2025-05-19 21:39:07FLASHBACK – Two Weeks Ago
The Grand Ascension Hall were filled with the academic students whose hearts were buzzed with anticipation. Rows of first-year students stood in uniform lines. Their eyes glowed with hope while they were very nervous. It was the System Awakening Ceremony. It stood as the most important moment in a young combatant’s life. It was a day that the Ascension Protocol would assign each student their system level and core path. Everyone was called by name. As each person was called, they stepped onto the scan podium. Their body were emits bright runes which showed they have awakened the system within them. And after that was decided, the crowd emerged moments later with cheers or stunned gasps as their levels and core types were announced. "Level 2 – Wind Manipulator." "Level 3 – Phantom Dancer." "Level 1 – Reinforced Berserker." Kai’s heart raced slowly as he expected his name to be called. Then they called the last name on the list. "Kai Draven." When Kai heared his name, his heart hit hard against his chest. He felt a low heat through his body. Kai summoned courage. Snickers rippled through the students. He walked forward anyway. Kai wasn’t from a noble family. His parents had been a low-ranking adventurer who was executed many years and the reason remained mysterious to everyone. The academy only accepted Kai because of an old favor and a barely remembered debt. Kai finally reached the platform. All the students eyes were fixed on him while they expect his system level to be declared. Kai puffed out an heavy breath, and his body tensioned. Kai stood on the platform and the runes lit up. Just like other students got their system levels, Kai was expecting to heart his. Until suddenly…. The runes dimmed and the scanning orb above him blinked red. ‘What’s happening? Why is this thing not reading my system level?’ Kai's heart raced against his chest in fear. His eyes bulged while his body trembled. “ERROR: No System Detected.” “Re-scan Attempt: Failed.” The students were shocked and each of them whispered to another which went round like wildfire. “No system?” “He’s empty?” “That’s impossible. Only animals and slaves are systemless. There must be a problem somewhere?” “This is new, I can't believe it either.” Kai stared at the instructor in front of him with a pale face, a tall man with gold-trimmed armor and cold blue eyes. His name is Instructor Mordas Rex. Kai was in disbelief and he wouldn't accept it just like that. “Run it again,” Kai said with a strained voice. He had thought another scan would bring another outcome. Mordas sneered. “Kai, there’s nothing to scan. You are not fit for the Ascension Protocol.” He declared with a thick voice. Kai looked to the side, pleading silently with anyone who might speak up. But the students all turned away from him. That afternoon, a punishment notice was delivered to his quarters. “Violation: Interfering with system protocols by faking potential Punishment: Participation in disciplinary combat trial, THE PIT Opponent: Varyn Calderon (Ranked Duelist)” Kai's eyes blinked with fear… ‘A level five combatant?! This is wickedness.’ Kai echoed within himself. He knew there was no way he was going to win against that fierce opponent. ………….. …… ………….. THE PRESENT DAY. After the Fight. The crowd stood still with disbelief in their eyes. As their eyes winked… Then someone started clapping. One hand. Then two. Within moments, applause echoed throughout the arena, although most of it was sarcastic, slow, and mocking. “He got lucky.” “Fluke.” “No way a Level 0 just beat Varyn.” “Gosh! Can't believe I am cheering him up for a lucky victory.” “He definitely cheated his way in.” Some of the students who had believed so much in Varyn murmured amongst themselves. Kai could hear them but he chose to ignore them. His eyes were fixed on the red glowing panel that only he could see. ‘Ding!!! New Quest Unlocked, the Path of the Rejected Objective: Prove legitimacy to Ironspire’s Council Bonus: Unlock access to Tier 2 skill trees Time Limit: 7 Days.’ The system echoed in Kai's head. As he heard of his rewards, he could feel a power surging through is home marrows. Everyone had stopped clapping when a slow clap echoed above them. All the students attention was called. A man descended the stone stairs. He was flanked by armored guards and his presence hushed the crowd. It was Councilor Vane, head of the academy’s System Evaluation Division. Councilor Vane looked into Kai's eyes. “I saw everything,” he said with a calm voice but his face was unreadable. “It is true that a system awakened in you… but not one we authorized.” He arched his eyebrows. Kai narrowed his eyes with surprise. He had thought he would be praised and given rewards by the academy. But when the outcome was different, Kai frowned at it. “So now that I’m strong, you care?” Kai echoed with a tense voice. “Don’t get bright ideas into your head. You’re not strong. Not yet. You’re dangerous,” Vane replied with a cold voice. “And I want to know what kind of protocol mimics a Level 1 so cleanly it fools the suppressor ring.” Vane added as he glared into his eyes. Kai didn’t answer, because he was short of words. While he blinked, Vane turned to the guards. “Put him under 24-hour surveillance. He must have no contact with other students. If he’s hiding something, we’ll definitely find it.” His voice seemred like an heat. He walked away, but suddenly paused. It seems like he remembered something, “Oh, and raise his classification. He’s no longer trash. He’s a Risk-Class Variant.” His voice echoed throughout the hall. That night, Kai sat in isolation in a sealed dorm beneath the academy. There was no windows and only one meal port. Kai doesn't have a bed to lay his head. Only a stone ass present. The system protocol voice whispered to Kai again. “Your presence has triggered dormant protocols. You are not the first. You will not be the last. Would you like to begin Core Path Selection?” Just as Kai thought to make a decision. The interface popped up and Kai stared at the interface floating before him. Three paths appeared and it flickered like a wave. ‘Select Your Core Path. Number one, Tyrant King and it includes Domination, Fear, Leadership Number two, Phantom Reaper and it includes Speed, Assassination, Illusions Number three, Sentinel Forge and it includes Endurance, Protection, Counter-Strike.’ The system voice echoed in Kai's head Kai's jaw dropped as he glared at the sleek interface before him He smiled faintly. "Bring me the Tyrant King." Kai echoed in anticipation to be the leader. What he needed that moment was dominance. The system replied him, ‘CORE PATH SELECTED: Tyrant King Tier 1 Skill Unlocked: Presence of Command Passive Effect: Nearby enemies at equal or lower level suffer -5% combat efficiency New Tree Available: Dominion Authority.’ The system worked seemlesly that it caught Kai's gaze. He stood up from the stone floor. “I am not systemless anymore. I am actually growing higher.”
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Chapter 128: Torrin’s Trap
The sound of iron against iron rang across the Vanguard base’s training field. Rows of recruits were lined up under the bright lights. The weapons in their hands were glinting under the gaze of instructors. Today was not just an ordinary drill. It was the Weapons proficiency trial, where each soldier demonstrated accuracy, speed, and composure under simulated battle condition. Scores would be posted for all to see and it would be forever etched into their record.For Kai, every eye was already watching. Not with respect yet but with expectation. Expectation that the so-called “scholar boy” would finally stumble.Torrin Blayk saw to that.The tall recruit leaned against the rack of firearms. A smirk tugged at his lips. His voice cut through the clamor with sharp mockery.“Don’t trip over your pen, Kai. This isn’t about your pretty notes, this is about real weapons. Tools for real soldiers.”Laughter rippled through the ranks.Another chimed in, emboldened by Torrin’s tone. “What’s t
Chapter 127: The Silent Blade
The simulation chamber sounded like a living beast. Its walls shift to mimic rough cliffs, ruined shacks that stretched through the barren field. It wasn’t how it all looked, the Vanguard base’s engineers had designed every inch to trap, break, and humiliate the overconfident. A single mistake meant lights blaring across the control deck and failure would be stamped in real time for everyone to see.Kai stepped through the reinforced gate with a calm that only invited more jeers.“Scholar-boy going to doodle his way past the enemy?” someone called.“Better keep your neat handwriting ready for when they write FAIL across your record!” another shouted, laughter rolling through the crowd.Kai didn’t flinch. His eyes, sharp beneath the dim chamber lights, focused on the terrain ahead. He flexed his fingers once with an almost imperceptible gesture.“DING!System Notification: Mission Active – “Survive infiltration undetected.”Bonus: Subdue Leader without alert raised. Reward: Stealth S
