Chapter 342: Baptized in Blood and Fire
The moon hung low, casting a ghostly glow over the Forgotten Valley, a land where the weak perished and only legends walked out alive.
Ochieng's veins burned as the poison spread through his body, coiling like a serpent, devouring his strength. His breathing slowed, his vision blurred, and his heartbeat echoed in his ears like a war drum.
He gritted his teeth.
"Not like this… I refuse to die like this."
With sheer force of will, he slammed his palm into the cold ground, channeling what little inner energy he had left. A surge of raw power coursed through him, but the poison fought back, sinking deeper into his core.
If he didn't find a cure soon, he would be nothing more than a corpse before dawn.
---
A soft whisper slithered through the valley.
"How pitiful… The so-called heir of the Silent King, on the brink of death."
Ochieng's eyes shot open.
A figure emerged from the swirling mist—a man clad in a flowing silver robe, his features sharp, his eyes cold as death itself.
"Who are you?" Ochieng growled, barely able to sit up.
The man smirked. "Someone who enjoys watching young fools suffer."
He stepped forward, his hands hidden in his sleeves. "That poison in your veins? Heaven's Sorrow. An ancient toxin that even grandmasters fear. But don't worry…"
He knelt, his voice dropping into a whisper.
"I have the antidote."
Ochieng's fists clenched, but his body was too weak to act.
"What do you want?" he rasped.
The man's smile deepened. "A deal."
Ochieng remained silent, his instincts screaming that this was a trap.
The man continued, "You will die within the next hour if you refuse. But if you accept my offer, you will not only survive… you will gain power beyond imagination."
Ochieng narrowed his eyes. "And the catch?"
The silver-robed man chuckled.
"You'll become my disciple."
---
Ochieng's mind raced. To bow to another? To serve under someone else's shadow?
His pride rebelled against the idea.
But his body… his body had no choice.
"…Fine," he gritted out.
The silver-robed man pulled a small black vial from his sleeve and flicked it toward Ochieng.
"Drink. But know this—once you accept my teachings, there is no turning back."
Ochieng grabbed the vial and, without hesitation, downed the bitter liquid.
Pain.
Unbearable, searing pain.
His blood boiled, his bones screamed, and his very soul felt as though it was being torn apart.
Yet, amid the agony… something else surged within him.
A new power.
A forbidden strength.
When the pain finally subsided, Ochieng staggered to his feet. His once dull eyes now gleamed with an unearthly crimson glow.
The silver-robed man smirked.
"Now… let's begin your true training."
---
The silver-robed man led Ochieng deeper into the valley, where an ancient stone temple stood, untouched by time.
"This is where legends are born," the man said. "And where the weak come to die."
Ochieng followed in silence.
Inside the temple, torches flickered against walls etched with mystical symbols. At the center of the chamber lay an altar of black jade, pulsating with a sinister glow.
"Sit."
Ochieng did.
The man's expression grew solemn.
"The martial world knows only one law—the strong devour the weak. If you wish to survive, you must become a beast that even demons fear."
He stepped forward.
"You must climb the ladder of Martial Ascension—from a mere master to a king among kings."
Ochieng listened intently.
The man raised a single finger. "Your journey will be marked by trials. Each stage will push you beyond your limits. If you fail—you die."
He then lifted his hand, revealing a stone tablet engraved with the stages of Martial Mastery:
Martial Arts Master – 1 Star
Martial Arts Master – 2 Stars
Martial Arts Master – 3 Stars
Martial Arts Master – 4 Stars
Martial Arts Master – Peak
Beyond Peak: Forbidden Realms
Ochieng's heart pounded.
He had always known that the path to true strength was ruthless.
But this… this was a baptism in blood and fire.
---
Meanwhile… A Storm Brews in the Outside World
Back in the city, chaos reigned.
The crimson-robed man who had entered the city days before now stood at the center of a destroyed training hall.
Blood dripped from his blade as he gazed upon the fallen corpses of the city's top fighters.
"Ochieng… I hope you're watching."
With a flick of his wrist, he tossed a bloodstained letter onto the ground.
A public challenge.
In three days, he would stand at the peak of the Grandmasters' Arena—
Waiting for Ochieng to either face him… or be branded a coward for eternity.
The world watched.
The battle was inevitable.
But would Ochieng survive long enough to fight?
---
Ochieng sat cross-legged before the black jade altar, his body drenched in sweat.
Every muscle burned. His meridians screamed in agony as his master's energy surged through him, unlocking dormant veins of power.
The man smirked. "Do you feel it?"
Ochieng's teeth clenched. "Yes…"
"That is your bloodline waking up. The Silent King's true heir was never meant to be ordinary."
Suddenly, the ground beneath Ochieng shattered.
A surge of dark golden energy erupted from his body, sending shockwaves through the temple. The very air hummed with a terrifying force.
His master's eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
"Now… you are ready for war."
Ochieng's eyes snapped open, and for the first time…
He felt truly alive.
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