"Run!" soone shouted.
Everyone instinctively turned around and bolted.
"F-Follow !" the old Guide barked, leading the charge.
Panic took over. Feet pounded the scorched earth as the group scattered like frightened deer.
But Alvin didn’t move.
His eyes remained locked on the Aberration as it lumbered forward.
’It’s fire-type... definitely Tier 4. But it’s off—stronger than a typical Tier 4, but not quite at the peak of the rank.’
He narrowed his eyes.
’Running won’t save us if it uses an area-of-effect spell.’
He had read that so Aberrations could use techniques or magic, depending on how much intelligence they retained.
As it moved, the ground it touched blackened and burned, leaving a trail of scorched stone in its wake.
"W-what the hell?" soone exclaid.
"Why are we back here again?!"
"H-how...?" The Guide stared at the path behind him, stunned.
They had been running away—but sohow ended up where they started.
Alvin scanned the surroundings. His voice cut through the chaos.
"I think... the maze is testing us."
Everyone froze.
Eyes widened. Confusion turned to dread.
He continued, calm and cold. "If we want to move forward... if we want to reach that mountain... we might have to kill that thing."
Soone scoffed. "That’s bullshit. What kind of maze gives out trials?"
The man turned to walk away—only to vanish.
A second later, he reappeared right where he stood before.
He dropped to his knees, gasping. "This... this can’t be happening."
Then the Aberration roared.
"KGRRRROOOOGHHHH!!"
The sound cracked the air.
A wave of raw pressure burst from its mouth, knocking most of the students to the ground. They clutched their ears, trembling under its weight.
Alvin remained standing.
"Dominance," he muttered, eyes narrowed as his mind raced.
’Should I help them?’
’Can I even take it down?’
’What should I do?’
A voice answered from behind.
"Is that really a hard question?"
It was Bob.
He stepped up beside Alvin, eyes focused on the Aberration.
"You look confused again, Henry. Everyone else is terrified... but you? You’re just thinking."
Lily joined him. "Even if he was confused, he still understood—it’s so kind of trial."
Alvin didn’t respond. He stared ahead, quietly asking himself:
’Was it really a hard question?’
And the answer ca clear.
No.
It was the easiest question in the world.
’Should I help them?’
They don’t even know who I am. So what? That’s not a problem.
’Can I take it down?’
Won’t know until I try.
’What should I do?’
He looked at the Aberration again.
’I want to go ho. To do that... I need to kill that thing.’
He stepped forward.
Cracked his neck.
Shoulders relaxed.
Eyes sharpened.
A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
’You resurrected on the wrong day, buddy.’
Alvin activated his mana.
He could feel it—raw power surging through his veins. A sensation unlike anything he’d ever experienced before. It was clean. Controlled.
From behind, Bob and Lily watched as Alvin moved.
He was already gone.
They instinctively chased after him, but Bob couldn’t keep up.
’How is he this fast?’ Bob thought, stunned.
The Aberration turned toward them, molten eyes locking on the approaching trio.
Alvin shouted, "Don’t get too close. Just distract it. I’ll handle the rest."
Bob and Lily imdiately split off, flanking the creature.
Alvin drew the sword Bob had given him.
Wind curled around him like a second skin as he leapt toward the monster.
The Aberration swiped its massive hand at him.
Mid-air, Alvin twisted and stepped on the incoming hand, dodging with a burst of wind-enhanced agility.
He thrust the sword into the hand and sprinted along its length, carving a deep gash.
The creature swung its other arm to swat him like an insect.
But Alvin was faster.
He dashed across the second arm and launched himself toward the Aberration’s head.
Wind surged around the blade as he unleashed a slash mid-air.
SHHRRRAKK!
The wind slash tore through one of the creature’s eyes, blinding it on one side.
But the sword shattered, unable to withstand the force Alvin poured into it.
He landed on the Aberration’s head,
The creature roared, lifting both hands to crush him.
’Too slow.’
Alvin coated his right arm with wind. A wisp of golden energy seeped from the ring on his finger, rging with the wind to form a radiant spiral around his fist.
He didn’t hesitate.
He punched.
BOOM!
The blow cracked against the creature’s skull with a thunderous impact.
Alvin dropped to the ground just as the Aberration reeled.
’What was that?’ he thought, staring at his hand.
The monster shrieked in rage, releasing a shockwave that split the air.
Alvin raised his hand.
The dark marble ford again—only this ti, in just three seconds.
It wasn’t like before. It still pulsed with shadow, but golden flecks shimred inside.
The Aberration tried to rise.
Alvin hurled the marble.
KRAKKA-BOOM!
It exploded on impact. Two nearby houses crumbled into dust.
The monster’s belly split open—bones, black liquid, and pulsing organs spilled out.
Still, it lived.
’Good thing it wasn’t smart enough to use fire. If it had, this would’ve been a real problem.’
"Ti to finish this."
He raised his hand.
"Co out... Rhizo."
The ring on his finger glowed and transford into a sleek sword—brown and gold, alive with swirling energy.
Alvin slashed.
A crescent of wind surged forward, cleanly severing the creature’s neck.
The head crashed to the ground.
The wind slash didn’t stop—it kept going, tearing into the distance before finally fading.
Rhizo shimred and turned back into a ring.
Alvin stood still, his eyes locked on the fallen beast.
’So that’s where my combat powers stand now.’
’Late-stage Specialist.’
He clenched his fist.
’From Late Expert to Late Specialist... in just one ruin.’
He took a slow breath.
’Now that the problem with my veins is solved, it’s ti to master the Veiled Tempest Battle Arts Manual.’
’With that... with the black mist... and with Rhizo... I might even challenge a Savant.’
He turned his gaze toward the lone mountain in the distance.
’I’ve stayed in this ruin long enough. Ti to finish things up.’
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