EVIL SYSTEM

Ben was stunned.

His arms ached and trembled, embedded in the wall as he stared ahead.

"You survived!" A large, bald man shook his fists with a grin. "You've got some tough bones."

He wore a long trench coat and had a giant lit cigar in his mouth.

His thick beard made him look even more rugged and dangerous.

The man began to remove his trench coat, revealing arms covered in tattoos.

On his left cheek was a large, stylized tattoo.

**N2**

Ben shook himself free and stepped out of the wall.

He rubbed his sore back and stretched, all while keeping his eyes locked on the man in front of him.

He had the feeling that if he got distracted for even a moment, he'd pay dearly for it.

Suzanne watched from the sidelines, still recording with her phone.

"I don't know whether to call you brave or stupid," N2 said, stretching his arms with a mocking smile. "Or maybe fame has gone to your head?"

Ben glanced at the pile of bodies on the ground and shrugged.

N2 laughed and, in a soft whisper, muttered:

"Replaceable."

He disappeared in a blur and reappeared beside Ben.

**So fast!**

Ben's heart raced, and in a millisecond, he raised his arm to block N2's punch.

The punch sent him sliding forcefully across the floor for several meters. Ben already knew N2 was strong, but even being prepared, he couldn't anticipate his attacks.

**How is he so strong and fast?**

Ben had four elements at the intermediate level, which gave him a significant physical boost, but the man likely only had two elements at that level.

"You're an amateur," the man taunted as fierce flames began to cover his arms and legs. "You only rely on brute force without control."

"I can say with certainty that you're very young and don't know how to properly use your strength and elements."

Flames erupted from N2's back. His body shot forward at incredible speed, reaching Ben in the blink of an eye.

N2's punch landed squarely in Ben's stomach, and he couldn't react in time.

Ben's body was sent flying at high speed, crashing through several walls before he regained his balance and landed on the ground.

When he looked up, Ben found N2 already above him, engulfed in flames with his fist raised.

All Ben could do was raise his hands and brace for the blow, which sent him flying again.

Ben's eyes darted around, trying to track N2's movements.

His ears twitched as he heard the sound of a small explosion from N2's back.

N2 propelled himself forward again with incredible speed, but this time Ben was ready.

An uppercut connected cleanly with N2's chin before his punch could land.

N2's eyes widened in disbelief, and his head snapped back, staring at the ceiling.

Another punch from Ben landed on N2's cheek, sending him flying.

Using his flames, N2 slowed his momentum and landed on the ground relatively comfortably, though now with a bruise on his face.

**Piuu**

N2 spat out what looked like blood and a tooth.

"You've got a heavy hand," N2 said, wiping his mouth and smiling. "In a brute strength contest, I'd obviously lose."

Flames began to consume N2's entire body, and his figure became completely engulfed in fire.

"But this isn't a muscle competition, is it?"

The flames left N2's body and began to spread throughout the area.

**[Burning Inferno]**

Ben shifted uncomfortably as the temperature suddenly rose and flames licked at his skin.

Suzanne ran out of the area but kept recording.

"This is a battle between mages."

Ben didn't respond, only whispering:

**[Cursed Space]**

The flames lost much of their intensity, and a dark, suffocating aura filled the area.

N2 was surprised to find it difficult to use his flames.

"What is this?" N2 looked at his arms, where the flames flickered uncertainly. "This is a very interesting spell."

N2 began to move his hands, trying to use his element, but it was incredibly difficult—though not impossible.

Ben frowned. It was the first time his magic hadn't been fully effective against an enemy.

"Is that your go-to strategy?" N2 asked with a mocking smile. "Neutralize your opponent's element and then overpower them with your abnormal strength."

"What a pity," N2 said as flames erupted from his body, fanned by what seemed like a strong wind. "That won't work on me."

The wind at his back began to take shape alongside the fire, forming what looked like two giant wings of flame fueled by the wind.

Ben began to sweat as the temperature rose again, and N2 lunged at him once more.

His speed and control were on another level. Though Ben's eyes and ears could perceive his movements, his body couldn't react in time, and within seconds, Ben was being pummeled by N2's fiery fists.

Ben's eyes widened in disbelief as he stopped seeing just two fists of fire hitting his body.

The fists began to multiply, and before his eyes, there were more than five fists striking him simultaneously.

"Impossible! What kind of magic is this?!"

The flames began to burn Ben's body and clothes.

With a powerful, precise punch, N2 slammed Ben into the ground, creating a small crater.

"It's not magic," N2 said, massaging his sore arms. "It's martial arts."

---

++++++

**I'm back!!**

I don't know if you'd want to know the reason for my absence, but I'll just say it wasn't my fault at all.

Spanish immigration had me locked up for a while because I didn't meet one of their requirements to enter the country.

The food there was horrible.

That, plus the two trips of over 10 hours each, made it one of the worst experiences of my life.

They treat you like a criminal.

Anyway, I'll try to catch up with two chapters a day starting tomorrow.

This chapter was a little short for the same reasons, but the important thing is that I'm here.

Right now, I'm exhausted and need to sleep and eat something good.