For the first time, the sky above the Outer Domain Outposts lit up completely.
It was the signal of war.
Three outposts entered combat simultaneously.
Across the Trial Realm, the War Channel exploded with updates.
[Outpost One: Enemy Contact][Outpost Two: Engagement Started][Outpost Three: Requesting Reinforcements]
There was no panic.
Because everyone understood something.
This wasn't defense.
This was the Human Realm's first true offensive war mission.
Outpost One
Broken stone littered the battlefield.
The air carried the sharp scent of metal friction and burnt energy.
Zhou Tieshan walked at the front of the formation.
Dragging his hammer.
His steps were slow.
Heavy.
Almost clumsy.
Yet no one rushed him.
Because everyone knew one thing—
He could hold the line.
A scout cultivator spoke quietly.
"Mass-produced combat units ahead."
"At least twenty."
Zhou Tieshan nodded.
"…That'll do."
The scout blinked.
"…Do for what?"
Zhou Tieshan cracked his neck.
"For practice."
From the rift ahead—
Synchronized footsteps emerged.
Twenty gray-black combat constructs advanced in perfect formation.
Their movements were identical.
Arms raised in unison.
"Target locked."
"Priority elimination: High-threat unit."
All sensors turned toward Zhou Tieshan.
He burst into laughter.
"Ha! Never thought I'd be classified as high threat."
He lifted his hammer.
"Guess today I'll live up to it."
Male Power Fantasy Moment — One Man Holds the Line
The first wave of firepower rained down.
Zhou Tieshan slammed his hammer into the ground.
BOOM!
The Human Realm battle formation responded instantly.
Every ally's strength surged into him.
In that moment—
Zhou Tieshan no longer felt alone.
It was as if an entire world stood behind him.
"COME ON!"
He charged straight through the barrage.
One swing.
A combat unit's head exploded.
Second swing.
A sweeping arc cleared an entire row.
The constructs' analysis systems screamed warnings.
"ANOMALY DETECTED."
"Unit durability exceeds prediction."
When the third combat unit collapsed, the sky erupted with a new notification.
Golden and crimson text intertwined.
[High-Frequency Combat Contribution Detected][Battlefield Core Stability Confirmed]
[Initiate HERO EVALUATION?][Y / N]
Every observer held their breath.
Su Wan stood outside the gateway.
Her eyes shone like stars.
"…There it is."
"That's civilization-level recognition."
Xiao Xuanyin looked up.
No hesitation.
"Confirm."
The entire Trial Realm trembled.
As if the world itself had been struck by a hammer.
[Hero Evaluation Complete][Hero Title Granted: Human Realm — Blood Vanguard]
Zhou Tieshan's mind went blank.
The next moment—
His strength was acknowledged by the world.
[Hero Privileges Unlocked]
Battlefield Pressure Resistance Increased
Cooperative Amplification Within Command Radius
First Defeat Does Not Reset Progress
"…Holy hell."
Zhou Tieshan stared at the system window.
"These buffs…"
"…aren't they a little ridiculous?!"
The Human Realm Shakes
At that moment—
Every person fighting, cultivating, or observing saw the announcement.
Not a system message.
A world declaration.
"Someone became a hero?"
"A mortal?!"
"Not a genius?"
Su Wan stared at the data feed and inhaled slowly.
"This isn't the only one."
"This is just the beginning."
Because the Hero Evaluation Criteria had already been revealed.
It didn't care about bloodline.
It didn't care about cultivation level.
It didn't care about status.
Only four words mattered.
Who can stand the longest.
Outer Domain War Council
Data streams exploded in panic.
"Hero-class unit?!"
"How is that possible—"
"A civilization hero in the early phase of war?!"
"This violates every predictive model!"
The response came cold and calm.
"Their model has never matched ours."
Xiao Xuanyin's voice once again spread across the Human Realm.
"The second law of war."
"Heroes do not come from nobility."
"Heroes are a responsibility."
"If you believe you can stand…"
"…step forward."
Those words meant more than any medal.
Zhou Tieshan lifted his hammer.
Hero privileges fully activated.
"Left flank—!"
"Push forward!"
For the first time—
Human Realm cultivators responded in perfect unison.
"YES!"
Ten minutes later—
Outpost One was cleared.
System text refreshed.
[War Mission Complete][Human Realm Civilization Points: +1]
Final Hook
While everyone was still celebrating—
A new notification quietly appeared in the sky.
[Detection…][Hero-Class Unit Lock Engaged]
Deep within the Outer Domains—
A true Outer Domain Hero opened his eyes.
"…Finally."
"No more cannon fodder."
Back in the Human Realm—
Zhou Tieshan wiped blood from his face.
He looked up at the sky.
"Come on."
"This time—"
He grinned fiercely.
"I'm the boss."