Chapter 10
Blaze's breath came in ragged gasps as he stared at the system notification.
[New Quest Received: Defeat Raven.]
[Rewards: 3 Instant Level Ups.]
[Success Rate: 10%.]
A ten percent success rate? That was borderline suicide. But the reward… The reward was too good to pass up. Three instant level-ups would push him to Level 9, putting him on Nephis' level in cultivation. Combined with his absurd physique and growing skill set, it could be a game-changer.
But none of that mattered if he didn't survive the next few minutes.
A chill ran down his spine as he felt Raven's piercing gaze settle on him. Unlike the arrogant or overconfident fighters he'd faced before, Raven radiated an oppressive aura of pure dominance. This was someone who had fought and crushed countless opponents.
Blaze squinted, activating Chaos Eyes. A flood of information appeared in his vision.
Name: Raven
Phase: Collection Peak Stage
Essence: Elemental
Magic Core: Metal (Special)
Blaze's heart skipped a beat.
Collection Peak Stage.
That wasn't something a normal warrior could achieve. It required month—maybe even years—of relentless training. And here he was, a mere Foundation Phase Stage 7 Invitus, standing against a monster at the pinnacle of the Collection Phase.
"This… is going to be hell."
But backing down wasn't an option.
Blaze took a deep breath, lowering his stance. If he was going to win, he had to go all in. Without hesitation, he activated Feral Pounce, a skill that granted him a sudden burst of speed. His body blurred as he lunged forward, fist cocked back.
Astro Punch!
His strike carried all his power, aimed straight at Raven's chest. A hit like this could shatter boulders—
THWACK!
Blaze's eyes widened in horror.
Raven didn't even move.
His punch had landed squarely on Raven's open palm, but the attack didn't budge him an inch. A metallic sheen coated Raven's hand, absorbing the force like a sponge.
Raven's lips curled in disappointment. "That's it?"
Before Blaze could react, a fist came flying at him.
Too fast—!
Blaze barely managed to cross his arms in defense before the impact slammed into him like a battering ram. His entire body shook as pain exploded through his arms.
[-20 HP. 45/100 HP remaining.]
The sheer force sent him skidding several meters backward. He clenched his teeth, his arms throbbing with pain. He might have avoided a direct hit, but it felt like his bones had been partially fractured.
Raven let out a deep, mocking chuckle. "Pathetic. And here I thought you'd last longer."
Blaze's mind raced. He's stronger than I thought. Much stronger. He had to rethink his strategy.
But Raven wasn't going to give him time to think.
WHAM!
Raven's next attack was a brutal combination of blows, each faster than the last. Blaze dodged the first, barely avoided the second, but the third smashed into his ribs.
[-10 HP.]
[-5 HP.]
[-5 HP.]
[-10 HP.]
[-10 HP.]
[5/100 HP Remaining.]
Blaze collapsed onto one knee, gasping for breath. His vision blurred. He was out of stamina, his HP critically low. He had been utterly overpowered.
Raven scoffed. "This is a waste of my time."
He turned his back, walking toward his throne as if Blaze no longer even existed.
That single act of dismissal ignited a fire in Blaze's chest. No… I'm not done yet.
With trembling hands, he reached into his inventory and pulled out several Health Pills, popping them into his mouth. His wounds began knitting themselves together, his HP rising.
[40/100 HP.]
Blaze sprang forward, activating Feral Pounce once more. His body became a blur of movement.
BAM!
His fist smashed into Raven's side, sending him staggering. Before Raven could recover, Blaze hit him again. And again. And again.
Blaze became a storm of attacks, constantly using Feral Pounce to reposition himself and avoid retaliation. He didn't let up. He couldn't.
For the first time, Raven was pushed back.
The bandits watching the fight gawked in disbelief. "Is… is he actually hurting Raven?"
Blaze's confidence soared. He was winning! He just had to keep this momentum—
Ding!
A system notification popped up.
[You have run out of Essence. Skills can no longer be used.]
Blaze's blood ran cold.
He froze in place. His body suddenly felt sluggish, as if a heavy weight had just been dropped onto his back. He had spent too much energy too fast.
Across from him, Raven straightened, brushing some dust off his shoulder. His expression twisted into something dark and furious.
"You… DARE?"
