If you want to read more about my works or just to support me then here is my patreon:
( If you want to read 5–10 chapters ahead, support me on Patreon ):
Patreon.com/Doflamingo4 .
__
If you liked this one. Cheek also my other stories:
[ Shadow Monarch in Hogwarts].
Patreon.com/Doflamingo4 .
________________________________________________________________________________
The sound…
…was the only thing that existed.
A deep, crushing BOOOOOOM that swallowed everything else—no footsteps, no steel, no breath—just that overwhelming force echoing through the endless hall.
What IS that? Akai's ears rang. A high-pitched whine filled his head. Am I dead? Is this what death sounds like?
The noise pressed against him from all sides. Inside his skull. Against his chest. Against his bones.
I can't hear anything else. Not even myself.
Akai's world went blank.
For a moment… he thought that was it.
This is how it ends.
After all that running. All that dodging. All that blood.
This is where I stop.
His eyes were shut tight, his body braced for the impact that never came.
Why isn't it here yet?
The blade should have cut through me by now.
Unless...
Silence followed.
A strange… unnatural silence.
No footsteps. No breathing. No clanking armor.
Just... nothing.
Slowly—
Very slowly—
Akai opened his eyes.
Don't rush. Don't panic. Just look.
Dust drifted in the air like ash after an explosion. The faint glow of the hall flickered through it, revealing fragments of something scattered across the ground.
What is that? What am I looking at?
His vision adjusted.
And then—
His eyes widened.
"…What…?"
No. That can't be right.
In front of him—
The knight that had attacked him…
Was gone.
Gone? Where did it—
No—
Not gone.
Destroyed.
Shattered into countless pieces. Armor fragments lay scattered across the floor, broken and lifeless. A piece of a helmet here. A cracked gauntlet there. Bits of metal that used to be a whole person.
Its massive sword was split apart, embedded into the ground like useless scrap. The blade had broken into three pieces. The hilt was twisted. Bent.
Another knight beside it…
Also reduced to pieces.
Two of them. Akai's brain struggled to catch up. Two of them are just... gone.
Akai's mouth slowly fell open.
"…shit…"
How?
I didn't do that.
Did I?
His legs gave out beneath him, and he dropped onto the ground with a dull thud, still staring at the scene in disbelief.
The impact of falling sent a small jolt up his spine. He barely felt it.
"…what happened…?"
His voice was hollow.
One second I was blocking. The next second... boom.
Something happened in between. Something I don't remember.
"…I thought…"
A shaky breath escaped him.
"…this was game over for me."
I really thought that blade was going to cut me in half.
I could see it coming down. So slow. So heavy.
And then...
He blinked, still trying to process it.
The noise. The light. The nothing.
Then suddenly—
"…I don't feel my poor ass."
Why am I saying that? Why am I joking right now?
A weak, almost hysterical laugh escaped him.
"Heh…"
Maybe I'm in shock. Maybe I've lost too much blood.
Or maybe I'm just glad to be alive.
The laugh faded quickly. His chest hurt. His arms hurt. Everything hurt.
But he was breathing.
That was something.
DING.
The system cut through his thoughts again.
Not now. Give me a second.
This time—rapid.
Relentless.
[Level Up!]
[Level 6 → Level 7]
[Level Up!]
[Level 7 → Level 8]
[Level Up!]
[Level 8 → Level 9]
Three levels? Akai's eyes went wide. Three levels at once?
The notifications stacked one after another, glowing in front of his eyes. Bright blue letters against the dusty air.
Akai blinked.
"…What the hell…?"
I've never gotten more than one at a time.
What did I do to earn three?
But then—
Another notification appeared.
Different.
Important.
[New Skill Unlocked]
Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki) — Level 1
New skill?
Akai tilted his head slightly.
"…Huh?"
His brows furrowed.
"What's that?"
I've never heard of this before.
Is it from the system? Something I earned?
DING.
The system responded immediately.
A new screen appeared.
[Skill Explanation: Busoshoku Haki]
Armament Haki is a latent power that allows the user to manifest their will as an invisible armor.
At its basic level, it enables:
Enhancement of physical attacks (increased damage and impact)
Defensive reinforcement (reducing incoming damage)
The ability to strike entities that cannot normally be touched
Current Level: 1
Mastery: Basic — Unstable Activation
Invisible armor. Akai read the words again. That's what happened.
That feeling in my arms. That density. That solidness.
It wasn't in my head.
He stared at the screen.
Unstable Activation.
So I can't control it yet. It just... happened.
Then…
His gaze slowly shifted back to the shattered remains of the knight.
Two knights. Destroyed.
With one block.
One.
"…That's why…" he muttered quietly.
That's why they broke.
That's why I'm still alive.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Either I was lucky…"
Or something woke up inside me.
Something that was always there.
A pause.
His lips curled into a faint smirk.
"…or…"
He exhaled slowly.
"…what do we say to the god of death?"
Someone told me that once. A long time ago.
In another life.
A brief silence.
Then—
"Not today."
The words came out calm.
Certain.
Confident.
Not today. Not here. Not like this.
DING.
Another notification appeared.
[Attribute Update]
Speed Increased
Reaction Time Enhanced
Movement Efficiency Improved
Good. I need all of that.
Akai rolled his shoulders slightly, testing his body.
Let's see what still works.
His left shoulder popped. Sore but functional.
His right arm burned where the blade had grazed him. The cut was still open. Still bleeding. But shallower than before.
His ribs ached with every breath. Cracked but not broken.
His legs were heavy. Tired. But they held him.
It still hurt.
God, it hurts.
But it moved better.
Faster.
Sharper.
The levels helped. The skill helped.
But I'm still hurt.
I'm still bleeding.
He pushed himself up to his feet again, steady this time.
No hesitation.
No shaking.
If I fall again... I might not get up.
So I won't fall.
His eyes lifted.
Locked onto the remaining knights.
Count them.
Twenty-two of them.
Twenty-two. Down from twenty-three.
It's not much. But it's something.
Still standing.
Still watching.
Still waiting.
They're not rushing anymore. Why?
Are they scared?
No. They don't get scared.
Then what?
Maybe they're confused.
Maybe they don't understand what just happened either.
Akai cracked his neck slightly, a quiet crack echoing in the hall.
The sound was loud in the silence. Deliberate.
A smirk spread across his face—this time darker, sharper.
"…This will be the last time I fall here."
No more running.
No more dodging.
No more begging to survive.
The air around him shifted.
It's my turn now.
And the battle…
Was far from over.
---
[ End of Chapter 20].
To Be Continued...
___
Don't forget to support me with power stones... please!
__________
If you want to read more about my works or just to support me then here is my patreon:
Patreon.com/Doflamingo4 .
__
If you liked this one. Cheek also my other stories:
[ Shadow Monarch in Hogwarts].
Patreon.com/Doflamingo4 .
___
Thank you all for reading ...