The warehouse reeked of sweat, blood, and disbelief.
The beast lay sprawled on the mat, unconscious, his massive chest heaving with shallow breaths.
Jackim stood over him, tall, dark, calm, and unshaken. Not a scratch on his skin. His aura rolled like a tide, pressing against every heart in the underground arena.
Silence clung to the air for a long, breathless second—then the place erupted.
"WHO IS HE?!"
"Three fights, three wins! And look at him, he hasn't even broken a sweat!"
"This guy's a monster!"
Bryan's face drained of color. His fists tightened, nails digging into his palms. Sandra beside him trembled—not with fear, but with something worse: awe. Her eyes followed Jackim as if nothing else existed in that room.
Jackim finally turned, his gaze cutting across the arena until it locked onto Bryan. Cold. Sharp. Final.
He raised one hand and curled his fingers slowly, a gesture so simple, yet it screamed one thing—
Come at me.
The crowd gasped, cameras flashed, whispers turned into roars. Everyone in that room knew it: the underground king had been dethroned before he even entered the ring.
Jackim stepped out of the cage, Kelvin rushing to his side, eyes wide as saucers. "Bro—you were insane in there! You moved like lightning! No—faster than lightning! Do you know what you've just done?!"
Jackim's voice was low, steady. "I sent a message."
Kelvin blinked. "To Bryan?"
"To everyone," Jackim corrected.
---
What Jackim didn't know was that his fights had already been recorded. Dozens of spectators had livestreamed the matches, flooding social media with shaky clips and excited captions:
"Who is this mystery fighter?"
"The dark horse of the underground—smooth, brutal, flawless!"
"Forget Bryan. This guy's the real deal."
By morning, Jackim's name wasn't just echoing through campus—it was everywhere.
---
The next day, Kelvin burst into the dorm, waving his phone like a madman.
"BRO. You need to see this!"
Jackim was at the desk, calmly going through construction notes. He looked up lazily. "What is it?"
Kelvin shoved the screen at him.
There it was—his face, his fights, already trending. Millions of views overnight. The comments flooded like a storm:
> "Tall, dark, handsome, dangerous. Who is this guy?!"
"Please tell me he has a channel."
"This is the kind of man Kenya needs!"
"I'd follow him anywhere."
Jackim's brow twitched. "They recorded it?"
Kelvin grinned like a fool. "Not just recorded—it's viral, bro! You're trending number one. People are calling you 'The Shadow King.' Do you know what this means? You can control your own image. No more rumors, no more whispers—let them see you exactly how you want to be seen."
The System chimed softly:
[Side Quest Available: Launch Your Livestream Channel.]
[Reward: +500,000 Followers, $500,000, Skill – Influence Aura Lv.1.]
Jackim leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled. His mind was sharp, already spinning.
If the world wanted to watch, then he'd give them something worth watching.
---
That evening, Jackim prepared. Kelvin fussed around like an overexcited manager, setting up lights, testing the phone camera, fixing the background.
"Okay, bro, listen," Kelvin babbled, "you need to look sharp but dangerous. Relaxed but intense. Not too smiley—girls love the mysterious vibe. And don't forget to—"
"Kelvin."
"Yeah?"
"Calm down."
Kelvin froze, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "Right. Sorry. Just… this is huge."
Jackim adjusted his shirt—simple black, fitting across his shoulders just enough to emphasize his frame. He sat down, calm, collected. His eyes locked onto the lens, and for a moment, the room itself seemed to bow.
Kelvin hit "Go Live."
---
The numbers ticked up immediately.
100 viewers.
300.
1,000.
Within minutes, it was tens of thousands. The chat exploded.
> "HE'S LIVE!"
"Shadow King! Shadow King!"
"Marry me, please!"
"Who trained you? You fight like a demon."
"Bryan is DONE. This guy owns the city now."
Jackim leaned forward slightly, his voice smooth, deep, resonating through the feed.
"You saw the fights. What you saw wasn't luck. It was discipline, it was control, it was strength earned. Remember this—when you're underestimated, when people spit on your name, don't cry. Don't beg. Rise. And when you rise… rise so high that they choke on their regret."
The comments went insane.
> "This man speaks facts."
"Goddamn, I'm ready to run through a wall for him."
"Shadow King = Motivation King."
Kelvin whispered off-camera, "Bro, you're killing it. Keep going."
Jackim's eyes softened, just slightly. "To those who doubted me—you'll see more. This is just the beginning."
He ended the stream.
The System chimed.
[Quest Complete: Launch Your Livestream Channel.]
[Reward Claimed: +500,000 Followers, $500,000, Skill – Influence Aura Lv.1.]
A new warmth spread through Jackim's chest, subtle yet powerful. Influence Aura. It wasn't about fists or speed—it was about presence. Now, when he spoke, people wouldn't just hear—they'd follow.
---
News outlets picked it up the next day. Blogs, YouTubers, even local TV channels.
"Who is the Shadow King?"
"Mystery fighter becomes overnight sensation."
"From underground ring to internet star."
And with fame came offers. Sponsorships. Invitations. Endorsements.
Kelvin nearly cried as he read the emails. "Bro, Red Bull wants to talk to you. Nike too. Some influencer agency is offering seven figures. This… this is insane!"
But Jackim only smiled faintly. Fame was a tool, nothing more. What mattered wasn't the attention—it was how he wielded it.
---
Across town, Bryan smashed his glass against the wall.
"HE'S MOCKING ME!" Bryan roared. His crew shrank back, terrified. Sandra sat silent, her lips pressed tight, her eyes betraying a storm of emotions.
Mr. Muturi entered calmly. "I warned you. That boy isn't ordinary."
Bryan's face twisted with hatred. "Then we ruin him. I don't care how. Find his weakness. Everyone has one."
Sandra spoke quietly, almost trembling. "…What if he doesn't?"
Bryan whipped around. "What did you say?"
Sandra swallowed. "What if Jackim really is unstoppable?"
The slap echoed across the room.
Bryan's voice was venom. "Don't you ever speak his name with respect again."
Sandra lowered her head, but inside, her heart raced with something dangerous—desire.
---
That night, as Jackim checked his new bank balance, Kelvin barged in again.
"Bro. You won't believe this."
Jackim arched a brow. "Try me."
Kelvin held up his phone. "An invite. A private livestream event. Exclusive. VIPs only. They want YOU as the headline."
The System chimed immediately:
[New Quest: Dominate the Private Livestream.]
[Reward: $2,000,000 + Skill – Influence Aura Lv.2.]
Jackim leaned back, eyes half-lidded, a faint smirk tugging his lips.
"So the world wants more?"
His voice was calm, dangerous.
"Then I'll give them everything."