The air cracked.
Izel's fist tore through the space, knuckles lined with intent and fury—his pride shattered from the moment Daniel blocked his first strike.
He didn't care. He didn't think. He just wanted to break Daniel's face.
"YOU THINK YOU'RE SOMEBODY!?"
he roared, fists swinging like a cornered animal.
But Daniel? He was calm. Still. Grinning.
Sloppy.
Predictable.
Daniel's boot dug into Izel's ribs, collapsing his body sideways with a dull, meaty thud. Izel rolled, coughing hard, spit and blood painting the grass.
He tried to stand—
Crack.
A knee slammed into his face, snapping his head back.
Daniel didn't hesitate.
Palm strike.
Back elbow.
Another knee to the stomach.
Izel's body jolted with every blow. No technique. No discipline. Just rage—and rage alone didn't win fights.
"You're ranked thirty?" Daniel whispered through his teeth, grinning as he caught Izel by the collar.
"You're fucking embarrassing."
He spun.
Hooked Izel's leg—swept him hard—then drove his heel into Izel's chest as he hit the ground.
Izel coughed blood.
Then nothing.
Just silence.
Daniel stood above him, golden eyes burning.
Rank 30 was his.
The next day.
Sirris Academy.
The rain came down in sheets—thick, cold, unrelenting. The kind of rain that blurred sight, masked footsteps, and buried hesitation.
Daniel walked alone beneath the steel sky, soaked and unbothered, the fight with Izel already faded from his mind.
Then—
"Yow."
A slow drawl from the shadow of the school building. A tall figure leaned against the wall, arms crossed, soaked to the bone but unmoving.
Zeke Drakar. Rank 18.
Jet-black hair slicked back by the rain, with wild gray eyes and a twisted grin.
"I heard you beat the living shit out of your brother," Zeke said, voice sharp through the rain. "Damn near made a statement."
Daniel stopped.
Zeke pushed off the wall and walked into the open.
"Thing is… I don't think you're gonna climb the ladder the usual way, are you? Thought I'd save you the effort."
Daniel tilted his head.
"So, what, you're cutting the line for me?"
Zeke smiled.
"Exactly."
Daniel chuckled. "Generous bastard."
He raised his hand to brush hair from his face—
CRACK!
Zeke was already in front of him.
A fist collided with Daniel's gut before he could react.
He doubled over, coughing violently, slipping back into the mud.
Zeke didn't stop.
He vanished again, and Daniel felt pain explode in his side as he was flung against the concrete wall.
Fast.
Too fast.
Daniel's eyes narrowed as he tried to stand—
Only for Zeke to flash again, driving a blow straight to his temple.
Daniel dropped to a knee, blood running down his cheek, lip split.
Zeke stopped.
Daniel grinned as if enjoying the pain.
"Have you already lost it?" he mocked.
"Maybe getting your shit kicked in rattles the brain a little."
Daniel coughed blood.
Then he started laughing.
[GOLD SYSTEM - ALERT]
[Path to Ascendency: UNLOCKED]
[Progress: 0.0%]
Zeke frowned.
"What the hell are you laughing at?"
Daniel stood. A wide grin carved into his face despite the rain, despite the blood, despite the bruises.
"You're fast," he said, licking the blood off his lip.
"But I learn fast too."