The silence in the arena stretched so long Ethan could hear his own heartbeat echoing inside his skull. The Alpha Beast's corpse was nothing more than dissolving smoke now, its corrupted essence crystallized into the pulsing green core that floated above the cracked stone.
Ethan's arm ached from holding his dagger. His body screamed for rest, but the fire in his chest refused to dim. Beside him, Shadowfang stood proud despite blood matting its fur, golden flames flickering faintly across its body like an afterimage of their victory.
The surviving candidates whispered among themselves. Some looked at Ethan with awe, others with thinly veiled envy. He could feel the shift in the air—every gaze carried weight.
No one expected him to live.
No one expected him to win.
And now they didn't know what to make of him.
---
A heavy thud broke the silence.
The brute lay crumpled in the dirt, coughing blood. His gorilla beast was gone, its bond severed by the Alpha's strike. The man glared up at Ethan with bloodshot eyes, lips curled in a snarl that was equal parts rage and humiliation.
"You… damn… rat…" His words were little more than a wheeze. "That bond… should've been… mine—"
Ethan met his gaze coldly, dagger still dripping black blood. He could end it now. No one would stop him.
But Shadowfang growled low in his throat, a warning. Not of danger—but of restraint.
Ethan exhaled slowly, lowering the blade.
"You're not worth the kill."
The brute's face twisted, but he could say no more. His body collapsed, unconscious.
The tension broke.
---
Light erupted above the arena. Intricate runes traced across the air like living constellations, forming a seal that pulsed with authority. The candidates shielded their eyes as a portal tore open, and from it descended a figure draped in hunter's garb darker than midnight.
The Guild Master had arrived.
His boots struck the ground with a sound sharper than thunder, though his frame was lean, almost wiry. Silver hair tied back in a warrior's knot gleamed under the glow, and his eyes—cold, hawk-like—scanned the battlefield with terrifying precision.
Every candidate dropped to one knee instantly.
Ethan hesitated, heart racing. He had never felt such crushing pressure before. The man's presence alone weighed heavier than the Alpha Beast's killing intent.
Then the Guild Master's gaze locked onto him.
For one breathless instant, Ethan felt as though the world itself had stopped.
---
"Rise," the man commanded, voice carrying across the arena.
The candidates obeyed. Ethan straightened slowly, Shadowfang pressing close at his side.
The Guild Master's boots echoed against the stone as he approached the Alpha's crystalized core. He studied it, silent, then finally spoke.
"Stage One. Cleared."
Relief rippled through the crowd of survivors. Some even cheered weakly, though their voices trembled with exhaustion.
But the man's eyes never left Ethan.
"And yet… it was you who felled the Alpha."
The words rang louder than any cheer. Dozens of eyes turned to him again. Ethan swallowed hard but met the Guild Master's gaze without flinching.
"Yes, sir," he said hoarsely. "With my partner."
The wolf at his side growled proudly, golden embers scattering across the bloodstained ground.
For the first time, a flicker of something—approval, perhaps curiosity—touched the Guild Master's stern face.
"A Synchronization rate above fifty percent in your first trial," he murmured, as though weighing the words. "Unprecedented."
Gasps rippled among the candidates. Whispers rose:
"Fifty percent? Already?"
"That's impossible…"
"Who is he?"
Ethan clenched his fists, resisting the urge to shrink under the weight of their stares.
The Guild Master turned sharply, voice carrying.
"From this day forward, Ethan and Shadowfang shall be recognized as Initiate Hunters of the Guild. Their names will be inscribed in the records of the trial."
The words struck like a hammer. Recognition. Legitimacy. A doorway into a world he had only dreamed of.
But even in the swell of pride, Ethan noticed the venom in some of the gazes fixed upon him. Not all celebrated his victory. Some saw him as a rival to crush.
And one pair of eyes, in particular, lingered too long.
Lyra.
Her serpent coiled protectively around her as she watched him. Not with disdain, nor admiration, but calculation. Her smile was faint, almost imperceptible. Ethan felt a chill crawl up his spine.
---
The Guild Master raised a hand. The Alpha's core floated into his palm. He examined it briefly, then closed his fist. The essence dissolved into shimmering light.
"This trial is over. Rest. Heal. Tomorrow, you will be summoned for your next stage."
With that, he stepped back into the portal, vanishing like smoke. The pressure lifted, leaving the candidates gasping as though they had been suffocating.
Ethan nearly collapsed where he stood, adrenaline draining from his body like water from a cracked jar. Shadowfang pressed against him, steadying his balance with silent strength.
He patted the wolf's bloodstained fur, whispering, "We did it."
The wolf licked his hand, golden eyes glowing softly in the dim light.
For the first time since arriving in this cruel new world, Ethan allowed himself a fragile smile.
---
But peace was fleeting.
As the survivors were escorted from the arena, hushed whispers filled the air. Some voices carried admiration, others envy, and some pure malice. Ethan knew the brute wouldn't forget his humiliation. And Lyra—her calculating gaze promised she was already plotting something.
When Ethan finally staggered into the resting quarters, he collapsed onto the thin cot provided. His body screamed with pain, but his mind burned brighter than ever.
The System's interface flickered into view as his eyes drifted shut.
> [Trial Rewards]
Essence: +50
New Skill: Lunar Howl
Bond Synchronization: 50% → Stable
Recognition: Initiate Hunter (Guild Affiliation: Pending)
And one final line appeared, glowing brighter than the rest.
> [Hidden Achievement Unlocked: Alpha Slayer]
You have slain a beast beyond your rank. Your destiny shifts.
Ethan's breath caught. His destiny shifts?
Before he could wonder further, exhaustion dragged him into darkness.
But even in sleep, he knew this was only the beginning. The recognition he had earned tonight was not a shield—it was a target.
And the hunters of this world were already watching.
---
Chapter End.
---