Lady Scarlet inspected the cell, her brow furrowed. The scorched walls and unconscious Elite Guards indicated that someone extremely powerful had been here.
"An intruder... and with 'Blue Fire' too," Scarlet ordered her remaining soldiers. "Take this boy (Vikram) to the Medical Wing immediately. If the Duke's people want him dead, it means he is valuable to us. Increase his security."
Vikram, being carried away on a stretcher, smiled inwardly. His plan had worked. Not only had he defeated the guards, but he had also planted the fear of an enemy in Scarlet's mind. His true strength—his Origin Spirit God Body—remained a secret.
Two Days Later – Blood Arena
Vikram's wounds had healed. The recovery speed of the 'Jade Body' was amazing. He had been moved from the common slave barracks to a better room, but he was still a prisoner.
Tonight was his first match.
The entire arena was packed with spectators. The city's rich and elite had come to bet on slaves killing each other.
"Ladies and Gentlemen!" the announcer shouted. "Tonight's main attraction... a new fighter, brought by Lady Scarlet herself! Welcome—Vikram!"
Vikram stepped into the arena. Standing opposite him was his opponent—'The Butcher.' He was an 8-foot tall monster wielding two massive axes.
The crowd screamed, "Kill! Kill!"
As soon as the bell rang, Butcher lunged at Vikram. Vikram used his ordinary speed and kept dodging Butcher's attacks. He didn't want to show his true strength. He wanted the world to see him as an 'agile but weak' fighter.
But Butcher was cunning. He cornered Vikram.
"Where will you run now, rat?" Butcher raised his axe.
Vikram thought, Now is the time.
But he didn't use his power openly in the arena. He activated the 'Shadow Legacy Tablet' hidden in his pocket, which he had sewn into his clothes. This tablet couldn't 'teleport' him but could create a 'Projection' within a limited area. However, Vikram linked his 'Origin Spirit God Body' with it.
[God Body: Partial Activation]
[Mode: Phantom Shift]
In the eyes of the spectators, Butcher's axe sliced right through Vikram's body.
The crowd went numb. A fountain of blood erupted... but in the next moment, that 'body' of Vikram vanished like smoke.
"What?" Butcher swung his axe in the air in surprise.
The real Vikram was standing right behind Butcher, in the shadows. He placed his fingers on a specific nerve on Butcher's neck.
'Dongxuan Sutra: Nerve Cut'
He pressed lightly. Butcher's eyes rolled back to white, and that mountain-like body crashed to the ground.
Vikram revealed himself again, as if he had never vanished. It happened so fast that no one understood. People thought Butcher slipped, and Vikram seized the chance to kill him.
But in the topmost VIP cabin of the stadium, a person set down their glass of wine. They had seen what no one else saw—for a split second, a silver-like shadow appeared in Vikram's place.
That Same Night – On the City Streets
Vikram was back in his cell, but his work wasn't finished. He needed 'Gene Resources,' and he couldn't get them as a slave.
He focused and fully activated his 'Origin Spirit God Body.'
[God Mode: Active]
[Identity: Masked]
His body turned into a golden-silver light. He covered his face with a metallic mask, which bore an ancient symbol—$ (Dollar).
Shoom!
Vikram vanished from his cell. Walls, bars... nothing mattered to him. He 'teleported' straight to a rooftop in the city. His speed now felt close to Light Speed. Time had slowed down for him.
His target was—the city's 'Black Market.'
There, a powerful merchant was selling 'Rare Gene Solution.'
Vikram (now Dollar) jumped straight down from the roof. He stopped an inch above the ground, floating in the air.
"I want that solution," a mechanical and heavy voice echoed.
The merchant's guards immediately opened fire on him.
Bang! Bang!
The bullets froze in the air before even hitting Dollar's body.
[Imagination: "Metal cannot touch me."]
Dollar simply waved his hand, and all the bullets flew back and hit the guards' legs. In the blink of an eye, he was standing in front of the merchant.
"Price?" Dollar asked.
The merchant was trembling. "Free! It's free for you, my Lord! Just spare my life!"
Dollar picked up the bottle of solution. "I don't take free goods."
He slammed a glowing 'Elite Spider Leg' (which he had hidden in the mine) onto the counter.
"Transaction complete."
The next moment, he vanished. Left behind was only a Golden Coin floating in the air, engraved with a word—DOLLAR.
The next day, the news spread across the entire city. A new, mysterious warrior had arrived. No one knew who he was, but his strength was god-like.
And sitting in the arena cell, eating his dry bread for breakfast, Vikram simply smiled hearing these rumors.