The Archfiend System

CHAPTER 10: Fame

As Klein stood in the alley, watching Vax disappear into the shadows, a sudden realization washed over him. He wasn’t alone.

Dozens of people crowded at the alley’s entrance, their faces lit up with awe. Phones hovered in the air, recording every moment of the duel he’d hoped to keep under wraps.

His brow furrowed, and his wings twitched slightly as his eyes scanned the sea of glowing screens.

The whispers had already begun to swell, rippling through the crowd.

"Is that... Klein S’roar?" one person murmured, their voice brimming with excitement.

"Did you see those flames? Golden and black... like something out of a myth!" another said, their phone raised high, capturing the last moments of the spectacle.

Klein let out a low, frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair as he dropped to the ground, sitting with a thud.

His Archfiend wings folded neatly against his back, but the tension in his posture made it clear he wasn’t pleased with the attention.

"Well, so much for keeping things quiet," he muttered to himself, his eyes scanning the crowd once more. The sight of their eager faces, oblivious to his irritation, only made his frown deepen.

The murmurs continued, growing louder as more people gathered at the scene, drawn in by the spectacle.

Conversations floated through the air—excited chatter about the Archfiend scales and the fierce battle they’d just witnessed.

"Did you get that on video? That breath attack was insane!" someone exclaimed, holding up their phone to share the footage with a friend.

"He’s a System Bearer, right? You think he’s S-Grade?"

Klein grumbled under his breath.

His fingers drummed against his knee as he sat there, watching them share videos and discuss his abilities like he was some kind of sideshow attraction.

There was no going back now. The word was already spreading, and it wouldn’t take long for this fight to make headlines.

He closed his eyes, exhaling sharply before muttering, "People don’t know how to mind their business..."

His words were low, almost drowned out by the buzz around him, but there was no mistaking the edge in his tone.

He’d hoped to settle this quietly, away from prying eyes, but secrecy wasn’t an option anymore.

The next morning, Klein woke to the persistent pinging of notifications. His phone buzzed relentlessly on the bedside table, flashing with messages and alerts.

Groaning, he reached over, grabbing it with one hand and rubbing his face with the other. As he scrolled through the endless barrage of headlines, his eyes narrowed.

"Vax the Shining Star Defeated by Klein s***h!" blared one headline in bold letters.

Another screamed, "New S-Grade System Bearer Revealed—Divine Archfiend System Awakens!"

Clips of the fight filled his feed, shared across every social media platform imaginable.

Klein winced, watching short videos of himself unleashing the Storm Breath, the fiery torrent colliding with Vax’s Bright s***h.

The crowd’s gasps and cheers echoed faintly from his phone as he scrolled through more posts, each one dissecting the duel like it was the event of the year.

"Great..." he muttered, tossing the phone onto the bed as he sat up. His wings sagged slightly, betraying his frustration.

He wasn’t used to this kind of attention. Sure, he knew System Bearers were famous, but this? This was a whole new level.

He sighed deeply, staring at the headlines on his phone screen.

"System Bearers are more famous than celebrities," he grumbled, dragging a hand down his face.

He knew what was coming next—reporters digging into his past, fans clamoring for autographs, interviews, and questions. Endless questions.

His mind drifted to the chaos that was sure to follow. There would be cameras, reporters crowding his doorstep, and fans eager to know everything about him.

Where did he come from? How did he get his powers? What were his plans now that he’d revealed himself to the world?

Klein shook his head, feeling the weight of it all settle on his shoulders. "This is going to be such a drag..."

He rubbed his temples, already dreading the distractions that would flood his days. Meetings, interviews, and people prying into his life—none of it appealed to him.

He leaned forward, resting his face in his palm, his voice barely above a whisper. "I just wanted a good fight... Now, I’m a headline."

Klein sat on the edge of his bed, his gaze wandering over the messy stack of mail that had accumulated over the past few days.

There were sleek envelopes, formal ones from news stations, each one eager for an exclusive interview.

A few were thick and embossed with guild insignias, all hoping to recruit him.

He sighed heavily, picking up one of the thicker ones, turning it in his hands as he felt the weight of it.

Without even bothering to open it, he tossed it onto the growing pile on the floor.

“I have no intention of joining a guild,” he muttered under his breath, pushing the rest of the unopened mail into the drawer beside his bed.

He wasn’t the type to be tied down to a guild, especially not one with its strict rules and rigid hierarchy.

He shook his head, shoving the thought away. Right now, he needs to clear his mind.

Klein made his way to the park, needing space to breathe, space to stretch his wings.

The open area, with its wide expanse of trees and sky, gave him just that.

With a sharp beat of his wings, he took to the air, soaring above the treetops. The wind rushed against his scales, cool and refreshing, and for a moment, everything else faded away.

But then, out of nowhere, a figure appeared in front of him, startling Klein as he had to bank hard to avoid a collision.

His wings flared, his body twisting mid-air as he stabilized himself.

Hovering not far away was a large, bulky man with broad shoulders and a wide grin plastered across his face.

Klein blinked, narrowing his eyes in confusion. The man wasn’t flying or levitating—he had leapt into the sky to meet him.

Klein watched, his brow furrowed as the man landed on a nearby tree branch, bending it under his weight but not breaking it.

The guy stood there, arms crossed, grinning wider as if this were all part of some grand plan.

"Klein S’roar!" the man boomed, his voice loud enough to echo through the park. "I, Boomer, deem you worthy to join my guild!"

Klein floated in the air, getting more suspicious by the second. People had tried to recruit him before, but never like this.

He slowly landed on the ground as Boomer jumped down too, hitting the grass hard with a thud.

"Wait a second," Klein said, crossing his arms. "You think just because you want me in your guild, I'm already in? Don't I get a choice?"

Boomer's grin got even bigger, completely missing Klein's sarcasm. "You're welcome!" he said proudly, hands on his hips.

"I know it's a huge honor to join my guild. With your power and my leadership, we'll take over everything!"

Klein rolled his eyes. "Yeah, no thanks. Pass."

Boomer's smile disappeared. He blinked, confused, then sat down on the grass looking genuinely shocked.

The watching crowd laughed at his reaction. But Klein tensed when he felt something change.

A thick, heavy energy started pouring off Boomer, making the air harder to breathe.

'He's strong,' Klein realized, eyes narrowing. This guy wasn't just talk—he was actually dangerous.

"I, the great Boomer, never accept no!" Boomer shouted, jumping back up. His energy pressed down harder, making the air feel heavy. Some watchers backed away nervously.

Klein raised an eyebrow. "Oh, in that case... HELL NO!" His shout echoed through the park, scaring birds from the trees. The crowd burst out laughing.

Boomer stared in disbelief, his grin completely gone now, replaced by a deep frown.

Klein turned to leave. "I don't have time for this."

But suddenly his danger sense screamed a warning. He twisted aside just as Boomer's huge fist rocketed past his head.

The punch missed, but the wind from it tore through the park, scattering leaves everywhere and shaking the trees.

Klein faced Boomer, eyes locked. Boomer stood ready to fight, fists clenched. "I told you, I don't take no!"

Klein didn't flinch. His scales caught the sunlight. "So you want to fight?"

Boomer charged. Despite his size, he was fast. Klein raised his arms, his scales hardening just as Boomer's fist connected.

The impact exploded outward, flattening the grass and knocking over a nearby bench.

The crowd gasped. Klein held firm, his scales taking most of the hit, but he could still feel Boomer's raw power.

'If he thinks he can just force me,' Klein thought with a slight smirk, 'he's got another thing coming.' He wasn't backing down. Not now. Not ever.