Chapter Ten: The System Unlocks.
After that wonderful slash terrifying performance by Drakelle. The crowd was left buzzing with cheers and excitement.
Not all of them were cheerful, some actually feared for their lives since Drakelle's admission was an obvious thing after such a fight.
There were other good admissions aswell such as Athena Ragna, a child from a peak family, Lila Von Aurora, Jade Belmore and many more.
The day moved on without any hitches or problems.
The following day.
Drake sat at the edge of the waiting area, his expression twisted in irritation. His dark eyes flickered between cold indifference and simmering fury.
Theo Belmore.
The first prince of Belmore, the kingdom Drake resided in.
The sight of that aura, the memory of that presence, made bile rise in his throat. His fingers clenched into fists, nails digging into his palms until thin lines of blood formed. He remembered his humiliation, his suffering at Theo's hands, and even more—the cruelty his twin sister Drakelle had endured because of that bastard.
He couldn't believe it. Of all the people he could face, it had to be him.
Then, just as his rage threatened to boil over, a sudden ding echoed in his mind.
[Main Quest Unlocked.]
[Your revenge path begins here.]
[Quest: Humiliate your opponent until the Administrator is satisfied (you).]
Drake's eyes widened. His rage faltered for a brief moment as the words burned in golden script before his vision. "The hell? A quest now?" he muttered under his breath, almost startled. His heartbeat pounded in his ears, and for a second, he thought it was some cruel joke.
"Who the hell is pulling the strings?" he whispered. "And why now?"
But as quickly as the suspicion appeared, it melted into a grin. A twisted, feral grin that split his face in two. "Hah… who cares? Whatever it is—this is going to be fun."
Another chime followed.
[Rewards upon completion:]
[Full unlocking of the system.]
[Three Skills of the Dragon God will be granted.]
[One Authority of the Dragon God will be given.]
[All stats permanently increased by 15.]
Drake froze, then burst into maniacal laughter. The sound tore through the waiting area, and a few of the other contestants gave him cautious glances, but none dared to approach. His shoulders shook, his hand covering his face as laughter spilled uncontrollably.
"My life… just got easy," he whispered, trembling with dark delight. "Finally. Finally…!"
And then came the announcement.
His fight would be the last of the day.
The final admission bout.
And his opponent—Theo Belmore.
When Theo finally entered the arena, Drake's irritation solidified into murderous intent.
The announcer's booming voice echoed through the vast coliseum.
"Next match! The final admission battle of the Divine World Academy entrance exam! On one side, we have the first prince of Belmore, the royal flame—Theo Belmore! And on the other, the mysterious challenger—Drake Primordia!"
The crowd roared. Cheers for Theo nearly drowned out the rest, his popularity shining like the sun.
Theo himself walked gracefully, his aura calm yet arrogant. His blond hair glowed in the light, his pristine armor etched with the crest of Belmore. His lips curled into a smirk when his eyes fell on Drake.
"A Primordia," Theo said mockingly, his voice carrying even without amplification. "It seems my life will be easy today if I tell you to submit to me." His smirk deepened. "I've seen how your sister fights. Strong, yes, but predictable. And I can guess you're the same."
Drake's face shadowed. His shoulders trembled—not with fear, but with barely-contained fury. His voice came out low, venomous.
"…Do you still think like a faggot?"
Theo blinked, confused. "What… what does that even mean?"
"You disgust me, you piece of trash," Drake spat, his grin feral, his aura flaring violently. "I'm going to murder you."
Theo's smirk sharpened. "I see… words won't work here. Then perhaps actions will. When I'm done, you'll kneel. Your sister will kneel. I'll make her beg while you watch. And after I'm finished with her… I'll play with you."
A disgusting smile stretched across Theo's face.
Drake's world went red.
Memories flooded his mind—the false kindness Theo had shown him in his first life, the façade of a caring prince, the betrayal when he caught Theo harassing his unmotivated sister, Drakelle. The nights of humiliation, the torment, the touches that made him want to rip his own skin off.
His laughter broke the silence of the arena. Low at first, then louder, crazed, echoing like thunder. "You're dead. You're fucking dead. I'll murder you so thoroughly they won't even recognize your corpse."
Theo's eyes narrowed. "Royal Eclipse."
In a single movement, Theo's sword ignited with white flames, slicing through the air in a perfect arc. The heat distorted the very atmosphere as he lunged forward.
