Chapter 30
Since the battle began between Rictor and the members of the Oblivion Coil Club, a silent figure had stood motionless in a concealed area of the Trial Combat Grounds — a place many considered a nightmare for most warriors, but for one person, it was nothing more than home. Blake.
He didn't linger here for glory or spectacle. This was his domain. Where others trembled, bled, and broke, Blake thrived. The cracked earth, scorched skies, and endless echo of violence — it was all music to him.
As Rictor got pummeled, thrown like a ragdoll and humiliated in every possible way, Blake didn't twitch. He watched with disinterest, his hands tucked into his pockets, a loose smile playing on his lips.
He'd heard rumors that this Rictor had some kind of connection to the dual ability wielder he'd encountered back in the Aurora Forest. "Maybe he wasn't his friend after all," Blake thought, as another blow slammed Rictor into the ground.
And then, just as the entertainment was starting to dull, Jayden appeared.
Blake's eyes narrowed, not from surprise, but from curiosity. Jayden joined the fray with nothing but flames and daggers, confusing Blake slightly. The last time they'd crossed paths, Blake had sensed something far more… chaotic in him. He remembered the red eyes, the calm fury, and a potential that made even him twitch in anticipation.
Yet here he was — fire, daggers, and… was that it?
He tilted his head, eyes calm as Jayden got smacked around, bruised and cornered by the Oblivion Coil members. Still, Blake didn't move. His instincts screamed: he's hiding something.
And then it came.
The red visual prowess flared, and fire erupted — but it didn't stop there. Lightning surged across his arms, water spiraled around him, and in a blur of motion, Jayden turned the tide of battle. One by one, the six elite members fell. Broken, defeated.
Blake smirked. He's grown…
"It's only been three months," he mused, lips curling upward. "Three months and he's already this strong." Any other person would be filled with jealousy, frustration, maybe even resentment.
But Blake?
He smiled wider, his eyes glowing with excitement. "Finally… a worthy opponent."
As expected, Jayden emerged victorious — but Blake's smile thinned. "Too naive," he muttered.
The fight wasn't over. Zon hadn't even moved yet.
And sure enough, the moment Jayden lowered his guard, Zon struck. His visual prowess activated — a horrifying ability that seized movement, locking his opponent in place like a marionette.
Jayden was frozen, helpless.
Blake's eyes sharpened as Zon charged, energy crackling with murderous intent.
Come on, Blake thought, staring at Jayden. Use your hidden card.
Nothing.
Any trump card… weapon? Hidden skill?
Still nothing.
The attack was nearly at Jayden — a fatal blow.
Then—
BOOM!
Lightning exploded around Blake's body as he suddenly vanished, reappearing midair. His arm morphed into solid rock, forming a massive shield that blocked the strike. Zon's expression twisted in shock as he was knocked back.
"Or not," Blake chuckled.
Jayden's earth shield dissolved, reforming into flesh. His right arm now roared with interwoven lightning and fire, the hybrid element sparking wildly as he launched a devastating punch into Zon's face.
CRASH!
Zon flew backward, tumbling like a broken meteor, crashing into the ground with a quake that shattered a portion of the arena floor.
Blake stepped forward, clapping slowly.
He turned, grinning with that ever-disturbing gleam in his eye. "Miss me?" he asked.
Jayden, now free from Zon's visual hold, simply stared.
That same blank, unreadable expression.
Blake sighed. "There it is again. That annoying blank look."
He took a step closer, tilting his head. "Do you still remember me?" he asked, his tone half-teasing, half-deadly.
Jayden's brow twitched.
Of course he remembered. This was the first human he'd encountered after transmigrating into this world — and something about him was always… off. Dangerous. Chaotic.
He nodded stiffly.
"Good," Blake said, the corner of his mouth twitching upward.
But before Blake could say more, an angry voice echoed behind him.
"What is the meaning of this, Blake?!" Zon's voice was furious, trembling as he dragged himself out of the crater.
Blake turned slowly, his expression unreadable. "Nothing personal," he said, brushing imaginary dust from his cloth. "But if the higher authorities hear about what you just attempted to do, I wonder… do you think they'll forgive you?"
His voice was calm, too calm. But there was venom beneath the surface — lethal, patient, and sharp.
Zon began to sweat.
