Dimension System: SSS Rank Talent Awakening

Jeni extended her hands, a storm of frost spiraling outward. Ice spread across the battlefield, encasing the statues in frozen tombs, but it wasn't enough to hold them. Cracks formed, and within seconds, they shattered free, their movements unimpeded.

"That won't work twice," she hissed.

Althea, positioned in the center, had already begun weaving intricate sigils in the air. "Then we change the battlefield!"

A pulse of energy erupted from her palms, sending out waves of distortion that caused several platforms to shift violently, slamming together and forming a more defensible terrain.

Kiba leapt into the fray, his fists igniting as he met one of the statues head-on. His punch connected, sending a ripple through the stone behemoth before it exploded into dust. He grinned. "Now this is a fight!"

The air exploded with raw energy as the golden figure vanished—only to reappear behind them in an instant.

BOOM!

A single strike sent shockwaves through the platform, nearly knocking the team off their feet. Zen barely managed to block with his blade, but the force of the impact launched him backward, skidding across the stone.

Jeni reacted quickly, sending a barrage of ice shards toward the figure, but before they could make contact, they disintegrated mid-air.

"Impossible!" Jeni gasped.

Kiba charged in, fists crackling with energy, but the golden figure raised a hand— and suddenly, Kiba's attack reversed direction, the energy slamming into him instead!

Kiba was sent flying.

Althea gritted her teeth. "His power… it's unlike anything we've ever faced."

Dabi didn't hesitate. He activated his full energy manipulation, focusing every ounce of his strength into his next attack. His body blurred as he closed the distance, unleashing a devastating strike—

But the golden figure caught his fist with a single hand.

A pulse of golden energy erupted outward, sending Dabi flying back. He barely managed to land on another floating platform, but the sheer force of the counterattack left his arm trembling.

He had never faced an opponent like this.

The golden figure looked at them, voice calm yet absolute. "You are strong. But strength alone is not enough. Only those who understand the nature of power may claim it."

Dabi exhaled, forcing himself to stay calm. They couldn't brute-force their way through this. This wasn't just a battle of strength— it was a battle of understanding.

And then… realization struck.

Dabi slowly straightened, eyes locked onto the golden figure. He wasn't smiling, but something inside him had clicked.

Jeni noticed the shift in his demeanor. "Dabi? What is it?"

He took a deep breath. "This fight… it isn't about beating him."

Zen, still recovering from the earlier attack, looked up. "What do you mean?"

Dabi's gaze never left the golden figure. "It's about making a choice."

The golden figure tilted its head slightly. "Go on."

Dabi clenched his fists. "Power isn't something you take— it's something you choose whether or not to accept. This whole tournament, everything we've been through, was never about proving we were the strongest. It was about proving whether we wanted power."

The golden figure was silent for a moment. Then, for the first time, it smiled beneath its helmet.

"Correct."

And just like that, the battlefield ceased to exist.

The floating platforms, the stormy void, the statues— everything dissolved into golden light, leaving only the team and the throne.

The golden figure stood before them, no longer an enemy, but a silent guardian.

"You understand now," it said. "The greatest power is the power of choice. The choice to seek strength, or the choice to walk away from it."

The Seat of Ascension gleamed behind them.

"You may claim the throne, or you may leave."

Silence.

Kiba looked at the others. "So… what do we do?"

Dabi closed his eyes. Then he turned away from the throne.

"We leave."

The golden figure gave a single nod. "Then you are free."

Light engulfed them.

And just like that, they were gone.

The golden light consumed Dabi and his team, weightless and warm, as if they were being gently lifted from the illusion of the battlefield. Their senses blurred, the dazzling glow swallowing everything. Then—

Darkness.

A heartbeat later, they were standing back in the tournament's main arena. The roaring winds of the grand coliseum surrounded them, the energy-infused battlefield stretching out before them, and the thousands of spectators remained as if frozen in time. It was as if no time had passed.

The crowd erupted in cheers, unaware of the choice that had just been made.

Jeni's breath was still heavy, her gaze flicking between her teammates. "Did that… really happen?"

Zen wiped the sweat from his brow. "If it was a dream, it sure as hell hurt like reality."

Althea placed a hand over her chest, where the lingering pressure of the golden being's presence still weighed on her. "That was no illusion. We reached the final test."

Kiba let out a low whistle. "And we walked away."

Dabi looked up toward the sky, where the golden throne had once loomed in that impossible space. The choice they made wasn't easy, but he knew it was the right one.

He turned back toward his team. "We weren't here to claim power—we were here to prove ourselves. And we did."

Their moment of reflection was cut short as a booming voice echoed across the arena.

"THE BATTLE HAS ENDED!"

A massive projection of the tournament's host, the enigmatic Grand Overseer, shimmered into existence above the arena. His face was obscured by a silver mask, his robes flowing unnaturally, as if they weren't bound by reality.

"DABI AND HIS TEAM HAVE EMERGED VICTORIOUS!"

The crowd's cheers intensified, shaking the very foundation of the coliseum.

But there was something else.

Something was wrong.

