Kai bled into the cracked concrete floor and his eyes blurred out.
Raid's savage boots had pulverized the last of his strength, almost paralysing him. The jeering crowd howled for blood. Their chants echoed like a death drum with hate within their bellies.
"Trash-tier!"
"End him!"
"Rip his protocol out!" Their voices echoed like a storm.
Kai breathed intensely, hoping that he wouldn't die in that manner.
But Raid didn't hold on. His fist pulsed with red light and he charged one final blow.
Then a person moved swiftly. A sudden blur slammed into Raid from behind with a thunderous crash. The crowd gasped as the berserker stumbled forward and he crashed into the metal rail.
Kai looked up and his vision made contact with the familiar figure who had come to help him. 'It Darius Vane.' Kai echoed silently.
"On your feet, boy!" Darius growled and he extended a gripping rusted pipe which Kai held onto to stand on his feet. Kai breathed intensely as he widened his eyes slowly.
Raid finally got hold of himself. He turned fiercely, enraged. "Who the hell dares?!" His voice echoed through the arena but he didn't finish.
Because Kai was already moving when Raid was distracted… 'This is my chance.' Kai echoed within himself.
The move was silent and it wasn't born from rage, but precision - Kai had already calculated his strike.
Hex echoed within Kai.
'Skill Activated: Iron Fist Technique Tier I
Modifier Active:Tyrant Core Suppression Pulse Level 2 Overdrive.'
Kai's fist struck Raid's throat with a thunderclap. Then he hit his ribs before he finished him off by finally hitting his skull.
The combo was fatal, extreme and brutal.
Raid screamed in pain but it was drowned by his own gurgling blood as his system core flickered and died. 'How is this possible? This was supposed to be your head.' Raid echoed in regret within himself.
The crowd recoiled in horror as their jaws dropped.
Raid crumpled, twitching. And he died in the instant.
'System Notice: You have slain a hostile opponent in a non-sanctioned duel. Consequences pending.
Kill Confirmed. You are now eligible for Dominator Class Trials.' Hex echoed in a faint voice.
Darius stood beside Kai and he gripped his shoulder with excitement throbbing within him.
"You survived." Darius echoed with a blink.
Kai exhaled and he peered into Darius's eyes
"No," he corrected. "I won." Kai echoed with a thick voice.
Hex chimed.
'New System Mission Unlocked
Title: Flawless Tyrant
Objective: Win a sanctioned duel without taking damage
Reward: +50 Attribute Points, Iron Fist Upgrade
Condition: Must remain untouched from start to finish
Status: Pending.'
The moment didn't last long and excitement didn't last long. Within minutes, Enforcers stormed the pit aggressively.
They didn't hail Kai nor did they ask questions.
The enforcers simply dragged him back to his cell. Kai was bruised, exhausted, and under heavy armed surveillance.
The next day, all of Ironspire buzzed with a lot of murmurs and whispers. Raid's death spread like wildfire throughout the academy.
"Kai Draven killed Raid In self-defense? Maybe."
"Kai is probably in trouble. The Academy doesn't tolerate unsanctioned executions."
As words spread around, it came to the notice of the council. The council summons Kai to the academic council tribunal
The council was a grand and domed hall beneath the Tower Sovereign. The Council sat cloaked in shimmering robes with fierce faces. They were eight members, with Archon Judicar Vantros presiding over the council.
Kai stood before them in chains. His breath stench as he watched closely. Darius Vane watched silently from a distance and he hoped that Kai wouldn't be punished because his case was different.
"You killed a student outside sanctioned grounds." Vantros intoned. His facial gaze was unreadable.
Kai met his gaze. "He kidnapped and drugged me. He even tried to murder me." Kai echoed in defence.
"Yet you killed him."
"I defended myself." Kai expressed while his eyes blinked slowly.
"Self-defense doesn't justify execution," a female Councilor added coldly. "You must accept punishment."
Kai's eyes turned and focused on her, "What punishment?" He echoed with a hostile voice.
