Kairon lay sprawled on his motel bed, the city's neon glow leaking through the blinds. Bruises blossomed across his torso, and his ribs throbbed with every breath. He replayed the fight with Ironhide again and again—the memory of steel skin, raw power, and that final, desperate Lion Barrage. Movements seemed sharper now, time stretching in the heat of combat. But he was too caught up in the thrill to analyze it.
Sage's calm voice cut through his thoughts:
Sage:
[Battle Analysis Complete. Physical stats increased. Sharingan proficiency up. Weakness detected: stamina depletion under sustained pressure. Recommendation: enhance endurance, diversify tactics.]
Kairon grinned, blood still on his teeth. "Noted."
A flicker of memory—Amazonian battle cries, Madara's cold laughter—echoed in his mind. This hunger, this joy in battle, was his inheritance. But as the adrenaline faded, a question gnawed at him.
"Sage, why do I get so… lost in the fight? Why does it feel like I'm chasing the next battle, like I can't stop?"
Sage:
[Battle-lust is a result of your Amazonian heritage and Uchiha (Madara) memory integration. Emotional resonance during combat amplifies both.]
Kairon let out a slow, rueful chuckle. "So I'm hardwired for this. But… I have another question. Why did I get stronger after fighting Ironhide? Did I get anything else? I've never noticed rewards before."
Sage:
[You receive rewards for defeating worthy opponents—those who present a significant challenge. The reward function was explained when you first arrived. You did not request further details or inquire about it again. Only victories over opponents who can truly challenge you grant rewards.]
Kairon blinked, surprised and a little embarrassed. "So I could've been getting stronger this whole time if I'd just asked? Great. What did I get for beating Ironhide?"
Sage:
*[Congratulations. You have defeated an opponent of higher rank. Reward:
Shunshin no Jutsu (Body Flicker Technique)
Madara's Intuition: advanced battle sense, detecting intent and subtle shifts
High-Speed Thought Process: enhanced cognitive speed and combat analysis
Adaptability: allows you to analyze opponent weaknesses and environment in real time, adapting your tactics for maximum advantage
Sharingan proficiency increased]*
Kairon let out a low whistle, grinning wide. "Now that's what I'm talking about."
He sat up, feeling the weight of new skills and possibilities. The tournament wasn't over. If anything, it was just beginning.
_________________________________________
Preparation for the Next Match
Each match was a day apart, giving Kairon precious hours to recover and prepare. After Ironhide, he took no chances.
After each match, Kairon made sure never to repeat past mistakes. With each victory, he took time to rest, review, and prepare for the next fight—each one scheduled a day apart. He used the downtime to quietly inspect his gear and body.
He repaired his battered suit, reinforcing the armor and adding new padding for blunt force. His sword was sharpened and its core strengthened, the neurotoxin formula refined for faster effect. He checked every seam and strap, determined never to be reckless again.
For Artemis his next opponent, he made only minor tweaks—just enough to ensure his gear wouldn't fail him. He focused instead on drilling his new techniques, pushing his Sharingan and reflexes to new heights.
After hours spent repairing his suit and sharpening his sword for the Artemis fight, Kairon found himself alone in the motel's cramped courtyard, the city's neon haze painting shifting patterns on the cracked pavement. He flexed his fingers, feeling the subtle hum of new upgrades beneath the armor, then closed his eyes and focused inward—toward the system's gifts.
The Shunshin no Jutsu—Body Flicker Technique—was there in his mind, not as a set of instructions, but as a living instinct. It was as if he'd always known how to move this way, his body eager to obey the silent command. He took a breath, let his senses sharpen, and vanished.
At first, there was a faint rush of displaced air, a subtle shimmer where he'd stood. Kairon frowned. Not good enough. He remembered Madara's memories—how the legendary Uchiha had moved through battlefields like a ghost, leaving no trace, no warning. That memory merged with the system's knowledge, guiding his muscles, his chakra, his very intent.
Again. He blurred across the courtyard, this time focusing on suppressing every sign of movement. With each repetition, the technique grew quieter, the afterimage fainter, until finally there was nothing—no sound, no smoke, not even a whisper of wind.
He grinned, heart pounding with satisfaction. The jutsu and magic from the system came to him as naturally as breathing, but with Madara's experience layered atop his own, he could perfect them in hours, not weeks. By the time dawn crept over the city's rooftops, Kairon could move like a shadow—silent, invisible, and ready for whatever Artemis would bring
_________________________________________
Before his second match, Ironhide found him in the corridor, now wearing dark glasses to protect his healing eyelids. He gave Kairon a nod of grudging respect.
"Didn't think you had it in you, kid," Ironhide said, voice rough. "Watch your back. This tournament… it's not just about the fights."
Kairon nodded, silent but grateful. As Ironhide walked away, a masked staff member watched from the shadows, eyes lingering on Kairon.
Other fighters came and went. Some offered respect, others threats or invitations. One girl in a hood tried to recruit him for a syndicate. He declined, his focus razor-sharp.
