Ascension Protocol: From Trash to Tyrant

Chapter 11: The Mask Beneath the Law

‘Some battles aren’t fought for honor or survival… but for someone else’s agenda.’ Kai echoed within himself after the system spoke to him. His eyes thinned and he fumed a breath out of his nostrils. 

Beneath the great marble floors of the Council Chamber was High Councilor Vane who stood alone. His back turned to the circle of enforcers kneeling before him. His robes glimmered and his eyes were lightly showing some aspects of magical power. His fingers interlocked tightly behind him.

“If Kate fails,” he whispered coldly, his eyes turned dark, “there is no second failure.” He echoed with a low and thick voice. 

One of the masked enforcers bowed low. “Do you wish for us to enforce a public detention or do you want us to silently erase her?” The enforcer's voice was brutal.

Vane’s voice was ice. “Make it clean and quick. Let it look very… merciful. Do you understand?” He echoed with a hardened heart. ‘I hope she doesn't fail.’ He expressed himself.

“Yes.” The enforcer responded. He nodded and walked out of the chamber silent. He looked around to make sure no one was around to watch him.

The day went on and the time for the battle was here.

The High Arena was sealed. Only authorized students and council members were allowed inside.

As the iron bell rang, councilor Vane spoke announced,

“Death match is approved. The combatant is Kai Draven, a level three warrior. His opponent is Kate Von Halden, a level six combant. The rule for this battle is that there must be any  interruption. Battle ends only when one of the combatants dies.”

Kai blinked his eyes slowly when he heard the announcement. His heart gently raised against his chest while the atmosphere released some air on his face.

The battle began.

‘I must win this battle.’ Kate echoed within herself and she wasted no time to start the attack. The desperation to take the life of Kai was all over her actions. She unleashed a storm of wind disks which sliced out energy blades. Her movements were razor-sharp and each attack designed to brutally eliminate Kai.

Kai dodged narrowly by using the shadow-stepping through the storm. Kate quickly launched another attack. And a mist bomb caught him off-guard. He staggered backward after getting hit as Kate landed a crushing kick to his chest.

The crowd held its breath as Kai was flung into the arena wall. Blood dripped from his lips due to the intensity of the brutal attack. Pain lanced through his ribs. He breathed out intensely. And he pushed himself to his feet.

“I’m not going down,” he said hoarsely. His eyes glimmered harshly. 

His system echoed within him,

‘System alert….. A skill is unlocked…. The Ascension Fist Tier 2.

It unleashes a condensed shockwave punch with a critical damage multiplier.’  After the system spoke to Kai, he glanced at his opponent.

And with a surge of focus, Kai stepped forward, his Ascension Fist glowed with raw kinetic energy. And he struck with a brutal force. He had aimed to crush Kate with the attack. 

BAM!

Kate flew backward and she crashed hard into the floor. Dust crackled in the air. Kate lifted her face in anger. She wasn’t done.

‘It is the right time for this.’ She echoed within herself. From her cloth, she pulled out the forbidden black crystal orb given by Councilor Vane.

The crowd watched in surprise.

“Isn't that Chancellor Vane’s orb? Why is it with Kate?” One of the people in the crowd echoed.

“Crystal vane is activated. One-time overcharge skill with its powerful voidfire thrust.” Kate's system intoned within her. 

Her attack burst from her palm like a demon’s claw. It was a dark red fire streaking with black veins. Kai's eyes widened in shock, ‘What’s that thing?’ As he questioned inaudibly.

 It tore through the air and slammed into Kai's chest.

The world tilted as Kai flew backwards after the hit and crashed against the wall. His eyes blurred and he was about losing his life.

Kai's system pinged immediately,

‘System Alert: The core stability is at 3 percent…. 

Warning: SYSTEM SHUTDOWN IMMINENT

System shutting down!’

 The system paused for a second as it was about to shutdown.

Kai's heart fled, ‘No, the system can't shut down.’ Kai knew he was going to die if the system did.

‘System override protocol engaged…. Host is boosted to Level 8 Ascension protocol level… Emergency boost successfully deployed.’

Time seemed to freeze, because Kate was about launch another attack.

The system continued…

‘Host unlocked Phantom Flame Core….

It temporarily raises all attributes by 4 tiers and it only lasts for 30 seconds.’

The moment defroze.

Kai suddenly felt a sudden surge of power within him. As he stood from the ground, Kai’s body lit with white-blue flames.

He vanished.

A heartbeat later, he reappeared above Kate and he slammed both fists into the ground.

CRACK!

The floor cracked and Kate screamed with a loud voice after being edged down with brutal force.

The attack was so brutal and unexpected that she couldn't stand up from the ground.

Kai watched with each breath proceeding from his nostrils while the flames cooled down from his body. Blood still oozed from his wounds, but he had won.

‘Mission Completed… Host defeated a higher opponent in a death match.

Level Up: Kai Draven is promoted to Level 4.’

Before the crowd could react and before the council could declare judgment, a figure engaged his weapon in the arena’s upper rim.

BANG!

A black dart flew through the air. Kate jerked violently as it struck her neck.

She collapsed, became motionless and died.

Kai turned instantly to see what was happening. 

He had seen the glint of what happened - the blur of movement of the person. The silent retreat of the masked enforcer walking away into the upper balconies.

Kai's eyes blinked as he watched. The system pinged.

‘System Alert… A forbidden kill detected

There is an execution within the arena grounds by an enforcer

The enforcer violated article 9 in Ironspire academy laws which says  no kill without the Council Verdict’ 

Kai’s mind raced. “But why?” he whispered. He just couldn't wrap his heart around the reason for that. 

The crowd hadn’t seen clearly, but he had.

‘Ding!

New Quest unlocked…

Name: Unmask the Shadow

Kai's objective is to identify the identity of the rogue enforcer

Clue: A mask symbol encoded in the left bracer.

Kai must locate within 48 hours

Reward: Hidden Skill Path Unlock.’

As the crowd erupted in confusion, and council members pretended to maintain order, Kai’s eyes narrowed.