Despite being the heir to the second richest family in the entire Valrin Empire, even that prestige wouldn't protect him if the Grand Elders decided to act. The weight of their judgment was not something one could sway with coin or lineage.Blake wasn't someone you silenced with influence or cowed with power either.
Unlike others in the Scarlet Faction, Blake was an enigma. No one really knew where he came from. He didn't attend faction banquets, refused all invitations from noble families, and never participated in political games. His loyalty to the Scarlet Faction wasn't declared—it was assumed. And yet, no one dared treat him as an outsider. Why? Because Blake wasn't just strong. He was dangerous.
He was a Body Hooder, a rare breed of Elementalist capable of wielding all elemental types—earth, fire, water, lightning, wind, metal, ice, and more. Their only downside? No ranged attacks. But in Blake's hands, even that disadvantage became meaningless. His close-combat prowess was so overwhelming that people swore the Trial Combat Grounds—a place so destructive and ruthless that it had mentally broken multiple geniuses—had been built just to contain him.
He had been dubbed the Crazy Fighter, not out of ridicule, but fear. There were stories—rumors that he once destroyed half a city-sized arena simply because his opponent scratched his jacket. Bones broken, jaws shattered, but never death. At least, not among the faction. And that's why Zon's attack on Jayden was so grave. Attempting to kill another faction member? That was criminal offense. And now he was being judged not by the elders, but by something far more immediate: Blake's attention.
"I'm sorry," Zon finally said, his voice low and reluctant. He gave a shallow bow, barely dipping his head.
Blake raised an eyebrow, expression amused. "You'll need to bow a lot more than that if you want me to keep this to myself."
Grumbles rippled through the crowd. Zon, bowing? Impossible. But to their astonishment, he bent at the waist until his back was flat—a full 180-degree bow. His face burned with shame. But even that wasn't enough.
"On your knees," Blake said, voice like calm thunder. "Bow your head. To him." He pointed to Jayden.
Zon's head snapped up.
"What?! You're asking me to kneel… to him?" He gestured at Jayden like he was a mere speck of dust. "He's just a new recruit! An insignificant dual-element freak with a blank face and a flashy talent!"
Zon's fingers twitched with barely contained rage. Every inch of him screamed to lash out, to wipe that smug grin off Blake's face. He wanted to kill this lunatic—
But deep down, he knew.
There was no way in all of hell he could win. Not against him.
Blake didn't even look at him. Instead, his voice dropped, calm and almost casual—yet it carried the weight of a sealed verdict.
"You should probably start preparing for your journey."
Zon froze. That tone… it wasn't a suggestion.
Blake continued, his voice smooth and sharp like a blade dipped in silk.
"I'm fairly certain the grand elders will be sending you to 'learn a lesson' from the X Squad."
The moment the words left his lips, Zon's face drained of color.
His breath hitched.
The X Squad.
Even the mention of that cursed name echoed like a death knell in his mind.
Everyone knew the stories—whispers spoken in fear behind closed doors.
The X Squad weren't just elite warriors. They were a brutal, merciless unit—peacekeepers forged from pain and blood, trained like war machines to obey and destroy.
Being sent to them wasn't discipline.
It was punishment.
A sentence worse than death itself.
Zon swallowed hard. His knees threatened to give out, but he forced himself to stand.
Why does it feel like I've already died…?
Grinding his teeth so hard his jaw ached, Zon finally dropped to his knees in the dirt. His body trembled as he slowly lowered his head—until his forehead touched the ground at Jayden's feet.
Gasps echoed across the combat ground.
It was a scene no one would ever forget. Zon, a powerful Orange Plane genius, forced to kneel to a new recruit. Warriors only respected power, and in that moment, Zon lost all of his. His value, his status—everything plummeted. And he knew it.
Jayden, meanwhile, stood motionless. His expression didn't change. That same blank, deadpan face stared down at Zon like he was looking at a stone. But inside, Jayden was wrestling with his rage.
This man… almost killed him.
He wanted to end Zon right there. Rip him apart, tear out his pride with his bare hands. But two things held him back.
One: He wasn't strong enough yet.
Two: Killing within faction grounds was forbidden.
"Okay, whatever. Just take your club members and leave," Blake said, voice casual, almost bored. As if this was all beneath him.
Zon didn't say a word. He rose silently and left, ignoring his beaten subordinates scattered like broken toys behind him. His pride had taken such a massive blow that even his reputation couldn't follow him out.