Chapter 126: Shadow Assignment
The victory over Harlen Drex still hung in the air like smoke after a fire. The recruits at Vanguard base hadn’t stopped talking about it since Kai had dismantled the tall brawler in the front of the entire barracks.But instead of basking in the triumph, Kai stood silently in the commander’s chamber with a rigid posture and he maintained a steady gaze.Commander Draegon’s office walls were made of steel. Visible holographic maps flickering with zones of red and blue. Veteran officers surrounded the commander with unreadable expressions, as though Kai was another item on their endless list of calculations.“You showed adaptability in the duel,” Draegon said at last. His gravel voice cut through the low sound of the machinery. “But fighting one brute in front of recruits is different from surviving what lies beyond these walls. You will undergo a trial.”“A trial, sir?” Kai kept his voice neutral even though he was surprised. “Reconnaissance,” another officer spoke, adjusting his data
Chapter 125: The Duel Without Shadows
The training hall’s mats were stripped bare and they left only two figures under the harsh white lights. The recruits had crowded the railings. They had pressed shoulder to shoulder with whispers and jeers as anticipation thickened the atmosphere.On one side stood Harlen Drex. He was tall and whip-thin. His smirk was razor-sharp. He rolled his shoulder. He was full of the cocky swagger that had won him matches against slower recruits. On the other end stood Kai. He was silent and he maintained his dark and steady eyes. Just as stated, he made sure he didn't bring anyone along so they won't point his victory towards the direction.The instructors had permitted it. Duels like this in the vanguard base weren’t forbidden, and the commanders wanted to see how the scholar-boy would handle himself without his supposed crush.Harlen leaned forward. His eyes peered into the soul of Kai like a vulture. He parted his lips and his voice was carried across the hush. “Are you ready to show us
Chapter 124: The Unassisted Duel
The training chamber was still filled with the murmurs of other soldiers after Caz Brenner’s defeat. But the noise had shifted. Before, Kai was mocked, laughed at and scorned, but now, there was now murmuring, suspicion, and an uncomfortable weight about Kai since he had been knocking down even the most powerful among them. They kept wondering how he continued defeating each of them. Caz sat on the edge of the mat. He was rubbing his ribs with his face flushed red with humiliation. He glared at Kai but didn’t step forward again. All that was left within him was his pride that had been broken in front of everyone. He still flashed back to that moment of ridicule and despair. He then wondered how Kai managed to get him to keep silent in this manner.Then, he grinded his teeth. He thought Kai would fight him at that very moment. But Kai was ever silent. He grinded his teeth and clenched his fist even though he knew there was nothing he could do to fight Kai anymore. However, there wa
Chapter 123: Reversal
The training chamber at Vanguard Base was a cavern of sweat, noise, and anticipation. Steel beams arched overhead. They are lined with bright floodlights that bleached every drop of moisture gleaming on recruits’ bodies. The mats were slick from earlier rounds, and the air smelled of leather, chalk, and iron. This was where reputations were made.Kai looked at the loosed strap and then tightened the straps of his training gloves. He made sure he a strict expression that will be majorly understandable for any one else. In a distance from him was Caz Brenner. He rolled up his shoulders as he kept smirking like a predator circling prey. The humiliation attempt in the showers still hung between them like a blade. Caz believed he still had the upper hand and that Kai’s balance was just pure luck even though his eyes were harsh to behold but he believed that it was not his skill. And today, he meant to prove it to everyone. The recruits circled the mat. They were a sea of hungry eyes
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