Ascension Protocol: From Trash to Tyrant

“Kai breathes intensely.” The arena’s soil was mixed with Kai’s blood. That pit was deep beneath the Ironspire Academy. It was located beyond the sterilized halls and gilded towers. Failures  were sent there as a punishment to fight for entertainment of nobles and elites.

The crowd shouted at the top of their voices. Their faces were a blur of academy students, professors, and nobles, each hiding behind a mask and they were all gathered for tonight’s illegal match.

At the center of the pit was Kai Draven. His shirt was torn, lip bleeding and hair clinging to his sweat-streaked face. Around his neck was a glowing red collar. Unbeknownst to Kai that it was a suppression ring that disabled any latent aura or system-activated ability.

Kai was at Level 0 which was also known as Trash and Systemless. He was the only student in the entire Ironsphire academy with no combat code or ascension path.

Across from him was a fierce opponent who was snickering and flexing his gauntlets. His name is Varyn Calderon and he is at Level 3. Varyn was the proud son of a council lord. Aura glimmered faintly around him which was a visible sign of system activation.

“Try not to die too fast, trash,” Varyn grinned, his voice echoed by the arena’s mic enchantments. “I want the others to see how long a roach twitches.”

The crowd roared with laughter.

Kai didn't respond. He couldn’t. Every breath enthralled out of his nostrils and he was nearing death. His ribs were bruised from yesterday’s public beating.

A countdown rune etched itself into the air.

[Combat Initiation Countdown: 3... 2... 1]

Varyn charged at Kai to finish him off. 

Kai stood strong by moving on instinct and he doged leftwards, but he was not fast enough. Varyn’s  fist slammed into his ribs and slammed against the arena wall. 

“BAM!” Kai's hit against the wall echoed throughout the arena. He coughed blood and fell to the ground. His eyes went blurry and he was barely able to lift himself.

‘I am going to definitely die.’ Kai admitted to his life ending that moment and the flicker of his miserable life appeared in his vision. He had lost all hope of survival. Maybe the Ironsphire academy wasn't for him afterall.

‘Warning: Vital Signs Critical.’ 

Kai blinked as he heard that statement in his head. 

“What?” He echoed, because he couldn't understand what was going on. 

Kai felt cold sensation that tickled the back of his mind. A voice that was glitchy and fragmented whispered.

“Initiating... Ascension Protocol system... syncing... rejected host condition overridden... survival Is a must...”

An overwhelming pain went through his skull.

The world froze for a moment and the audience blurred. Varyn stood still with his mid-punch clenched, he felt his movement was trapped in some invisible pause. 

As Kai thought of what could be happening. A holographic interface popped into view. It was cracked and pulsing with red light.

“Wow! What is that?” Kai used his last strenght to stretch forth his hand whether he would be able to reach it

But he heard a bright echo in his head. 

‘SYSTEM UPLOAD COMPLETE

Welcome, Kai Draven. 

Status: Emergency Override Activated.

Ascension Protocol: S-Class Detected.

Initializing Level 1 – Iron Awakening.’

As Kai finds it difficult to understand the mystery of what was going on, his body convulsed. A flood of immesaurable heat surged through his muscles and  knitted his tissues. Kai's heart rate became calm  and his mind suddenly focused.

Kai was surprised. He knew this was none of his doing. 

The voice returned, clearer in his head. 

“You have been discarded and branded as Trash. You have been denied. Let the Tyrant Rise.”

‘What is happening to me?’ Kai was confused and he couldn't even explain what was happening at that moment. 

Time snapped back into motion.

Varyn that appeared to have frozen moved forward with an heavy punch. 

Kai noticed a new body strength. And this time, he caught Varyn’s next punch.

The academic students echoed around the arena with surprise. They had thought that move was just Kai's normal moves that always result in nothing. 

Kai stared into Varyn's shocked eyes. Varyn tried to get his hand out of Kai's grip. But it became very impossible. ‘How is he this strong all of a sudden?’ Varyn echoed with his heart throbbing really fast. He must not lose to Kai, a level 0 student. He inputted more force, but it was to no avail.

Kai squeezed his fist with a fierce gaze and he then drive a fist into Varyn’s gut. Varyn folded as he managed to get some air. His mouth let out thick saliva that was mixed with blood. 

Kai delivered another punch to his face. And the third to Varyn's chest. The gauntlet cracked.

The cheering crowd suddenly went silent. They weren't expecting the outcome that was currently happening.

Many had thought that the arena would be the end of Kai. 

Kai stood strong as Varyn’s knees weakened and he fell to the ground. Kai stood over the collapsed noble with his sweaty face. Kai was panting and his body was trembling but Varyn was conscious.

Kai lifted his hand and he gazed at it… ‘Where does this new strength come from?’ it was hard for him to believe.

As he thought of what could be happening, a new window blinked in front of him.

‘LEVEL UP: 1 - 2

New Skill Acquired, Iron Fist Technique Tier I

AP Gained: +25

Skill Tree Unlocked: Base Combat / Aura Deflection

System Node Unlocked: “Echo Memory: Unknown Origin Signature.’ The system echoed in Kai's head. He froze and his eyes thinned out. 

But in the Ironsphire academy was a man up above. He had been viewing the battle in a private viewing box. A man in violet robes leaned forward with a shock. 

His name is High Warden Thelor. He is secretly the overseer of the academics surveillance network. He watched with narrowed eyes.

“This shouldn’t be possible,” he whispered in disappointment.

Back in the pit, Kai raised his head to the crowd, blood still running down his jaw.

And he half-smiled.