Three hours had passed since Kane's brutal debut. His body should've been broken—ribs screaming, muscles torn, blood still drying in ugly streaks. Instead, he felt… renewed.
The Quantum Chip pulsed faintly beneath his skin. Its reward system hummed like a hidden engine, knitting him back together faster than any doctor could. A familiar flicker spread across his vision.
[Status Update]
Rank: D
Strength: 5
Vitality: 7 (70 HP)
Intelligence: 5 (50 EP)
Agility: 4
Sense: 4
Skill: Dash (10 EP)
Kane exhaled. The new update glowed faintly: New Skill: Dash
In his fight with Lander, he didn't even know he had no SKILL to begin with. Now, with Dash locked in, the rules had changed.
The infirmary door hissed open. Sean Morgan walked in with that trademark grin of his.
"Hey, kid! Back on your feet already?"
"Yeah," Kane muttered, flexing his arms. His body felt too good for someone who'd nearly been pulped earlier. "The rewards helped."
Sean clapped him on the back. "Good. Because the crowd's eating you up. You're all they've been talking about since the fight."
Kane's brow arched. "You mean another one already?"
"The show must go on." Sean's grin widened. "What do you say?"
Kane smirked. "Line it up."
Sean's laughter echoed down the corridor.
At the cage, the air buzzed with noise and adrenaline. Kane found a spot near the edge, eyes fixed on the fight unfolding before him. Two young women traded blows with brutal precision.
One of them, Kaya, moved like a storm. Her neon-green hair caught the cage lights, whipping as she struck again and again. Each blow thudded into Sarah's guard, driving her backward until her spine kissed steel.
[Impact registered: -6 HP]
[Impact registered: -8 HP]
Sarah spat blood, chest rising and falling like a bellows. She bent, but she didn't break. Her eyes flicked over her HUD.
[HP: 44/70]
[EP: 35/50]
Too much damage. Too fast. She's stronger than I expected. If I don't finish this… I'm done.
Kaya smelled blood. She surged forward, steps light, combinations sharp.
"This ends now!"
Her right hook arced, fast and certain—
—and Sarah vanished.
A blur.
One instant, prey in the corner. The next, predator at Kaya's back.
[Skill Activated: Dash (-10 EP)]
A dagger bloomed in Sarah's hand, its blade a ghostly emerald, shimmering with venom.
[Skill Activated: Venom Dagger (-5 EP)]
Before Kaya could pivot, steel found flesh.
The blade slid deep into her side. Poison pulsed.
[Critical Hit: -32 HP]
[Status Effect Applied: Venom]
Kaya gasped, knees buckling. Her HUD screamed warnings.
[HP: 0/70]
[Status: Downed]
The roar of the crowd turned jagged—half ecstasy, half outrage. Credits flew in frantic hands. Cheers, curses, the sound of fortunes changing.
Kaya's vision blurred, colors bleeding to red. She hit the mat, chest heaving, then stilled.
Sarah exhaled, pulling the dagger free. It dissolved into particles, fading like smoke as the timer ran out. She glanced once at her HUD.
[EP Remaining: 20/50]
"Dash and Venom Dagger," she muttered under her breath. "Fifteen EP gone. Worth it."
She didn't even look at the referee as he raised his hand. Didn't acknowledge the crowd's thunder. She simply turned and strode from the cage, expression flat.
At the edge of the pit, Kane's eyes narrowed.
"That was Dash—the same Skill I just unlocked."
He tracked the faint shimmer of the dagger as it vanished.
And she stacked it with another.
"If my next opponent's built like her…"
His lips pressed into a thin line.
"…I'm in trouble."
The cage was cleaned. The restless audience stamped their feet. Sean's voice boomed from the speakers.
"For our final match tonight, something special! On my left—the miracle rookie, Kane Bernard!"
The crowd erupted.
"And on my right—the prodigy who's already claimed three victories tonight: Yohan Vlad!"
The arena split down the middle—half chanting Kane's name, half scoffing and throwing credits onto Yohan.
David, the referee, raised a hand. "Declare your stakes."
"Two thousand cash," Yohan said flatly.
Kane brushed his brown hair back and smirked. "Match it. Two thousand."
The holo-screen blinked alive:
[Stakes Confirmed]
Yohan Vlad: $2000
Kane Bernard: $2000
"Fight!" David barked.
Kane burst forward. Dash engaged.
The world blurred. In a blink he was at Yohan's flank, fist snapping in. A feint—then the real strike came from the side.
Yohan's hand shot out like iron, catching his leg mid-swing. He swung Kane overhead and smashed him into the cage wall. Metal bent from the impact.
[Kane HP: 59/70]
Gasps from the crowd. Kane dragged himself upright, blood streaking his chin.
He… saw me? Through Dash? His Sense must be insane.
Yohan advanced at a measured pace, eyes unblinking. He feinted a jump. Kane reacted, burning Dash again.
He vanished to the side—only to run straight into Yohan's fist.
Gut punch.
Jaw hook.
He tumbled across the mat, coughing blood.
The crowd roared. Half cheered Yohan's dominance, half screamed for Kane to rise.
Kane staggered upright, teeth gritted. Yohan blurred again, reappearing behind him. A sharp chop landed on the back of his neck. Kane collapsed.]
The prodigy turned away, calm restored. The fight was over—
—until Kane's boot cracked against his cheek.
[Yohan HP: 114/120]
The arena gasped as Yohan stumbled, shock flashing across his perfect calm.
Kane grinned through blood. "Why end the show early, prodigy? I'm still here."
The mask cracked. Yohan's fury bled through. His movements sharpened, faster, crueler. A devastating strike sent Kane flying.
[Kane HP: 18/70]
The referee started counting.
"Seven… eight… nine—"
Kane flickered. Dash ignited—
[EP: 20/50]
—and he was back on his feet. Swaying, broken, but alive.
The crowd erupted, half in awe, half in disbelief.
David's hand shot up. "Match over! Kane is unable to continue. Winner: Yohan Vlad!"
Chaos. Boos, cheers, gamblers demanding refunds. But David had his reasons—he couldn't risk Kane going down cold. Too much money tied to the kid surviving.
Yohan said nothing. He simply turned and walked off, calm restored.
Sean stormed the cage, catching Kane before he collapsed. "Easy, kid. I've got you."
Thirty minutes later, Kane lay bandaged in the infirmary. His HUD blinked faintly.
[HP: 18/70]
[EP: 15/50]
Sean entered. "Can you walk?"
Kane groaned but pushed himself upright. "Yeah… just about."
"Good. Come to the starting room."
The room buzzed with tension when he entered. Yohan stood like a statue. Sarah leaned against the wall. Kaya glared through clenched teeth. Two new faces watched, silent and sharp.
Sean grinned, though his eyes carried steel.
"Tonight was just the beginning. You six have proven yourselves. The crowds want more. The organisers are watching. You're going to the majors now—higher stakes, bigger crowds, tougher opponents."
The words hit Kane like a freight train. A broke kid hours ago, now dragged into a world of blood, numbers, and survival.
Sean's grin widened. "Three days. Then be here at five sharp."
He paused, letting silence draw tight.
"The show doesn't wait for anyone."