A long silence followed before Jayden spoke.
"…Thank you."
He didn't want to say it. Not to this madman, this mystery wrapped in chaos. But deep down, he knew—without Blake's interference, he might have actually died.
Blake didn't react right away. Then he grinned, that same disturbing smile stretching across his face. "Nothing really. Let's get you patched up."
Before Jayden could reply, Blake vanished, appearing beside him and Rictor in a blur of motion. In the blink of an eye, they were already at the infirmary, where healers rushed to treat their wounds.
Jayden's vision pulsed. [HP Restored: 100/100]. He sighed in relief. The thought of seeing his HP hit zero haunted him more than anything. He made a mental note: upgrade HP reserves, no matter how much SP it costs. Dying just to save points is stupid.
But more importantly… Blake was still here.
Still watching him.
Jayden sat silently on the infirmary bed, staring ahead with his usual deadpan expression, but his mind was far from calm. Beside him sat Blake, the infamous "Crazy Fighter," who had unexpectedly saved him just hours ago. Meanwhile, Rictor rested in the next bed. Though his physical injuries were healed, he'd declared that his mental and emotional scars would need more time to mend.
Jayden turned to the enigmatic warrior. "What do you want?"
Blake leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, eyes half-lidded in a way that looked both lazy and calculating. "What I want? Nothing much."
Jayden narrowed his eyes. That phrase never meant what it sounded like. Every time someone said "nothing much," it turned out to be "everything, and your sanity too."
"Speak clearly," Jayden said.
Blake grinned. "Alright. I want you to grow stronger. Much stronger."
Jayden stared at him as if he had suddenly grown horns. "You want me… to get stronger? Why?"
Blake chuckled lowly. "I know it sounds strange. Most people would never wish for their potential rival—or future enemy—to get stronger. But I'm not like most people."
Jayden could agree with that part.
"I've been bored for too long," Blake said, tilting his head up slightly as if speaking to the ceiling. "It's been ages since I fought someone with promise. Real promise. When I saw you at Aurora Forest, I felt it—this burning thrill I haven't felt in years. You have potential. And more importantly, you fight like someone who doesn't care if he dies."
"That's not a compliment." Jayden said.
Blake shrugged. "Maybe not to you. But to me? It's everything. I don't care about planes and stages. Titles mean nothing if your fists are weak. I care about combat capacity—raw, vicious, glorious battle. And you've got it."
Before Jayden could respond, something hit his palm. A pouch. Then another. And another.
Jayden opened one and immediately recognized the contents—Spirit Gathering Pills. Dozens of them. His eyes widened slightly, which for him was akin to screaming in shock.
"This must've cost you a fortune…"
"I don't care about money," Blake said. "I care about worthy fights. So consider this an investment. You're going to become my rival. I need you strong."
Jayden gave him a flat look. "So I'm your... project now?"
"Exactly!" Blake beamed like a madman who just discovered his favorite toy again. "In exchange, I only ask one thing."
Jayden braced himself. "What?"
"A duel. Three weeks from now."
Jayden's brows furrowed. That was fast. But if he could rack up enough SP by converting these pills, maybe even unlock the Mangekyō Sharingan or exchange for a tailed beast...
"Alright," Jayden said, after a long pause. "I accept."
The moment the words left his mouth, a notification rang out in his head.
> New Special Quest Unlocked: Defeat the Crazy Fighter in a Duel
Reward: Dragon Ball System
Bonus Reward (based on performance): Unknown
Jayden blinked. The Dragon Ball System? His expression shifted ever so slightly. Of all the possible systems, this was one he'd fantasized about the most. Flying. Ki blasts. Ultra Instinct. Saiyan transformations and more.
His lips twitched.
He didn't know if it was a smile or a warning.
Blake got up. "Good. I'll be waiting."
And just like that, he vanished, leaving behind a pile of riches and chaos in Jayden's lap.
Jayden returned to his room, shutting the door behind him. He collapsed onto his bed, the fatigue of the day finally catching up to him. With a sigh, he brought up his system menu.
There it was: the Mystery Box he'd received after surviving the Trial Combat Ground. It shimmered with multicolored light and question marks danced across its surface.
"This system really knows how to package suspense," Jayden muttered. "Let's hope this isn't just glitter and hype."
He tapped the 'Open' button.
A blinding light flared, forcing him to squint. When it dimmed, two lines floated before his eyes.
