2025-10-04 21:45:42Everyone stared as the blindfolded man stepped onto the platform.
He tapped his cane lightly, and the ground trembled slightly beneath him—not from weight, but from presence.
“I am Instructor Cole,” he said calmly. “Your first combat teacher.”
A student raised a hand, half laughing. “But… you're blind.”
Murmurs broke out.
Cole chuckled. “I see more than you ever will.”
Then he turned his head slightly toward the group. “I am currently at God of War Level 5.”
The students gasped.
Even Syrian raised an eyebrow.
But then…
⟨Ding!⟩
[System Analysis: False Information Detected] [Actual Power Level: Unknown – Estimated Lord Master Tier or Higher]Drake’s eyes widened.
“Sky… is that even possible?”“Barely,” Sky replied. “If that’s true… he could destroy cities with a flick of his finger.”
Drake felt a chill crawl up his spine.
Instructor Cole smiled. “Since you all doubt… let’s test reality.”
He raised his cane, and the air around him thickened with invisible pressure.
“Each of you will face me, one by one. A simple spar. First to land a clean hit wins.”
The combat field buzzed with tension.Instructor Cole stood at the center, arms crossed, a cold expression on his face. His aura, though suppressed, pressed on the students like invisible chains.
“Who’s first?” he asked flatly.
Three confident students stepped forward—mid B-rank warriors, cocky and proud.
“Let’s see if you’re as strong as they say,” one sneered.
Cole didn’t respond. He simply raised a hand.
Boom.
In a blur, the first student was on the ground, gasping for air after a blow to the stomach.
The second tried to flank him. Cole vanished—and reappeared behind him.
Crack! A palm strike to the back of the neck.
Down.The third backed off. “Wait—I wasn’t—”
Smack. A flick to the forehead sent him flying five meters.
The crowd went dead silent.
Cole exhaled. “If this is your level, most of you won’t survive the real world.”
Then his eyes locked on Drake.
“You. DC-rank. You’re next.”
Murmurs rose. Syrian smirked.
Drake stepped forward, tense.
Sky’s voice echoed, “Don’t underestimate him. He’s testing more than your fists.”
---
The arena was silent.
Students formed a wide circle as Instructor Cole stepped onto the training platform—a stern, sharp-eyed man known for breaking egos with ease.
Facing him was Drake, steady but unsure. His energy hadn’t fully stabilized, and most still believed he was just a DC-rank weakling.
Cole’s gaze fixed on Drake. “You’re holding back,” he said flatly. “Show me something.”
Drake tightened his fists. The fire-style ability pulsed faintly in his veins, but Sky’s warning echoed again.
“Don’t reveal the bloodline.”
Drake dashed forward with speed, landing sharp blows. Cole dodged with lazy grace, eyes barely moving.
Then—Drake landed a glancing hit.
The crowd gasped. Cole’s eyes narrowed.
“Tch. Fine then.”
He lifted his head slightly.
“Let me show you something no student here has ever seen.”A flash of silver light exploded from Cole’s right eye.
“Cōkai.”
Suddenly, Drake froze.
Everything around him melted into shadows—an illusion.
He blinked. The crowd was gone. The sky twisted. He saw images from his past: loneliness, failure, being called a “nobody.”
He struggled to breathe.
“What is this…?”
Sky shouted in his head, “Break the illusion! It’s mental warfare!”
But before Drake could react—Cole struck. A clean hit to the chest, and Drake dropped to one knee.
The illusion broke.
The arena snapped back.
Cole stood over him. “You fought through my Cōkai. That’s rare.”
He turned to the class. “Most of you would’ve cried for your mother.”
The students were stunned silent.
Drake coughed and stood, breathing hard.
Then—
⟨Ding!⟩
[Mission Complete: Faced Instructor Cole in Combat]
[Reward: +400 XP | Qi Level Increased to Mid-Stage Beginner | New Mission: Gain Cole’s Favor]Drake blinked. “Even for losing… I gained something?”
Sky chuckled.
“Because you dared. Now… earn his respect.”Cole turned back once more. “You’re rough. Undisciplined. But not useless.”
He walked away.
And for the first time since arriving…
Drake had been noticed.
*************
Later That Day
Drake sat under a tree in the academy courtyard, rubbing his sore ribs.
The fight with Cole had taken everything out of him—mentally and physically.
But even in defeat… he’d earned something valuable.
⟨Ding!⟩
[New Mission: Gain Instructor Cole’s Favor] Reward: Hidden Martial Technique + Stat Boost]Sky’s voice came through calmly.
