Kairis Ash leaned against the cracked stone railing of the arena's upper tier, observing the chaos below. Round 2 had concluded with his decisive victory, and the crowd's roar still vibrated in the massive stone structure. His cloak fluttered in the artificial breeze generated by his gravity manipulations, a subtle signature that drew faint attention from both mortal and divine observers.
The arena floor was littered with debris, scorched stone, and faint residual distortions of Dark Matter. Every fallen opponent, every strike he had delivered, had been absorbed into the system quietly, feeding his affinity and refining his understanding of gravity and Dark Matter's subtle nuances.
> [System Update: Round 2 Completed]
[Level Progress: 9.3 / 10]
[XP Gained: 620]
[Dark Matter Absorbed: 1.2 units]
[Ability Upgrade: Gravity Surge Lv.3 / Black Hole Efficiency +10%]
[New Quest Available: Gather Dark Matter from Fallen Awakeners / Enhance Gravity Affinity]
Kairis's brownish-black eyes flickered, violet glinting at the corners as he scanned the next matches. His focus was precise, cold, and thrillingly alive. He could see a few high-ranking awakeners moving on the arena floor, their movements calculated, brutal, and precise. Some of them were elite human fighters, others were apostles sponsored by high gods.
He felt a familiar pulse in his mind—the subtle hum of the system's Gacha and Roulette interface. These had been inactive for a few days, limited by the rules of his title as Apostle of Void, but now, following Round 2, he had earned a free draw.
> "Let's see what today has to offer," Kairis muttered, flicking a glance at the interface that only he could see.
The Gacha interface materialized subtly in his vision: a black void with swirling violet sigils. Symbols rotated, glittering faintly, and a single line of text hovered in the center:
> [1 Draw Available – Dark Matter Rewards / Ability Unlock / Passive Enhancement / Equipment]
Kairis smirked, swirling the gravitation subtly around him. He didn't need to move; the interface responded to his mere will. A single pull of the glowing sigil and the Gacha began its spin.
Symbols flashed: a tiny black hole, a gravity blade, a fragment of Dark Matter, and a passive aura enhancement. Time seemed to slow as the symbols rotated, each flickering with potential.
Finally, the Gacha stopped on:
> [Reward Unlocked: Gravity Anchor – Passive Ability – Enhances control over localized gravity fields by 15%. Can anchor or repel objects, energy, and enemies within 20 meters. Cooldown: 30 seconds]
Kairis allowed a small chuckle to escape him, almost playful. "Not bad. Could come in handy." His fingers brushed the air, sensing the pulse of Dark Matter around him, noting the subtle expansion of control in his gravitational field.
> [System Update: Passive Ability Acquired – Gravity Anchor]
[XP Gained: 50]
[Dark Matter Absorbed: 0.2 units]
Even as the reward activated, Kairis's attention returned to the arena floor. Something—someone—had caught his eye. A tall, imposing figure stood quietly in the shadows of the spectator tier, waiting for his turn.
Kairis studied him carefully. Broad shoulders, angular face, piercing blue-gray eyes that seemed to glow faintly under the arena's light. He wasn't moving yet, merely observing. But the aura he exuded was unmistakable: the gravity of raw power that only an Apostle could carry.
> [Name: Theron Malvire]
[Title: Apostle of Ragnis – High God of Fire and War]
[Level: 10+]
[Affinity: Dark Matter – Fire Sub-Affinity]
[Abilities: Infernal Grasp, Flamewave Manipulation, Heat Resonance Lv.2, Combat Foresight Lv.1]
Kairis's heart rate barely ticked, but a thrill ran through him. Finally—a real challenge. This was the kind of opponent that could push him to the limits, force him to think, adapt, and expand his mastery.
> "Hmm… Fire and war," Kairis murmured, leaning forward slightly. His gaze sharpened. "Finally, someone worth my attention."
Theron's posture was deliberate. He didn't look at Kairis directly but let his awareness sweep the arena. Even without direct confrontation, Kairis could feel the pressure: an experienced hand, someone who had survived countless battles and understood the subtle dance of an Awakener fight.
