System : Rise Of The Eternal Warrior

CHAPTER 5

The shadowed figure’s presence seemed to consume the very air around them, a tangible weight pressing down on Kieran’s chest. His heart raced as he tightened his grip on the sword, the blade humming with energy.

“Who are you?” Kieran demanded, trying to mask the tremor in his voice. His mind was racing, analyzing every detail of the figure’s form, but it was impossible to read.

The figure didn’t answer immediately. Instead, it stepped forward, its movements slow and deliberate, as if savoring the fear that was beginning to seep into Kieran’s bones. The air around them pulsed with a dark energy, thick and suffocating.

“I am the one you will never defeat,” the figure finally spoke, its voice deep and echoing, as though it resonated from all around them. “The System you now wield is but a fragment of true power. You are playing with forces you do not understand.”

Kieran’s breath caught in his throat. “Is that so? Then why don’t you come down here and show me what you’ve got?” He took a step forward, his body tense with anticipation.

The figure tilted its head slightly, as if amused by Kieran’s defiance. “You are foolish, Kieran Albright. But that is to be expected.” The words were spoken with such disdain that Kieran could almost feel them scraping against his skin. “You may have tapped into the System, but it will not be enough. Not for what is coming.”

Kieran clenched his jaw, determined not to show weakness. He couldn’t let this dark presence intimidate him—not now, not when he had only just begun to understand the true extent of his powers. “I’ll decide what’s enough,” he said, his voice sharp, steady. “And I’ll fight whatever comes. You’re not the first to threaten me.”

The figure laughed—low, menacing. The sound seemed to reverberate off the trees around them, distorting, echoing endlessly in the night. “You think you can stop what’s coming? What a laughable notion.” It took another step closer, the air growing colder with every inch it moved toward him. “The System is a tool, Kieran. But what you don’t realize is that it’s not just about power. It’s about control.”

Kieran’s mind began to whirl. Control? What did that mean? His gaze flicked to Rowan, who stood silent, his eyes narrowed, as if he were calculating every possible outcome.

Rowan’s voice broke through Kieran’s thoughts. “It’s true. The System gives power, but it also takes control over those who wield it. You must be careful, Kieran. Don’t let it consume you.”

Kieran nodded, but his focus remained on the figure. “So you think the System is more powerful than me?” He forced his words out with as much conviction as he could muster. “What are you even after?”

The figure’s smile widened, an unsettling gleam in its eyes. “I seek what was always meant to be mine. The power of the System will return to its true master, and you will fall with the rest of them.” The figure’s hand twitched, and the ground beneath them trembled, as though answering the figure’s command.

Rowan stepped forward, his expression darkening. “You’re Malrick, aren’t you?”

Kieran turned to Rowan in surprise. “Malrick? The name... it’s familiar.”

Malrick’s laugh was dark and triumphant. “You’ve heard of me. How... convenient. The stories of my return have already begun to spread. I am the one who will reshape this world.” His eyes glowed with malevolent power as he continued, “And Kieran Albright, you will not stop me.”

Kieran’s blood ran cold. He had heard of Malrick—the name was whispered in old legends, stories of a tyrant who had once controlled the System and bent it to his will. But that was all they were—stories, myths. Was Malrick real? Was he truly the one who had been lurking in the shadows, waiting for the System to return to him?

“I’m not afraid of you,” Kieran shot back, his voice brimming with defiance. “If you think you can control the System, then prove it. I’m standing right here.”

Malrick’s eyes glinted with amusement, but his expression remained cold. “You think you can challenge me? You’ve only just begun to understand the System, boy. You are nothing compared to what I have become.”

Kieran clenched his fists, frustration building inside him. This man—this Malrick—was playing with him, toying with his emotions. But Kieran wouldn’t back down. Not now. He had come too far to let someone like Malrick dictate the terms of this fight.

“Let’s see how strong you really are, then,” Kieran muttered under his breath.

With a sudden, swift motion, Kieran lunged at Malrick, his sword raised high, a surge of power flowing through him. The blade crackled with energy, the System within him responding to his will. But as his sword came down, Malrick raised a hand, and the air around them seemed to warp and distort, blocking the attack with an invisible force.

Kieran stumbled back, his breath coming in sharp gasps. The energy from his sword fizzled out, dissipating into the air. “What... what is this?”

Malrick’s smirk deepened. “You think the System is your ally? It is nothing but a weapon. A tool for those who can control it. You, Kieran, are only the latest pawn.”

Kieran’s heart sank, his stomach twisting with unease. This wasn’t just a fight for power; it was a fight for control. Malrick had mastered the System long before Kieran had even stepped foot into this world. The realization hit him like a punch to the gut.

Rowan’s voice was calm, but his words held a weight that Kieran couldn’t ignore. “You’re not alone in this, Kieran. There are others who have fought Malrick and survived. You just need to learn how to use the System the right way. Don’t let him get into your head.”

Kieran took a deep breath, trying to push past the doubt that had begun to creep in. “I won’t let him control me.”

Malrick’s eyes narrowed as he took a step closer. “Then you’ll fail. All of you will fail. And when you do, I will rule this world once more.”

Kieran stood his ground, his heart thumping in his chest, his body aching with the exertion of their battle. But he was determined. He wouldn’t let Malrick win. Not now. Not ever.

Just as Kieran prepared to make another strike, the ground beneath them shook violently. A blinding light flashed from above, and a voice boomed from the heavens, sending chills down Kieran’s spine.

“Enough, Malrick.”

Malrick’s face twisted in rage, his eyes wild with fury. “Who dares—?”

Before he could finish, the figure in the sky descended, its form a blur of light and shadow. It was a being unlike anything Kieran had ever seen. And in that moment, he knew: the fight was far from over.

Kieran’s breath hitched as he whispered, “Who... who is that?”