Chapter 16
Blaze stood his ground, his breath steady despite the sharp pain coursing through his body. His fingers clenched into fists, veins bulging from his arms as he glared at the expressionless-faced boy before him.
"You know, that's quite enough," Blaze said, his voice unwavering as he crushed the pebbles in his hand, letting the dust scatter in the wind.
Ryker, the cold-faced boy, remained still, his gaze devoid of any emotion. "Trash shouldn't get in my way," he said, his voice ice-cold.
The crowd murmured among themselves.
"Is he brave or just stupid?" a woman whispered.
"A zero trying to challenge Ryker?" a man scoffed. "He's as good as dead."
Ryker's gaze locked onto Blaze. "I'll give you one chance," he said, lifting a single finger. "Apologize, scramble away, and I'll let you keep your limbs."
Blaze scoffed. "Release the man."
Ryker's expression remained unchanged. "1, 2…" He skipped to, "5. You're going to wish you hadn't crossed me."
At that moment, the system's voice echoed in Blaze's mind.
"Error, error—cannot issue a quest. Opponent is too strong for the host."
Blaze's stomach dropped. What?!
Before he could react, Ryker lifted his hand.
"Wind Pressure Pull."
An invisible force wrapped around Blaze, yanking him forward with terrifying speed. His feet scraped against the ground as he struggled, but it was useless. The moment he reached Ryker—
"Earth Shatter."
The ground beneath him exploded. Rocks speared into his legs, and pain shot through his entire body.
"-30 HP. 70/100 HP remaining."
Blaze gritted his teeth. His body screamed at him to collapse, but Ryker wasn't done. He pulled back his fist, and a deep brown glow of earth essence surrounded his knuckles.
"Earth-Forged Strike."
The next thing Blaze knew, his chest caved in from the sheer force of Ryker's punch. He was airborne before he even registered the pain. Blood spurted from his mouth as his ribs shattered like glass.
"-40 HP. 30/100 HP remaining."
His vision blurred as he crashed into the dirt, his body rolling across the ground like a discarded ragdoll. He barely registered the gasps of the onlookers.
Ryker calmly picked up another pebble and infused it with earth essence. Without a second thought, he flicked it toward the frail man still bound to the earth pillar.
Even with his battered body, Blaze's instincts roared. Time seemed to crawl as he stretched out his hand, his palm facing the incoming pebble.
The crowd held its breath.
A loud CRACK! rang through the air as the pebble met his palm. But Blaze didn't flinch. His fingers clenched around the rock, absorbing the impact.
Silence.
Then, the crowd erupted in murmurs of shock.
The stunned captive looked at Blaze with a mixture of awe and gratitude. But Blaze only had eyes for Ryker.
His gaze burned with defiance. Despite his broken bones, despite the blood dripping down his lips—he refused to back down.
For the first time, something flickered in Ryker's otherwise expressionless eyes. Not concern. Not respect. Just mild intrigue. Like a scholar observing an insect struggling against a storm.
Then, as if Blaze wasn't even worth his time, Ryker turned to leave.
But Blaze wasn't done. His trembling hand rose, a single finger pointing directly at his enemy.
"I'll grow stronger," he declared, his voice firm despite the agony. "And I'll defeat you one day. Count on it."
As if to confirm his words, the system's voice chimed.
"New quest received: Grow stronger and defeat Ryker."
A weak smile tugged at Blaze's lips.
Then his body finally gave out, and everything went black.
Blaze's eyes fluttered open. A dim wooden ceiling came into view, its thatched edges swaying slightly with the breeze from a nearby window. The scent of herbal medicine filled the room, mingling with the warm glow of sunlight filtering in.
He groaned as he sat up, pain flaring through his torso. His muscles felt like they'd been ground into paste.
Before he could even get his bearings, the door burst open.
"Blaze!"
Nephis, Lucas, and Kaito rushed in, their faces filled with relief.
"What the hell happened?!" Nephis demanded, placing her hands on her hips.
Blaze exhaled. "Got my ass kicked."
Lucas let out a loud snort. "That's an understatement. You challenged a member of the white dragon squad. Are you brain-dead?"
Kaito crossed his arms. "No, no, this is good. It means Blaze has a warrior's spirit!"
Lucas rolled his eyes. "Warrior's spirit? More like a death wish."
Blaze shrugged. "Had to do something."
Nephis sighed, rubbing her temples. "Unbelievable. At least you're alive."
Blaze grinned. "Barely."
"Next time, let us know when you plan on fighting a monster," Kaito said, laughing.
Blaze leaned back against the bed with a wry smile. "Noted."
Akira smirked. "By the way, Kaito says he could've taken Ryker down."
"Oh?" Blaze turned to Kaito with raised eyebrows.
Kaito's face paled. "Wait. I didn't say it like—"
Lucas cracked his knuckles. "Fight me, Kaito."
"WHAT?! NO!"
A scuffle immediately broke out. Clothes were yanked, fists were swung, and Kaito's cries of protest filled the room.
Nephis pinched the bridge of her nose. "I swear, I'm surrounded by idiots."
After a few minutes of chaotic thrashing, the two finally stopped, panting.
Nephis rolled her eyes. "Alright, enough. We have somewhere to be."
Blaze blinked. "Where?"
"The Wizard Knight Academy entrance exam," Nephis said.
A sharp jolt of surprised shot through Blaze's chest, he was out for a whole day.
"Right."
The Wizard District was unlike anything Blaze had ever seen. Massive, towering structures lined the streets, glowing runes embedded into their walls. The air buzzed with magic, a constant hum of mystical energy filling every corner.
But the real spectacle stood at the heart of the district—the Wizard Knight Academy.
It was enormous. The sheer size of it made Blaze's head spin. It looked less like a school and more like a sprawling fortress, stretching beyond the horizon.
The entrance was packed with students, their auras powerful and varied. Some exuded elegance, their robes adorned with gold and silver. Others carried weapons brimming with elemental energy.
Blaze eyed them carefully.
One man stood out—a towering figure with a beast-like presence. Muscles rippled beneath his armor, his eyes sharp like a predator.
Near him, a petite girl radiated a calming aura, her presence serene yet unfathomably deep.
Then there were the rowdy ones, laughing and shoving each other, their confidence bordering on arrogance.
Blaze inhaled deeply.
The moment he had been waiting for had arrived.
As they stepped past the towering gates, the heavy air of magic wrapped around them.
The path to gain power had begun.
And he would see it through to the end.