The seventh hour of the Emberflame Province: Newcomer's Trial Dungeon.
In the depths of the misty forest, shadows darted through dense foliage, scattering leaves with every swift motion.
Ryan stood silently atop a moss-covered dead tree. His hands were empty, posture calm, like a lone hunter waiting patiently. Behind him, eight Nightmare Imps moved rapidly through the woods, slipping between tree trunks and tangled roots with ghost-like agility. Each followed a precise path, conducting a brutal and efficient hunt.
Thanks to the passive skill [Abyssal Link], Ryan shared vision with each of his summoned demons. Every path they ran, every strike they dealt, even the moment a Thorn-Tail Rat ducked into a tree hollow—nothing escaped his notice.
System notifications popped into view:
[Defeated Level 3 Monster: Venomtooth Tree Squirrel – EXP +30]
[Defeated Level 4 Monster: Twin-Spike Vine Fox – EXP +40]
[Defeated Level 4 Monster: Twin-Spike Vine Fox – EXP +40]
Ryan let out a soft breath, watching his experience bar slowly creep upward. As the last Tree Squirrel fell, his body tensed slightly. A warm, golden light surged from beneath his feet.
[Level Up: Level 5 Achieved]
[Summon Slot Expanded: 8/9]
[All Attributes Increased]
[Skill Level Up]
At that moment, Ryan opened his eyes. A faint crimson glow flickered deep within them.
Level 5 reached.
Without hesitation, He summoned another Nightmare Imp to fill the remaining summon slot.
From start to finish, he had remained focused. Every level gained was the result of relentless coordination and near-mechanical precision. He commanded like a battlefield general, using vision sharing and positioning to turn a slow forest crawl into a harvest ground.
Yet, upon reaching level 5, he didn't celebrate.
Instead, his gaze instinctively drifted toward the depths of the forest—drawn by something unseen.
Something… waiting.
...
At that moment, in Scorchfire High's dungeon monitoring room—
Principal Hope stared at the live-feed monitor, brows furrowed tight.
"Seven hours… Level five." His voice was low, tinged with awe. "He's five hours faster than Alister Cole was back then."
A nearby instructor sucked in a breath.
"Alister Cole—Lightning Blade of the Empire… the youngest Saint Knight in Starlink Federation history…"
Hope nodded. "Ryan's growth rate, judgment, and command execution… this isn't what a rookie should be capable of."
Other screens flickered. On one of them, Emily was still struggling to reach level three. She moved with confidence but clearly hadn't adapted to the deeper parts of the trial.
"She's talented," the instructor said with a sigh, "but compared to Ryan… it's not even close."
Hope said nothing more. He shifted his attention to the dungeon data panel and spoke calmly:
"Remember, the trial dungeon has a strict 10-hour limit per day. Once time's up, all Awakeners will be automatically ejected and returned to the starting zone. The next day, they'll resume where they left off. Make sure someone's ready to escort them when they return."
"Yes, sir."
The instructor paused, then asked, "Do you think he can handle the boss?"
Hope didn't respond directly. Instead, he switched the main screen to Ryan's feed, eyes narrowing.
Back in the forest—
Ryan pushed past a curtain of hanging vines and stepped into a clearing.
The air here was different—damp, heavy, and strangely still. Shafts of pale sunlight streamed through cracks in the leafy canopy, illuminating the center of the glade.
A towering tree stood at its heart.
It was massive—over twenty meters tall. Its bark was black and rugged like ironstone, twisted with countless green vines that pulsed gently, like veins drinking the life out of the surrounding forest.
In the center of its trunk, embedded deep within, was a glowing red core—beating slowly, like a heart. Every pulse sent a subtle tremor through the soil. It was alive.
Then came the system prompt:
[Dungeon Boss: Corrupted Spirit Tree King]
[Level: 8]
[Type: Plant-Based Boss]
[Skills: Vine Whip / Summon Thornspawnlings]
[Traits: High Defense / High HP / Rapid Regeneration]
[Mobility: Very Low (Stationary)]
[Threat Level: Moderate]
Ryan narrowed his eyes at the monster before him.
No mobility. Limited offense. But insane durability and regeneration. For most new Awakeners, this thing was a nightmare that could drag them into an endless war of attrition.
But Ryan was not most Awakeners.
Nine Nightmare Imps. Full battlefield vision. Double stat bonuses.
"To me, you're just a big, tanky target."
He smirked slightly.
Then, he paused, tilting his head. A faint rustle—barely audible—came from the undergrowth.
The Thornspawnlings were waking up.
The Tree King had sensed him.
But Ryan didn't move. He simply looked up at that pulsing red core, eyes steady, voice calm.
"Let's see if you're worthy of being… my first real fight."