“You impressed him. Now you need to prove you're worth teaching.”Drake muttered, “Any idea how?”
“Cole values grit and growth. You’ll need to stand out—again.”
Just then, a notice flashed across Drake’s watch:
[Special Combat Training – Selected Students Only – Midnight, Arena 3]
Only five names were listed. Drake was one of them.
Sky laughed.
“Looks like you’ve been invited to round two.”---
Midnight – Arena 3
The lights were low. Only five students stood in the dark-lit room, including Syrian and a girl from the Flame Division.
Instructor Cole walked in, still wearing the same expressionless face.
“This isn’t training,” he said. “It’s survival.”
He threw down five small tokens.
“Grab one. Whoever holds it at the end… earns my favor.”
“And the rest?” Syrian asked
**
Arena 3 – Midnight Trial
The five students stood in tense silence.
A flicker of cold wind swept through the underground arena, brushing past their shoulders like a warning.
Drake looked around.
• Syrian Kane, confident and calm, lightning crackling faintly under his sleeves.
• A red-haired girl from the Flame Division, eyes sharp like burning coals. • Two others — one bulky brute, one quiet kid with twin daggers. • And Drake… the so-called weakling, still labeled DC rank.Instructor Cole’s voice echoed.
“Five tokens. Five minutes. No killing. Last one holding a token earns my favor.”
He tapped his cane once.
Ding!
The countdown began.
5:00
They all moved at once.
Syrian blitzed toward the brute, landing a clean elbow to the jaw and snatching a token midair.
The girl launched flames, pushing back the dagger kid, who flipped defensively.
Drake stayed low, calm. He didn’t rush. He observed.
Sky’s voice whispered:
“Focus. Use your Vampiric Sense. Feel their energy instead of chasing it.”
Drake closed his eyes briefly.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Heartbeats. Qi flows. Movements—predictable.
3:17
The dagger kid lunged toward Drake.
But this time, Drake moved first — dodging smoothly and countering with a flame-infused palm strike to the chest. The kid dropped his token. Drake caught it.
System Notification: +25 XP
2:02
Syrian noticed Drake now. “So… the DC Rank has claws after all.”
He lunged forward, lightning crackling.
Drake blocked, slid back—but Sky shouted:
“Use your Qi anchor. Root your stance.”
He did.
The next blow came—and Drake didn’t budge. He met Syrian’s punch with his own, fire versus lightning. Sparks exploded around them.
Then—the red-haired girl blindsided Syrian, stealing his token.
“Thanks for the opening,” she smirked.
0:41
Drake now had one token—but two opponents charged at him.
He had no time to think.
He spun, flame igniting in his fist, and struck the ground.
Boom!
A wave of fire split the arena, forcing the other two to back off just long enough—
0:01
Buzz.
Time’s up.
Drake stood there, one token in hand.
Breathing hard. Burn marks on his sleeve. But standing.
---
Cole approached.
He looked at Drake for a long moment, then gave a slight nod.
“You learn fast.”
⟨Ding!⟩
[Mission Complete: Gained Cole’s Favor] [Reward: Hidden Martial Art – Shadow Step | +300 XP | +2 Qi Control]Sky grinned in his mind.
“Now we’re getting somewhere.”