But Drake was already moving. His sword hummed with a violent pulse as he whispered:
"Destruction Sword Art, First Form: Collapsing Blue Moon."
This time, he infused it with his black and white lightning.
The arena floor shattered instantly. White marble turned to blackened charcoal. The air itself seemed to scream as the colors inverted, the world twisting to a surreal purple. Lightning crackled violently around Drake's blade as his body blurred, disappearing.
He reappeared above Theo midair.
"Second Form: Dying Sun."
Gravity erupted like a tidal wave. The pressure alone brought Theo to his knees, his chest heaving, his heart thundering under the oppressive force. He gasped for breath, his vision fracturing under the weight.
Then Drake's blade came down.
Theo's scream pierced the air as Drake's sword carved through his legs, pinning him to the ground. A second slash followed—clean, merciless—severing his right arm, his sword clattering uselessly. Blood sprayed across the stage.
"Arrrrghhhh!" Theo howled in agony.
Drake landed with calm precision, his aura radiating dominance. The crowd fell into stunned silence, breaths caught in their throats.
And then Drake moved.
He grabbed Theo by the throat, lifting him effortlessly with one hand. Theo clawed weakly, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"Now…" Drake sneered, his lips curling into a manic grin. With his free hand, he ripped open Theo's princely attire, tearing buttons apart, shredding fabric until only his undergarments remained. The crowd gasped. Then laughter erupted—cruel, mocking laughter that echoed around the arena.
Theo's face burned red, his eyes brimming with shame.
"Yes!" Drake roared, his laughter maniacal, infectious, chilling. "Are you enjoying this, prince?!"
The crowd laughed louder, cheering him on, their voices feeding the sadism blooming within him. Drake leaned closer, whispering so only Theo could hear. "You're mine to break."
With one fluid motion, he slashed away Theo's boxers. The arena erupted into hysterical laughter and jeers, nobles and commoners alike relishing the sight of their proud prince humiliated beyond recognition.
Drake threw his jacket over Theo mockingly. "Let's end the shame here, no?" he taunted.
And then, without hesitation, his blade pierced Theo's chest, slicing him clean in half.
Blood painted the arena floor. Silence followed.
Drake exhaled sharply, muttering, "Quest finished."
But then—
[Quest not complete.]
A surge of mana exploded from Theo's bisected corpse. The crowd screamed, panic spreading as a suffocating darkness erupted. A barrier sealed the arena, trapping everyone inside.
Theo's body convulsed, his severed parts writhing unnaturally. Then his mouth opened, his voice replaced by something deeper, older.
"Hah… hahahahaha… finally, I manifest."
A grotesque aura radiated outward. His eyes glowed crimson, his smile stretched impossibly wide.
"I am the Demon King of Shameless Madness. And I bring a message." His voice boomed across the arena. His gaze locked onto Drake. "The Demon God warns you—beware of the Dragon God. He is not who you think he is."
Drake froze. The system chimed once more.
[Due to various conditions…]
[True Personality Unlocked.]
[All stats increased by 6.]
The crowd's screams turned hysterical. The announcer shouted, desperate, but none could flee. The barrier held them captive.
Drake's aura darkened, his lips curling into a grin more twisted than ever. Murderous intent flooded the arena, so thick it suffocated even the most seasoned warriors in the crowd. His laughter—low, dangerous—echoed again.
"You think you scare me?" Drake asked, his voice dripping with sadistic delight. "No… you've just made this interesting."
In a flash, his blade cut through Theo's possessed body. The Demon King howled, but Drake pressed harder, cleaving through flesh and spirit alike.
Theo's head rolled across the ground, blood spraying. Drake grabbed it by the hair, lifting it high, his face drenched in crimson. His tongue darted out, licking blood from his lips. His eyes glowed with madness.
"…Is this what sadists feel?" he whispered. "Glorious."
The system chimed.
[Quest Completed.]
[Rewards Granted:]
[System fully unlocked.]
[Skill: Eye of Death.]
[Skill: Dragon's Killing Intent.]
[Skill: Basic Martial Arts.]
[Authority: Gluttony.]
[All stats +15.]
Drake stared at the glowing text, his manic grin never fading. "What a haul. What a fucking haul."
His laughter erupted again, drowning out the chaos, echoing into every corner of the sealed arena.
And for the first time, everyone watching understood—this boy wasn't just strong.
He was terrifying.