Axamu stumbled away from the plaza, his mind still replaying the blinding clash of Dragonic Break against Dragonic Break X. The cheers of the crowd echoed behind him, but to him, they sounded distant… almost unreal.
He found himself in a quiet side street, pressing his back against a wall. His chest heaved.
That kind of power… that kind of pressure… I could never do that. Not me.
He squeezed his eyes shut. His thoughts turned bitter. The system told me to climb the X Tower… but how? Against people like them? Against Kamen X and Ryugu Chrome?
Suddenly, the blue light of the system's interface burst open in front of his eyes.
[ADDITIONAL QUEST!]
Axamu froze. "…What?"
The words shifted, glowing ominously.
[MAKE YOUR CHARACTER BECOME MORE IMPORTANT IN THIS WORLD!]
Progress: 0%
His lips parted. For a moment, no sound came out. Then he let out a weak, humorless chuckle.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
He tilted his head back against the wall, his laugh twisting into despair.
"What the hell is this? I thought climbing the Tower was enough! But now you want me to become important in this world?!"
His voice cracked. His fists shook as he stared into the glowing interface.
"You're mocking me, aren't you?!" he shouted. His teeth clenched, eyes wild. "You saw me watching the match, didn't you?! Between the real main characters — the rivals of this world — and now you want me to step into their story?! Is that it?!"
The system remained silent. The glowing percentage at 0% mocked him more than any words could.
His shout echoed through the street.
"Answer me, damn it!!"
People turned. A small group passing by stopped in confusion, staring at the boy with long white hair and golden eyes. To them, he was yelling at empty air, his hands clenching at nothing.
"Is… is he okay?" one woman whispered.
"Maybe he sick…" another muttered.
Axamu's breathing was ragged, his chest rising and falling like he'd just run a marathon. He looked at their faces — confusion, pity, suspicion — and realized with horror.
They couldn't see the system.
"…Of course," he muttered under his breath, his voice breaking into a bitter laugh. "Of course no one else can see it. Just me. Always me."
He gripped his hair, trembling.
This isn't just a challenge… it's a curse.