Chapter 14: The Road to Godspeed
The morning mist clung to the mountain as Ardyn and his comrades pushed through their relentless training. Muscles burned, breaths grew heavy, but none of them could afford to stop. Every second counted—martial arts, blood arts, and assassination techniques had to be mastered before the tournament.
But Ardyn was different. As a Golden Blood user, his potential exceeded ordinary warriors. Ezra had something special to teach him, something only a handful had ever dared to attempt—Godspeed.
"This is not just about speed, Ardyn," Ezra said, standing tall before him. His sharp eyes held an intensity that sent a chill down Ardyn's spine. "It's about perception, control, and willpower. Your Golden Blood allows you to tap into a speed beyond human limits, but using it recklessly will kill you."
Ardyn nodded, determination flashing in his crimson eyes. "Tell me what I need to do."
Ezra crossed his arms. "First, you must be calm. Fear disrupts control. Focus on your Golden Blood, feel its flow through your veins."
Ardyn inhaled deeply, centering himself. He closed his eyes, trying to sense the power coursing through him. A faint warmth spread through his limbs.
"Now," Ezra continued, "move a little. Don't think—just react."
Ardyn hesitated, then took a step. In an instant, he was at the base of the mountain.
His eyes widened. The world blurred around him as if time itself had slowed. He looked back up the steep terrain. "Did I… just move that fast?"
Ezra smirked. "Yes. That was just a fraction of Godspeed. Now, come back up."
Ardyn took another step—he was at the top in a blink.
Zion, Vex, and the others stared in shock.
"Damn," Vex muttered. "That's insane."
Ardyn grinned, excitement coursing through him. But as he attempted it again, his footing slipped, and he crashed to the ground.
Ezra sighed. "It won't come naturally yet. You need to train harder. At first, you'll only be as fast as light. But if you keep training… you'll go beyond that. Quadrillions of times faster. Limitless."
Ardyn clenched his fists. "Then I'll master it."
Meanwhile, in the depths of a dark chamber, a mysterious figure sat, cloaked in shadows. A secret meeting was taking place.
"How are the tournament preparations?" the figure asked, his voice deep and commanding.
Another man, standing before him, nodded. "Everything is going as planned. The prize was set at 2 billion yen, just as you ordered."
The figure tapped his fingers on the table. "Not enough. Raise it. Make it… 1000 billion yen. Invite every clan—every assassin worth their name. This will be the greatest tournament in history."
The standing man's eyes widened. "That's… an unimaginable amount."
The shadowy figure leaned forward, his presence suffocating. "Make it happen."
The man bowed. "Understood, sir."
Back on the mountain, training intensified.
"Calisthenics! One hundred reps!" Ezra shouted.
Steel groaned. "Ahh, man, this is brutal…"
Zion wiped sweat from his brow. "We've improved, though."
Vex nodded, muscles straining as he pushed through the pain. "A bit more, and we'll be ready."
Suddenly, Ardyn sprinted towards them, clutching a poster in his hands.
"Guys! Look at this!" he shouted.
They gathered around.
Steel's jaw dropped. "Wait… 1000 billion yen?! What?! I thought it was only 2 billion!"
Kai whistled. "The tournament just got a whole lot bigger."
Everyone froze. This was no ordinary competition anymore.
Ezra crossed his arms. "Looks like the stakes have changed."
Ardyn clenched his fists. "Then we train even harder."
Ezra looked at him for a moment before smirking. "If that's the case, Ardyn, show me something. You're a Golden Blood user. Try making a Hellball."
Ardyn hesitated. "A Hellball? But Darana's was insane… He had crazy power."
Ezra nodded. "And so do you. Now, show me."
Ardyn took a deep breath, summoning his blood energy. The golden veins in his arms glowed. A small flicker of golden fire formed in his palm. It wavered, unstable, but it was there.
He grinned. "I think I got it—"
The flame sputtered out.
Ezra laughed. "You're not there yet. But you will be."
Ardyn narrowed his eyes. "You're a Golden Blood user too, right? Can you do it?"
Ezra's expression darkened. He turned away.
"I… can't."
Ardyn frowned. "Why not?"
Ezra's voice was quiet. "My powers are long gone. They'll never return."
Silence fell between them.
For the first time, Ardyn saw something different in Ezra's eyes—regret.
And he realized… even the strongest warriors carried their own burdens.
But Ardyn?
He would surpass them all.
And the tournament… was just the beginning.