> Reward: 6th Gate of the Eight Inner Gates Technique Unlocked
Bonus Reward: +300 SP
Jayden blinked again. "Sixth Gate? That's… unexpected."
He was hoping for a new bloodline or a hidden system, but unlocking the 6th Gate was no joke. It was a trump card which cost alot to unlock . But free was free.
As for the bonus?
"300 SP… I almost died, and you give me peanuts," he muttered. "This system's stingy as hell."
"Alright, next part," Jayden muttered, dragging open his system interface as if tearing open a sealed fate.
A clean digital display blinked into view:
> HP: 100/100
Would you like to increase HP reserve?
"Yeah," he said without hesitation, still riding the high of his recent rewards.
> Increasing HP Reserve will cost 1000 SP.
Jayden's eyes twitched. "Wait, what—1000 SP?! Are you trying to rob me blind?! I'm not interes—"
Beep.
Too late.
> Update Complete: HP Reserve increased to 200/200
Jayden stared blankly as the number updated. A vein popped on his forehead. His mouth moved, but no sound came out for three seconds before he finally exploded.
"ONE THOUSAND SP FOR A HUNDRED POINTS?! WHO THE HELL CODED THIS SYSTEM?!"
He slumped onto his bed, both mentally and financially bankrupt. "At this rate, I'll go broke before I even evolve my Sharingan..."
Still, after a few deep breaths, he forced himself to look at the bright side. "200 HP... It's not much, but it might be the difference between dying and almost dying."
He chuckled dryly, the sound more like a cough than laughter.
Then he pulled out the three pouches Blake had thrown him—spirit gathering pills. The moment he open them, a system message appeared.
> Would you like to convert items into SP?
"Yes!" Jayden said quickly, without hesitation.
> Converting...
It was taking time. Too much time.
Jayden blinked. "It's taking this long to calculate?" He sat up, excitement building in his chest. "Wait a minute—if it's slow, that means it's a lot. Maybe 5,000 SP? 10,000? Heh... Maybe I can even buy a tailed beast—no, TWO! Imagine summoning Kurama and Matatabi like some goddamn walking apocalypse—"
Ding!
> Conversion Complete: You have gained 2,200 SP
Jayden's expression turned to stone.
He read the line again. And again. "One more time... maybe I missed a zero—"
> You have gained 2,200 SP
"...You've got to be kidding me."
He snapped at the system, "2,200?! That's all?!"
> Correct. One spirit gathering pill equals 20 SP. You converted 110 pills. Total: 2,200 SP.
"Tch." He clicked his tongue, slumping back down on the bed like a lifeless doll. "Why do I keep doing this to myself…"
At least he could now afford... nothing particularly exciting.
Before he could sulk for too long, there was a knock at the door.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
He groaned. "What now..."
Opening the door, he was met with a wide-eyed Rictor, pale and visibly shaken.
Jayden blinked. "...Did you see a ghost?"
"No. But you might become one," Rictor said with eerie seriousness.
Jayden's brow twitched. "I'm not in the mood for riddles. What happened?"
"You... you agreed to a duel with Blake, right?"
"Yeah. So?" Jayden asked, crossing his arms.
"That's everything! That duel—it's not just some friendly spar," Rictor said, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's a Death Duel."
Jayden blinked slowly. "...What?"
"It means if one of you dies... the other can't be held accountable. It's legal. Sanctioned." Rictor's voice was dry as dust. "You die, and no one can stop it."
Jayden stood there in silence.
Then, without saying a word, he slowly closed the door on Rictor's stunned face.
He turned toward his window as moonlight spilled into the room, casting silver shadows across the floor. The weight of the revelation pressed down on his chest like invisible chains.
So that lunatic saved my life... only to kill me legally later, Jayden thought bitterly.
But then... he remembered Blake's words:
> "I want you to grow stronger—much stronger. I want you to be worthy as my rival."
Jayden clenched his fists.
The Sharingan in his eyes ignited like a flare—blood red, with three black tomoe whirling slowly, reflecting in the glass as the moonlight bathed him in ghostly silver.
He stood there, bathed in silence, eyes burning with quiet defiance.
"Alright then," he whispered, voice low and filled with deadly intent. "I've decided."
The wind rustled through the cracked window.
"I'll grow stronger—stronger than you can imagine. And when the time comes... I'll beat you down, Blake"
To be continued.