Shockwaves thundered through the battlefield as Kelvin's sword clashed again and again with the One-eyed Swordfiend. Each strike rattled the ground, sending loose stones skittering away. The monster's massive, single eye glowed with a cruel light.
"Human…" the fiend's voice rumbled like distant thunder, "…you're surprisingly skilled for someone who hasn't even reached the Basic Tier. But this is where you fall!"
With a roar, the Swordfiend raised its massive, jagged blade and unleashed a sweeping slash so fast it split the air with a shrill whistle.
Kelvin's instincts screamed. He twisted sideways at the last second, feeling the wind of the attack tear past him. A shallow cut bloomed across his shoulder, warm blood dripping down his arm.
"Woah… that was too close," he muttered, wincing but forcing a smirk. His grip on his sword tightened. "Guess I have no choice but to use it."
The monster tilted its head, a flicker of confusion flashing across its single eye. Then it noticed it—the subtle rise in Kelvin's aura. The faint blue glow surrounding his blade slowly shifted to a burning crimson.
Kelvin gritted his teeth as a wave of heat surged through his veins. His muscles trembled, not from fear, but from the strain of drawing out power he hadn't yet mastered.
"Arrrghhh!" His roar shook the dust around them as a blood-red aura erupted from his sword.
The Swordfiend's eye widened. "A… a blade aura? Impossible! Only Basic Tier Rank Five cultivators can use that!"
Its voice cracked as an ancient memory stirred. Somewhere deep in its monstrous mind, a protocol—implanted long ago by the Dahooms—flared like a warning beacon.
"No… no, it can't be…" the fiend stammered, its earlier arrogance replaced by raw fear. "Wh-who… who are you?"
Kelvin's eyes narrowed, his voice low and steady. "The one who's going to kill you."
In a flash, Kelvin lunged, the world blurring around him. He drew his sword in a single, fluid motion, channeling every shred of his aura into the strike.
"Thousand Flowing Blades!" he roared.
The air split into a cascade of crimson arcs, each one slamming into the Swordfiend's body. The final slash cleaved straight through its abdomen, the shockwave scattering dust and fragments of stone.
The monster staggered, dropping its sword with a heavy thud. "H-how…" it gasped, before collapsing in a lifeless heap.
Kelvin exhaled, lowering his sword. "For a second there… I thought it would summon its sword servants." He brushed sweat from his brow. "Glad I didn't have to deal with that."
Turning, he spotted Silvia frozen a few paces away, her eyes still wide from witnessing his transformation.
"Now for its life seed," Kelvin called out. "Silvia, get back! If you're too close, it'll disintegrate!"
She jolted back to reality. "R-right!" She retreated quickly, still muttering under her breath, "To think… he isn't even Basic Tier yet…"
Kelvin knelt by the Swordfiend's body, closing his eyes. "Let's begin."
The moment his hand touched the life seed, a warm surge of energy pulsed through him. He slipped into meditation, guiding the energy inward. For two hours, he remained still, breaking down the monster's essence and absorbing it into his body. With each passing minute, his injuries faded and his muscles grew denser, stronger.
The process was not simple. Hunters had strict rules when advancing ranks: the monster must be slain by the one seeking advancement, with no more than one ally assisting, and the ally's rank must not exceed the monster's by more than one level. The finishing blow had to be the hunter's alone, and they had to be within a three-meter radius when claiming the life seed.
Kelvin had fulfilled every condition.
At the two-and-a-half-hour mark, his body began to tremble. A golden light radiated from his skin, intensifying until it shone like the midday sun. Then, slowly, it faded, leaving only the sound of his steady breathing.
He opened his eyes, a grin spreading across his face. "Finally… enlightenment. Took long enough." He flexed his fingers, feeling raw power hum beneath his skin.
"Damn… so this is Basic Tier Rank One. I feel amazing."
"Kelvin, are you okay?" Silvia called as she hurried over.
"I've never been better, Sil."
She blinked. "Si… Sil?" The faint blush that touched her cheeks betrayed her surprise at the nickname.
Kelvin sheathed his sword and stepped past her. "Anyway, this is where we part ways. Goodbye, Silvia."
"Wa-wait!" she blurted, jogging to catch up. "I'm coming with you."
He turned, puzzled. "What? Why?"
"B-because someone has to keep an eye on you! Plus… we're heading in the same direction. I can even lead you to a nearby city." Her cheeks reddened further.
Kelvin chuckled. "Oh, really? That's great, then."
They fell into step together, talking as they walked. Kelvin learned she was already Basic Tier Rank Two, on the verge of advancing to Rank Three. In return, he shared a few vague hints about his own strange abilities—though he left out the parts he wasn't ready to explain.
The road ahead wound through thick forest. Birds scattered overhead as the pair's conversation shifted between personal histories and battle experiences.
After an hour, the trees thinned, revealing a vast clearing. At its center stood a towering, mysterious structure—ancient stone walls wrapped in moss, its gates guarded by snarling magic beasts.
Kelvin's eyes lit up. "Perfect. Now I can test my new strength."
Without hesitation, he stepped forward, hand already on his sword. Silvia sighed but followed, muttering, "Why do I feel like you're going to get us both into trouble…"
Kelvin only grinned. "Trouble? Nah… just a warm-up."
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AN: Remember Kelvin is just officially in basic rank 1 and all the other beasts/monsters until now were pretty weak plus his unique physiec and secret skill he can muster up strength to fight toe-toe with intermidiate rank 1 monsters for about 20 minutes before collapsing for a few days