"Solitary isolation. Seven months." The feminine voice replied with a harsh gaze.
Kai's fists tightened and he grinded his teeth in anger.
"You punish me for surviving?" Kai widened his eyes and questioned the council.
"You're a virus in our hierarchy," Vantros snapped. "A broken anomaly." He echoed cruelly.
Kai raised his head in a calm and firm manner.
"I'm not broken. I'm ascending." He replied with an echo
And silence fell within the council.
Then….
Another Councilor smiled cruelly. "Fine. There is a second option. You must defeat an elite student in combat. If you refuse or fail, your punishment triples." He echoed with dark intentions.
Kai didn't blink as he made up his mind.
"I'll fight." He replied boldly to the council.
What Kai didn't know was that they had already chosen the fighter. All they wanted was to eliminate Kai afterall.
"Your opponent is assigned." The council declared and Kai was handed a note so he could know who he was battling against.
He reads,
"Opponent Assigned: Hunch Man a Level 6 Juggernaut
Weight Class: Heavy
Combat Type: Endurance Crusher
Kill Count (Non-sanctioned): 3
Skill Highlight: Bone Splitter Technique, Iron Hide Defense."
Kai's heart hit hard against his chest and he blinked softly. 'This is wickedness. How would I be paired with someone at this level?' Kai perceived a scheme.
Kai, now a Level 2, was being thrown into a death trap.
But that wasn't all as Kai remembered the mission given to him by the system.
"Reminder: System Mission ... Flawless Tyrant Active. No Damage Must Be Taken."
'This is a difficult one.' Kai echoed within himself.
The day of the battle finally came. Kai was released from his dorm. He was led by the enforcers to the arena of the battle.
The crowd was larger than ever. Even noble families tuned in from the corners of Ironspire to watch what would become of Kai.
Hunch Man stomped into the arena. He was seven feet tall. His arms were like tree trunks and he had bone piercings lined his body. He grinned with jagged teeth. Ready to devour Kai.
Kai let out a heavy breath. He wasn't scared, but rather he was calculating how to defeat him without taking a single hit.
"I like crushing hopefuls." Hunch Man echoed aggressively.
Kai blinked without saying anything. His heart was more calm than ever.
Hex whispered inside his mind.
"Threat Level is overwhelming. It is recommended to immediately retreat." But Kai's heart remained unfazed. He was ready to battle that demon standing in front of him.
Hex chimed. "Override authorized. Engaging Precision Protocol."
"Combat Begins!" The combat regulator echoed.
Hunch Man charged like a beast. Kai didn't move from that point. He studied Hunch man's body movement and reflexes.
The juggernaut's fist slammed down and Kai slid aside, inches from impact.
Another punch came from Hunch man but Kai ducked. The air cracked above his head.
Hunch man was enraged with the way Kai was dodging his punches. He used a spinning kick but Kai backstepped while his toes brushed the dust.
Hunch man's punches became five strikes, ten and even twelve but Kai dodged everything.
Not a single hit landed.
The crowd rose with their jaws dropping. Murmurs turned into shouts.
"Is he dodging all of that?"
"He's still Level 2!"
"This is insane!"
Then Kai moved forward swiftly. His system echoed,
'Skill Activated:Iron Fist Technique Tier II, Crushing Reign
Effect: Converts kinetic precision into bone-shatter force.
Trigger:+50 AP Injected
Status: Critical Damage Mode Engaged.'
Kai finally launched one punch straight into Hunch Man's solar plexus. Hunch Man staggered and Froze for a moment.
Then, he exploded backward. His armor cracked and his mouth spat blood. He fell unconscious.
It was exactly one hit and no damage received.
The crowd became silent with shock.
Hex chimed softly,
"Mission Complete.
"+50 Attribute Points awarded.
"Skill Upgrade: Iron Fist Technique Tier II unlocked.
"You are no longer invisible."
Kai lifted his eyes and he looked up at the nobles. He turned and looked at the Council balcony and at the crowd who now couldn't decide whether to fear him or worship him.
Kai wiped blood from his knuckles.