The Wyvern roared.

ROOAARR.

The loud noise shook the whole clearing. It made the grass bend and the leaves fall from the branches. Somewhere behind the bushes, the spy made a noise that was not a word.

Then it became a word.

"RUN."

The spy jumped out from the bushes, breaking branches as he moved. He looked terrified, staring at the Wyvern like he was watching a disaster happen that he couldn’t stop.

"Run, are you deaf? That thing is Rank 2! Do you understand what Rank 2 means? That armor is basically metal! That is not an exaggeration! Your sword will bounce off those scales like you threw a coin at a castle wall! I have seen it happen! A third-year tried to fight one of these last semester and his weapon shattered on the first hit and then he had to be carried back to the infirmary in a bucket! In a bucket! That is what’s going to happen to us!"

Holden didn’t look at him.

He looked at the Wyvern.

The Wyvern crouched low, its head lunging forward and wings half-spread. It seemed to be weighing its options: should it pounce, or just end it quickly with a blast of fire? Its dark scales shifted and clicked together as it moved, forming a natural suit of armor. This was exactly why academy instructors gave long lectures about why beginners should never face a Wyvern without a full team of senior fighters for backup.

Holden rolled his neck once.

Crack.

He let Asura’s Ignition open.

A red aura flared up around him, clinging to the shape of his body without a single flicker. It was pure, controlled power.

"What are you doing," the spy said. His voice had dropped to something much quieter. More genuinely confused than scared, for a moment. "What is that. Why are you glowing. Why are you glowing red."

The Wyvern lunged.

CRACK. CRACK. CRACK.

The Wyvern’s heavy steps shook the ground as it ran across the clearing. For something so massive, it moved with terrifying speed, but it still wasn’t fast enough.

WHOOSH.

Holden was gone.

He didn’t even leave a trail. He just stopped being in front of the beast and appeared at its side, getting close enough to strike before the monster could react.

He used the Iron-Cleaver arc, the same technique he’d practiced since day one. But now that it was Transcendent, the move felt completely different. Every angle was flawless. He funneled his entire 7-Star strength through his aura, focusing all that power into a single point on the edge of his Star-Forged sword.

He swung.

SHHK.

The Wyvern’s head hit the ground.

And then the rest of its body fell with a loud crash.

BOOM.

The impact shook the clearing.

Holden straightened up. The crimson aura faded without a flicker.

Then, the System pinged.

[ELITE ENEMY DEFEATED.]

[Rank 2 Beast: Iron-Back Wyvern.]

[Base KP Reward: 500.] [2x KP Booster Applied.]

[Total KP Earned: 1,000.] [Kill Points: 1,050.]

Above the dead Wyvern’s body, a treasure chest suddenly appeared.

This wasn’t a bronze or silver reward.

it was a gold chest.

The glow it put out was intense.

Holden crossed the clearing and pressed his hand to it.

Ding.

[Gold Chest Claimed.]

The chest dissolved into light and a small, sealed container appeared in his hand. He tucked it into his jacket without opening it.

He’d do that later.

He turned around. The spy was still stuck in the bushes, frozen in place. He had been so shocked by the fight that he actually forgot to breathe.

When Holden looked at him, the spy tried to speak but couldn’t get the words out.

"I... you just..." he stammered, unable to finish a sentence.

"That was," he said, pointing at the dead Wyvern, "a Rank 2 beast. You are a first-year student. That thing had three-inch armor plating and you cut through it like it was, I don’t know, like it was nothing. That shouldn’t happen. I honestly don’t know what I just witnessed."

He swallowed hard.

"I was going to say in my report that you were out here hitting leaves."

Holden walked toward him.

The spy flinched back into the bushes slightly.

Holden stood near him and watched him, looking completely calm.

He pointed at the spy once.

"Tell him I’m warmed up."

Then he turned and walked out of the clearing.

Behind him, the forest was quiet.

The Wyvern stayed where it had fallen. As it cooled down, its metallic scales started to look dull.

Looking through the trees, Holden could see the sky beginning to brighten. The sun would be up before long.