Episode 4 — "The Glass Scorpion"
The twin suns of Crathis-4 burned low, turning the sky into a molten sea of orange and red. The arena was carved into the side of a massive sandstone cliff, with thousands of figures packed into the stands — some human, some beast-like, all hungry for blood.
The Combat Tracker on Kujo's wrist pulsed.
[Time until match: 00:02:17]
He stood in the shadowed corridor beneath the stands. His hands flexed at his sides, his breath slow and deliberate. There was no weapon to hold, no steel to rely on — only his fists, his feet, and whatever this strange "magic" the system kept whispering about was beginning to wake inside him.
[Pre-Battle Advisory: Opponent specializes in speed, short-range teleportation, and toxin-infused strikes. Counter: Evasive movement + area disruption magic.]
Kujo had no idea how to "use" magic in a fight. But he would figure it out or die trying.
A gate groaned open ahead, spilling light into the corridor. The crowd's roar swelled like a tidal wave.
[Match Start]
Kujo stepped into the sand.
The Opponent
The Glass Scorpion was not what Kujo expected. She was tall and lean, her skin a pale gray that shimmered like glass under the suns. Her hair was braided tightly, and her eyes glowed with a faint green light. Along her forearms, sharp crystalline spines protruded, glistening with venom.
She regarded him with a slow, mocking smile. "Rank twenty, huh? I'll try not to make this boring."
Kujo didn't answer.
The announcer's voice boomed through the arena: "Combatants! Fight until one is unable to continue! Victory will be awarded to the last fighter standing!"
A horn blared.
The Glass Scorpion vanished.
First Exchange
Instinct Combat flared in Kujo's veins — left!
He spun just as she reappeared, her crystalline forearm lancing toward his ribs. He sidestepped, the venomous tip slicing the air inches from his skin.
She vanished again.
Behind!
Kujo ducked as she appeared overhead, bringing a kick down like a falling blade. Sand exploded where it landed.
Her speed was unreal. She was in front of him one second, behind him the next, her strikes a blur of venom-tipped fury. He dodged, barely, each movement guided by that strange automatic awareness in his body.
But awareness wasn't enough. She moved faster than he could react.
A crystalline spine grazed his shoulder. Fire spread through his arm.
[Vitality: 88% — Toxin Detected]
Kujo's gut tightened. If he took a real hit, it was over.
Awakening Magic
Magic, he thought. If she can teleport, maybe I can—
A spike of heat bloomed in his chest. His vision sharpened, colors deepening until he could see the shimmer of her body before she vanished.
[New Ability Unlocked: Blink Step]
[Description: Instantly teleport up to 3 meters in any direction. Cooldown: 5 seconds.]
She appeared to his left. Kujo didn't dodge — he blinked.
The world snapped sideways, and he reappeared behind her. His fist drove into her ribs. The impact sent her skidding across the sand.
The crowd roared.
Counter-Offense
The Glass Scorpion recovered fast, spinning to face him. "So the street rat has tricks," she hissed.
She blurred forward. Kujo blinked sideways, reappearing at her flank, striking with a palm to her shoulder. She staggered — then vanished again.
This time she appeared above him. Kujo blinked straight up, meeting her midair. His knee slammed into her chest before they both dropped to the sand in a spray of dust.
Her smile was gone now.
Poison Dance
She began to circle him, teleporting in short bursts — left, right, behind — her spines slicing at the air, forcing him to burn his Blink Step on cooldown just to avoid fatal strikes.
One missed dodge and her spine nicked his thigh. Poison flared in his leg, slowing him.
[Vitality: 72% — Toxin Spread: 8%]
Kujo's breath came faster. I can't outrun her forever. Need to end it now.
Disruption Magic
The heat in his chest returned, stronger.
[New Ability Unlocked: Force Ripple]
[Description: Release a shockwave of condensed magic in a 5-meter radius. Knocks back all enemies.]
She appeared right in front of him. Kujo dropped into a low stance and released the magic.
The air exploded outward in a visible wave. The Glass Scorpion was blasted back, slamming into the arena wall hard enough to leave cracks in the sandstone.
The crowd screamed their approval.
The Endgame
Kujo blinked forward before she could recover, fists flying in a relentless barrage. Left hook. Right elbow. Rising knee. Every strike landed heavy, powered by the momentum of someone who had nothing left to lose.
Her crystalline spines lashed wildly, but Kujo's body twisted and bent out of their path, his strikes finding the gaps in her defense.
A final Blink Step put him behind her. He hooked his arm under hers, locking her in place, and drove his palm into the back of her neck.
She dropped, motionless.
Aftermath
[Battle Complete]
[Victory Achieved]
[Level Increased: 20 → 30]
[New Ability Unlocked: Venom Purge]
[Description: Automatically neutralizes most toxins within 10 seconds.]
The crowd chanted his name — not in unison, but in scattered, chaotic bursts. Enough to tell him the match had made an impression.
Arena medics dragged the Glass Scorpion away. Kujo stood alone in the sand, his chest heaving, sweat and blood streaking his skin.
The announcer's voice thundered: "Rank twenty rises to Rank thirty! The Street Dog climbs again!"
The Corridor
Back in the shadowed hall, the system spoke:
[Notice: Higher-ranked fighters are taking interest in you.]
[Incoming Challenge: Rank 120 — Pending Acceptance.]
Kujo leaned against the wall, breathing slow. He wasn't ready for Rank 120. Not yet.
But one thing was certain — for the first time, he wasn't just surviving.
He was climbing.