The arena incident spread through Ironspire like wildfire. Every tower and training ground were filled with rumors. Students whispers went through noble dorms and common bunkers. They were in disbelief.
"Kai defeated Ray Smith with a Level 1 strike."
"I can't believe that. He's cheating the Ascension Protocol."
"He must have stolen a fragment or hacked a relic."
For the first time, people noticed Kai and for the first time, they truly hated him.
No noble had ever been embarrassed by a so-called "systemless."
The Council didn't suspend Kai. They didn't reward him either.
He was simply returned to isolation - his dorm of punishment in Ironsphire. Kai was escorted like a criminal beneath the Academy halls. It was as if his victory had unsettled some balance better left untouched.
Kai didn't mind when all eyes were on him. It only meant one thing - More eyes, more pressure.
More pressure which also meant more growth to Kai.
Every night, Kai pushed deeper by training more into the Tyrant Core skill tree. The Presence of Command was sharpening and now, Kai was strong enough to make low-tier Enforcers hesitate in his presence. Even though most of them thought he was cheating his way in. The Iron Fist Technique had stabilized and it was ready to evolve.
Kai was seated in the form with some things in his head. But it wasn't power that stirred him next. It was a name he hadn't heard in weeks, Darius Vane!
The news came from a passing Enforcer, grinning as he slid Kai's meal through the slot.
"Your old janitor friend? The washed-up soldier? Word is he caught sewer rot and collapsed last night. Should be dead by dawn."
Kai froze. "What?" Kai's voice echoed in shock.
The Enforcer sneered. "Guess even traitors don't die with dignity. Pitiful!" The enforcer's words trailed off as he walked away…
Kai remained puzzled and his heart became very troubled. Darius Vane had been the only man who treated Kai like a person. Although, they were not very close.
Years ago, Darius Vane was a frontline war hero until he disobeyed a noble's suicide order to protect his platoon. The noble was angry and Darius Vane was demoted and humiliated. He was assigned to clean blood-soaked corridors no one else would touch.
Now he was dying and no one would lift a finger to help him.
Kai pounded on the dorms door. "Let me see him!" His voice echoed beneath the Ironspire academic.
The guard laughed with a mocking stench. "Why? You gonna heal him with your 'trash-tier' aura?" He arched his eyebrows
Kai wasn't moved by his laughter as he literally became desperate to help. "I can help." He echoed, hoping that he would be given a try.
"You're a Level 2 barely holding a fake system together."
Kai didn't move the door. Instead, he insisted. "I still want to try."
The Enforcer finally smirked. An idea came into his mind after sensing Kai's desperation. "Fine, but on One condition. if you fail, your sentence is doubled. There will be no arena and no training access. Just silence." His voice broke several barriers.
Kai didn't hesitate and his eyes winked softly. "Done." His voice trailed off the atmosphere.
The system echoed in Kai's head
'QUEST: A Vow Reforged
Objective: Save Darius Vane before system death
Penalty: Solitary Confinement Extension +72 hours
Reward: Follower Bond – Veteran Class / +10 Loyalty Points
Status:CRITICAL.'
Kai's dorm door was opened. And he was brought to a forgotten infirmary beneath the western tower by the enforcer.
Darius lay on a bed. His face was pale and his body was shivering. His skin was grey. His breathing was shallow. The medics had abandoned him hours ago. On sight, Kai knew he would die if nothing was done to help him.
Kai knelt by his side and called the system protocol, Hex.
The system echoed, 'System node activated: Minor Bio-Override Access.
Rebirth Pulse Tier I available.
Skill: Rebirth Pulse Tier I
Heals minor to moderate internal corruption
Restores vitality based on Will stat
Cooldown: 48 Hours.'
After the system's response, Kai placed a palm on Darius' chest. The room glowed with a deep crimson-gold light.
His energy surged. Darius arched, gasping heavily and then collapsed still.
Everything went silent. Kai watched him, hoping that he would be healed.
Then there was a slow inhale. Color returned to his face. His breathing evened. Sweat replaced fever. Moments later, Darius Vane's eyes opened.
He saw Kai watching him with concern.
"You…" he rasped slowly with surprise.
Kai stood slowly, wiping blood from his nose. The skill had drained him near to collapse.
"I couldn't let you die." Kai echoed warmly.
Darius sat up. He was confused and then swung his legs off the bed. "I… feel better than I've felt in years." Darius echoed with an inch of surprise and excitement.
As Kai glared at him, Darius Vane suddenly knelt before Kai.
Not out of weakness but out of choice.
Kai arched his eyebrows with surprise. "What are you doing?" As Kai questioned…
"I swore loyalty to a false empire once. I won't make that mistake again. I, Darius Vane, pledge my blade, strength, and soul to you, Kai Draven." Darius Vane echoed.
Kai blinked with surprise. He never expected that move and for a moment, he was short of words.
"…Get up." Kai finally echoed.
But part of him couldn't get those words out of his head. Something ancient, embedded in his core protocol.
Hex echoed
'Tyrant King Core: Loyalty Bond Formed.
Follower acquired: Veteran Class-Darius Vane.'
Kai grunted slowly.
That night, Kai returned to his cell with different thoughts going through his head. He barely slept.
Until it was very late in the night and then…
"BAM!"
The door blasted open. Smoke filled the room. Before he could move, four figures appeared before him. One of them struck him across the face. Another jabbed his gut with a stun rod.
Kai disoriented, collapsed. Kai was Drugged and dragged. And everything blurred.
He awoke to shouting and the smell of mildew.
"Where am i?" Kai looked around him. He was in the Academy's sewer ring. Academic sewer ring is a brutal underground fight club run by rogue students and dropout combatants. The air was thick with a stench and a mix of blood.
In a distance from him stood a tall teen with wild red hair, strong arms, and the grin of a predator.
His name is Raid. A Level 4 berserker with no allegiance. Raid was expelled once and reinstated after bribing his way through the Council's black market.
"You embarrassed too many nobles. So now we're gonna break your crown." Raid echoed with hate and fierce rage.
Kai didn't flinch, instead he tried to rise. His knees buckled. Kai wasn't entirely free from the drugs he was fed to be weak. His strength was failing.
Raid didn't wait. He charged at Kai with the intention to eliminate him and feed his body to the dogs.
Fists like bricks slammed into Kai's ribs and face. Kai flew backward into a wall and spat out blood. Raid moved swiftly, giving another strike that shattered the ground beside him. One more heavy punch slammed into his chest
Kai's bones cracked, Raid could hear the sound. Kai slumped to the floor.
The crowd cheered in excitement.
Kai couldn't move nor could he breathe properly.
His eyes were blue and he still had the string belief that he was going to defeat Raid
Suddenly, Kai felt a presence which was soft and coldly watching.
A figure emerged from the shadow at the edge of the ring and Raid wasn't aware. He was in a hood as a disguise and he was silent. No one else seemed to see them.
Only Kai did.
His voice, like a whisper across dimensions, echoed within himself.
"Rise, Kai. Your enemies do not know the storm they've summoned. I am here to help you."