Hero Hack: Reversing Heroes and Raising Harem-Chapter 266: Hot Wheels, No Brakes

Ashblade stood still, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the far side of the simulation zone.

The blue gate behind him remained open, humming softly.

Whisperlash stood beside him, hands on her hips, tapping her foot lightly.

More heroes were beginning to catch up.

Flashes of movement appeared across the first stage.

Fire trails, broken platforms, and the sound of drones being crushed.

Then, one made it through.

A red-haired hero sprinted across the final stretch, flames circling his legs.

His shoulder armor spun like tiny engines, glowing hotter as he moved.

He slid into the clear zone just as the final obstacle collapsed behind him.

Ashblade raised one eyebrow.

"That one made it."

Whisperlash nodded.

"Took him long enough."

"Who is he?"

Whisperlash tilted her head and gave a small shrug.

"Ryn Valestride. They call him Ember Striker."

Ashblade turned toward her.

"Royal class?"

"Yep. Blazewheel Vortex. Heavy movement type. Real spin-to-win energy."

Ashblade looked back toward the field.

"I’ve heard of him. Loud. Showy. Thinks fire solves everything."

Whisperlash grinned.

"He might be fun to watch."

Ashblade’s voice was calm.

"Let’s just see how he performs first."

They both turned to the screens.

---

Inside the second stage zone, Ember Striker cracked his knuckles and stretched his neck.

"Finally," he said. "Time to actually fight."

The trial lights blinked red.

[Phase Start – Group Clash Simulation]

The enemies spawned in a half-circle around him.

Two Ember Reavers spun their blades. One Pyro Monk appeared on a ledge.

A Firebrand Sentinel stood tall behind them, dragging a molten shield.

A single Ashen Conduit activated runes beneath the floor.

Ryn grinned.

"I love this part."

He shot forward.

[Scorchwheel Dash]

His boots lit up as his shoulder disks spun.

He left a burning trail behind him as he dashed through the first Reaver, knocking it off balance.

The second Reaver lunged in response.

[Blazing Lunge]

Ryn kicked into a slide and dodged under it. The Reaver passed overhead.

He came out of the slide, spinning.

[Vortex Breaker]

A sharp fire kick exploded outward.

The shockwave knocked both Reavers back and left the floor cracked with heat lines.

"Keep up," he said.

The Monk leapt down, fists glowing.

[Ignition Palm]

Ryn dashed again, rebounding off a wall.

[Scorchwheel Dash] triggered again, this time ending with a fiery uppercut.

The Monk crashed into a wall.

Behind him, the Ashen Conduit finished a rune grid.

The floor began to glow.

[Runeburst Field]

Ryn jumped straight into the air.

"Too slow!"

He activated his ultimate skill.

[Crimson Gearstorm]

Three flame blades spun around him as he dropped.

He landed in the middle of the glowing grid.

Everything around him exploded.

But the spinning blades deflected most of the energy.

His armor flared. The Reavers tried to approach.

Ryn laughed.

"You’re not pinning me down!"

He rushed the Firebrand Sentinel next.

The Sentinel slammed his shield down.

[Smash Quake]

Ryn didn’t stop.

He sprinted straight into it.

Then used his third move.

[Blazespin Overdrive]

His shoulder disks spun at full speed, pulling the Sentinel forward.

The explosion followed.

The Sentinel dropped, overloaded.

The flames faded.

One by one, the enemies disappeared.

[Phase Cleared – Score: Aggressive Efficiency]

Ryn stood in the center, flames still spinning around him.

"Now that’s more like it."

---

Back on the viewing platform, Whisperlash folded her arms.

"Well, he doesn’t disappoint."

Ashblade remained silent.

Whisperlash looked at him.

"Nothing to say?"

Ashblade kept watching the screen.

"He’s good."

"Only good?"

"He wastes motion. Too flashy. Too emotional."

Whisperlash smirked.

"He is a fire user."

Ashblade stepped forward slightly.

"His class relies on momentum. But if you interrupt him once—he stalls."

Whisperlash’s eyes sparkled.

"You already know how you’d beat him, don’t you?"

Ashblade nodded.

"Of course."

She leaned a little closer.

"And if you had to fight him for real?"

"I’d let him spin," Ashblade said. "Then cut him before he stops."

Whisperlash laughed. "Cold."

Ashblade turned to her.

"Smart."

Then another figure stepped through the flame gate.

The platform flashed blue as the new arrival crossed into Phase Two.

Ashblade’s eyes shifted toward the gate without a word.

Whisperlash leaned beside him.

"Oh? Another one."

Ashblade tilted his head slightly.

"Then how about this one?"

The hero walked calmly into the combat zone.

No fire, no rush, no unnecessary movement.

His black combat jacket didn’t flap in the wind.

His visor covered most of his face, glowing softly with data streams.

In his hands, a lightweight rifle buzzed with ether charge.

Whisperlash tapped her lip.

"That’s the quiet one, right?"

Ashblade nodded.

"Sightpiercer."

Whisperlash gave a short hum.

"Dren Havel. Royal rank. Ether-type sniper. Not flashy like the last guy."

"No," Ashblade said. "More dangerous."

She raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"He doesn’t react. He observes. Calculates."

Whisperlash smirked. "Sounds familiar."

Ashblade ignored that and kept watching.

Footsteps echoed across the platform.

A voice followed right after.

"What are you two doing just standing here?"

Ashblade turned slightly.

Ember Striker—Ryn Valestride—approached them, his boots still steaming from the trial heat.

"You’re holding up the line," Ryn added with a smirk.

"Stage Three’s open. Get moving."

Whisperlash tilted her head.

"Well, hello to you too."

Ryn crossed his arms.

"Let me guess. You’re stalling because you’re scared of what it might show?"

Ashblade didn’t move.

"You can go in first if you’re so eager."

Ryn blinked.

"That’s it?"

Ashblade’s eyes returned to the screen.

"I want to watch the others first."

Ryn laughed.

"Seriously? That’s your reason?"

Whisperlash twirled her whip once and shrugged.

"He likes watching people break."

Ashblade added calmly, "The ones who hesitate here won’t last in what comes next."

Ryn rolled his shoulders and turned toward the gate.

"Suit yourself. Just don’t fall behind."

He walked into the light, vanishing as the system activated.

Whisperlash glanced at Ashblade.

"You really like playing the long game."

Ashblade’s voice was quiet.

"I like knowing what’s worth cutting."

She chuckled and leaned back on the railing, watching the show.

"Then let’s keep watching."

The test wasn’t over yet.

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