Chereads / The Solo Leveler is Unbreakable / Chapter 5 - The 2nd Death match

Chapter 5 - The 2nd Death match

My blindfold, torn in the battle, slipped from my face, and for the first time in days—I could see.

The dust settled, and Hira lay defeated, but the air around me felt heavier, thicker. I was still catching my breath when Nagi, Asia's second butler, stepped forward-his presence alone a greater weight than the chains that had bound me moments ago.

"Tch," Nagi spat, his cold eyes narrowing as he sized me up. "You beat Hira? Don't get cocky. He was nothing. I'm the one who will drag you through hell."

My muscles screamed in agony, and my lungs burned from the relentless fight with Hira. I thought I was on the brink of collapse, but Nagi's cruel smirk told me the nightmare had only just begun.

"I... I just survived Hira," I muttered, staggering to my feet. "What more do you want from me?"

Nagi's smile deepened-twisted, dark. "What I want? What I want is simple." He took a step closer, towering over me. "I want to see you crawl. I want to see you crushed, broken, and crawling through the dirt. Then, and only then, will you be ready."

My heart pounded. I'd faced death more times than I could count, but Nagi's words chilled me to the bone. There was no pity in his eyes, no hint of mercy. He wasn't here to train me-he was here to destroy me.

"Come with me," he ordered, turning without waiting for a response.

I followed, limping behind him as we moved deeper into Asia's training grounds. The terrain shifted from the cold stone chambers to a barren wasteland-twisted trees with no leaves, broken pillars half-buried in the cracked earth. The sky overhead was a sickly green, unnatural, swirling with dark clouds like a storm always on the verge of breaking.

We stopped at a large, desolate field. A cold wind cut through me, and the ground beneath was littered with jagged rocks and shards of metal.

"Welcome to hell," Nagi said with a malicious grin. "Here, you will learn what true pain is. And if you're lucky, you might even survive it."

I barely had time to react before chains exploded from the ground, wrapping around my wrists and ankles with a deafening clang. The moment the cold metal touched my skin, I felt my anium drain away, sapped by the cursed weight of the chains.

"What... what the hell is this?!" | shouted, struggling to move, but the chains were far too heavy.

Nagi crossed his arms, watching with amusement. "Lesson one," he said, his tone casual but his words sharp. "Endurance. You'll drag these chains for ten hours straight. Through this wasteland. If you stop, they'll crush you. If you complain, I'll make sure you never leave this place."

"Ten hours?! That's insane!" I yelled, feeling the weight already threatening to tear my limbs from their sockets.

Nagi's eyes gleamed with a cruel light. "Insanity? Oh, you're not even close to it yet. But don't worry-you will be soon."

The chains clinked and rattled as I tried to take my first step, each link pulsating with energy, draining my strength with every movement. The moment my foot hit the rocky ground, a surge of pain shot up my leg.

"Ahhhhh!" I groaned, stumbling forward. Every jagged stone sliced into my flesh, every movement sent shocks through my body. The chains weren't just heavy -they were alive, sucking the very essence of my being.

Nagi walked beside me, hands behind his back, his voice cutting through my pain like a razor. "What's the matter? Can't handle a few chains? Pathetic. Do you think Sheja is going to go easy on you because you're tired? Because you're in pain?"

I bit my lip, refusing to give him the satisfaction of hearing me scream again. Step by step, I dragged the chains across the wasteland, the ground beneath me cracking with every agonizing movement. Time became meaningless-minutes stretched into hours, hours into what felt like days. The sky darkened, the wind howled, but Nagi never wavered.

"You're weak, Eric," he said coldly. "Pathetically weak. But there's potential buried somewhere deep within you. If you survive, maybe I'll find it."

I gritted my teeth. "I'm not weak," I growled.

Nagi smirked. "We'll see."

Day 4: Nagi led me to a field of shifting spikes-metal blades jutting out of the ground at unpredictable intervals.

"Run," he said, his voice flat. "Don't stop. Don't trip. If you do, the spikes will pierce through your flesh, and I'll leave you there to bleed."

"Are you insane?!" I yelled, staring at the field in horror. "I can't outrun that!"

"You can," Nagi said, his eyes cold. "Or you'll die trying."