While he waited for his number to be called, Kairis's attention returned to the other fights. Several matches were ongoing.
A pair of elite human awakeners clashed near the east wing, both wielding heat and gravity sub-affinities. Dust and debris spiraled around them, punctuated by strikes that bent space slightly with the manipulation of Dark Matter. The battle was brutal, sparks flying as one fighter slammed a gravity-enhanced fist into a pillar, sending stone shards into the air.
In the opposite corner, a lesser Apostle under Ada, the goddess of storms, demonstrated speed and precision that left a trail of afterimages. His opponent, a Dragon-Ranked Awakener, barely managed to parry, sweat pouring as he tried to maintain distance.
Kairis's violet-tinged eyes glimmered as he observed each engagement. He analyzed every subtle manipulation of Dark Matter, every momentary weakness, and every miscalculation.
> "They're strong… good," he thought, smirking. "But predictable. All of them."
Even the Apostles, with their divine patronage, could not escape the raw, calculated precision of an awakened who wielded gravity.
Another pulse in his mind signaled the Roulette. Kairis allowed it to spin while observing the battles, a casual smirk on his face.
Symbols appeared:
Dark Matter Catalyst – Increases absorption efficiency from killed enemies.
Void Shard – Boosts Gyro-Telekinesis power by 20%.
Gravity Singularity – Temporary ability to generate a large-scale Black Hole. Cooldown: 1 hour.
Random XP Bonus – 200–500 XP.
The wheel slowed, finally landing on:
> [Void Shard Acquired – Gyro-Telekinesis Damage +20% / Duration 24 hours]
Kairis allowed a grin. Small bonuses, but in the arena, every fraction of enhancement mattered. He mentally cataloged it:
> [New Passive Bonus Applied – Gyro-Telekinesis +20% Damage]
Even as the bonus pulsed through him, he felt the subtle surge of Dark Matter. Every observation, every calculation, every passive enhancement refined his control over gravity itself.
Kairis's gaze returned to Theron Malvire. The Apostle of Fire hadn't moved yet. He was patient, watching, waiting for his match. But Kairis could feel it—the energy, the anticipation, the inevitable clash.
> "Finally… a challenge that might be interesting," he whispered, rolling his shoulders. "I've been itching for someone who can actually force me to move beyond the basics."
He flicked his eyes over the arena, taking in the ruined pillars, the scorched ground, the traces of Dark Matter residuals from Round 2. Everything was a canvas he could manipulate. He imagined the battlefield bending subtly under his control, his Gravity Anchor and Graviton Edge working in tandem with his Gyro-Telekinesis.
> "He won't know what hit him," Kairis thought, letting a slow, dangerous smile curl his lips. "But I hope he tries to make it interesting."
As he observed, Kairis's mind went over possibilities. He imagined countering Infernal Grasp, redirecting Flamewave Manipulation, and neutralizing Heat Resonance. His system overlay updated passively, charting expected damage, potential absorption, and energy expenditure.
> [Expected HP Loss – 10–20% per 1-minute sustained combat]
[Potential Dark Matter Gain – 1.5–2 units per victory]
[Ability Integration – Gravity Anchor, Gyro-Telekinesis, Graviton Edge, Black Hole Lv.1]
The thrill wasn't fear. It was pure excitement—a predator studying another predator. Kairis's calm, cold personality remained intact, but the pulse of anticipation in his chest was unmistakable.
The arena gates on the far end opened, signaling the next round. Fighters moved into position. Kairis stepped forward, the violet edge of his eyes flaring faintly, his cloak brushing the floor.
Theron Malvire remained in the shadows, waiting. Their eyes met—briefly, once, a silent acknowledgment of strength and intent.
> "Good," Kairis whispered to himself. "Finally… someone worth my time."
The system pulsed again in his mind, quietly preparing stats, potential rewards, and Dark Matter absorption calculations. He didn't yet know what would happen in this next battle, but he knew one thing:
This fight, this round, and this opponent—Theron Malvire—would push him further than he'd ever been pushed. And Kairis Ash welcomed it with a grin.
The crowd held its collective breath.
> [Round 3: Match Pending – Kairis Ash vs Theron Malvire]