The Archfiend System

CHAPTER 20: JEALOUSY

Klein stood alone in one of Titan's Fist's private training rooms, sweat dripping down his face as he practiced controlling his newer abilities.

The room's reinforced walls bore scorch marks from his previous sessions...evidence of Storm's Breath pushed to its limits.

He focused on Chaos Disruption, trying to reduce the massive mana cost.

Five hundred mana per use was crippling in extended fights. If he could shave even fifty mana off, it would make a difference.

Klein thrust his palm forward, releasing a controlled burst of chaotic energy.

The wave rippled through the air, distorting space slightly before dissipating. He checked his system interface.

Cost: 480 Mana.

"Twenty less than before," Klein muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. "Progress, at least."

The door to the training room slammed open.

Klein turned to see a tall, blond man entering.

He wore the Titan's Fist badge, and his cold blue eyes locked onto Klein with barely concealed hostility.

"You're Klein S'roar," the man said. It wasn't a question.

"Yeah. And you are?"

"Darius." He crossed his arms, his aura flaring slightly, frost spreading across the floor around his feet.

"Rank 11. Or I was, until you showed up."

Klein's eyes narrowed. He recognized the name from the ranking board. Darius had been stuck at Rank 11 for over a year.

"What do you want?" Klein asked, keeping his tone neutral.

Darius took a step forward, ice crackling under his boots.

"I want to know what makes you so special. You've been here two months and you're already Rank 22. You got picked for Seris's elite raid team. You're getting legendary loot and fighting boss monsters."

"I trained hard," Klein said simply.

"You got lucky!" Darius's voice rose, anger bleeding through.

"You stumbled onto some Divine Archfiend and got handed power you didn't earn. Meanwhile, people like me spend years grinding, fighting, bleeding for every inch of progress!"

Klein's jaw tightened. "You don't know anything about what I've been through."

"I know you were a Blank!" Darius spat the word like a curse.

"A worthless nobody who got everything handed to him by pure chance. You don't deserve to be here."

Klein felt his own anger rising, but he forced it down. Getting into a fight with a guild member would be stupid.

"If you've got a problem with me, challenge me properly," Klein said. "That's how the ranking system works."

Darius laughed bitterly. "Oh, I will. Soon. But I wanted you to know first...you're not welcome here. Not really. Half the guild thinks you're just a lucky fraud who'll wash out the moment things get hard."

Before Klein could respond, the door opened again.

Raze stood in the doorway, her scarred face set in a scowl.

"Darius. Get out."

"I was just leaving," Darius said, shooting Klein one last hateful look before pushing past Raze.

After he left, Raze entered and closed the door behind her.

"How much of that did you hear?" Klein asked.

"Enough." She leaned against the wall, arms crossed.

"Darius has been stuck at Rank 11 for eighteen months. He's talented but hit a wall he can't seem to break through. Watching you rocket past him is eating him up inside."

"That's not my problem," Klein said, though he felt a twinge of sympathy despite himself.

"No, but it could become your problem."

Raze's expression was serious. "Accidents happen in Dungeon Gates, Klein. Not all accidents are actually accidents, if you know what I mean."

Klein's blood ran cold. "You think he'd actually try to kill me?"

"I think he's desperate and bitter. That's a dangerous combination." Raze pushed off the wall.

"Just watch your back, especially during missions. And maybe avoid training alone for a while."

After she left, Klein stood in the empty training room, his earlier excitement about his progress completely gone.

He pulled up his status screen, staring at his stats.

Level 14 was powerful, but it also made him a target. Not just from enemies but from people who should be allies.

Klein thought about Darius's words. "You don't deserve to be here."

Part of him wanted to prove Darius wrong. Another part wondered if there was truth to it...had he really earned his power, or just gotten incredibly lucky?

He shook his head, dismissing the thought.

Storm had chosen him for a reason. The Divine Archfiend System was his now, and he'd use it to protect the people who mattered.

Klein returned to his training, but the session felt different now.

Every shadow in the corner of his eye made him tense, every sound outside the door made him wonder if Darius would come back.

By the time he finished two hours later, Klein was exhausted both physically and mentally.

He returned to the residential wing where his family was staying and found Mara in the common area, reading a book about system theory.

"Big brother!" She looked up with a smile that faded when she saw his expression. "What's wrong?"

Klein sat down heavily beside her. "Just guild politics. Nothing important."

Mara set her book aside. "You're a terrible liar. What happened?"

Klein hesitated, then told her about the confrontation with Darius.

Mara's face darkened. "That's not fair. You've worked harder than anyone I know."

"Maybe. But he's not completely wrong." Klein stared at his hands. "I did get lucky. If I hadn't met Storm, I'd still be a Blank, struggling to feed us."

"But you did meet Storm," Mara said firmly. "And Storm chose you because he saw something in you. Stop doubting yourself."

Klein managed a weak smile. "When did my little sister get so wise?"

"I learned from the best." She leaned against his shoulder. "Just promise me you'll be careful. If this Darius guy is dangerous, don't underestimate him."

"I won't."

But as Klein sat there with his sister, he couldn't shake the feeling that Darius was just the beginning.

The higher he climbed, the more enemies he'd make, not just monsters in Dungeon Gates, but people who resented his success.

Klein closed his eyes, exhaustion washing over him.

Tomorrow, he'd deal with whatever came next.

Tonight, he just wanted to rest.