Don't Hold Back

Chapter 36

All Jayden ever wanted was a peaceful life — a second chance free from chaos, war, and bloodshed. But ever since he stepped into this twisted new world, peace felt like a cruel joke. No matter where he went, conflict followed like a curse.

The worst part? Blake.

Jayden had hoped their first encounter would be their last. Yet now, here he was — standing across from that same monstrous grin on the combat trial ground, the arena soaked in tension and bloodlust. Blake looked like he was born for this. Jayden hated it.

"The battle begins!" the Duel Master's voice rang out like a gong of fate.

Jayden didn't wait. No time for pleasantries. No hesitation. His fingers blurred through handseals.

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

A roaring orb of flame exploded forward, engulfing Blake in a searing blaze.

Did I get him? Jayden thought for a split second.

But deep down, he already knew the truth. That flame wouldn't be enough to put down a demon like Blake.

Sure enough, Blake's silhouette erupted from the fire — unscathed, fast, terrifying — lightning dancing wildly across his body. He closed the distance in a flash.

Jayden reacted just in time.

"Earth Style: Mud Wall!"

A wall surged up from the ground, catching Blake's strike — barely. Cracks spiderwebbed through the barrier from the sheer force.

This is bad.

Jayden grit his teeth and surged chakra into his palm. The air crackled.

Chidori.

With lightning screaming from his hand, Jayden dashed forward, aiming directly at Blake's chest. Just as the electric lance was about to pierce—

Blake vanished.

Where did he—

A stabbing pain ripped through Jayden's body, worse than fire, worse than death.

> -30 HP | 170/200 HP remaining, the system chimed coldly.

Jayden gasped, eyes wide.

Blake stood behind him, lightning blade embedded in his chest, smiling as if savoring the moment.

"Too slow," he said.

Jayden leapt back, coughing blood. One thing was now painfully clear — if he kept holding back, he would die.

Handseals. Fast.

"Water Style: Hidden Mist Jutsu."

A dense fog swallowed the battlefield, rendering sight useless. Using it as cover, Jayden unleashed rapid-fire techniques: fireballs, arcs of lightning — anything to gain the upper hand.

But Blake danced through the attacks like they were leaves in the wind — dodging, blocking, countering effortlessly.

He's not just strong. He's a monster.

Still, Jayden wasn't done.

More handseals. He had a plan.

Suddenly, Blake rose into the air, propelled by swirling gusts of wind. His arms stretched wide as the sky itself seemed to respond.

"Wind Torrent!"

A massive gale roared downward, sweeping away the mist in a single blow.

Jayden stood revealed, already mid-jutsu.

"Fire Style: Dragon's Breath!"

Multiple dragon-shaped flames surged upward, hissing through the air as they lunged at the airborne Blake. Caught mid-flight, Blake was forced to defend. His body hardened with an earth armor shield just before impact.

The dragons struck.

Blake was sent crashing into the far end of the battlefield, buried in debris.

But before the dust could settle, Blake exploded from the crater, faster than before — wreathed in fire and lightning. In the blink of an eye, he was in front of Jayden.

Jayden's eyes widened.

Then — darkness.

Blake's hand burst through Jayden's skull like paper.

"Too reckless," he muttered, his voice tinged with disappointment.

Gasps echoed from the crowd. Mephina collapsed to her knees, eyes wide with horror.

Zon crossed his arms and smiled. "Hmph. So the One-Shotter finally met his end."

But then—

Poof.

Smoke burst from Jayden's body.

Blake's eyes narrowed. "What kind of illu–"

He suddenly couldn't move.

A presence stood behind him, fingers woven into a handseal.

"Shadow Possession Jutsu — Complete."

Jayden.

The real one.

"Let's see how you handle a trick or two." he said.

Blake's arms moved against his will. He reached into his pouch. Pulled out paper bombs. Jayden forced him to sprint in the other direction across the arena.

Then—

Boom!

An eruption of fire, smoke, and chaos engulfed the field in a thunderous blast.

The arena was dead silent, the smoke from the explosion still curling into the sky like the breath of a sleeping beast.

Then the whispers began.

"Did you all just witness that?" one person ask his mouth wide open.

"No way… that one-shotter—he used more than just fire…"

The spectators exchanged stunned glances. The one they mocked as a hotheaded fire wielder had just used fire, lightning, earth, illusions, shadow manipulation, and even explosive unknown objects.

"What kind of ability set is that?"

In the stands, even the elders of the faction leaned forward with interest.

Down in the crater, Jayden stood still, catching his breath. The smoke cleared to reveal Blake — still standing at the center of the scorched arena. His robe was singed, a few burn marks scattered across his skin, but…

He wasn't injured.

Not even close.

"You think tricks make you strong?" Blake's voice was low, controlled, but laced with fury. "Using illusions, shadows, and toys? That's not how warriors fight."

Jayden's breath hitched.

Shit...

Blake wasn't even angry before.

Now he was.

And Jayden could feel the change like a storm approaching — the kind that drowns cities.

He didn't wait. No more room for delay. Jayden's hands blurred.

"Earth Style: Mud Wall!"

The ground surged upward between him and Blake — a barrier.

But before he could even catch his breath—

Boom!

The wall shattered in a violent blast. Blake had punched straight through it.

Jayden flew backward like a ragdoll, crashing through the air.

"Rasengan!"

Midair, Jayden twisted and released a spiraling sphere of condensed chakra. It roared toward Blake.

Blake smirked and met it with a direct punch.

The two forces collided.

Then the Rasengan vanished — snuffed out like a candle.

Jayden's body was hurled across the battlefield, slamming into a heap of jagged debris. Stone and metal crumbled on top of him with a deafening crash.

The dust settled.

The crowd stared.

"Is it… over?" someone whispered.

"Well, it wasn't supposed to be a long fight," another replied quietly. "Still, the One-Shotter… he put up a struggle."

Among the crowd, Rictor's fists were clenched so tight his knuckles turned bone white. "No, Jayden… you can't die here."

Eren stared silently, jaw trembling, eyes brimming with tears he refused to let fall.

Mephina could no longer bear to look. Her eyes were closed, her hands clasped together as if praying.

In the Grand Elder's box, the old grand elder turned to Jake.

"Why are you so calm? Your student's lost. It's over."

Jake didn't even flinch. A small, knowing smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"No…" he said. "Not yet. He's just getting started."

Suddenly—

Boom!

The debris erupted in every direction, shards of stone scattering like shrapnel.

From the heart of the explosion, a figure stood tall. Blood dripped from wounds across his body. His uniform was torn. Burns marred his skin.

But his red eyes… they glowed.

Bright.

Alive.

Unyielding.

> 140/200 HP Remaining, the system announced.

Jayden spat blood onto the ground and looked up at Blake, eyes burning with something deeper than rage — resolve.

"I really am stupid," he muttered to himself. "This is a death match… and I've been holding back."

He took a step forward, legs trembling from the last hit, but his chakra surged like a rising tide.

"I'll admit it — you can handle one of me…"

Jayden's hands came together in a single, precise motion — smooth, deliberate.

The air changed.

The chakra spiked.

Blake narrowed his eyes, sensing something different.

"But let's see you handle all of me."

"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Jayden said.

To Be Continued.