Kenji, leaving his team to their well-deserved rest, wasted no time. The night was his. His mission: ten solo dungeons in under three hours. With his Agility (S-Rank) and the raw power of his Solar Flare Manifestation, he was a blur across the cityscapes.
The first nine dungeons fell with breathtaking speed, each a testament to Kenji's individual prowess. He didn't even draw Ataraxia. Instead, he relied purely on his enhanced physique and raw spiritual output. He moved like a phantom, his crimson aura a constant, terrifying companion.
He'd breach a dungeon, unleash a wave of concentrated Spiritual Manipulation to clear out lesser demons, then close in on the boss with blinding speed. His fists, imbued with spiritual energy, delivered bone-shattering blows. He dodged, weaved, and countered with an almost inhuman grace, his movements a fluid dance of destruction. A punch, a kick, a perfectly aimed spiritual blast – each strike was precise, powerful, and decisive. Bosses, from hulking Stone Golems to nimble Gale Wraiths, crumbled before his relentless assault, barely having time to react.
In just an hour and a half, Kenji had cleared nine B-rank dungeons, leaving trails of stunned, awe-struck drone operators and security teams in his wake. He hadn't broken a sweat, nor had he even needed to use his sword's divine power.
As Kenji approached the tenth portal, a grim realization settled over him. His spiritual reserves, while still formidable, were noticeably depleted from the relentless pace. He knew this last one would be a challenge. He needed a moment to recalibrate.
He also noticed the drone, which had been his constant companion, was now surrounded by several other, smaller Academy drones. He was broadcasting to the world.
Deciding to use this brief forced break effectively, Kenji addressed the drone. "Alright, everyone," he said, his voice carrying clearly over the live feed. "Nine down, one to go for my solo run. I'm taking a quick breather here."
He then decided to engage with the unprecedented viewership. "I'll do a quick Q&A for a few minutes. Send your questions to the drone."
Almost instantly, the drone's display flickered with a torrent of questions, comments, and expressions of disbelief. Kenji felt a surge of validation, and also a profound sense of the scale of his new public life. His fame had grown astronomically.
He quickly scrolled through, picking out a few questions.
"Kenji-sama, how do you move so fast?!"
"Is it true you're dating the Grandmaster's daughter?!"
"Are you actually getting stronger while fighting?!"
"The legend of Kenji is happening in real time! You're amazing!"
Kenji chuckled, answering a few with a lighthearted demeanor. "My agility comes from hard training and a bit of S-rank power," he said with a grin. "And as for the Grandmaster's daughter… a gentleman never kisses and tells, but let's just say I'm looking forward to that date." He winked at the camera again. "And yes, I am getting stronger. Always."
The comments scrolled by even faster: "He's just casually flirting with the Grandmaster's daughter on a live broadcast!" "A legend in the making!" "This is history!"
Kenji felt a surge of pride, but also a renewed sense of urgency. He knew this was just a momentary distraction. He then became serious again, his gaze hardening as he focused on the tenth portal.
"Alright, everyone," Kenji announced, his voice now devoid of any playfulness, his S-rank aura pulsating with renewed intensity. "Break time's over. And for those of you keeping score, it looks like this particular B-rank dungeon has had a little… upgrade."
His eyes narrowed as he pointed at the portal. The radiant purple hue had shifted. It was now a deep, swirling crimson, pulsing with a far more aggressive and dangerous spiritual signature.
"This B-rank dungeon has turned into an A-rank dungeon," Kenji stated, a quiet intensity in his voice. "Just as the Grandmaster warned." He took a deep, steadying breath, feeling the last vestiges of fatigue drain away as his spiritual core flared. He had rested just enough, and the pills had helped him recover quicker. He felt fully rested now, his body humming with readiness.
"My spiritual energy isn't as full as it was at the start," Kenji admitted, a slight hint of vulnerability in his voice, "but I'm ready. I have to be. So, wish me luck."
With the drone accompanying him, broadcasting his every move to a mesmerized world, Kenji walked purposefully towards the crimson portal. His hand instinctively went to Ataraxia, now a familiar weight at his side. This was where the real test began.