My Borderline Supervillain-Slash-Hero System
Chapter 102 Forbidden Ground

Chapter 102: Chapter 102 Forbidden Ground

Just a roundhouse kick from Zane sent the Blue Mantis flying.

It crashed into a tree but quickly stood up, screeching.

Zane glanced at its stats — the earlier attack had only dealt 5 points of damage.

The mantis chirped in a high-pitched, distorted tone and charged at him again.

He dodged its saber-like limbs, countering with kicks and punches. It was like beating on a sandbag.

Yet all his efforts caused less damage than they should have.

The creature seemed to grow even more enraged — it thought this man had stolen its apples, and now, was hitting it back?

With a long, echoing screech, it exploded with saffron-colored mana, its forelimbs igniting in crimson flames.

It moved.

Zane’s eyes widened.

"It’s three times faster!" he muttered, backpedaling as it slashed at him relentlessly.

Each strike was aimed to sever him completely.

He recalled his fights — Erlin’s brother, who had similar stats, and Shelby with his insane speed. Compared to that, this wasn’t overwhelming.

"This is nothing compared to Shel’s quick legs," he muttered while dodging.

But the mantis didn’t let up. It attacked in a wild, continuous flurry.

Zane punched it mid-charge and felt the sheer explosive power in its limbs.

"This is becoming troublesome," he muttered.

Then he called out, "System, where exactly am I?"

[You’re in the Forbidden Apple Garden of Mars.]

[It is one of the ten super-restricted regions. At its center lies a Daughter Tree of the Divine Tree.]

"Daughter tree?" Zane asked mid-dodge.

[Ten seeds from Earth’s original Divine Tree were used in terraforming Mars. All have grown. People call them the Daughter Trees.]

"Wonderful," Zane muttered, ducking a flaming strike.

"You dropped me in a death trap."

The battle dragged on for ten more minutes.

By now, Zane realized — with his current stats, he couldn’t win.

His eyes narrowed. Time to use Monsterification.

He began forming hand seals and chanting, when—

Whsssh!

A sharp whistle sliced through the air.

The mantis split in two and collapsed.

Zane froze.

A figure cloaked in darkness, face covered, stood before him.

Blood dripped from the tip of a long katana.

"Lad," the man said in a cold, commanding voice, "Why are you here?"

Zane immediately sensed it — this man was terrifying.

Even the System couldn’t read his stats.

He must be at least a Dean-level cultivator, Zane thought. One wrong word... and I’m dead.

He stayed silent, quickly tapping his wristwatch.

A shimmer of black aura surrounded him.

Now, he was clad in the Temple of Assassins’ cloak.

The man sheathed his katana and narrowed his eyes.

"I’ve never heard about recruiting new guards," he muttered suspiciously.

Zane immediately bowed slightly.

"Apologies, senior brother. I’m not a guard. I’m just a fresher... The teleportation gate must have malfunctioned and sent me here. Please help me get back."

The mysterious guard circled him, then spoke in a fond tone,

"Ho-ho, so the Temple is now recruiting its agents from freshers? That’s never happened before. But from what I’m seeing, you must truly be one."

Zane remained silent.

A sudden pressure washed over him as the man continued pacing around.

Zane knew this feeling well — a familiar helplessness, the kind that made your knees weak and your mind foggy. This wasn’t like Kora’s overwhelming Law, nor the suffocating dead aura of Director Aaron, or even the explosiveness of Shelby’s Spark Law.

This one...

It makes me want to obey.

Law of Dominance, he realized.

The man’s voice sharpened.

"Tell me the truth. Are you really a fresher? Or a spy sent here to destroy the Daughter Treant?"

Zane clenched his jaw, forcing himself not to speak.

After a pause, the pressure intensified.

"Still silent? Then let’s turn up the heat. Are you a spy from the aliens?"

Zane was nearly ready to break — the words on the tip of his tongue —

But just then, the Solar Thread embedded in his mana core reacted.

A dazzling yellow light burst out, disrupting the law pressing over him.

Suddenly, his mind and heart felt lighter than ever.

"I’m not a spy," he groaned. "I’m here for the first phase of the Fresher Ranking Tournament."

The guard gasped.

"Chap... how did you break my Law?"

"That’s my secret," Zane replied, regaining some composure. "I’m an agent of the Temple."

"I know. I saw your Temple-issue wristwatch."

Zane frowned.

"So? I thought we were on the same side."

"We are," the guard said calmly. "But it’s my duty to secure this area from intruders. You showed up out of nowhere, picking a fight with a Blue Mantis. Wouldn’t you be suspicious in my place?"

"...No," Zane admitted.

Just then, a new voice echoed from above:

"Shadow #59, he’s confirmed. A fresher in the tournament. Assist him in reaching the First Zone."

"Copy that, Captain!"

Shadow Guard 59 turned back to Zane, this time smiling.

"Lad, you’re clear. Apologies for earlier — I’m not always like that. If we ever meet again in the Temple’s hideout, this big brother will treat you to the best drink!"

"I understand," Zane said. "You were just doing your job."

"Alright, follow me. I’ll get you to the destination point."

As they walked, Zane noticed several black apples scattered along the path.

"Number 59," he called.

The guard paused, glancing over his shoulder.

"Can I take those?" Zane asked, pointing at the glossy black fruits.

The guard shrugged.

"Sure, though they’re bitter as hell. Our scientists say they contain anti-mana properties — practically poison for Awakeners. Useless to us."

He chuckled.

"But go ahead. Just don’t eat them."

Then, with a grin:

"Wanna know what Martian scientists named them?"

Zane shook his head.

"The Black Apple."

The guard burst into laughter.

"Got you big this time, didn’t I?"

Zane didn’t respond. He simply knelt down and began gathering the black apples, storing them in his silk pouch one by one. The guard watched him, arms folded, his expression a strange mix of amusement and pity.

After a few minutes of silence, the guard finally asked, "Can I ask you something?"

Zane glanced up. "Sure."

"Why are you so obsessed with those things?"

Zane paused for a beat, then smiled faintly. "Yeah, I do have a reason," he said, lying smoothly. "I’m going to gift them to my wife."

The guard blinked, then raised an eyebrow. "Your wife, huh?"

Zane just kept collecting the apples, saying nothing more.

As he dropped the last one into the pouch, a familiar chime rang in his head.

Ding!

[Quest Completed!]

[Reward: Recipe – Divine Tree Physique Pill]

Zane’s hand froze for a second. Then his eyes widened slightly, heart pounding in excitement.

Divine Tree Physique Pill? he thought. That sounds... good, right?