Chapter 28
In the secluded fringes of the Scarlet Faction, where the vibrant whispers of spiritual energy grew faint and the trees stood still as if mourning forgotten dreams, a lone figure lay sprawled on the lush, dew-kissed grass. The wind brushed through the trees like the gentle sigh of a world trying too hard to be kind. Here, in this forgotten haven where combat and training were forbidden, only silence reigned. Silence—and Jayden.
With black hair tousled by the breeze and sharp features that could put idols to shame, Jayden looked like he belonged in a painting. Yet his eyes, void of emotion and endlessly blank, seemed to suck the color out of the scenery itself. To any passerby, he might've looked like a lost soul meditating in nature. In truth, he was hiding.
"Five days," he muttered, barely moving his lips. "Only five days in this damned faction and I'm already public enemy number one."
He recounted the disasters like a war report. First, the Oblivion Coil, a arrogant and violent club that had apparently decided Jayden offended them—how, he didn't know, nor did he care. Then came the fallout from Mephina's public Love confession. Jayden had rejected her without flinching, earning him the wrath of Toph, her overly loyal, borderline psychotic bodyguard.
Then there was Rictor. Jayden twitched at the thought. That chaotic gremlin of a "friend" had somehow managed to offend multiple clubs, prank a Elder's pet dragon, and get them both blamed for stealing sacred robes that were, for some reason, on fire when found.
"I should've just stayed in the forest," Jayden sighed, rolling onto his back and staring at the sky. "At least the beasts there wanted to kill me for food, not drama."
The cherry on top? Grand Elder Jake—the eccentric powerhouse who tried to forcefully adopt Jayden as his personal disciple. Jayden had dodged more than just attacks; he had dodged a life sentence of erratic lectures and pursuit of the Grand elder himself.
And then there was Blake, the infamous "Crazy Fighter" whom Jayden hadn't met yet in the faction—but everyone said one thing: if you meet Blake, it's already too late.
But none of that made his brow twitch. No, what did it—what truly tested the limits of his stoic façade—was the message hovering in front of him in digital letters like a joke the universe refused to stop telling.
> Current System: Fullmetal Alchemist System
System Switch: Loading...
"Four. Days," Jayden gritted. "Four freaking days. I asked you to switch to the Naruto System, and you're still 'loading?' What do you think this is, dial-up?"
He closed his eyes, trying to meditate—or more accurately, disassociate. "This place is cursed. I'm cursed. The damn system is cursed. Everything here is—"
THUMP.
Jayden's ears twitched. A sound. A sharp punch against wood.
He rose with a tired groan and walked toward the noise, threading past the heavy foliage until he saw him.
Eren.
The boy was younger, his bandaged fists slamming repeatedly into the bark of an old tree. Blood seeped through the wrappings. His breaths came in ragged gasps. His thin frame shook with exertion, but he kept swinging, again and again, defying the tremble of his own limbs.
Jayden's face remained neutral, but in his chest, something tugged. Just a little. Just enough to annoy him.
This kid…
He reminded him too much of himself. Of Earth. Of that life he buried. Neglected. Shunned. Shattered.
Jayden turned to walk away. He wasn't a savior. He wasn't even strong enough to protect himself right now, let alone someone else.
But just as he took his third step—
"Thank you… for helping me before."
Jayden paused.
"I didn't do it for you," he replied bluntly, turning his head just enough to be heard. "I just hate watching people get stomped for being weak."
He began to walk again.
"I want to get stronger too…" Eren's voice cracked. "…I don't want to be a nobody anymore!"
Jayden sighed.
"Please!"
A thud echoed behind him. Eren had fallen to his knees, forehead pressed against the leaves. His trembling voice pierced the stillness of the grove.
"Train me… Please, make me your student!"
Jayden turned slowly, his brows raised for the first time. He stared at the boy as if he'd grown a second head.
"What kind of cosmic joke is this?" Jayden muttered. "I reject a teacher and now I'm getting students? Karma's working overtime."
He opened his mouth to reject him—any excuse would do. "I'm not qualified." "I don't train others." "I'm cursed, and you're probably next if you stay near me."
But then…
> New Main Quest: Teacher
Objective: Train Eren to become an extremely powerful warrior.
Reward: 300 SP
Bonus rewards based on student's achieved grade.
Current Grade: Zero
Note: Main Quests cannot be declined.
Jayden stared at the notification for a long second, then slowly looked back at Eren, whose teary eyes now shimmered with desperate hope.
He gritted his teeth.
"Fucking system," he hissed.
How on earth was he supposed to even train someone who couldn't wield spiritual energy?