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Chapter twenty four(rift of shadows)
The aftermath of the battle against the Herald left the academy grounds scarred. Cracked stone paths, scorched grass, and lingering qi tremors all whispered of the violence that had erupted. Yet even under those wounds, new dangers stirred.Drake walked through the wreckage, flanked by Riva, Syrian, and Kellan. His body still ached, but his eyes were sharper than ever. The system’s voice hummed in his mind:“Dimensional Rift stable. Threshold crossing imminent.”They reached the North Field, where the rift had first appeared. It stood like a wound in the sky — jagged edges crackling with violet lightning, shadows pouring in like ink. Around it, several cultivators and instructors stood guard, fear in their eyes.“Do not approach,” warned Councilor Juno from the sidelines. “One misstep, and you’ll be dragged across realms.”Drake nodded. “I understand.”He stepped forward, Kellan close beside him. The others followed cautiously.As they neared, the rift pulsed violently. The surface ri
Chapter twenty three(unseen chain)
Justin’s twin axes glowed ominously as he launched toward the evolving Herald. Each swing carved the air, his strikes fast, precise, and filled with killing intent. The Herald, now partially mutated, roared as its limbs stretched and shadows leaked from its form like mist.Drake watched from the cratered ground, his body trembling from exhaustion. “Sky… how strong is Justin holding back?”Sky’s voice echoed in his mind. “Barely using 60% now. That twin axe… is a pure blood weapon. It feeds off demonic and vampiric energy alike.”Drake’s eyes narrowed. “So he’s—”“A pure-blood… at least close,” Sky confirmed.Justin didn’t say a word as he pressed on, his attacks matching the Herald’s wild surges. Every time the Herald regenerated, Justin struck the same area, never allowing it to stabilize.In the distance, Syrian stood beside Riva, helping her stay upright. “He’s not normal,” Syrian muttered.Riva nodded slowly, her gaze locked on Drake and Justin. “Neither of them are.”With one f
Chapter twenty two (storm between worlds)
The academy grounds were unusually tense.Rumors spread like wildfire—about the Zendras’ return, about Drake’s growing powers, and whispers of dark forces moving again. Though the council tried to keep it quiet, too many had seen the battle. Too many had questions.Drake walked through the halls, cloaked in silence, his presence now drawing eyes filled with awe… and fear.Syrian walked beside him, his usual cocky grin absent. “You’ve been quiet since the fight. I don’t blame you. That thing nearly ended us.”Drake nodded. “There’s more to come. Worse than Zendras.”“Worse?” Syrian asked.“I can’t explain it yet,” Drake muttered. “Not now.”Behind them, Riva followed with narrowed eyes. She hadn’t said much either, but she had noticed something. Drake’s energy had shifted—he was more focused… and somehow, more distant.Meanwhile…In the Mixed World, Justin stood alone atop a bloodstone cliff, watching the skies shimmer with power. His mind raced. “Drake… You’re walking a line even I
Chapter twenty one (bloodline and betrayal)
The moment the battle ended and Drake returned to the academy, something shifted. His mind wasn’t on the injuries, nor on the weight of the mission's success. It was on the words the Zendras creature had whispered before dying.“You’re not one of them… you’re one of us. A monster.”Those words clung to him like a curse. Even when Syrian laughed, trying to lighten the mood, or when Riva teased him about getting stronger, Drake barely responded. He smiled, nodded, but inside, something was boiling.He submitted his mission report and made his way back to his room, the world feeling heavy. As soon as the door closed behind him, silence flooded in.He collapsed onto the floor, sitting cross-legged, forcing himself to meditate.“I need answers,” he muttered.He began circulating his Qi, reaching deeper into his core. He focused on pushing past the threshold to Level 4 Qi Cultivation, determined to bury the noise. Hours passed. Sweat rolled down his face. His aura fluctuated violently.Syst
Chapter twenty (veiled truth)
Dawn broke with a bruised sky over the academy, the first light revealing trembling banners and anxious faces. The students gathered in the courtyard, whispers dark and urgent passing between them. The council had called an emergency assembly—no one knew the reason, but fear hovered in every heart.Drake, flanked by Syrian and Riva, walked forward, Kellan’s seat waiting near the front, empty and watched by guards. Despite the victory in the arena, nothing felt safe.Councilor Juno stepped onto the dais. His voice echoed:“Warriors of the academy, we stand at a brink. The creature that attacked during the final—it was identified as a Zendras, long thought extinct. The academy’s archives confirm the hybrid blood signature is 60% identical to the hero we witnessed.”Gasps, murmurs.Juno continued: “Due to the threat, investigation teams will be dispatched. Drake Valen, as one who bears this blood, you are ordered to lead the Zone C expedition into the ruined sector—not as a warrior, but
Chapter nineteen (caught between)
The weight of the mission pressed heavily on Justin’s shoulders as he prepared to delve deeper into the mysteries surrounding the Zendras. The Mixed World had always been a realm of secrets, but now those secrets threatened to spill over and consume Earth itself.Back at the Earth Academy, Drake sensed the growing tension. The air was thick with anticipation, and whispers about the Zendras spread quietly among the students and instructors. Even Jordan’s usual scowl seemed sharper, his eyes narrowing whenever he caught sight of Drake.Justin moved silently through the shadows of the academy, blending perfectly with the environment — a ghost among mortals. His presence was unnoticed, but his intentions were clear: gather intelligence, find allies, and identify the source behind the Zendras’ return.Meanwhile, Drake focused on training with Syrian and Riva, sharpening his control over his bloodline powers and preparing for the battles ahead. The system’s warnings echoed in his mind — thi
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