_________________________________________
Second Stage Fight
Kairon vs. Artemis
Artemis entered the arena, her identity masked by a sleek, matte-black suit with deep green accents and a hood that shadowed her face. She moved like a predator—silent, focused, staff spinning in her hands.
As the bell rang, Kairon's Sharingan spun, reading her every move. Artemis darted in, staff feinting high before sweeping low. He sidestepped, predicting her angle, and countered with a rapid strike. She flipped over him, staff swinging, but he was already gone—Shunshin no Jutsu blurring him out of reach.
Her blows were precise, but Kairon's reflexes and intuition kept him one step ahead. He used Madara's Intuition to anticipate her feints, Adaptability to spot the slight hitch in her left wrist when she switched grips. As she vaulted away, he pressed forward, using the arena's pillars for cover, forcing her to adjust.
The crowd gasped as Artemis unleashed a flurry of attacks, her staff a blur. Kairon parried, sidestepped, and finally saw his opening. He appeared behind her, sword at the ready, and with a swift twist, disarmed her, landing a shallow cut on her arm.
The match ended without a single blow landing on him. Artemis dropped to one knee, breathing hard but defiant. Kairon offered her a respectful nod—she'd fought with the heart of a true warrior.
_________________________________________
Third Stage Fights
Kairon vs. Pantha
Pantha prowled into the ring, her look unmistakably wild: a lean, athletic woman with dark, slightly spiky hair, sharp feline eyes, and a jawline just a bit too predatory to be fully human. Her skin was sun-touched, with hints of subtle patterning at her forearms and hairline. Her costume was a patchwork of scavenged black and brown fabric, tight and practical, with reinforced gloves and boots mimicking claws. No mask—her angular, cat-like features were on full display. A battered belt with a pouch of venom-coated daggers hung at her hip.
The bell sounded, and Pantha wasted no time. She hurled a dagger with blinding speed, but Kairon's Sharingan tracked its arc, letting him sidestep with ease. Instantly, she was on him, claws slashing with superhuman strength and speed. He dodged every blow, using Shunshin to slip behind her, copying her feral leaps and Ironhide's brutal guard.
Pantha pressed her advantage, using her super-leaping ability to spring off the arena walls, launching herself at Kairon from unpredictable angles. Her fangs flashed in a snarl as she aimed a vicious kick at his head, but he ducked, countering with a punch to her gut—Ironhide's technique, adapted perfectly.
Pantha staggered, but her accelerated healing let her recover almost instantly. She slashed again, but Kairon anticipated it, catching her mid-leap, slamming her to the mat, and delivering a knockout blow. Not a single strike had landed on him.
The crowd erupted in cheers. Kairon stood over his fallen opponent, victorious and untouched, knowing he'd just outmatched a true beast in human form.
_________________________________________
Preparation for the Next Battle
With another day to recover, Kairon took no chances. He upgraded his suit specifically for Talon his next opponent: adding sound-dampening layers, aerodynamic panels to resist sudden gusts, and reinforced joints for aerial mobility. His sword was further balanced for midair combat, and he added a grip enhancer for better control. Every adjustment was made with Talon's wind and sonic attacks in mind—a direct lesson from his earlier recklessness.
He ran through evasive maneuvers, practiced counterattacks, and visualized Talon's likely patterns, determined to adapt and survive.
_________________________________________
Fourth Stage fight:
Kairon vs Talon
The arena lights dimmed, plunging the world into a predatory hush. Across from Kairon, Talon's body began to shift—bones elongating, feathers erupting in a black-and-silver cascade, arms stretching into vast, vulture-like wings. His fingers fused into steel-hard talons, and his face twisted into a hooked beak, eyes swelling into huge, golden orbs with slit pupils that glinted even in the dark. Those eyes—eight times sharper than a human's—scanned the arena with predatory precision, catching every flicker of movement, every shift of air.
The bell rang. Talon vanished in a burst of blinding speed, invisible to the naked eye. Kairon's Sharingan barely kept up as Talon reappeared high above, wings beating with hurricane force. The wind howled, slamming Kairon back as debris and dust filled the air. Talon's scream followed—focused, razor-edged, shattering the concrete where Kairon had stood.
Kairon rolled, but Talon's claws flashed down, slicing a shallow groove in the arena floor. Kairon barely dodged, the claws missing his face by inches. Talon soared up, his field of view so wide he could track Kairon's every movement, his hearing picking up the faintest scrape of Kairon's boots.
Kairon tried to close the distance, but Talon's wings swept down, sending a barrage of wind blades slicing through the air. Kairon ducked, one blade grazing his arm, drawing blood. He grit his teeth, adrenaline singing in his veins. "Finally, a real hunt," he muttered, grinning.
Talon shrieked, unleashing a sonic wave that slammed into Kairon's chest, sending him flying. His suit absorbed some of the force, but the pain was real—ribs creaking, ears ringing, blood trickling down his neck. Talon circled, never letting Kairon get close, his vision picking out every twitch, every feint.
"Come on, Raze!" Talon taunted, voice echoing with a metallic rasp. "You can't hide from me!"