A deep metallic glow enveloped his body. His muscles hardened like steel, his veins pulsing with power. He took a step forward, the ground cracking beneath his feet.
This is bad. This is really, really bad.
Raven's rage boiled over.
"IRON FIST!"
Blaze barely had time to raise his arms before Raven's glowing fist crashed into him.
CRACK!
A horrific pain exploded through his body. Every nerve screamed in agony. It felt as if all of his bones had been shattered at once.
[Fatal Injury Received!]
[-39 HP. 1/100 HP Remaining.]
[Some CP will be used to heal the host.]
Blaze's vision darkened. His consciousness wavered. His last thought before everything faded was simple.
He's… too strong…
---
When Blaze woke up, he was greeted by two things: a pounding headache and a system message.
[100 CP has been used to restore the host's health.]
[50/100 HP. 200 CP remaining.]
Blaze groaned. "Damn it…"
He blinked a few times, trying to shake off the dizziness. That's when he realized something.
He couldn't move.
His arms and legs were bound in thick chains, locking him against a massive boulder.
Great. Just great.
"Hello! Someone's awake!"
Blaze turned his head to the side and found himself staring at a boy and a girl, both around sixteen. The boy had messy black and yellow hair, a mischievous grin plastered on his face, for some reason he remind him of Rin. The girl had sharp yellow eyes and an exasperated look.
The boy gave Blaze an appraising look. "Hey, you're pretty strong for a Zero."
Blaze raised an eyebrow. "A Zero?"
The boy, still grinning, nodded. "Yeah, someone without a magic affinity. I'm honestly surprised you're still alive after fighting Raven."
The girl, unimpressed, rolled her eyes. "Kaito, don't be rude. We don't even know him."
Kaito shrugged. "What? I'm just saying it like it is." He leaned forward, eyes gleaming with curiosity. "So, what's your story? How did you end up here?"
"You first."
Kaito sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine. So, Akira and I were passing through the forest, right? And, well, my stomach was growling."
Akira shot him a glare. "Because you lost all our money gambling like an idiot."
Blaze chuckled.
Kaito grumbled. "Okay, okay, no need to roast me. Anyway, we got ambushed by some bandits. There were only three of them, and since we're Foundation Phase, Stage 3 Invitus, we made quick work of those losers."
Blaze's eyes narrowed. "So, how did you end up here?"
Kaito hesitated before muttering, "...I got greedy."
Akira scoffed. "He made the bandits lead us to their hideout, thinking he could rob them instead."
Blaze burst out laughing. "You tried to rob a bandit hideout?"
Kaito sighed. "Look, in my defense, I thought they were weak. Turns out, some of them were stronger than us, so we had no choice but to surrender."
Blaze shook his head, still amused. "You might have the worst luck I've ever seen."
Kaito grinned. "Yeah, but it makes life interesting."
Akira sighed. "It makes life dangerous."
Kaito turned to Blaze. "So, what about you? How did you end up fighting Raven?"
Blaze leaned back against the boulder, a wry smile on his face. "Bad luck... and a worse system."
Kaito's eyes lit up. "Wait—you don't have an affinity, do you?"
Blaze shook his head. "No magic affinity."
Kaito and Akira exchanged glances.
"Then how are you this strong?" Akira asked, confused.
Blaze smirked. "Hard work, good instincts... and a little bit of chaos."
Kaito whistled. "Man, I thought I was reckless. You just charged into a fight with Raven without an affinity?"
Blaze's smirk faded slightly. "I didn't exactly have a choice."
Kaito gave him a long look before suddenly grinning. "Alright, I've decided—I like you."
Blaze raised an eyebrow. "Should I be concerned?"
Akira groaned. "Yes. Yes, you should."
Now your turn. What is your story? The boy said
Blaze stared at them for a moment before sighing. "Long story. But let's just say I'm not dying in this place."
Kaito confusedly ask. "Oh? And what makes you so sure?"
Blaze smiled faintly.
"Because I have a feeling that my rescuers will be here soon"
Meanwhile, at the entrance of the Iron Clad hideout, two figures stood in the shadows—a girl with long brown hair and a boy with short brown hair.
"This must be the Iron Clad bandit base." Nephis said looking at the massive cave.
Lucas grinned, rolling his shoulders. "Yeah. Time to thrash some bandits and get Blaze out of there."
To Be Continued...