Morning sunlight filtered through the worn curtains of Thorn Dojo.
Kyle slowly opened his eyes.
For the first time in weeks, his body felt unbelievably light.
He clenched his fists.
The sharp pain that had accompanied every movement yesterday had completely disappeared.
The Silver-grade Healing Pill had not only healed his injuries, but the excess medicinal energy had also tempered his body.
His lips curled upward.
Body Trait... Level Two.
He still found it difficult to believe.
A knock sounded outside.
"Come out."
Elias' calm voice echoed through the room.
Kyle quickly got dressed before stepping outside.
The familiar smell of breakfast filled the courtyard.
Elias was already seated, eating as though nothing extraordinary had happened yesterday.
Kyle sat opposite him.
Neither of them spoke.
The silence wasn't awkward.
It was normal.
After finishing breakfast, Elias stood and disappeared into one of the storage rooms.
He returned carrying a long wooden case.
Without a word, he tossed it toward Kyle.
Kyle caught it instinctively.
He slowly opened the case.
Inside lay a sword.
Its blade was simple.
No jewels.
No intricate carvings.
Just a perfectly forged black blade resting inside its sheath.
The moment Kyle wrapped his fingers around the hilt, he frowned.
Heavy...
Far heavier than an ordinary sword.
"This," Elias said calmly, "is an Iron-grade sword."
Kyle carefully drew it halfway.
A cold gleam flashed across the blade.
"It was forged using two monster materials."
"It won't shatter under the strength of Rank One or Rank Two cultivators."
Kyle's eyes lit up.
"My first real weapon..."
Elias nodded once.
"If your strength exceeds your weapon..."
"...the weapon breaks before your enemy does."
Kyle silently memorized the lesson before fastening the sword to his waist.
It felt strange.
Yet...
It also felt right.
Elias looked at him for a moment.
"Today's the entrance examination."
Kyle nodded.
"Yes."
"Don't embarrass me."
Kyle laughed.
"I'll try not to."
Elias turned away.
"Trying isn't enough."
"You either pass..."
"...or you don't."
Kyle smiled helplessly.
That sounded exactly like his master.
He bowed deeply.
"Master..."
"Thank you."
Elias didn't respond.
He simply waved his hand dismissively.
Kyle turned and walked toward the gate.
His footsteps grew farther.
Without looking back, he raised a hand.
"I'm leaving!"
The gate closed behind him.
Silence returned.
Elias remained standing in the courtyard for several moments before quietly picking up an old shopping basket.
"Looks like we're out of vegetables..."
He stepped onto the streets of the Ash District like any ordinary middle-aged man.
No one spared him a second glance.
To everyone around him...
He was merely the quiet owner of a small dojo.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
Elias walked through the bustling streets at an unhurried pace.
The shopping basket swayed gently in his hand.
Nothing about him stood out.
Just another middle-aged man heading to the market.
Then…
He stopped.
Without turning around, he sighed.
“…You’re terrible at hiding.”
Several stalls away, a man dressed in black froze for the briefest moment.
The next instant…
BOOOOM!!
A deafening explosion ripped through the marketplace.
The ground beneath Elias’ feet shattered into a spiderweb of cracks stretching dozens of meters.
People screamed.
“What happened?!”
“A bomb?!”
Dust shot into the air.
By the time anyone looked…
Both men had vanished.
Several kilometers away.
Beyond the Ash District.
Beyond the military checkpoint.
Near the outskirts of the Wild Zone.
A black figure shot through the sky before crashing through a line of ancient trees.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Tree after tree exploded into splinters.
Finally…
Steven twisted his body gracefully before landing on the ground.
His boots carved two deep trenches across the earth.
A few seconds later…
Elias landed opposite him.
Calm.
Silent.
His shopping basket was gone.
Steven dusted off his shoulder.
“I thought crippling you would’ve dulled your senses.”
Elias looked at him indifferently.
“You’re simply bad at concealing yourself.”
Steven smiled.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Silence followed.
The wind swept across the ruined forest.
Finally…
Elias spoke.
“What are you doing here?”
Steven ignored the question.
“I heard…”
“…you took in a disciple.”
Elias’ expression remained unchanged.
Inside…
His heart tightened.
They know…
Steven wore a look of utter disdain.
"Your disciple…
I looked into him.
What the hell, Elias…
He's nothing but the orphaned son of a dead woman.
Is this how far you've fallen?
Since when did you start picking up scraps as disciples?"
Elias secretly released a breath.
The didn’t know anything tangible…
Yet.
Good.
Kyle was still safe.
Steven looked at him with amusement.
“You always did have terrible taste.”
“Taking in another burden.”
Elias’ voice became colder.
“Have you finished?”
Steven’s smile disappeared.
“You haven’t changed.”
“The greatest genius of our generation…”
“…reduced to living in the Ash District.”
“…buying vegetables.”
“What a pathetic ending.”
Elias answered quietly.
“And yet…”
“…you’re still chasing me.”
Steven’s eyes narrowed.
“You arrogant bastard.”
Mana erupted from his body.
Crimson flames burst into existence.
The surrounding temperature skyrocketed.
Grass withered instantly.
Leaves curled into ash.
The air itself distorted.
Steven stretched out one hand.
The flames compressed into a blazing spear.
Without another word…
He vanished.
BOOOOM!!
The explosion shattered the earth beneath his feet.
The flaming spear pierced toward Elias’ chest.
Elias stepped sideways.
The spear barely missed him.
Even so…
The terrifying heat scorched his sleeve into ashes.
Steven twisted the spear.
A sea of crimson flames exploded outward.
Hundreds of trees were swallowed instantly.
The forest became an ocean of fire.
A Rank Two Horned Boar charged out in panic.
Before it could escape…
The expanding flames engulfed it.
The beast didn’t even have time to scream.
It turned into black ash.
Steven thrust again.
Elias lowered his body.
The blazing spear swept over his head.
The heat alone split the ground behind him.
Elias stepped forward.
His fist shot toward Steven’s face.
Steven leaned backward.
The punch missed.
But…
The compressed air released by the strike roared forward.
BOOOOOOM!!
The mountain-sized trees behind Steven exploded apart.
Wood chips filled the sky.
A Rank Three Ironhide Wolf hiding within the forest was struck by the invisible shockwave.
Its massive body was ripped apart before crashing lifelessly into the burning woods.
Steven’s pupils contracted.
“…Still this monstrous…”
He immediately retaliated.
The spear danced like a crimson dragon.
Each thrust carried enough force to melt stone.
Elias weaved between them with the smallest possible movements.
He refused to waste energy.
One thrust.
Two.
Three.
The fourth finally grazed his shoulder.
Blood sprayed into the air.
Steven smiled.
“You bleed after all.”
Elias glanced at the wound.
“…Obviously.”
Then…
He disappeared.
Steven’s instincts screamed.
He spun.
Too late.
BAAAANG!!
Elias’ elbow smashed into his ribs.
The impact echoed like thunder.
Steven was blasted sideways, crashing through several burning trees before regaining his footing.
He coughed once.
Blood stained the corner of his lips.
His grin slowly returned.
“…Now this…”
“…is a fight.”