Kairon's mind raced. He activated High-Speed Thought Process, the world slowing to a crawl. He watched Talon's wings flex, the way his head tilted to catch every sound, the way his talons flexed before each dive. Madara's Intuition screamed warnings—danger from above, danger from the left, danger everywhere.
Talon dove again, beak gleaming like a blade, claws outstretched. Kairon used Shunshin, flickering out of the way, but Talon's vision tracked the displacement, and a wing clipped Kairon's shoulder, nearly dislocating it. Kairon tumbled, barely managing to roll to his feet before another wind blade sliced the air where his head had been.
He was bleeding now, battered and gasping. He could feel his stamina draining, senses blurring at the edge of consciousness. But the thrill was undeniable—every nerve on fire, every instinct alive. He laughed, wild and reckless, even as Talon's next scream sent him to his knees, blood pouring from his ears.
Kairon forced himself up, using Adaptability to analyze the pattern—Talon always swooped after a wide sonic attack, always circled left after a wind barrage. He waited, battered and bleeding, for the next opening.
Talon screamed, the sound splitting the air, shattering stone. Kairon leapt, dodging the debris, then vanished—Shunshin, silent and smokeless. He reappeared behind Talon, midair, sword flashing. Talon's nictitating membrane flicked down, protecting his eyes as he spun, claws slashing. Kairon twisted, avoiding a killing blow by inches, and countered with a flurry of slashes—Ironhide's power, Artemis's agility, Pantha's ferocity all woven together.
Talon shrieked, pain and rage twisting his features. He unleashed a final, desperate barrage—wind blades, sonic screams, claws, and beak all at once. Kairon was everywhere and nowhere, Sharingan spinning, body flickering, blade flashing. He was cut, bruised, nearly broken—but he never stopped moving, never stopped fighting.
With a final burst of speed, Kairon closed the gap, driving his blade into the joint of Talon's wing. Talon screamed, crashing to the mat, wings twitching, blood and feathers scattered. Kairon landed hard, barely able to stand, but victorious.
The crowd exploded, the announcer's voice booming: "Unbelievable! Raze takes the win with a midair reversal!"
Kairon staggered to his feet, battered but grinning, the thrill of the fight burning in his veins.
_________________________________________
Aftermath
Kairon staggered off the battlefield, every muscle aching, blood still drying on his skin. The roar of the crowd faded behind him, replaced by the steady, familiar chime of Sage in his mind.
Sage:
*[Congratulations. You have defeated an opponent of higher rank. Reward:
Mana/Chakra Coating (Fire, Wind, Lightning unlocked; body use is high risk)
Great Wind Breakthrough Jutsu
Wind Slice Magic
Light Magic: Healing (minor wounds automatically healed after battle)]*
Kairon felt warmth pulse through his battered body as cuts and bruises began to knit themselves closed with a faint golden glow. He let out a low, breathless whistle, half in disbelief, half in satisfaction.
"Hey, Sage," he said, grinning despite the pain, "how do you decide what I get after each fight? Is it random, or what?"
Sage:
[System rewards are determined by the strength, abilities, and uniqueness of the opponent you defeat. The greater the challenge, the greater the reward. Only victories over truly worthy opponents trigger system rewards.]
Kairon shook his head, a wild, exhausted laugh escaping him. "So that's it. I just have to keep pushing, keep fighting stronger enemies, and the system keeps leveling me up."
Sage:
[Rank up: Chunin.]
He laughed again, louder this time, the sound echoing down the empty corridor.
For a moment, he just stood there, savoring the rush of new power and the thrill of survival. The finals were coming, but right now, he was exactly where he wanted to be—stronger, sharper, and more alive than ever.
_________________________________________
The arena lights faded, the crowd's roar echoing in Kairon's ears long after he left the ring. He limped through the winding corridors, battered but victorious, every nerve still singing from the brutal clash with Talon. The taste of blood lingered on his tongue, and the memory of each fight—Ironhide's unyielding strength, Artemis's cunning, Pantha's ferocity, Talon's savage speed—flickered through his mind like a highlight reel.
He could feel it: the hunger, the anticipation, the wild, reckless joy that came only after a battle hard-won. His heart pounded, not with fear, but with exhilaration. He was a finalist now. One last fight awaited.
Somewhere in the shadows, staff and fighters whispered, eyes following him as he passed. The air was thick with tension and speculation. Who would stand in his way for the championship? No one knew. The organizers were silent, the bracket left blank—only a single word gleamed on the digital board: Finals.
Kairon didn't care. The not-knowing only made his blood burn hotter. His Amazon heritage and Uchiha instincts churned within him, a storm of anticipation and pride. He welcomed the unknown, craved the challenge, yearned for the next test of his power.
As he strode down the hallway, his golden eyes flashed crimson, the Sharingan swirling with excitement. A grin spread across his face—hungry, electric, unbreakable. Every step was a promise: whatever the finals brought, he would meet it head-on, with all the fury and joy of a warrior born for the arena.
He had two days to rest, recover, and prepare. But Kairon's mind was already in the ring, already locked in the dance of battle yet to come.
End of Chapter 5