I hesitated for a second too long, and Nagi snapped his fingers. A spike shot up from the ground, barely missing my leg. My heart raced, adrenaline surging through my veins.

"Move!" Nagi barked, his voice thundering in my ears.

I ran. The spikes erupted from the ground like they were alive, each one aiming for me, threatening to skewer me with every misstep. I dodged and leaped, but the exhaustion from dragging those chains had left my body battered and slow. My foot slipped, and a spike grazed my side, blood spilling from the wound. Pain exploded in my chest, but I couldn't stop.

"Faster!" Nagi shouted. "If you can't even dodge this, you're nothing!"

My legs felt like they were on fire, but I pushed forward, each step a battle against my failing body. My vision blurred, but through the haze, I could hear Nagi's mocking voice.

Day 9: The ground beneath me rumbled as lava flowed through the narrow passages of a burning maze. The heat was unbearable, searing my skin as I stumbled forward, desperately trying to find the way out.

"Feel the heat, Eric," Nagi's voice echoed through the inferno. "Let it remind you of what failure feels like."

On the 27th day, Asia stood before me, the training momentarily paused. My body was beyond exhausted, every muscle burning, but I could see from the look in her eyes that something far more serious was about to unfold.

"You've been through hell, Eric." Asia's voice was soft now, almost comforting, which put me even more on edge. "But what's coming next... you need to understand the true stakes."

She led me to a room I hadn't seen before, hidden deep within the mansion. The air here felt... heavier, thick with a strange energy I couldn't place. And at the center of the room stood the device. It was ancient—its surface etched with runes and symbols that glowed faintly, pulsating with an eerie light.

"This, Eric, is the Soul Transformer."

The name alone sent a chill through me, and as she stepped closer, I could feel a strange power radiating off it. I had seen many things, but this—this was different. This was something dangerous.

"It looks... alive," I muttered, my voice barely a whisper.

Asia nodded, a ghost of a smile on her lips. "That's because it is. The Soul Transformer is an ancient device that can transform a soul into a human body."

I blinked, trying to grasp what she was saying. "Wait—transform a soul? Into a body?"

She turned to me, her expression dead serious. "Yes. And not just any soul. It can take the soul of someone beyond the moon—the kye, an ancient force—and turn it into a physical being. Someone who could walk among us, look like us... but with unimaginable power."

My blood ran cold. "And with that power, they could—"

"Destroy mankind." Asia's words were final, chilling. "And gain immortality."

The weight of what she was telling me slammed into my chest like a sledgehammer. This wasn't just some powerful tool. This was the key to untold destruction. A device capable of unleashing an unstoppable force onto the world.

"And demonic martial artists," Asia continued, her eyes narrowing, "have sought this device for thousands of years. They want to rule, to conquer, to turn the world into their playground of chaos."

I stepped back, my mind racing. "Then why not destroy it?" The words tumbled out before I could think. "If it's that dangerous, why are you keeping it? Just destroy it, and this whole nightmare ends."

Her smile returned, but this time it was colder. "You think it's that simple?"

"Why isn't it?" I demanded, feeling anger rising in my chest. "You're risking the world for this thing! Just get rid of it!"

She shook her head, as if I were a child asking why the sky was blue. "It's not my duty to destroy the Soul Transformer. My duty is to protect it. If I destroy it, the balance shifts. The search for its remnants would unleash a new wave of chaos—uncontrollable, unstoppable."

I stared at her, trying to process her words. "So what... you're just going to hold onto it? Wait for someone to take it from you?"

Asia's eyes hardened. "That's why I'm training you, Eric. So when the time comes, you'll be strong enough to help me protect it."

She turned her attention back to the device and, to my horror, placed her hand on it. A surge of energy shot through the room, crackling in the air like a violent storm on the verge of breaking. I could feel it in my bones.

"This device," Asia said, her voice low and steady, "requires the power of at least the 25th stage of anium to activate. Anything less... and it stays dormant."

My heart raced. "Twenty-fifth stage? That's—"

"But if anyone were to use more than that," she continued, ignoring my outburst, "say, someone at the 49th stage, the energy would reflect back... one hundred times stronger."

