Nex leaned against the trunk of a thick tree, pressing a cloth against the cut on his shoulder. The pain wasn't severe, but it was annoying enough to force him to sit for a moment.
He took a deep breath, watching the beads of sweat roll down his forehead.
"Not bad… but I'm still far from full control."
Small scratches covered his arms, and a long gash stretched across the right side of his chest. But they were already beginning to heal, thanks to the accelerated recovery his new body granted him.
After a few minutes, he rose, dusted off his clothes, and grabbed the hilt of his sword.
He didn't want to go back yet.
He wasn't satisfied.
Something inside him insisted that he needed to understand his limits—now, before the exam, before he found himself among competitors who knew no mercy.
He walked deeper into the forest. The humidity grew heavier, the air thicker, and a faint breeze rustled the leaves above him.
As he stepped across damp soil, he noticed something unexpected.
Three Hellhounds—the same type he had fought earlier—were sprinting frantically in the opposite direction. Their ears folded back, tails curled between their legs.
No stance.
No fight.
Just pure escape.
Nex stopped, raised an eyebrow, and muttered:
"Monsters don't run like that… unless something worse is behind them."
Curiosity stirred inside him, along with a strange spark of excitement.
He decided to follow the direction they had come from.
This time he moved cautiously. His steps were light, mana flowing through his body in a stable, controlled rhythm. He brushed aside branches, slipping through the undergrowth—until he caught a faint glimmer ahead.
It wasn't light… but the reflection of something moving.
He crouched and hid behind thick shrubs.
What he saw next was clear—and worrying.
A massive serpent, nearly seven meters long, slithered across the forest floor. Its scales were glossy black streaked with faint violet lines, its head broad, its golden eyes scanning its surroundings with sharp precision. Its long tongue flickered, tasting the air.
He recognized it instantly.
"…A Nazagoul Serpent."
A Rank D monster.
The apex predator within this part of the forest.
"No wonder the hounds were running."
He swallowed unconsciously. Facing something of this level while still injured wasn't exactly wise… but part of him knew he wouldn't find a better chance to test himself.
He thought for a moment—then stepped out from the bushes without hesitation.
The serpent turned toward him immediately, as if an inner instinct had screamed a warning.
Nex raised his sword and murmured:
"Alright… let's see what I can do against something like you."
The monster didn't wait.
It exhaled sharply, then launched forward with surprising speed. Its movement didn't match its size—it shot toward him like a black arrow.
Nex leapt aside at the last instant. He felt the rush of air graze his cheek as its head slammed into the ground, leaving a small crater.
"Too fast…"
He didn't have time to think. The moment the serpent turned toward him again, he dashed forward, his sword low, lightning-mana gathering in his legs.
A faint spark ignited around his limbs.
Zfff!
He appeared in front of the serpent in an instant and struck one of the violet streaks. Metal scraped against scale, and a hot scent rose into the air.
But the blow didn't cut as deeply as he wanted.
"Magical armor… solid."
Before he could pull his blade back fully, the serpent twisted with terrifying speed—its tail snapping toward him like a whip.
He couldn't dodge completely.
The strike slammed into his side, sending him rolling several meters across the dirt.
Pain flared through his ribs.
"Damn…"
He stood shakily—but he smiled.
That hit was strong… extremely strong.
Exactly the kind of strength he wanted to test.
The serpent lifted its head high, its jaws parting slightly as it prepared for another strike.
Nex inhaled, tightened his grip, and began gathering mana.
More than before.
Much more.
When the serpent attacked again, he jumped onto a nearby tree trunk, pushed off it, and rose above the creature—then dove toward its neck. The air vibrated around him with the surge of mana.
He struck.
The blow landed, leaving a visible mark between the scales, but still far from a clean penetration.
He flipped away as the serpent lunged upward, narrowly dodging the massive attempt to swallow him whole.
"Surface hits are useless… I need a specific point."
He observed it for several seconds, his eyes following the rhythm of its colossal body.
The scales that glowed slightly brighter with violet light…
Mana convergence points.
"Alright… those are the ones."
He lowered his stance, lightning building again in his legs.
Stronger this time.
Zfff!
The air cracked with pressure.
He dashed forward, appeared beneath its head, and delivered an upward slash with everything he had.
KAAAN!
A metallic burst rang out, the recoil numbing his hand. The scales split—barely.
Before he could move away, the serpent's body wrapped around him like a massive black coil.
"Sh—!"
His body compressed for a moment, he tried twisting away—but the tail hammered into his back and sent him crashing into a tree.
He hit the ground, gasping for air.
"This… is bad."
He lifted his head to see the serpent approaching, its jaws widening further… the air thick with a faint toxic smell.
"It's going to release its venom…"
He had only a few seconds.
"…No choice. I have to gamble."
He placed his sword at his side and gathered what remained of his mana into his left hand.
But not ordinary mana.
Lightning.
Sparks flickered around his palm—weak, unstable—but he forced them together.
As the serpent lunged down, jaws gaping toward his face, Nex jumped toward it.
A reckless move…
But calculated.
He slammed his lightning-coated hand into the serpent's lower jaw.
KAAAAK!!
Blue light exploded inside its mouth, rattling its skull. The serpent screeched sharply and recoiled in pain.
"Now!"
He forced himself up, ignoring the burning pain in his ribs.
He leapt over its withdrawing body and brought his blade down with everything he had—onto the cracked scale he had targeted earlier.
The tearing sound was unmistakable.
SHRRRRK!
The scales burst apart, his sword carving into flesh. The serpent released a long, fading cry… before its massive body went still and collapsed to the ground.
Nex stood over it, breathing heavily, watching the dark blood sliding down his blade.
Several long seconds passed before he could stand properly.
"…It's over."
He pulled his sword free and sat down, pressing a hand to his ribs as the pain roared back.
"A Rank D… definitely not easy."
His eyes drifted to the serpent's massive corpse.
Then he smiled faintly.
"But… I did it."
He closed his eyes for a moment, listening to his exhausted breaths.
Cold air brushed against his wounds… the sun was beginning to set… and the forest was growing quiet again.
He didn't feel fear.
Nor arrogance.
Just… a strange satisfaction.
Slowly, he stood, using his sword for support, and muttered:
"Alright… that's enough for today."
He turned and began walking back—
unaware that this was only the first real step in a world that had been watching him since the moment he reincarnated.