[Soft morning breeze]
[Distant voices of people]
[Clanging of metal tools]
When Arjun opened his eyes that morning, the entire camp was already awake.
The silence of the night had been replaced by a different kind of activity—merchants calling out their goods, people arguing over medicinal herbs, weapons being inspected, and short commands being shouted from one place to another.
The Wild Survivor Camp never truly slept.
It merely changed the rhythm of its rough breathing between night and day.
Arjun quietly climbed out of his sleeping bag and rolled his neck.
His body felt more agile than it had the previous day.
His cultivation had brought a new steadiness to his body.
His steps were lighter.
His eyes were sharper.
And most importantly— fear no longer controlled him completely.
He looked around.
Several groups had gathered in the middle of the camp.
Some were discussing hunting tools.
Others were talking about the previous night’s journey.
And several people stood farther away, staring toward the edge of the black forest, as if the forest itself were calling them and they were trying their best not to answer.
[Distant growl of a beast]
Arjun’s gaze shifted toward the forest.
The Black Forest was the source of both the camp’s greatest profits and its greatest deaths.
It was where medicinal herbs, beast cores, hides, and rare materials could be found.
It was also the place from which very few people returned safely.
Arjun was still thinking about it when he heard heavy footsteps behind him.
[Heavy footsteps]
He turned.
Chief Virbhadra stood there with his usual calm and serious expression.
“Ready?” he asked.
Arjun gave no long answer.
He simply nodded.
Virbhadra studied his eyes.
Then his gaze moved down toward Arjun’s waist, legs, and bag.
He noticed everything.
“Today is the Beast Trial,” he said.
“If you pass, you can stay in the camp.”
“If you fail…”
“You have no place here.”
Arjun asked directly,
“What kind of trial is it?”
Virbhadra paused for a moment before answering.
“You’ll fight whatever beast is released.”
“Kill it…”
“Or at the very least, gain control over it.”
“That’s the rule of the camp.”
“Anyone who can stand before a beast is worthy of having a place here.”
Arjun silently absorbed his words.
The rule here was simple.
No mercy.
No favors.
No charity.
Only strength…
or survival.
Then a loud voice rang out from the center of the camp.
“Newcomers!
Come outside!”
People around the camp began moving aside.
An open field was formed.
Arjun followed Virbhadra toward the center.
Several senior Wild Survivors were already standing there.
One heavily built man was opening a large iron chest with a key.
Another was drawing chalk-like lines across the ground.
A third tightened leather straps around his arms and prepared himself.
Arjun looked down.
A massive iron cage stood in the center of the open field.
His stomach tightened slightly.
Something moved inside.
[Metal cage rattling]
A burning breath escaped through the bars.
Then another.
And suddenly—
[A thunderous roar]
A wild beast slammed against the cage.
Arjun studied it carefully.
It was no ordinary animal.
Its eyes were red.
Its body was covered in powerful muscles.
Its fangs protruded from its mouth.
Two small horns grew from its forehead.
Its back was covered with thick hide.
Its claws constantly scraped against the earth in agitation.
One glance was enough to tell that this was no ordinary creature of the forest.
It was the corrupted offspring of the Cursed Land.
An elderly Wild Survivor stepped forward. New chapters come out on g.com first.
“New boy,” he said.
“Your trial will be against this.”
Arjun tried to read the old man’s expression.
There was no pity.
No mockery.
Only assessment.
“If this beast injures you and you can still stand afterward, you’ll still have a chance,” the old man said.
“But if you can’t…”
“The camp won’t keep you.”
Arjun calmly asked,
“What if I kill it?”
The old man gave a cold laugh.
“Then you’ll be worthy of staying.”
The people around the camp were now watching closely.
Some were curious.
Some were skeptical.
Others looked at Arjun with the silent competitiveness of hunters evaluating a potential rival.
The presence of Cruel Vṛṣabha was gone, but somehow his shadow remained.
Arjun could feel it in the way some people looked at him.
This camp had not become tense because of yesterday.
It had probably been tense for a very long time.
Virbhadra leaned slightly toward him and said quietly,
“Trust your body.”
“And your eyes.”
Arjun nodded.
Then the cage door was opened.
[Heavy iron door creaking]
The beast roared and leaped out instantly.
The moment it entered the field, its speed became terrifying.
Dust exploded beneath its feet.
The air seemed to tremble.
The crowd stepped backward.
It was a hungry, frenzied monster whose every movement seemed driven by a single desire— to kill.
Arjun’s entire body became ready in an instant.
He took a deep breath.
Stabilized his stance.
Tightened the black iron spike in his right hand.
And prepared the dagger in his left.
The beast charged straight at him.
