Ryo Hazuki is an 18-year-old Japanese martial artist and only child of Iwao Hazuki, master of the Hazuki family dojo in Yokosuka. His mother died of illness when he was three, leaving him solely in his father's care. Ryo began training in Hazuki Style Jujitsu at age seven under Iwao's tutelage, developing considerable skill though not yet mastering the art to inherit the dojo.

A defining event occurs when Ryo witnesses Lan Di, a Chinese martial artist seeking the Dragon Mirror relic, murder his father. After Iwao refuses to reveal the mirror's location, Lan Di threatens Ryo, forcing Iwao to disclose its burial spot beneath the dojo's cherry blossom tree. Following the mirror's theft, Lan Di delivers a fatal blow; Iwao dies in Ryo's arms. This trauma ignites Ryo's all-consuming quest for vengeance, leading him to abandon high school.

Personality-wise, Ryo exhibits determination and stoicism alongside impulsiveness and emotional guardedness. He prioritizes his mission above all else, consciously avoiding romantic entanglements due to childhood teasing about a crush. This creates emotional distance from his friend Nozomi Harasaki, who harbors feelings for him. Despite his focus on revenge, he demonstrates compassion by protecting others—such as rescuing Nozomi from the Mad Angels gang—and sparing adversaries like Chunyan Xu after defeating her.

His investigation in Yokosuka uncovers a second artifact, the Phoenix Mirror, hidden in the dojo's basement. Through contacts like Master Chen, Ryo learns of Lan Di's connections to the Chi You Men criminal organization and his departure for Hong Kong. After thwarting the Mad Angels with Guizhang Chen—who sustains a leg injury—Ryo travels alone to Hong Kong carrying the Phoenix Mirror and an introduction to martial arts master Lishao Tao.

In Hong Kong and Kowloon, Ryo faces challenges as a cultural outsider, experiencing theft and deception upon arrival. He allies with street-smart figures: motorcyclist Joy, gang leader Wuying Ren, and street child Wong. These partnerships aid his search for Yuanda Zhu, a key informant linked to his father. After rescuing Zhu from the Yellow Heads gang, Ryo learns Lan Di killed Iwao believing Iwao murdered his own father, Zhao Sunming, in China years earlier. Zhu reveals the Dragon and Phoenix Mirrors form a key to an ancient prophecy and directs Ryo to Bailu Village in Guilin.

Traveling to rural China, Ryo meets Shenhua Ling, a girl whose family is mysteriously linked to the mirrors. She guides him to her village, where they find her father missing and discover murals depicting the mirrors' significance. Their journey continues to Niaowu, confronting local gangs and Chi You Men agents to rescue Shenhua's father. A final encounter with Lan Di ends in Ryo's defeat, but the villains' stronghold's destruction allows Ryo, Shenhua, and Ren to continue their quest along the Great Wall.

Physically, Ryo stands 176 cm tall with black spiky hair, brown eyes, and a bandaged scar on his left cheek—inflicted during Lan Di's attack. He typically wears a brown leather bomber jacket with a tiger motif, a white t-shirt, light blue jeans, and sneakers. His fighting style evolves from traditional Hazuki techniques to incorporate diverse martial arts learned during his travels, including the Tornado Kick and Tai Chi principles taught by masters like Xiuying Hong.

Hobbies include playing arcade games, collecting capsule toys, experimenting with food, and occasional gambling. He demonstrates adaptability through jobs like forklift driving at Yokosuka Harbor and motorcycle courier work.