Jayden stared blankly at the boy kneeling before him, his face dirtied by sweat and dried blood, yet his eyes still shimmered with raw, desperate hope. It was almost pathetic. No, it was pathetic. Jayden wasn't moved. Not even a flicker of emotion crossed his expression.
He didn't even know how to teach someone. He didn't have time for this. And above all else, he wasn't a hero.
But the system's cold blue panel was still floating in front of him:
> Main Quest: Teacher
Objective: Make and train Eren into an extremely powerful warrior.
Reward: 300 SP upon acceptance.
Bonus: SP and skill rewards based on Eren's performance and grade.
Current Student Grade: 0 — [Title: Weakling Without Potential]
Jayden's eyes twitched.
"…You little bastard," he muttered under his breath, glaring at the system more than at Eren. "Why the hell would you make this a main quest?"
Rejecting a main quest wasn't even an option unless he wanted to deal with a penalty so severe even he wouldn't risk it. He let out a long, deadpan sigh and sat back on the grass, arms crossed behind his head. "Fine. I accept."
Eren's eyes widened before he suddenly leapt into the air like he had just been given wings. "YES! THANK YOU, MASTER!"
Jayden flinched.
"…Don't call me that."
"Understood, Master!"
Jayden's eye twitched again. "I just—never mind."
"So what kind of lesson will I learn today? Will I awaken a hidden power? Or go through a trial by fire? Or perhaps an ancient forbidden training technique?!"
Jayden looked at him the same way one might look at a rock pretending to be a dragon. "I said I accept. I didn't say I had a lesson."
Just then, the sound of panicked footsteps echoed through the still air. Jayden immediately got up, preparing for another unwanted encounter.
Please let it not be Jake. Or Blake. Or Toph. Or God-forbid, Mephina.
But to his relief—and low-key disappointment—it was Cronker. One of Rictor's more eccentric "allies," who always looked like he accidentally wandered into life itself.
Cronker's face was pale, his hair sticking to his forehead from sweat, and he was gasping for air like he had just outrun death.
"Jayden… Jayden… we've got a problem!"
Jayden didn't blink. "We always have problems."
"Rictor! He's in serious trouble!"
Jayden tilted his head slightly. "Define serious."
Cronker gulped like the truth was too much to swallow. "A small time club challenged him to a duel at the Trial Combat Grounds. He thought it was just some weak group out for attention—and he beat them. Easily."
"…And?"
"And that was the bait."
Jayden's gaze sharpened.
"The club was paid off by the Oblivion Coil. They lured him into the combat arena. Now he's fighting five of their members at once."
Jayden's breath caught—but his face remained blank. "That moron. He actually walked into their trap?"
"He thought he could take them. And he almost did! But these guys aren't just strong… they're Purple Plane warriors. All five."
Jayden's hands clenched unconsciously.
That was suicide. Rictor might be obnoxious, loud, and often annoying—but he was undeniably talented. A peak Blue Plane warrior. For five Purple Plane warriors to jump him… that was overkill.
Still, Jayden turned and started walking the other way.
"Wait! He told me to get you!" Cronker shouted in desperation. "He needs your help!"
Jayden kept walking, eyes cold. "Tell Mephina. Or Toph."
"They're both out on quests!" Cronker's voice cracked, a little too close to pleading now. "You're the only one left!"
"Then let him learn a lesson," Jayden said bluntly. "The faction has rules. No killing allowed."
"But they can destroy his spiritual core."
Jayden froze.
The spiritual core. The heart of a warrior's power. If shattered, Rictor would lose everything—essence, strength, future. Even if his body lived, his path as a cultivator would be over.
Jayden slowly turned back to Cronker, his voice a notch colder than before.
"Where is the Trial Combat Ground?"
---
At the Trial Combat Ground…
A sickening thud echoed as a bloodied figure was flung into the stone wall with terrifying force, his body cracking the surface like a meteor strike. He coughed out a mouthful of dark red blood, barely catching his breath, but his instincts screamed louder than the pain. Twisting his body midair, Rictor narrowly dodged a whip of condensed water that tore through the ground he stood on a second before—shattering the stone into steaming fragments.
His feet skidded across the arena's floor as he regained balance. His green eyes, bloodshot and half-lidded, burned with a wild tenacity. Then it happened—his pupils shifted, the blacks within curving into semicircles, a sign of his visual prowess activating. A spear in his hand liquified into light, reforming into twin guns with a smooth mechanical click.
"I have to admit…" a voice spoke mockingly. It came from a tall figure whose long whip slithered behind him like a serpent fused to his spine. "You're one hell of a tough guy."
"Too bad you chose the wrong side," sneered another—this one had spiky red hair and skin glowing with molten rock, steam rising from every step. His eyes radiated arrogance and cruelty. "You could've had a future—if you just kneeled."
