Secretly Godly

Shall We Begin

Everybody was shocked to see Henry. He had actually come to the battleground. They thought he was pretending to be sick so he wouldn’t have to fight Derek.

Who in their right mind would fight a B-class mage? Even a C-ranker wouldn’t dare, let alone an E-ranker.

What a fool.

Henry entered the arena. He faced the side where Mr. Dawson was seated.

“You’re not getting your filthy hands on that land.”

Mr. Dawson smiled when he saw Henry. He thought he wouldn’t get the chance to entertain his guests today. Thank goodness the worthless boy showed up. He had already instructed Derek to push him to the brink of death. Then his father would come begging for hospital bills again, and with that, they would be forced to work for him for free.

He laughed inwardly. Poor people should know their place. They can never rise to the top.

“You should be worried about your match. Do you really think an E-rank mage can defeat a B-rank? What a fool.”

Mr. Tucker snatched the microphone from Mr. Dawson. He was relieved Henry was alive. The boy had been unconscious for four days, and he had feared his son would never wake up. He didn’t even have money to take him to the hospital.

He had been fired from his job for defying the rules. There was no way forward for the family anymore. If only Henry could win somehow.

“Henry, I am proud of you.”

Henry turned to Mr. Dawson.

“Watch me win.”

He then faced Derek, tightening his fists. Lora had explained everything to him. He had to win this battle, or his family would be doomed to slavery.

“Shall we begin?”

Derek smirked. He had thought Henry was too scared to show up. That would have been a waste.

His old man wanted him to end the match quickly, but he wanted to enjoy himself.

Henry couldn’t even touch him. He was wearing a ring that boosted his level by three. He was currently at level five.

He also wore a necklace that enhanced his physical abilities. Henry wouldn’t even see him coming.

“Why are you just standing there? Attack me now, or are you scared of dying?”

Everyone burst into laughter. What a stupid boy.

Henry stared at Derek’s magical items. He was fully equipped, even wearing a suit that boosted his stamina and physical strength.

It seemed impossible now, but Henry was tired of Derek’s constant taunts. He had to deal with him.

“Let’s see who will beg for mercy.”

Henry dashed toward Derek. He raised his right hand and unleashed his attack.

“Skill one!”

The cube-sized flame was five times larger than before. Even Derek raised an eyebrow at the sight.

“Explosion!”

Henry hurled the blazing mass at Derek. Derek didn’t bother dodging. He kept walking forward. Just before impact, he casually slapped the fireball away.

It crashed into the wall, leaving cracks behind.

The crowd erupted into applause at Derek’s strength. Henry was stunned. His attack had no effect. He had underestimated the suit Derek was wearing. It granted him immense strength.

Derek noticed the look on Henry’s face. His lips curved into a smirk.

“Mega skill: Flame Armor.”

His body became enveloped in blazing fire. With this armor, Henry’s attacks would no longer affect him. Still, Derek was surprised. Though no one noticed, Henry’s earlier attack had actually pushed him back slightly.

“Just give up already. Your fire can’t harm me anymore.”

Henry ignored him. He launched more explosive attacks, but the flames were absorbed by Derek’s armor.

Derek smiled at Henry’s confusion. It was time to finish this.

“Mega skill: Blazing Aura.”

Henry immediately dropped to his knees. The air itself became suffocating.

He couldn’t believe it. Derek had unlocked two mega skills and could use them at the same time. It was all because of that suit. Its power was overwhelming.

Reaching level five allowed a mage to unlock mega skills, but not everyone could handle the energy drain. Derek, however, used them effortlessly. Another benefit of wealth.

Derek’s firepower surged as he stepped forward.

“Flash Step.”

In just three steps, he was right in front of Henry. Henry quickly activated his second skill.

“Flame Shield.”

A circular shield of fire formed instantly in his hand. The crowd gasped. Henry had more than one skill. But it didn’t matter.

“Fireball!”

Derek slammed the attack into Henry. Henry blocked it, but the force pushed him backward. He was now a C-rank. The attack shouldn’t have been this powerful. But with Derek’s flames enhancing it, the damage doubled.

Derek expected Henry to collapse, but the boy remained standing.

Despite the intense aura, Henry refused to fall. It was almost unbelievable that he could still stand, let alone defend.

“Stay down, moron.”

“Dash.”

Derek’s speed increased. He closed the distance instantly.

“Fireball!”

Just before impact, Henry activated another skill.

“Fire Chains!”

Multiple flaming chains burst forward and bound Derek tightly.

Derek struggled, but the more he resisted, the tighter they became.

Henry exhaled sharply. He had chosen his skills carefully. If he had known physical combat would be this crucial, he might have unlocked a mega skill instead.

“Fire Burst!”

He launched an upgraded fireball.

The blast sent Derek flying. He rolled across the ground before regaining his footing.

He couldn’t believe it. Henry’s attacks were far stronger than they should be. For an E-rank, they were nearly on par with his own.

Before Derek could fully recover, Henry charged and launched another Fire Burst.

But Derek was ready.

“Speed Dodge.”

He vanished and reappeared elsewhere, avoiding the attack effortlessly.

Before Henry could react, Derek moved again.

“Swift Counter.”

Derek appeared behind him. Henry tried to turn, but he was too slow.

“Fireball!”

The attack struck Henry’s back, sending him crashing into the wall. Cracks spread from the impact.

“Henry!”

Lora covered her mouth in shock. Henry had been holding his own despite lacking magical gear.

She wanted him to win, but not at this cost.

Henry coughed blood as he pushed himself up. His back throbbed with pain, but his determination drowned it out.

Derek approached slowly.

Henry had unlocked three skills, which was impressive. But Derek had three mega skills. There was no way Henry could turn this around.

This was the end.

Derek deactivated his Blazing Aura. It hadn’t worked as expected.

“Time to end this.”

“Zoom.”

Derek charged forward. Henry fired a Fire Burst to stop him, but Derek dodged easily, his speed unchanged.

Henry clenched his fists. He had to act now.

“Fire Chains!”

He cast the skill as Derek entered range, but Derek evaded again with Swift Counter.

He had predicted everything. In the end, he was still a B-rank, while Henry was only an E-rank.

Derek appeared behind Henry and prepared his final move.

“Mega skill: Blazing Fists.”

Flames engulfed his fists as he struck Henry’s back.

Henry staggered forward. He turned, only to be hit again in the stomach.

The force lifted him into the air. Derek grabbed him midair and slammed him into the ground.

Henry lay motionless.

Derek’s flames faded. He had reached his limit.

“Henry!”

Lora screamed, but no one responded.

Mr. Tucker fell to his knees. What had he done? Supporting Henry had been a mistake.

His son never stood a chance. Those magical items had decided everything.

Derek’s voice rang out.

“I have brought the E-ranker down.”

The crowd roared in approval.

Mr. Tucker turned to Mr. Dawson.

“Where is the mage healer? You promised one would be on standby.”

“Attend to whom? Waste my money hiring a mage? You must be joking.”

He stood up coldly.

“Go take care of your son yourself.”

Tears streamed down Mr. Tucker’s face as he rushed into the arena. He didn’t know what to do, but he couldn’t just sit there while his son died.

Henry’s eyes slowly opened.

[Host has completed physical skills training. Host has unlocked all physical skills.]

[Host has completed a side task by unlocking all physical skills. Host has been rewarded with three mega skills.]