Klein waited on the rooftop as emergency services arrived. Two police cars pulled up, followed by a black van with the System Bearer Response Unit insignia.Four SBRU officers emerged, all wearing combat gear and carrying weapons designed to restrain System Bearers. Their leader, a woman with lieutenant bars, approached Klein first."Klein S'roar?" she asked, her hand resting on her sidearm."That's me.""We need you to come with us. There's been a report of an illegal System Bearer altercation."Klein nodded and extended his wrists. The lieutenant raised an eyebrow but didn't cuff him. She gestured for Klein to follow her to the van.Medics were already treating Darius, who glared at Klein with unconcealed hatred as they loaded him onto a stretcher.At SBRU headquarters, Klein was placed in an interrogation room—not a cell, which was a good sign. He sat at a metal table and waited.Twenty minutes later, the door opened. Boomer entered, followed by Seris and a man Klein didn't recogni

The hammer struck the ground with enough force to create a shockwave. Klein activated his wings and took flight, barely avoiding the impact that left a crater where he'd been standing.Marcus planted his shield, activating Titan's Rampart. A barrier of golden energy formed in front of the team, absorbing the shockwave's remnants."Spread out!" Seris ordered. "Don't give it clustered targets for those missiles!"The team scattered as the Forge Master's shoulder launchers activated. Missiles streaked through the air, tracking their targets with mechanical precision.Klein twisted mid-flight, dodging three missiles that exploded behind him. The heat washed over his back, but his Archfiend scales absorbed most of it.Finn appeared on the Forge Master's back, driving his daggers into a joint between armor plates. The boss didn't even seem to notice."These plates are too thick!" Finn called out, dodging a backhand swing from one of the Forge Master's four arms.Lyssa launched a lightnin

Klein stood in the guild's main training hall, facing Rank 21—a bulky man named Gregor who wielded a massive battle axe.A crowd had gathered to watch. Word had spread that Klein was preparing for Drake Winters, and guild members wanted to see how strong he'd become."Ready?" Gregor asked, his Battle Fury System already activated. His muscles bulged, veins standing out on his arms."Ready," Klein said calmly.The referee—one of the senior members—raised his hand. "Standard ranking match rules. First to yield or be incapacitated loses. Begin!"Gregor charged immediately, his axe swinging in a wide arc that would have decapitated Klein if it connected.Klein didn't dodge. He activated his Archfiend scales and caught the axe blade with his gauntleted hand.The impact sent sparks flying, but Klein's enhanced strength held firm. Gregor's eyes widened in shock.Klein twisted, yanking the axe from Gregor's grip and tossing it aside. Before Gregor could react, Klein's other fist drove into hi

Hayes was silent for a long moment. Then he pulled up a file on his tablet."The Winters family has deep pockets. They're already spreading rumors about you—that you're unstable, violent, a threat to civilian safety. Public opinion is turning against you.""Let it," Klein said. "I'll prove myself in the arena."Back at the guild, Klein found his team waiting in Boomer's office. They'd heard about the second Darius attack."He's in critical condition," Seris reported. "Your new gauntlets nearly ruptured his spleen. He'll live, but he won't be fighting for months.""Good," Boomer said bluntly. "Little punk deserved it after attacking you twice.""The problem is public perception," Raze said. "People are calling you a bully. They're saying you used excessive force against someone weaker."Klein's jaw tightened. "He attacked me. What was I supposed to do?""Defend yourself with less force," Seris said. "But what's done is done. We need to focus on the Drake Winters fight now."Over the ne

Klein stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his combat gear. Black reinforced clothing designed to withstand high-level System Bearer combat. His Corrupted Dragon Scale gauntlets gleamed in the morning light. The Chaos Anchor Ring sat on his finger.He pulled up his status one final time:STATUS:Name: Klein SlashSystem: Divine Archfiend SystemSystem Level: 15System Grade: SMana: 2,500Attributes: ChaosTitle: Storm's InheritorThree months ago, he'd been Level 13. Now he was 15, with enhanced equipment and refined skills.It still didn't feel like enough.A knock on his door. "It's time," Seris called.The Titan's Fist guild had chartered a transport to take Klein and his supporters to the arena. Boomer, Seris, Raze, Marcus, Finn, Mara, and even old Adonis—all coming to watch."You look ready," Adonis said, gripping Klein's shoulder with a weathered hand."I hope so, Gramps."The arena was on neutral ground—a massive facility built specifically for high-level System Bearer co