Kael laughed, stepping forward. His laughter was dry, hollow, laced with disdain. "What happened, sharp-tongue? Cat got your tongue now? You humiliated me in front of everyone, but now—look at you. Pathetic."
Despite the blood crusting his lips, Rictor spat on the floor and smirked. "Five against one... and I'm still standing. If anyone's pathetic, it's you."
People stood around the edges of the Combat Ground, their expressions solemn. The Trial Grounds were neutral spaces, yet no one dared to interfere. This was the Oblivion Coil Club—an extremely influential Club. But even so, watching five Purple Plane warriors brutally beat down a single Blue Plane opponent felt like witnessing a public execution.
"You're really nothing but shameless buffoons," Rictor continued, his voice shaking yet defiant. "Fighting someone weaker with superior numbers and still bragging? That's not strength, that's cowardice."
A few in the crowd clenched their fists in silent agreement. The Oblivion Coil members frowned, unable to refute him. Deep down, even they knew—if it were a one-on-one match, Rictor had a real chance of winning. That was the mark of a true genius.
Kael snapped. "Enough talking!" He lunged forward, water whips snapping like vipers. Rictor ducked, rolled, and retaliated with a blast from his left gun, grazing Kael's arm—but just as he countered, a thunderous blow struck him from behind.
Rictor stumbled forward, his back screaming in pain. He turned, eyes wide, as he saw the hulking figure of a boy with arms transformed into thick gorilla-like limbs—his spiritual energy condensed into monstrous strength. The punch nearly shattered Rictor's ribs, but somehow… he remained standing.
The audience gasped. Even his attackers paused in stunned disbelief.
"He's still up?" Kael muttered.
"I thought he'd be unconscious," another whispered.
Rictor coughed but smiled through the blood. "You'll need a lot more than that to take me down."
On the other side, perched like a king on a crude throne made of hardened earth, sat Zon, the leader of the Oblivion Coil. His expression was unreadable, too calm, too calculating.
"I thought you said he would come," Zon said without looking up.
"He didn't show," Kael replied, breathing hard. "Maybe they're not as close as we thought."
Zon sighed. "Then this is pointless. Break his core—we're done here."
"No—" Rictor's eyes widened.
The gorilla-armed warrior nodded and gathered spiritual energy into a dense, crushing force around his fist. He leapt into the air, aiming straight for Rictor's core.
A destroyed core meant spiritual death. For a warrior, that was worse than dying.
Rictor braced himself—then snap!
A sharp crack rang through the air.
In a blink, the attacker was hurled back mid-air by an unseen force, crashing to the ground and skidding across it, smoke rising from his body. He groaned, clutching his scorched side.
Everyone turned in shock.
Standing beside Rictor, hand still raised in a snapping gesture, was a boy with jet-black hair. His expression was cold, unchanged.
He wore white gloves marked with a red transmutation circle.
Jayden.
The crowd gasped. A few even stepped back instinctively.
Rictor, bloodied and swaying, fell to his knees. He looked up at the boy and smiled weakly.
"I knew you'd come," he whispered through cracked lips.
Jayden didn't look at him. His eyes stayed locked on Kael and the others. "What makes you believe so?"
"Simple," Rictor chuckled. "You can't live without me."
Jayden sighed, but before he could respond—
"LOOK WHO'S HERE!" Rictor shouted suddenly, raising his voice with mock pride. "The losers are scared now, huh? You thought you had me, but now—your worst nightmare's arrived. Oblivion Coil? More like Oblivion Clowns!"
The crowd snorted, some stifling laughter.
Kael's face twisted in fury. "You damn—!"
Around him, their powers surged.
Kael's twin whips gleamed with azure energy.
The molten boy's lava skin pulsed hotter, glowing blindingly orange.
Another stepped forward, summoning an enormous axe made of crystallized earth.
One more revealed razor-sharp claws forming from hardened wind essence, slicing the air with every move.
And finally, the gorilla-armed boy stood again, his fists trembling with spiritual rage.
Jayden looked at the chaos around him and sighed again. "I should've let you get your core broken."
"Too late now, brother," Rictor grinned. "We're in this mess together."
On his throne, Zon watched silently, then raised one finger towards Jayden.
"Make sure he can't stand again," he ordered calmly.
"Does this guy actually think he's some kind of king?" Jayden thought dryly, his eyes flickering toward Zon, still seated like some tyrant on a makeshift throne of sculpted earth.
Beside him, Rictor stood—bloodied, barely on his feet, but still smiling through bruised lips. He slapped Jayden's shoulder weakly.
"You got this," he muttered hoarsely. "Show them who the real boss is."
And with that, Rictor stumbled out of the battlefield, leaving Jayden standing alone.