My mouth went dry. "A hundred times...?"

"Enough to obliterate everything within miles," she said, matter-of-factly, as if she were describing the weather. "The risk is astronomical."

I stared at her, wide-eyed. "Why are you telling me this now?"

She looked at me, and for a moment, I saw something in her eyes I hadn't seen before—calculation, manipulation.

"It's simple," she said, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "I'm telling you because the real test begins now. And I need your mind to be broken... so that you can rebuild it."

The room spun, the weight of everything she'd said pressing down on me. The Soul Transformer, the demonic martial artists, the power beyond the moon... and her willingness to use me in whatever game she was playing. My pulse quickened, fear clawing at the edges of my thoughts.

"Get ready, Eric," Asia said with a cold smile. "It's time to see if you're truly unbreakable."

[After few hours]

The evening sky was dyed a deep crimson as I approached the left side of the island. Shadows stretched long across the barren terrain, and the air hung still, suffocating with tension. Something wasn't right.

As I neared the designated spot for my final test, a putrid smell hit me—something foul, rotten. I grimaced, nostrils burning. What is that? Like something had died and was left to decay for days.

"Nagi?" I called out, my voice bouncing off the empty rocks. Silence.

Suddenly, the crunch of heavy footsteps echoed from behind a cluster of jagged rocks. Slow. Deliberate. My chest tightened as I instinctively braced myself, muscles coiled. Whoever—or whatever—was there, it wasn't friendly.

Out from the shadows stepped a massive figure. Tall, broad, the very air around him seemed to darken with his presence. My heart sank as recognition hit me like a freight train.

"Sheja…"

He was a towering force of pure muscle, every step of his boot on the dirt ground felt like the island itself trembled. He stopped just short of me, his face twisting into a grotesque grin. And then, I saw it. Just behind him… Nagi.

He lay lifeless in the dirt, blood pooling beneath his body, his eyes wide and vacant.

"You…" My fists clenched so tight that I could feel my nails digging into my palms. The heat of rage filled every vein in my body, boiling over. "You bastard! You killed Nagi!"

Sheja let out a low, guttural chuckle, his massive shoulders shaking with amusement. "Killed him? Please. He was in my way—just like you are now."

My heart raced. This wasn't just a test anymore—this was war.

The second I launched at Sheja, my body moved on its own—pure instinct, pure rage. My fist flew towards his face, but before it could connect—WHAM!—he caught it. Effortlessly. His massive hand wrapped around my fist like a vice.

"You're predictable, Eric," Sheja hissed, his eyes glinting with sadistic pleasure. "You always fight with your emotions first. It's what makes you so… weak."

Without warning, Sheja swung his arm, flinging me like a ragdoll. I crashed into the ground, pain exploding across my back. I coughed, blood splattering the dirt.

"Dammit…" I gasped, struggling to rise. Every muscle screamed in agony, but I forced myself up.

Sheja was already towering over me, his smirk widening as if relishing in my suffering. "I expected more from Asia's pupil. Or are you still playing at being the 'unbreakable' leveler?"

His taunts were just noise. All I could think about was Nagi lying there, and the Soul Transformer.

"Why are you here, Sheja?!" I spat, wiping the blood from my mouth. "What do you want with the Soul Transformer?"

His eyes glinted with something dark. "Ah… so you do know. Well, let's just say that device can do more than what Asia's been letting on. A power like that could change the world, reshape it in my image. But first…" he grinned wider, "I'll tear you apart."

I barely had time to react as Sheja lunged, his fists coming down like a hammer. I dodged, narrowly missing the blow that cracked the ground where I'd been standing.

"He's too fast!" I thought, my heart racing. Every muscle was screaming, adrenaline pounding in my ears. "What the hell is this power?"

"You're slow, Eric!" Sheja taunted, already swinging again. "I can read you like an open book."

Wait—what? It hit me. Every time I moved, every time I shifted, he was already reacting. He wasn't just stronger—he was reading me.

"Mind games…" I muttered under my breath, my eyes narrowing. "He's reading my movements."

"Ah, you finally figured it out," Sheja's laugh was cold and chilling. "But it's too late! I've been inside your head from the start. I don't just see your moves, Eric, I see your fear."

