My Shard Bearer System - Elias's Legacy
Chapter 109: Let it all out

Chapter 109: Let it all out

A ripple of faint golden light spread across the arena floor, marking the activation.

"You all have soul energy within those pretty little stones jammed into your chests. Some of you have barely tapped it. Others—well, let’s just say they’ve been busy."

The camera zoomed in on Vincent’s face. No reaction. Not even a blink.

The Announcer grinned. "Each user has a skill tree. The System assigned it at the moment they bonded. But until now? Most of you haven’t had the firepower—or guts—to spend anything."

He raised a hand. "Let’s fix that."

A sharp clap echoed through the stadium. Two shimmering displays appeared in the air above the fighters. One for Randalp. One for Vincent.

Lines of golden text scrolled into view. Names. Levels. Unlocked abilities.

"Ohoho, what have we here?" The Announcer turned toward the screens. "Vincent Ruiz—already invested in Molten Reforge, Weapon Bind, and Earth Pulse. Damn, that’s some aggressive allocation. Zero hesitation. Two shards means double the danger—and he’s using it."

The screen behind the Announcer pulsed once, brighter than before. Then it stabilized—lines of deep red data flowing across Vincent’s side.

📛 Shard User: Vincent Ruiz

🟥 Skill Tree: Molten Executioner

💢 Shard Overflow (1/5):

Temporarily overloads Vincent’s body to enhance strength and physical resistance, risking heat-based backlash.

Higher levels reduce cooldown and increase duration of the surge.

🦴 Molten Reforge (2/5)

Reconstruct lost or damaged limbs using molten earth. Level 2 allows rapid reinforcement of damaged areas and enables partial regeneration mid-fight.

🔗 Weapon Bind (2/5)

Fuses weapons with Ikona energy. At level 2, Vincent can reshape melee weapons into burning implements or spiked instruments without damaging structural integrity.

🪨 Earth Pulse (1/5)

Channel energy through terrain. At level 1, Vincent can disrupt footing, raise jagged stone, or stagger opponents by cracking the ground beneath them.

🟥 Soul Energy Remaining: 100

The Announcer let the silence hang a little longer, eyes scanning the red-glowing display before nodding with approval. "See, now this—this is someone who didn’t waste their time. No safety net. No defense padding. Every shard he’s got is pushing toward one goal—forward violence."

He turned, gesturing broadly to the list. "Look at that structure. Molten Reforge. You break him? He just grows it back. You get close? Weapon Bind makes sure whatever you touch kills you first. And Earth Pulse? That’s your warning—this whole floor just became his weapon."

Vincent hadn’t moved. His eyes were locked forward, quiet.

The Announcer’s voice dropped lower, almost reverent. "And let’s not forget—this isn’t a guy with one shard. This is a two-core reactor. Twice the energy. Twice the potential."

A faint glyph glimmered under Vincent’s collarbone—then another shimmered near his right side. Both pulsed once. Then faded.

He turned toward the opposing screen. "Now let’s see what you’ve brought to the table, soldier boy..."

Vincent’s red display faded. In its place, a new screen unfolded—cooler in tone, each line locking into place like interlocking shields. No fire. No heat. Just clean, hardened control.

📛 Shard User: Randalp Grieves

🟦 Skill Tree: Platebound Defender

🛡 Pulse Barrier (2/5)

Deploys layered energy plates that rotate around the user to absorb damage. At level 2, plates can redirect kinetic force and deflect targeted strikes.

🔁 Kinetic Reserve (2/5)

Stores absorbed impact and releases it as a burst of force. Level 2 enables directional bursts capable of destabilizing enemy footing.

⏹ Reinforce Core (1/5)

Strengthens Tock’s central core, improving plate durability and reducing recharge delay. Level 1 adds passive resistance to plate shatter.

🌀 Magnetic Bind (1/5)

Tethers two targets with an invisible energy link for a brief duration. At level 1, this can be enemy to plate, plate to terrain, or even enemy to enemy—short range only.

🟦 Soul Energy Remaining: 100

The Announcer crossed his arms, eyeing the screen with a slow nod. "Now that’s a sturdy layout. Pulse Barrier and Kinetic Reserve working in tandem—absorb, store, counter. Reinforce Core gives Tock some backbone. But this one—" he pointed as the final line glowed faintly, "Magnetic Bind? That’s the wild card."

He turned slightly toward the camera feed. "Not many know how to use that one right out of the gate. It’s not flashy, but it’s dangerous. Anchor someone to their own mistake? That’s how you win without ever raising your voice."

The interface faded.

Neither of them moved.

Vincent rolled his shoulder. The joints cracked.

"You’ve got two shards," Randalp said flatly.

"Yeah," Vincent replied. "What about it."

"Means I’m not walking out unless you’re dead."

Vincent didn’t blink. "Correct."

Tock hovered close behind, plates clicking once. Quiet tension.

Randalp’s voice was steady. "You ready to kill a man with no grudge against you?"

Vincent’s eyes didn’t move. "I’ve done worse."

"...Because Silas told you to?"

Vincent’s jaw flexed. "Because Silas sees further than I do."

Randalp didn’t flinch. "So you’re just following orders?"

"No," Vincent said. "I believe in them."

The air pulsed once. Thirty seconds.

Randalp’s hands opened and closed. "You don’t hesitate."

"You’ll see why," Vincent answered.

Ten seconds.

Tock’s plates lifted. Nosey’s wings spread with a low rumble.

Randalp’s voice lowered, eyes narrowing. "Then come and finish it."

Vincent stepped forward once. "Gladly."

Vincent moved first.

No sound. No trigger.

Just a blur of motion as he crossed the floor in four steps and swung hard.

Randalp blocked high, forearm to forearm. The impact cracked out through his shoulder and sent his back foot sliding. Vincent didn’t give him time to reset.

The second punch came low, a tight hook toward the ribs. Randalp twisted, took the hit on his hip, and stepped into Vincent’s blind side. Quick jab to the ribs—didn’t land clean. Vincent rolled with it, slammed an elbow back, caught Randalp in the collar.

Randalp staggered.

Vincent closed the gap and threw a knee straight into his stomach.

Tock flared behind him, energy pulsing through his back—not to block, just to brace. The hit still landed. Randalp grunted and dropped low, hooking Vincent’s ankle and driving forward.

They hit the ground.

Vincent’s elbow came down toward his face—Randalp rolled left, caught Vincent’s arm, twisted, and slammed an open palm into the side of his throat.