Dabi narrowed his eyes. "That wasn't a normal match… yet they're announcing us as winners."

Jeni's brows furrowed. "What if they already knew about the test?"

Kiba grinned, stretching his arms. "Hey, as long as we won, I don't care if they knew or not."

Zen, however, remained silent, gripping the hilt of his sword. He had sensed it too—something felt off.

Then, as if in response to their unease, the Grand Overseer's voice rang out once more.

"AND NOW… THE FINAL DECISION!"

The words sent a chill through the entire stadium.

Dabi's team tensed, readying themselves for whatever came next.

The Grand Overseer's projection loomed over them, his masked face unreadable.

"DABI. YOU HAVE WALKED AWAY FROM THE SEAT OF ASCENSION. BUT HAVE YOU TRULY REJECTED POWER?"

The question wasn't just for them—it was for the entire audience. The crowd murmured, uncertain.

Dabi met the Overseer's gaze. "We made our choice."

The Overseer tilted his head slightly, as if amused. "VERY WELL."

With a snap of his fingers, the battlefield beneath them shifted once more. The stone cracked, revealing intricate symbols that pulsed with energy. The sky above darkened, and the air became thick with power.

"THEN LET US SEE THE CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR CHOICE!"

The entire arena shook.

A new challenger had arrived.

A ripple of energy tore through the air as a new figure descended onto the battlefield. Unlike the golden being from before, this one was unmistakably human— yet something about them radiated an unnatural aura.

A tall man clad in obsidian armor landed gracefully, the sheer force of his presence making the air tremble. His sharp, piercing eyes locked onto Dabi, a smirk playing on his lips.

He exuded danger.

"I thought you'd walk away," the man said casually, flexing his fingers. "But I guess that's not in your nature, is it?"

Dabi's instincts screamed at him— this opponent wasn't normal.

The Grand Overseer gestured toward the armored man. "BEHOLD! THE LAST CHALLENGER STANDS BEFORE YOU!"

The audience hushed in anticipation.

Zen stepped forward, hand on his sword. "Who is he?"

The Overseer's mask gleamed under the arena lights. "THE LAST REMAINING CONTENDER—THE ONE WHO NEVER LOST A SINGLE MATCH—THE REIGNING CHAMPION, Aldick NIGHTFELL!"

The name alone sent a wave of tension through the stadium.

Jeni's eyes widened. "Wait— Aldick Nightfell?! The undefeated warrior?"

Althea gritted her teeth. "If he's the champion… why is he only appearing now?"

Aldick cracked his knuckles, his smirk widening. "Because they save the best for last."

Kiba scoffed. "Tch. Big talk."

Aldick's gaze flicked toward him. "Oh? You think you can take me?"

Before Kiba could respond, Aldick vanished.

And in the blink of an eye, Kiba was sent flying across the battlefield.

BOOM!

The force of the impact shattered the ground where he had been standing.

Zen's sword flashed as he moved to intercept, but Aldick caught the blade mid-swing, twisting it effortlessly before sending Zen crashing to the ground.

Dabi's mind raced. He's fast!

Aldick turned toward him. "Come on, Dabi. Show me what you've got."

Dabi didn't hesitate.

Energy surged through him as he launched forward, fists coated in raw power. Aldick met his strike with his own, their fists colliding in an explosion of force. The sheer impact sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield.

The fight had truly begun.

Dabi and Aldick exchanged blows at a speed that defied human limits. Each strike sent tremors through the ground, their movements blurring as they pushed beyond normal combat. Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire

Jeni and Althea provided support from a distance, launching waves of elemental magic to disrupt Aldick's attacks. Zen rejoined the fray, his sword strikes aiming for weak points in Aldick's armor, while Kiba—now recovered—unleashed a devastating counterattack.

But Aldick was relentless.

With a flick of his wrist, he shattered Zen's blade. With a twist of his body, he dodged Jeni's ice spikes with unnatural precision. With a single palm strike, he sent Kiba sprawling once more.

Dabi's breath was ragged. He's stronger than anyone we've faced.

And yet—

He wasn't unbeatable.

Dabi focused, his energy flaring brighter than ever. He had learned from the golden being. He had learned from every battle before this.

It's not just about power. It's about choice.

With a final surge, Dabi unleashed his full strength, not just attacking— but redirecting Aldick's own power back at him.

Aldick's eyes widened as his own force rebounded, knocking him off balance.

Seizing the opening, Zen, Jeni, Kiba, and Althea combined their attacks into one devastating strike—

BOOM!

Aldick was thrown backward, skidding to a halt just before the arena's edge. He staggered, coughing, then chuckled.

"Well. That was fun."

The Grand Overseer's voice rang out once more.

"THE WINNERS OF THE TOURNAMENT… DABI AND HIS TEAM!"

The stadium erupted with cheers.

Dabi exhaled slowly, his body aching but victorious.

They had won.

But as he looked at Aldick, who simply grinned, he couldn't shake the feeling that this battle wasn't the last.

Aldick's parting words only confirmed it.

"I'll see you again, Dabi."

And with that, he vanished into the shadows.