<h3 style="text-align: center">Chapter 16: The Road to Strength


    Kieran’s body ached with every movement. His ribs throbbed, his muscles burned, and his pride felt just as bruised as his skin. He had barely survived that fight, and only because Elias had stepped in.


    That stung the most.


    He sat on the cold concrete floor of their underground hideout, staring at his trembling hands. The power was there—he had felt it. But when it mattered, he hadn’t been fast enough, strong enough, or ruthless enough.


    Across from him, Elias leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching. Studying.


    Finally, he spoke. “You relied too much on your system.”


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    Kieran tensed. “It’s my only advantage.”


    Elias scoffed. “No. Your instincts are your advantage. The system is just a tool. And you’re using it like a crutch.”


    Kieran’s jaw clenched. He wanted to argue, but deep down, he knew Elias was right.


    The memory of the fight replayed in his head—his first strike had worked. But the moment he hesitated, the moment he expected the system to do the work for him, he got his ass kicked.


    Elias pushed off the wall, stepping forward. “The next time you fight something stronger, I won’t step in.”


    Kieran looked up sharply. “So if I die, I die?”


    Elias smirked. “That’s how it works out there.”


    The words should have terrified him. But instead, something inside Kieran hardened.


    He wouldn’t let that happen.


    Not again.


    He exhaled, pushing himself up despite the pain. “Fine,” he said. “Then train me properly.”


    Elias’s expression didn’t change, but something flickered in his eyes—approval, maybe.


    Then he cracked his knuckles. “Alright. Let’s begin.”