After learning the truth about the pendant, Ren made a decision—
Before the entrance exam, he would become powerful. Not just strong enough to pass, but strong enough to take first place.
He closed his eyes, steadied his breathing, and concentrated. The world around him dissolved, and in the next moment, he found himself once again inside the dark place.
Ren had already figured it out:
As long as he thought about it, he could enter this world.
The dark city stretched endlessly before him, buildings looming like shadows. At the very center stood a towering structure that looked like a castle. A chilling pressure radiated from it, and his instincts screamed a warning.
If I go there now… I'll die.
So Ren made up his mind.
"I'll hunt monsters around the city first. I'll grow stronger step by step… without going near that castle."
Suddenly, the sound of rock crumbling echoed through the air. Ren's head snapped toward the noise. Carefully, he followed it, moving through the ruined streets until his eyes widened.
Two massive beasts were fighting.
They looked like wolves—but larger, more savage, with blood-red eyes and claws sharp enough to slice steel. Their battle shook the ground, one beast clearly overpowering the other.
Ren gripped the iron rod tightly.
Before, he wouldn't have stood a chance against such monsters. But now, he knew—if he killed them, he could grow stronger.
The bigger wolf pressed the other into the ground, ready to deliver the final blow. Ren saw his opportunity. Heart pounding, he crept closer, holding his rod firmly. Then, with a burst of speed, he sprinted forward and leapt into the air, aiming for the beast's back.
But the dominant wolf sensed him. It twisted sharply, avoiding a fatal strike. Ren's rod only grazed its shoulder, leaving a shallow wound.
Damn… it dodged.
The beast turned toward him with a murderous snarl. Ren set his stance, rod raised. The wolf lunged, claw slashing down. Ren barely slipped aside, the claws ripping past his chest. Another claw followed instantly, but this time Ren blocked with his rod—the impact rattling his arms.
He couldn't win by clashing head-on.
His eyes flicked to the weaker wolf, lying on the ground, bleeding out. An idea struck him. He remembered—the last time he killed a monster, its energy had flowed into him.
That's it.
Dodging another swipe, Ren hurled his rod with all his strength. It pierced through the dying wolf's chest, ending its life instantly.
The beast's body trembled, then dissolved into dark energy, which rushed into Ren's body. Power surged through his veins, his muscles tightening, his aura flaring.
The larger wolf
"You should have killed it before facing me."
Ren clenched his fists. He didn't need the rod anymore. Wind wrapped around his arms as he charged, throwing his first punch. The impact cracked the ground beneath their feet.
The wolf roared and snapped its jaws toward his head. Ren caught its maw with both hands, veins bulging as he forced it open. With a savage shout, he wrenched its jaws apart—tearing the beast in two.
Again, energy poured into him, greater than before. His chest heaved, fists glowing faintly as raw power filled him.
Ren's lips curved into a sharp grin.
"With this strength… I can kill any monster with a single punch."
Suddenly, Ren's vision blurred. The dark place shattered around him like broken glass, and in the next instant—
He was back in his room.
Ren staggered, catching his breath, his body still tingling with the power he had absorbed. Slowly, he looked down at himself. His arms looked thicker, veins more defined. His chest had broadened. Even his reflection in the window showed a taller, sharper figure than before.
A smile crept onto his lips.
I really changed… I actually grew stronger.
But the excitement faded quickly. Ren clenched his fists.
"Raw strength alone won't be enough… Without proper techniques, I'll hit my limit fast."
He opened his laptop and began searching. Martial arts manuals, cultivation methods, breathing exercises—anything that could channel his power.
But the more he looked, the more frustrated he became. The prices were outrageous. The cheapest authentic technique started at over a million yen. Some were tens of millions. Completely beyond his reach.
Ren's eyes were about to give up when something caught his attention.
Fierce Fang Technique
Price: 100,000 yen
Seller: Unknown
Warning: Misuse may cripple the user. In rare cases, death may occur.
It was the cheapest technique on the entire marketplace. Practically suspicious.
Ren leaned back in his chair, staring at the screen.
A scam? Or a trap?
Yet his instincts whispered differently. He remembered the monstrous wolves. Their claws. Their strength. If he didn't grow stronger, faster, he wouldn't survive the next encounter.
"...I'll take the risk."
He clicked Purchase.
A message instantly popped up on the screen:
The Fierce Fang Technique has been purchased.
Delivery: Tomorrow.
Selling, sharing, or duplicating this manual is strictly prohibited.
Violation of these terms will result in immediate execution without clarification.
Ren's eyes narrowed.
Execution? They wouldn't put that warning on a worthless book. This technique… must be far more valuable than its price.
Closing the laptop, he sat back and exhaled deeply. The weight of his decision settled in.
"For now, I'll trust my instincts…"
He headed downstairs, ate dinner quietly, and went to bed. Sleep came quickly, his mind replaying the fight against the wolves, his hands trembling slightly in excitement.
Tomorrow, the Fierce Fang Technique would arrive.
And with it… Ren's true path to power would begin.