My Shard Bearer System - Elias's Legacy
Chapter 126: Might’s Path

Chapter 126: Might’s Path

"Had to," Faye replied, her breath quickening. "Can’t keep dodging forever."

They clashed again, a dance of light and sound. Kikaru’s beams wove intricate patterns—flashes to blind, solids to strike—while her time-slowing ability gave her split-second edges, letting her sidestep Faye’s waves with uncanny grace. Faye’s singing grew bolder, her Ikona generating small, tangible objects—discs, spikes, barriers—that she hurled or used to shield herself. One disc grazed Kikaru’s arm, drawing a thin line of red. Kikaru hissed but didn’t slow, retaliating with a beam that shattered Faye’s next barrier and sent her stumbling.

Minutes stretched, both panting, their energy fraying at the edges. Faye’s voice wavered, her last note forming a weak shield that cracked under Kikaru’s final beam. Kikaru raised a hand, calling it off. "Enough," she said, wiping sweat from her forehead. "Good work."

Faye nodded, chest heaving. "You too. I’m... getting the hang of it."

Elias stepped forward, clapping lightly. "That was impressive. You’re both stronger than yesterday."

Kikaru met his gaze, her expression hard. "We have to be."

The cafeteria buzzed with its usual chaos—shard users and military personnel jostling for trays, voices overlapping in a dull roar. Elias grabbed a plate of something vaguely resembling stew and scanned the room. His eyes landed on Asurik Gusmen, sitting alone at a corner table, his lean frame hunched over a tray he barely touched. His dark hair fell into his eyes, and his expression was unreadable, a mask of calm that didn’t quite reach his posture.

Elias hesitated, then made his way over. "Mind if I sit?"

Asurik glanced up, his hazel eyes sharp but not hostile. "Go ahead."

Elias settled across from him, poking at his food. "You’ve been quiet today. Something on your mind?"

Asurik’s lips twitched into a half-smile, more reflex than warmth. "Just thinking. About the system, the shards, the way this place runs. Feels like we’re all pieces on someone else’s board."

Elias nodded, chewing slowly. "Yeah, I’ve had that thought too. But we’re pushing back, right? Training, getting stronger."

Asurik leaned back, folding his arms. "Are we? Or are we just doing what they expect—running their drills, jumping through their hoops?" His tone was casual, but there was a bite beneath it, a thread of something bitter.

Elias frowned, setting his spoon down. "You think there’s another way?"

"Maybe," Asurik said, his gaze drifting to the crowd. "Maybe not. Point is, I don’t like being blind. And I don’t trust people who keep secrets." His eyes flicked back to Elias, pointed now. "Like your friend Kikaru."

Elias tensed, caught off guard. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

Asurik’s smile faded, replaced by a hard edge. "You’re close with her, right? She’s got that fire, that drive. Always has. But she’s got history too—history that doesn’t sit right with me."

"You two know each other," Elias said, leaning forward. "What happened?"

Asurik’s jaw tightened, his fingers tapping the table in a slow rhythm. "Our families go back. Hers was high up—political clout, military ties. Mine... we were players too, once. Until the shift. Kikaru’s people made moves, consolidated power. My family got caught in the fallout—stripped of rank, pushed out. I was a kid, but I remember the whispers, the way my father stopped talking about the future."

Elias studied him, piecing it together. "So it’s personal."

"Everything’s personal when it’s your life," Asurik said, his voice low. "But I’m not here to pick a fight with her—not yet. I’m here to prove I’m not just a name tied to a dead legacy. That I can stand on my own, shards or no shards."

"And Kikaru?" Elias pressed. "Where does she fit in?"

Asurik’s eyes darkened, a storm brewing behind them. "She’s a reminder—of what was taken, what I lost. But she’s not the enemy. Not unless she makes herself one." He paused, then added, "You’d do well to watch her, though. She’s loyal—to you, to this unit—but she’s got her own agenda. Always has."

Elias didn’t respond right away, turning the words over in his mind. Asurik’s tone wasn’t threatening, not exactly, but there was a weight to it—a warning, maybe, or a challenge. "Why tell me this?" he asked finally.

Asurik shrugged, picking up his fork. "You seem decent. And I don’t like loose ends. If we’re stuck in this together, might as well know where the lines are drawn."

Elias nodded slowly. "Fair enough. Thanks for the heads-up."

Asurik didn’t reply, just took a bite of his food, the conversation fading into the cafeteria’s din. But Elias couldn’t shake the unease settling in his gut. Asurik wasn’t an ally yet—but he wasn’t an enemy either. Not yet.

