Max exhaled sharply, the last of the flame-touched kobolds collapsing at his feet. His blade steamed with fresh blood, and the cavern once again fell into a deceiving silence.
Then—
ROOOAARRR!!!
The silence shattered.
A violent, rage-filled roar echoed through the burning tunnels. The very air vibrated. Ash swirled from the ceilings like sinister snowflakes, each flake glowing faintly from residual heat. It wasn't just another kobold.
Something massive and furious was coming.
Max turned toward the source, his instincts flaring. From the depths of the canyon, a monstrous kobold, easily twice the size of the others, emerged from the misty flames. Its obsidian flesh pulsed with molten veins, lava coursing through its body like blood. The very ground hissed beneath its steps.
Flames danced across its muscular frame, and it gripped a massive, burning greatsword with both hands. Behind it followed four elite kobolds, snarling, their eyes glinting with killing intent.
[Enemies Identified]
Kobold Guards ×4
Rank: Elite — 8-Star Copper
Skills:
Smash
Fireball
Body Slam
Lava Recovery
Kobold Captain
Rank: 1-Star Bronze
Skills:
Rage Stomp
Horizontal Slash
Disorienting Roar
Sword Rain
Molten Smash
Overdrive Mode ( makes the kobold Captain's power increase two fold for a short time)
Description: A commander-class kobold. Unlike its kin, this creature possesses a spark of strategic intelligence. Ruthless and disciplined, it charges like a burning storm.
Max's expression darkened. These weren't just fodder—they were organized and deadly. Still, he couldn't help but ask:
"System, is this the trial to reach the third floor?"
[System Notification]
Negative. This is not the final floor boss.
This is merely a preliminary obstacle, a "light warm-up" to test your current capabilities.
True tempering begins on Floor 10. Until then, consider these enemies your appetizers.
Crush them. Grow stronger with every fight.
Max let out a long sigh.
"In my past life, I had no experience with real battle. But if I'm going to grow... I won't budge from a fight."
He clenched his fists.
"And rule number one—never back down from a fight."
[Skill Activated: Blood Dragon Beast Transformation]
Max's body surged with draconic energy. Crimson scales bloomed across his arms and back, fangs sharpened, and his eyes glowed with chaotic gold.
He raised the Chaos Fang Dagger, its blade shimmering, then extended his dragon scales into it—morphing it into a towering greatsword, forged entirely from blood and chaos energy.
"This blade... it suits me."
He summoned his two blood warriors. A crimson ripple tore through the air, and the loyal fighters appeared beside him. Without another word, the trio charged—Max in front, warriors flanking him.
His movements were fluid and precise. With the added boost from transformation, Max's speed now matched, even exceeded, that of the Kobold Captain. The gap between them was rapidly closing.
[Dragon Heartbeat: Activated]
VROOOOOOM!!!
A thunderous pulse of power rippled out from Max's body. It slammed into the enemy formation like a psychic quake, disrupting the charge of the kobold guards. Two stumbled; one fell to its knees.
But the Kobold Captain was different.
It roared back—activating Disorienting Roar, a skill that clashed with Max's pressure head-on, ripping through the oppressive force like a wildfire.
The two powers collided, creating a gust of fire-laced wind that tore through the battlefield.
Max remained calm, unmoved, eyes locked on the Captain.
"Dragon Heartbeat's true power won't bloom until I hit Bronze. But... I will still defeat you ."
With that, he vanished in a blink of crimson energy.
[Skill Activated: Crimson Blink]
Max reappeared behind the Kobold Captain in less than a breath, already swinging his transformed Chaos Fang blade in a wide arc.
CLANG!!
Steel met fire.
The Kobold Captain blocked just in time—but was pushed back several meters, skidding across the scorched earth.
The guards tried to regroup—but Max's two blood warriors intercepted them.
Windy used Wind Blade Barrage, slicing at the guards' legs, forcing them to kneel.
Little Red burst forward in a spiral of flames, slamming one kobold guard into the cave wall with a blazing Flame Claw swipe
They were both at the 8 star extraordinary copper rank but the kobolds guards were caught unawares . They were not much of a threat to the two beast warriors
The battlefield was chaotic, but Max maintained perfect control.
Max's eyes narrowed.
He activated Chaos Blood Manipulation, forming long, sharp blood spikes from the ground behind the guards— it lunged itself on their shoulders not allowing them to freely move their hands giving Little red and Windy enough space to display their ferociousness
He lunged again toward the Kobold Captain. The towering beast was now fuming, its body glowing hotter. The captain raised its sword overhead—
"Molten Smash—!"
~~~~~~
Meanwhile, across all continents within the Federation, a major announcement echoed through every region—
In just seven days, the selection process for academy enrollment would begin.
The news spread like wildfire. From bustling cities to remote villages, hopeful candidates began preparing for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to earn a place in one of the prestigious academies scattered throughout the Federation.
---
Families whispered in anticipation, teachers pushed their students harder than ever, and local markets saw a sudden surge in the demand for cultivation manuals, enchanted scrolls, and combat gear. It was more than just an entrance selection—it was the gateway to power, prestige, and possibly, ascension.
Among the sea of aspiring youths, a few names were already causing ripples.
Whispers of Solomon Nexus, the mysterious inferno dragon power wielder, reached even the ears of nobles and officials. Some said he had already awakened a rare bloodline. Others claimed he had defeated a 8 star Elite copper class beast barehanded while being at the 7 star copper Rank. No one could say for sure, but one thing was certain—he would be attending the selection.
In a quiet village nestled at the edge of the Azure Plains, Solomon stood calmly atop a hill, the wind ruffling his dark hair as he gazed toward the distant capital.
"Seven days…" he muttered under his breath. "Seven days to prove I belong at the top."
He clenched his fist, and faint sparks of dragon energy flickered around his arm like scales made of fire.
Behind him, his childhood friend Laura approached, her twin daggers sheathed behind her back.
"You planning to go alone?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Solomon smirked. "No. I plan to win. Whether I go alone or not doesn't change that."
Laura chuckled. "Then let's make sure we survive the trials first. I hear this year's selection includes actual life-and-death combat."
Solomon's expression turned serious. "Good. That means the weak won't be pretending to be strong."