The stone walls of the royal training coliseum groaned as hundreds of armored soldiers ringed the arena. Sunlight poured through the open dome, catching the silver tips of spears and banners waving with the crest of Kaelen's house—a black serpent coiled around a broken crown.
Draven stood barefoot on the scarred sand, his chest bare, his system marks faintly glowing with pulses of pale blue energy. He had been ordered here under the pretext of a "training evaluation," but every instinct screamed this was a trap.
The whispers among the soldiers confirmed it."Isn't that the new 'chosen' the king tolerates?""I heard he can bend fate itself.""He won't last long. Lord Kaelen doesn't let rivals breathe."
Draven's gaze flicked to the high balcony, where Kaelen leaned against the stone railing, a chalice in hand. His smirk was sharper than any blade. Beside him sat the king, expression unreadable, but his silence felt heavy with expectation.
The system whispered in Draven's mind:
[System Notice: Host's survival chances = 22%. Recommendation: Kill without hesitation.]
Draven exhaled slowly. He wasn't here just to survive. He was here to show the world—and himself—that he could master this cursed gift.
A horn blared. The gates clanked open.
Three armored knights strode in first, shields raised and swords gleaming. Behind them, a massive beast, half-tiger, half-scaled lizard, dragged chains across the sand. Its roar shook the walls, its eyes glowing red from magical augmentation.
The soldiers cheered, a chorus of bloodlust.
"Begin," Kaelen said, his voice carrying across the arena like a guillotine's drop.
Draven moved.
The first knight lunged with a spear, but Draven's hand shot out, twisting the shaft aside with inhuman precision. He slammed his palm into the man's chest, releasing a flicker of Fatebreaker Surge. The knight crumpled instantly, armor dented as if struck by a giant's hammer.
The second knight swung his sword, but Draven ducked under, rolling forward, and drove his knee into the man's gut. A sickening crunch followed—ribs shattered.
The beast roared and charged. The ground trembled.
Draven activated the system.
[Skill Activated: Soul Reversal—Minor][Effect: Predict one movement three seconds ahead.]
The world slowed. The beast's claws flashed in an arc. Draven sidestepped before the strike had even left its muscles. His fist glowed as he struck the creature's jaw, twisting fate's thread just enough that the blow landed with lethal precision.
The monster howled, blood spraying across the sand.
But the third knight was already behind Draven, blade raised to cleave him in half.
Draven spun, grabbing the sword by its hilt before it could land. Their eyes locked—one filled with desperation, the other with unshakable will.
"Wrong fate," Draven muttered, before driving the blade through the knight's throat.
The crowd fell silent.
On the balcony, Kaelen clapped once, slow and mocking."Well done, 'Godslayer.' But tell me…" His grin widened. "…can you win against my next champion?"
The gate creaked again. This time, the ground itself seemed to darken as a figure stepped through—a woman in black armor, her eyes burning with divine fire. Every movement radiated lethal grace.
The soldiers shouted in awe. "That's the king's ace! The Goddess's blessed!"
Draven's system pulsed with a warning.
[System Alert: Enemy is marked as a Fate-bound Champion.][Risk Level: S-RANK.]
Draven tightened his fists, heart hammering. His real battle was just beginning.
✨ Cliffhanger Ending ✨The black-armored woman raised her blade, pointing it at Draven.Her voice was cold, absolute: "By the will of the Goddess, you will die here."
The arena roared, Kaelen smirked, and Draven's system screamed.
But what should he do now? Should Draven unleash his forbidden Godslayer ability and risk exposure—or fight her with only his mortal strength?