The rest of the day blurred into exhaustion—more drills, more sparring, more quiet moments of doubt. The group pushed harder, each of them feeling the reduction’s shadow creeping closer. Night fell, and Elias collapsed into his pod, the mattress creaking under his weight. He stared at the ceiling, his body aching but his mind racing. Asurik’s words echoed alongside the arena’s violence, a tangle of questions he couldn’t unravel.

Dot’s phased in, hovering above him. "You’re brooding again," she said, her voice soft.

"Can’t help it," Elias murmured. "Feels like we’re missing something—about Asurik, about Kikaru, about all of this."

Dot’s bobbed, her light dimming slightly. "Maybe. But you can’t solve it tonight. Rest. We’ll figure it out step by step."

He closed his eyes, letting her words sink in. Sleep came slow, heavy, pulling him under like a tide.

And then—the arena.

Gravel crunched under his boots, the air thick with silence. The Crafter stood at the center, twirling his silver microphone, his mismatched glasses glinting. Elias’s stomach dropped, but he squared his shoulders. Whatever came next, he’d face it.

The Crafter’s grin widened. "Welcome back, contestants. Let’s see who’s next."

The air in the arena was thick with anticipation, the faint hum of the system’s energy vibrating through the gravel-strewn floor. Torches flickered along the perimeter, casting jagged shadows across the empty stands. Overhead, massive screens hung silent, their dark surfaces reflecting the dim light. Elias gripped the observation platform’s railing, his shard pulsing faintly against his chest—a constant, nagging reminder of what was at stake.

A sudden crack split the silence. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the crucible of chaos!" The Announcer—known to some as the Crafter—materialized in a burst of light at the arena’s center. His voice boomed, sharp and electric, as he spun his silver microphone between his fingers. His blazer’s jagged hem flared with the motion, catching the torchlight, while his mismatched glasses—one red diamond lens, one blue—flashed with manic glee. "Tonight, two warriors collide in a storm of power and will. Let’s meet them!"

The screens flared to life, bathing the arena in a cold glow.

Fighter One: Elara Croft

The left screen displayed Elara Croft. Her pale face was all sharp angles—high cheekbones, a tight jaw, and eyes like frozen steel. Her dark hair was pulled back severely, and her military uniform hugged her frame, crisp and unyielding. The text scrolled beneath her image:

Name: Elara Croft

Affiliation: Military-Aligned

Hometown: Rothshire, Northern Sector

Favorite Food: Black Coffee, No Sugar

Ikona: Cubes – A crystalline entity that manipulates ice and temperature

Personal Ability: Frostbite Surge – Temporarily enhances physical attributes with ice energy

Ikona Ability: Glacial Constructs – Creates ice barriers, projectiles, and freezing effects

"First up, Elara Croft!" the Announcer shouted, his voice dripping with excitement. "Rothshire’s icy daughter, a soldier carved from discipline and loss. She’s a tactician with a frozen heart—survived the resort attack that claimed her team. Now, she’s back, sharper and colder than ever!"

Elara’s skill tree appeared on the screen, its glowing blue nodes pulsing:

📛 Shard User: Elara Croft

🔵 Skill Tree: Glacial Sovereign

❄ Glacial Constructs (Level 3/5): Shapes ice into barriers, spears, and shards with lethal precision.🌨 Frost Veil (Level 2/5): Summons a chilling mist to obscure sight and slow foes.

⚡ Cryo Burst (Level 2/5): Unleashes a freezing shockwave to immobilize enemies.

🛡 Permafrost Armor (Level 3/5): Encases herself in ice armor for defense and enhanced strikes.🔒 Locked: Absolute Zero: A hidden power, yet to awaken.

"Glacial Constructs at level three!" the Announcer crowed. "She bends ice like it’s clay—walls, weapons, you name it. Frost Veil blinds you, Cryo Burst freezes you, and Permafrost Armor? That’s a walking fortress. Absolute Zero’s still locked, but I’d wager it’s a game-changer!"

Fighter Two: Ravel Cyn

The right screen ignited, revealing Ravel Cyn. His sharp features carried a predatory edge—crooked smirk, scarred jaw, and eyes burning with ambition. His dark hair fell messily around his face, and his tattered jacket swayed as he shifted. His details followed:

Name: Ravel Cyn

Affiliation: Primed Epics

Status: Confirmed Enforcer Tier

Soul Energy: 125

Ikona: "Necklace" – A ring of floating vertebrae that strikes with precision

Human Skill: Vessel Drag – Manipulates body movements with tethered energy

Ikona Skill: Spinebite (Level 2/5)