[Powerful running footsteps]
[Sound of dust exploding beneath feet]
Arjun did not move.
He waited until the final moment.
Then— he suddenly shifted to the left.
The beast’s attack passed directly beside him.
Its impact carved a deep line through the earth.
Arjun threw the iron spike from behind.
[Metal cutting through the air]
The spike struck the beast’s shoulder.
It became even more furious.
It turned around and charged again, swinging its claws at him.
Arjun drew his dagger.
He moved beneath the beast’s open neck, but deliberately held back from attacking with full strength.
He wanted to understand its movements first.
Animals did not always charge in the same direction.
Pain and anger could suddenly alter their speed.
The beast swung its claw.
Arjun ducked.
He slipped past the blow.
Then, in a single motion, he drove his dagger behind the beast’s left hind leg.
[Sharp sound of flesh being torn]
The beast roared.
The crowd stirred.
But it did not fall.
Instead, it became even more violent.
Its red eyes seemed to burn brighter.
Its movements became faster, as if pain had pushed it halfway into madness.
Arjun stepped back for a moment.
He told himself silently—
This isn’t just a beast.
This is war.
And in war, you cannot remain on the defensive forever.
Coldness settled into his eyes.
Arjun felt a faint flow of power from the gemstone within him.
His life-force stirred.
Then— he suddenly moved forward.
[Rapid footsteps]
[Sound of air being cut]
This time, he did not move directly toward the beast.
He circled around its left side.
The moment the beast turned and attacked, Arjun dropped low and slid beneath its horns.
at the point where the flesh was thinnest.
The beast convulsed.
Its front legs began trembling.
Then, with another enormous roar, it launched one more attack.
But now its balance had begun to fail.
Arjun did not waste the opportunity.
He rushed forward.
Reached the beast’s shoulder.
And drove the black iron spike deep into the base of its shoulder.
[Heavy impact]
The beast’s body froze.
Its roar broke into something resembling a cough.
For several moments, it remained completely still.
Then— its massive body crashed to the ground.
[Heavy body hitting the ground]
Silence spread across the entire field.
Arjun stepped backward.
His breathing was heavy, but his body remained balanced.
The dagger was still in his hand.
His eyes were calm.
He did not turn toward the crowd.
He simply stared at the fallen beast.
The old Wild Survivor stared at him for several seconds.
Then, with the slightest hint of approval in his eyes, he nodded.
“Pass.”
A few people raised their eyebrows.
Others remained silent.
And some—especially those who had been watching Arjun carefully from the beginning—now understood his value a little better.
Virbhadra let out a quiet breath.
“Well done.”
Arjun did not answer.
He simply cleaned his dagger and stood there calmly.
Then a harsh, irritated voice came from behind the crowd.
“So the boy isn’t just some child who only knows how to run.”
Arjun turned.
A new man stood there.
He was tall and broad-shouldered.
Several old scars crossed his face.
His eyes carried both authority and dissatisfaction.
His clothes were noticeably better than those of the others.
And the moment he arrived, the atmosphere of the camp subtly changed.
Virbhadra became slightly more serious.
Someone nearby whispered,
“The Camp Master.”
Arjun understood immediately.
This was one of the most powerful people in the camp.
The Camp Master looked Arjun up and down.
“You’re new,” he said.
“And you’ve passed the Beast Trial.”
Arjun showed no pride.
He simply stood there.
The Camp Master folded his hands behind his back.
“You’re qualified to stay here.”
Then a faint, cold smile appeared on his face.
“But remember…”
“This camp does not protect the weak.”
“It only gives a place to those who are capable of making their own place.”
Arjun met his eyes.
“I understand.”
The Camp Master gave a quiet laugh.
“Good.”
Then he turned and walked away.
Once he was gone, the noise of the camp gradually returned.
But something had changed for Arjun.
In the eyes of the people around him, he was no longer just a new boy.
He was someone who had killed a monstrous beast on his very first day.
Virbhadra walked over to him.
“From today onward, you’re officially allowed to stay in the camp.”
Arjun finally released a long breath.
It was a small victory.
But its importance was enormous.
That night, when he lay inside his new temporary shelter, he heard someone speaking nearby.
“If this boy keeps advancing like this…”
“He’ll soon attract everyone’s attention.”
Arjun closed his eyes.
He already knew.
He could no longer remain hidden.
His story…
was finally beginning.
What comes next?Will Arjun be able to understand the true politics of the Wild Survivor Camp?
What did the Camp Master secretly think after seeing Arjun’s performance?
When will the consequences of Cruel Vṛṣabha’s death finally emerge?
And in this new camp, who will become Arjun’s greatest threat?