Jayden groaned internally.
Really, Rictor? Just gonna pass the death sentence to me like that?
But he didn't have time to curse. The six enemies—all Purple Plane—were already charging.
With a snap of his fingers, a blazing red-hot wave of flame surged toward them, dancing like a phoenix across the battlefield. The crowd gasped.
But Kael raised his hands—and a roaring tsunami surged into existence, swallowing the flames whole.
Tch. Figures, Jayden thought, preparing another snap—but it never came.
BOOM!
A massive, stone-clad fist the size of a boulder crashed into the ground beside him. The shockwave blasted a crater through the floor. Jayden barely dodged.
That gorilla-fist guy again. Damn brute could break a mountain.
Before he could reposition, the tail-whip guy struck—a blur of motion as his whip cracked downward. Jayden ducked, spinning behind him and clenching his fingers for a knockout snap—
But before the snap could echo, a molten fist smashed into his ribs from the side, slamming him into the ground like a meteor.
–30 HP. 70/100 HP Remaining.
Groaning, Jayden stood up, blood leaking from the corner of his mouth. Kael sneered.
"Last time, you use a petty trick. That's the only reason you got away with it. But this time? You're done."
Another one stepped forward, eyes filled with arrogance.
"This is fair now," he said. "Six of us. One of you."
Jayden's eyebrow twitched.
"You people really redefine 'fair' in the dumbest ways," he muttered.
He slammed his palm to the ground and drew a quick transmutation circle, activating it in a flash of silver light. Three shining daggers materialized, glinting under the sun.
Zon's eyes narrowed, a flicker of unease flashing across his face. What kind of forbidden sorcery is this? he thought, watching the transmutation circle glow with eerie brilliance as the silver daggers materialized. He didn't voice his thoughts, but the tension in his jaw spoke volumes.
Jayden blinked at the three daggers.
"Wait. Why did I make three again?"
But no time for overthinking—the Oblivion Coil members charged again.
He grabbed two daggers in hand, the third clenched between his teeth, and sprinted forward.
The battlefield exploded into chaos.
Jayden weaved through the onslaught, a blur of silver slashes, flaming snaps, and blinding sparks. Each time he spun, a dagger sliced the air like lightning. At times, he snapped mid-spin—igniting microbursts of fire from the blades, creating controlled explosions that scorched and pushed back his enemies.
The crowd was stunned. His movements were perfect and terrifyingly adaptive. It wasn't just combat; it was an evolving art of desperation and brilliance.
But his enemies weren't amateurs.
Kael conjured a massive hammer of pressurized water and slammed it into Jayden, sending him flying.
–15 HP. 45/100 HP Remaining.
Jayden coughed violently, forcing himself to stand. His vision blurred, his breath uneven. Blood dripped down his chin. Still, his face... never changed. Emotionless. Cold. Determined.
The crowd murmured in disbelief. Six warriors against one... and he still stood.
The next wave came—more brutal than before.
The tail-whip guy lashed out again, only for Jayden to block with his dagger. He reached his other hand forward and snapped—
But before the flame could ignite, a sphere of water smashed into his hand, quenching the spark.
Then the thin-blade warrior came.
Jayden dodged—one, two, three slashes—before the blade shifted, becoming thinner than paper. Before Jayden realized what happened, a deep slash split his chest open.
–10 HP. 35/100 HP Remaining.
He staggered back, clutching his chest, only to leap instinctively as the lava-body guy lunged. But in the air, a giant earth hammer smashed him from above.
His eyes widened then–
BOOM.
He cratered once again. Dust and silence settled.
"…He's done," murmured one of the attackers.
But—
Jayden rose.
Slowly.
Painfully.
And smiled.
Not wide. Not wicked. Just a small twitch of the lip—barely noticeable. But enough to send chills down their spines.
"What the hell are you smiling at?" the thin blade guy growled, rushing forward.
The crowd barely blinked—when suddenly—
BOOM!
The attacker was sent flying, smashing through several walls before skidding to a halt.
What… just happened?
Rictor, grinning like a madman on the sideline, laughed through his cracked lips.
"Now that's the Jayden I love to see!"
Jayden stood in the center of the crater, his eyes glowing blood red, three swirling black tomoe spinning inside. In his palm, a spinning sphere of compressed chakra hummed with energy.
"Rasengan."
The crowd exploded into chaos.
Zon's eyes narrowed for the first time, leaning forward on his throne.
"System Switch: Naruto System Active," echoed in Jayden's mind.
Jayden looked up at the remaining five. His blood-stained face cold. Calm. Merciless.
"Alright," he said, voice low, power trembling through every word.
"I think it's time we had a real fair fight."
To be continued.
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