Ascension Protocol: From Trash to Tyrant

Chapter 9: The Price of Humiliation

"Every hand that once held me down… I will return the favor with a fist." Kai echoed within himself after accepting the challenge. His eyes darkened in horror while he smirked. 

The next day, the wind that morning was cold in Ironspire, but Kai’s blood ran hot. With only two days remaining before his battle with Kate Von Halden, every second counted. Kai had to start training.

Xira and Kai went inside the shadow-forged training hall beneath the academy’s south tower. Xira Wren stood opposite Kai while her flame sigils and its glow was faintly visible across her knuckles.

The training started and Kai was extremely drilled by Xiren. But Xiren doesn't find him impressive.

"Again!" she barked.

Kai moved fast this time and he tried to dodge the wave of fire but he was not fast enough.

A searing wave of fire brushed his shoulder as Xira’s spell flared past his face.

“You hesitate before impact,” she snapped and stepped forward. “If you want to defeat Kate, you’ll need more than brute strength. You need a weapon that doesn’t miss.” Xiren’s face was fierce. Her intention was to make Kai strong enough and she was ready to do everything…

“I know,” Kai grunted. He was displeased that he wasn't getting a hang of what he was doing… ‘I need to get this right.’ He echoed within himself. 

She held up a glowing ember in her palm. Her eyes fixed on Kai.  “The system inside you, there’s a move you haven’t unlocked. It’s sealed behind instinctive reactions. Let’s push it out.” She echoed after the discovery during the training. 

They trained until sweat poured from Kai’s skin and his knuckles bled. Kai's breathing intensified.

“Do you want to take a break?” Xiren asked after seeing how tired he was.

“No, let's continue.” Words were heavy in Kai's mouth as he declared with fatigue wrapping through his being. 

The training continued… This time, Kai studied Xiren slowly as she attacked. As Kai anticipated Xira’s fake-out flame strike and countered with a precise Iron Fist reverse flick, something unlocked.

The system echoed within him,

‘You’ve unlocked a new skill….. It's called the  ember spiral with a Combustive Counter.

It is a reactive strike technique that channels kinetic force into explosive recoil.

Tier is offensively advanced and the stamina cost is high.

Damage Output: +150% base strength.’

Xira smirked with a light smile. Her eyes towered a glance across Kai's body.  “Now you’re ready.” She echoed. 

The next morning, Ironspire’s bell rang across the academy. It's an  unchanging tone that summons students to the meal hall for breakfast.

Kai had finished his training. He was tired but still had to go to the meal hall. Kai joined the line and picked up a plate stacked with synthe-bread, charred meat and stew. After buying the food, he turned to find a seat.

The system alerted,

‘System Alert: A hazard is detected… A trip threat identified and the proximity of the attack is 3 ft

Target Identified: Ronan Vale…. A level 8 brawler.

Past Record: Bullying, Humiliation and Assault against User

System Directive: Make him regret his actions with Immediate effect.’

Kai didn’t flinch even after hearing what information from the system.

He acted like he hadn’t seen it. Ronan’s foot stretched carelessly out of place. But when he stepped close enough, Kai intentionally crushed Ronan’s foot under his boot with intense force.

"ARGH!" Ronan yelped and jerked up. His face was fierce. 

Ronan’s tray clattered. He grabbed Kai’s plate and slammed it to the floor, the food scattering.

“What the hell is wrong with you?!” Ronan growled.

Kai wiped imaginary dust from his sleeve as he focused his eyes on him.  “That plate cost me 30 cents. Pay up.” He echoed. 

Ronan sneered. “You don’t get to make demands, trash.” His voice was audible and everyone's attention was called.

He shoved Kai with a heavy palm strike to the chest. The crowd hushed with murmurings.

“Yet another duel.”

“These two are going to rip each other apart.”

“That's a level 8 bowler, Kai's superior. He should be careful.” The murmurings continued.

Kai didn’t budge.

“Apologize. Replace my food. And maybe I’ll let you limp away.” He arched his eyebrows while he bodily confronted him. 

Laughter erupted from the viewers. Ronan’s face flushed red with fury.

“You want a plate so bad? Let’s gamble for it. Duel me tonight. You win and I’ll treat you to dinner for three days. But if you lose…” Ronan’s eyes darkened, “you’ll be my practice dummy for three days.” “Do you accept?”

The system echoed almost immediately,

‘System is triggered: Humiliation Debt by host

Objective: Defeat Ronan publicly and make him repay his past cruelty to secure honor.

Reward: +60AP, Confidence Boost and Bonus experience (XP)

Estimated Danger is high because Ronan is Level 8.’

After the system’s explanation. Kai didn't flinch.

“I accept,” Kai said coldly.

Kai returned to his dormitory. Xira came to visit and Kai recounted the encounter to Xira.

“He spilled your food and insulted your power?” she scowled. “That idiot’s lucky I wasn’t there.” She echoed with light anger. 

Kai smirked. “He won’t be smiling after tonight.”

Xira folded her arms. “Use everything to make him pay… Don't forget to test the ember spiral too.” She expressed with a mean face. 

Kai nodded without saying a word.

Later that day, evening fell and the courtyard was thick with whispers of the academic student. The duel pits were lined with light pillars that formed a perimeter. Students swarmed the edges as they watched in anticipation of who was going to win. 

Among them was Kate Von Halden. Her arms were folded and her eyes narrowed. The wind waved  across her golden braid as she watched Kai enter the ring with cold calculation.

“Let’s see what tricks the system rat has this time,” she murmured as she watched silently with disgust.

Ronan Vale was shirtless with a muscle-bound and armed with reinforced gauntlets while he stepped forward.

“This won’t take long,” he growled. “Hope you said goodbye to your kneecaps.” Ronan expressed just to ridicule Kai.

But Kai said nothing. He watched with calculations.

The duel began.

Ronan lunged in a wild and brutal attack. His brawler technique smashes into the air. But Kai dodged the strikes. Since Ronan's level wssd way higher than his. He decided to let Ronan wear himself down.

After he had successfully done that, he intended to make a move now. 

Then, Kai activated it - The ember spiral with a combustive counter.

Ronan launched a haymaker to counter Kai. 

But Kai twisted, channeled the force, and spun…

BOOM!

A flaming spiral exploded from Kai’s strike. And it  launched Ronan backward across the arena and into the barrier wall.

The academy student became silent. After a moment of tension, laughter erupted. It was mocking and ruthless.

“He was level 8!” someone gasped among the students as he mocked Ronan. 

Kai stood tall as Ronan coughed blood and curled up on the ground.

The system echoed,

‘Mission Complete: Ronan Vale is defeated

System Note: Dinner Claimed…. 3x Meal Token Added.

Reputation: host is progressing.

Ronan Vale’s present Status: mocked and defanged.’

Kai breathed out while his lips curved with a dark smile. 

That evening, Ronan who was face bruised and spirit broken had to deliver the dinner tokens with a glare.

Kai accepted them, turned, and walked away with excitement within him. ‘His pride has been taken away.’ He echoed within himself. 

High above, on the west balcony, Kate turned away from the crowd.

Every move, every step, every blow—she’d studied it all.

Her lips curved into a cold smile.

“Perfect,” she whispered. “He doesn’t realize… I’ve already won.” 

She clasped a crystal comm-stone which she had in mind to assure her victory and she whispered to herself…

“High Councillor Vane… you’ll be pleased. The system boy is exactly where we want him.”