I couldn't believe my eyes.
Standing a few feet away, arms crossed, was Zarin Velmont—the last person I ever expected to see here.
His signature silver cloak fluttered slightly in the breeze. A jagged scar ran across his right cheek, and his eyes—cold, calculating—locked onto mine like a hawk eyeing prey.
"Still slow," he said, voice sharp as a blade. "You almost got clipped."
Zarin. My former arch nemesis. A prodigy of the Emperial Academy. A ghost from my past.
His dad Derin Velmont was also a general like my dad his second in command actually. When the time came for a general chosen to be the chosen as the head of the Imperial Vanguard it's naturally meant to be him but the king favoured my dad to make the choice he requested a
" Kal Der Mon "
A duel to determine who the Imperial Vanguard general would be and being the more experienced stronger one my dad won ever since then he and his whole family hated mine .
His son bullied me right from childhood till now looking at him all the memories rushed back in flushing my head down a toilet, thoroughly beating me to a pulp at the least provocation all this I endured but not anymore.
He's a B rank at my previous state I was no match but not anymore.
I swallowed hard, every muscle in my body tensing , my heart was on fire aching for a fight.
"What are you doing here?"
He took a step forward, the crowd around us parting instinctively, the way forest animals go still when a predator passes of course everyone recognizes the Velmont family the ruthless and wicked panther who utterly destroy anyone or anything that dares oppose them the lowest rank in their family was a B rank and they had one of the first S ranks Zarin's brother.
"I heard you were black. Thought I'd come see if the rumors were true."
He tilted his head, eyes narrowing throughly scrutinizing me. "Looks like you're not as pathetic as last time."
Last time.
The memory stung like a fresh wound—our last spar at the academy courtyard. He'd humiliated me in front of the elite class. I had barely landed a single blow before he ended it with a mocking pat on the head.
"I've changed since then," I said calmly glaring back refusing to look away.
"So I see." His gaze intent
" You wouldn't dare look at me that way but now you even dare talk back at me seems like you need a little lesson to get you brains back .
I said nothing.
A low tension buzzed through the air like the quiet before a storm.
Zarin stood across from Kingston, a smirk dancing on his lips.
" It's disappointing I thought you'd at least be different at least changed a little but I see the same weakling from two years ago."
I said nothing. Remaining cool and calm, hands still pocketed
The crowd of circled around us whispering and watching.
* He doesn't stand a chance
* Who does he think he's anyway to stand before the great Velmont family he must have a death wish .
* No matter who's family he belongs to he's gonna be sorry after this .
Zarin scoffed. "Not even gonna say a word Tch. Fine. Let's see if your body can handle this."
Without warning, Zarin shot forward like a lightning bolt, palm glowing red-hot with flame. His fist swung fast like lighting.
I just smiled
THWACK!
I moved my hand lazily, blocking the blow with the back of my right wrist. The impact was huge everyone felt it the ground shook for a moment a flicker of flame trailing into the air.
Zarin's eyes narrowed shocked.
" Im_mmpo_oossible" he stammered
Another strike—faster, sharper, infused with fire again.
Blocked.
A spin kick laced with fire
Blocked.
I didn't even shift from their spot. My gaze remained cold, unreadable.
"Tch…" Zarin hissed annoyed pissed. "Stop playing statue and fight me!"
* What the heck is happening
* Are you sure this is peace of shit ??
He leapt back, chanting quickly totally enraged.
"[Inferno Lance]!"
Three molten fireballs burst from his hands, howling through the air in zigzag patterns. Students gasped.
I leaned to the left—one missed by a breath. Then a side step—the second scorched the ground beside me . The third came straight at my chest.
I raised a hand slowly and swatted it aside. The fireball exploded harmlessly in the dirt finally bringing my hand out of my pocket .
Gasps echoed through the crowd.
Zarin's face twisted in frustration and shock
"NEVER !!!!!!
I'D NEVER LET YOU BEAT ME NOT NOW NOT EVER !!!!" he shouted.
"ANCIENT FLAME DRAGON!!!!!!!!! "
A surge of red flames erupted from Zarin's core as his stats spiked, aura flaring wildly. Flames surged around his arms, turning them into a large flame dragon
"You asked for this, Kingston!!" Zarin roared, charging forward.
I finally narrowed my eyes .
A low chime echoed:
> [System Authorization Granted: Defense Protocol.
Murderous intent detected.]
Was waiting to see if the system would react guess it did .
Zarin finally unleashed his attack the flame dragon was heading at me at a very fast pace but compared to the knights I fought this was basically child's play.
Just as the attack was about to reach me, j moved Zarin froze mid-attack as i appeared in front of him—without warning, like a ghost.
There was no time to react.
I drew back my right fist, calmly. There was no shout. No roar. Just silence… and control.
CRRRAACK!
Zarin's right arm shattered on impact.
The flame around it extinguished instantly the flame dragon disappeared into thin air Bone snapped like dry branches. He screamed and was launched backward, flipping across the field before crashing into the ground.
The crowd fell into stunned silence.
Zarin clutched his ruined arm, eyes wide in disbelief and agony. "Wh–what the hell…?"
Kingston slowly walked toward him, his tone quiet but firm.
"I blocked because I wanted to give you a chance to stop, Guess you didn't learn your lesson ."
Zarin's breathing was ragged.
"You… you…" he stammered shocked at everything that just played out .
Calmly I started walking away the crowd parted letting me through like a king .
" PEICE OF SHIT!!!!!!!!!! " Zarin screamed at the
I stopped a few feet away without looking back in a cold tone. "I'm just someone who learned to stop wasting energy on people who don't know when to quit."
The streets were quiet as I made my way home, the soft sound of my foot hitting the ground was the only thing I could hear . The night air was cool, tinged with the scent of dew and the distant hum of crickets disrupting the silence .Lanterns flickered dimly on the path from different houses .
My mind wandered back to the battle earlier . It felt more like a sparring match.
Suddenly I froze remembering something before the battle started a White text appeared above Zarin's head the text was his full name, something pricked my interest about it .
"Is it some kind of strength Guage"
Damien's distupted my thoughts,
"You've improved a lot, You're not the same hesitant kid I met back then and it's just been 3 months."
I let out a small breath, not quite a laugh but close. "Yeah… I guess I have,the weight of Damien's words settling in my chest like a warm ember. But even with the praise, uncertainty lingered.
" Any idea what the emblem on Zarin's head stand for " I asked puzzled.
Yeah it's used to Guage your opponents strength level .
" White is really weak
Orange is strong
Yellow is really strong
Red is God mode "
Tomorrow could bring anything—a new challenge, a rival, or a path he hadn't yet foreseen.
"I don't know what to expect," he whispered, gazing up at the stars peeking through the clouds. "But I'll face it."
I pushed open the door and stepped inside, the familiar comfort wrapping around me , Dad had probably gone to bed cus the lights where out I creeped in quietly up the stairs and finally to my room. Stepping in I Stripped off my clothes, I stepped into the shower to Cool down my body.i closed my eyes as the water ran over my bare skin after a while I turned it off towelled off and sank onto the bed, the day's fatigue catching up all at once eyes closed I drifted off