I froze for a moment. Fear? Is that what he thought?

"Can't dodge forever, can you?" Sheja loomed over me, swinging his fist down again, but this time, I wasn't planning to just dodge.

At the last second, I leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding his attack. But instead of retreating, I lunged forward. And that's when I realized what I had to do.

"You think reading me gives you the advantage, don't you?" I said, a grin pulling at the corner of my lips.

"What?" Sheja's confidence wavered for the first time, his eyes narrowing.

I stepped forward, blood still dripping from my mouth, but my smirk remained. "You're reading my mind, Sheja. Predicting my moves. But here's the thing…" I raised my fists, "You haven't been fighting at full strength because you're too busy reacting to me."

His eyes widened in shock, just for a split second—but that was all I needed.

I dashed toward him, faster than I'd ever moved before. Sheja's eyes flared in alarm as he tried to predict my next move, but I wasn't giving him the chance. I feinted to the left, his body reacting instantly—and in that moment, I twisted to the right, delivering a crushing blow to his ribs.

CRACK.

The sound echoed through the clearing as Sheja stumbled, clutching his side. His expression twisted into pure rage.

"You…! You little—"

But I didn't stop. I pressed my advantage, each punch landing faster and harder than the last. I wasn't just fighting for Nagi. I was fighting for myself, for the truth behind the Soul Transformer. And I wasn't going to lose.

Panting, Sheja staggered back, his face now twisted in fury. Dark energy swirled around him, crackling with malevolent power.

"You think this is over?" His voice was low, menacing. "I'm not done with you yet."

His body began to glow with a dark, swirling energy, his muscles bulging, veins pulsing with raw power. He's powering up… I braced myself, but nothing could've prepared me for what came next.

"Let's see how you handle this!" Sheja roared as he launched forward, his body flickering with inhuman speed. He slammed into me with the force of a freight train, sending me flying.

I hit the ground hard, the wind knocked out of me, blood dripping from my lips. Everything hurt.

Sheja stood over me, a twisted grin on his face. "I told you, Eric. I can't be beaten."

But then… a smile crept onto my face.

"You… haven't won yet."

His eyes widened in shock. "What are you talking about?"

"You're too focused on winning, Sheja. You never even noticed…" I gasped through the pain, "The support cage … in your demonic heart."

[Q: WHAT IS THE SUPPORT CAGE?

Ans: Diablomons those who Transformed into METALLIC HUMANS using Custom Re:soul Transformer, they lost thair deamo heart supporter ( all Diablomons has their own deamo heart supporer). Without the the support cage thair heart will blast in an hour. So, if you are a Diablomon and you transformed into a Metallic human you will probably die without support cage. Anyway that's all]

His face drained of color as he realized what I meant.

"You—you knew?!" Sheja's voice cracked with disbelief.

I laughed, a low chuckle as I pushed myself to my feet. "Of course, I knew. From the moment you said you'd been inside my head… I've been inside yours. You thought you could predict me? I've been one step ahead the whole time."

In a swift, precise movement, I reached into his chest, grabbing the metallic object buried deep in his heart. With a flick of my wrist, I yanked it out.

Sheja's eyes widened, his mouth opening in a silent scream as I held the bomb in my hand.

"Game over," I whispered, crushing the support cage, the shards clattering to the ground.

Sheja collapsed, his body hitting the dirt with a heavy thud. The fight was over. And I had won.

I stood there, breathless, my body aching from the battle, but my mind racing with what came next. The Soul Transformer… it was still out there. And if Sheja wanted it this badly, I couldn't even imagine what was coming next.

But as I looked down At Sheja's lifeless body one thing was clear. I WON THE BATTLE.

Another thing I forget to take. And that is the time bomb remote. It's a demoniac remote, so when I destroy it, The bomb inside in my lungs gone Disappear. and I finally feel the relaxe sensation in to my heart and lungs.

And when I'm going to the mansion. I felt a heavy sensation in my back. I don't know why, my back is hearting. It's probably for the fighting. Anyway, I have to rest.

[ Raisa is here, ]

You see, when Eric was going to the mansion we saw a little Brain like shape in Eric's back. It's probably Sheja's brain. Man, what a pain in the neck.