SURVIVE
"He's finished," someone muttered.
"He's fighting Kai. That Zeta's not getting in."
Sage heard it all as he stepped into the ring.
Students lined the walls of the underground dojo, some wide-eyed, others smirking. Whispers followed him like ghosts.
"He won't last ten seconds."
"Dead man walking."
"Kai doesn't hold back."
"No Zeta has ever made it past the door…"
In front of him, Kai Kalister stretched his arms like a panther shaking off sleep. His presence sucked the air out of the room.
"Forget about ten seconds he won't even make it passed one", a beta slayer commented.
"Ten bucks on him dropping dead on the first punch", Another one sneered in.
"You stepped into the ring," Kai said. "So you know what that means."
Sage nodded. "Yeah."
Kai's eyes narrowed, amused. "Good. Let's begin."
---
SYSTEM ALERT
> Challenge Initiated
Opponent: Kai Kalister [Alpha Tier]
Estimated Risk: Fatal
Objective: Survive
Bonus Conditions:
– Land 1 Hit [Unlikely]
– Remain Conscious
Reward: Respect +1 | Strength +2 | System Progress +4%
Failure: Fatigue Locked (12h), Morale -2
> System Note: "This is suicide. Try not to die too quickly."
"Try not to die", Kol said kissing his teeth.
---
Kai moved.
One breath, and Sage's body screamed.
A blur — and then a fist to his stomach. Air vanished. His body folded in half midair, then slammed into the mat.
SYSTEM:
> [HP -16%]
[Stomach: Severe Bruising]
[Breathing: Disrupted]
Kai didn't gloat. He didn't even smile.
He just waited for Sage to get up.
Sage rose, stumbling. Tried to swing.
Kai caught the punch with two fingers and twisted — flipping him effortlessly to the ground again.
A dull thud echoed across the dojo. No laughter. Just silence.
Another student leaned in, whispering to someone else. "That's not even sparring. It's execution."
Sage pushed up again, lips bloodied.
Kai frowned this time. Just a flicker.
"…You're not normal for a Zeta," he said quietly.
Sage blinked.
Kai's eyes narrowed. "You should be crawling with a Strength stat of 4 or 5. But you're taking Alpha-tier blows without passing out."
He stepped forward, suddenly interested. "Tell me something. What's your real number?"
Sage didn't answer.
He couldn't.
His body was failing.
His ears rang.
Vision blurred.
---
SYSTEM WARNING
> [HP CRITICAL: 12%]
[Failure Imminent]
> System Suggestion: Use skill — Blood Surge
[Cost: 95% HP]
[Effect: Double Physical Power (45s)]
[Risk: Unconsciousness Post-Use]
[Confirm?]
➤ YES / NO
---
Sage clenched his teeth and thought: YES.
The moment he activated it, his body ignited.
Not with flame, but with raw pressure. Like a dam breaking inside his veins.
His muscles tensed. Purple sparks burst across his limbs.
He surged forward — a blur not unlike Kai's own.
Kai's eyes widened, caught mid-step.
Sage punched.
The impact cracked — a whipcrack echo. Kai staggered back, boot scraping across the mat.
The dojo gasped.
Someone even said it aloud: "He hit him."
Kai recovered instantly, bringing his stance back, one brow raised.
His lip was bleeding.
He touched it with two fingers and stared at the red. Then looked at Sage.
Intrigued.
Silent.
Then the system shut down, and Sage collapsed to one knee, gasping, limbs trembling.
---
SYSTEM UPDATE
> Time: 2m 47s
Strike Landed: ✅
Status: Conscious (Barely)
> Primary Objective: Survive – Complete
Rewards Applied:
+2 Strength | +1 Respect | Stat Unlock Progress: 22%
> System Comment: Fulfil Quest to level up
---
Kai tilted his head.
"You failed," he said aloud. "You didn't beat me. You didn't last three minutes. You're untrained. Reckless."
He stepped forward, then offered Sage a hand.
"But you surprised me."
Sage looked up, dazed.
Kai pulled him to his feet.
"Welcome to the Ash Ring."
The crowd was silent — confused, some even angry. But no one dared challenge it.
Maple, standing in the back, showed no reaction. But something flickered in her eyes.
Recognition.
Or curiosity.
Maybe both.