fights in high school! It's just the usual today. No special... oh! Oh, my goodness! We've got special guests today along with their newest member! It's The BBC Gang and the New Kid, Hakuna Ntlamele! Alright, our first fight of the day is the New Kid himself and a mystery fighter!"
Hakuna, palming his face, voices his frustration. "I did not intend on fighting today, darn..."
"Don't tell me you're scared, New Kid..." Super says, taunting the boy.
Hakuna, almost instantly, responds, "Do yourself a favor and shut your mouth, or I'll show you what it's like when I fight for real..."
"Just keep walking, you big fool..." Super speaks, nudging the prince forward.
Bodega, chiming in, starts to deliberate. "Hakuna, you need to be told about the different types of demons we may encounter. There are different levels to them. Level 1 Demons are often child-sized, so they're easy for one person to defeat. Level 2 Demons are bigger, often measured to be the same size as a standing tiger. Level 3 Demons are Grizzly-sized. These ones require at least two people to kill. Then there are Level 4 Demons. These ones are rare because they are massive, and they don't come very often, but when they do, let's just say it's significant. There are different classes, but these are what the different levels are commonly associated with..."
"What about the ones above?" Hakuna asks, his curiosity piqued.
Bodega explains, "Levels 5 and above Demons have never been seen as of yet, but some say these ones are extremely powerful, and they come in many different shapes and sizes, some bigger than skyscrapers, some even human-sized..."
"Woah, that's very interesting..." Hakuna says, his voice filled with a genuine curiosity.
Bodega concludes, "And that is all you need to know about demons..."
They walk inside, and Hakuna goes to the ring where he will fight. He finds out that his opponent will be an unknown hooded figure. As they are about to begin, the ground starts shaking. It sounds like giant footsteps. Hakuna senses danger. Just as he realizes what it is, a colossal demon roars, "RRROOOOOOOOOAAAAAARRRR!!!!" The sound rumbles the surrounding structures with its sheer volume.
Hakuna, making light of the situation, comments, "Woah, that can't be right..."
The ground shakes as the demon moves around. Hakuna prepares to jump on the demon. He and the others sense that something is wrong with Bodega; he's trembling, and his face screams "FEAR."
They all yell, "Bodega, snap out of it!"
He looks at them, still shaken. "This is bad, this is really bad!" Bodega mutters.
Enzo questions, "What is it?!"
Bodega, scrambling to figure out his predicament, says, "The proportions are all wrong. They shouldn't be this big..."
Hakuna, attempting to calm him down, asks, "Hey, hey, bro, what are you talking about?"
Bodega, looking up to the monster, declares, "We are being attacked... by a Level 5 Demon..."
They all turn to look at him in disbelief.
The Level 5 Demon screeches in the background, "RRROOOOAAAAAARRRRR!!!"
Fade Out
End of Episode 4