And at the center of it all, the one who had sparked this chaos, Morca, stood, unwavering.
The entire hall held its breath, waiting for his decision.
---
Morca stood in the grip of internal conflict. He wanted to say yes, yet a part of him hesitated. Going all out in public might bring unnecessary trouble. A little restraint could save him from unwanted attention.
But before he could dwell further, a familiar notification flashed before his eyes.
-----
System Notification
Mission: Awakened - Be the solo winner of the Dark Avengers Club
Reward 1: 200 EXP
Reward 2: +5 to all attribute stats
-----
A slow smile stretched across Morca's face. This is it. The thrill of the challenge pulsed through him. The system rewards were enticing, but he understood the hidden trial behind them. Though the mission didn't explicitly state it, he knew the truth, he would have to defeat forty-nine one-star- monsters, ten one-star+ monster, and then survive five minutes against a two-star- beast, a foe comparable to a Saint-rank expert.
Comparing the challenge to the rewards, it was more than worth it.
His gaze shifted away from the system, and in a steady yet commanding voice, he declared, "Alright, I agree."
No. 2's lips curled into a knowing smirk. 'I knew it. The boy was truly something.' Yet, for the first time, a twinge of doubt crept into his mind. 'Am I leading him astray?' He shook his head, pushing the thought aside as he refocused on the battle ring.
The atmosphere in the hall crackled with anticipation. Murmurs spread like wildfire. The audience, initially indifferent, now stared intently. Even the other contestants were dumbfounded. Who is this lunatic? Fighting forty-nine monsters without rest, only to face an even stronger foe, no sane person would accept such a suicide mission. Even the supposed strongest competitors had barely survived lesser trials.
The referee sighed. 'Another hot-blooded fool. Let's see if he survives this.'
All eyes locked onto Ring 004, the true stage of carnage.
A violent tremor rocked the ground as the arena expanded, adjusting to contain the impending battle. The earth split apart, unveiling a gaping abyss. From within, monsters emerged, some towering and grotesque, others small yet radiating lethal intent. Agility-types, brute-force juggernauts, elemental fiends, their auras merged into an oppressive storm of raw power.
Yet, Morca remained unmoved.
His grip tightened around his black blade, Avoc. His stance was unwavering, his gaze sharp. The battlefield was set. All that remained was the signal.
"Start!"
The moment the word left the referee's lips, Morca vanished.
A blur of darkness.
Then...
Carnage.
His blade cleaved through flesh. One strike, one kill. The monsters barely had time to react before they were reduced to lifeless husks. Blood painted the battlefield in macabre artistry, limbs and bodies collapsing into heaps.
The audience held their breath. This wasn't a battle, it was slaughter.
An Awakened-ranked warrior mowing down one-star- Monsters as if they were nothing? Unbelievable.
Morca didn't even break a sweat. His movements were fluid, precise, no wasted energy. But inside, something simmered.
This isn't enough.
The thrill of battle burned in his veins, but these creatures? They were too weak. Annoying. Insignificant. A waste of his time.
With a single swing, darkness expanded. 'Oblivion Blade.'
A black abyss swallowed the battlefield.
Then, nothing.
When the darkness receded, the battlefield was eerily silent. No bodies. No blood. Just emptiness. The audience staggered back in shock. What had just happened? In mere moments, forty-nine monsters had been erased from existence.
A strange aura pulsed around Morca, cleansing him of any lingering bloodstains before seamlessly merging back into his being.
The silence in the arena was deafening. An Awakened-ranked had just wiped out forty-nine monsters in under a minute. Monsters that were comparable to average Awakened experts. And yet, there was nothing left. No remains. No evidence. Just… nothing.
The five red-masked figures stiffened. Even No. 2, Emmett Lee, Morca's closest observer, furrowed his brows. :He's showing too much.'
A rare wave of unease washed over him. 'Did I make a mistake by sending him here?'
The referee, still frozen in place, struggled to find words. His mind raced to comprehend the anomaly before him. Morca turned toward him, a playful grin tugging at his lips.
"Mr. Referee, can we move on to the next stage? I'm getting tired of standing here."
A nervous tremor ran through the referee, not from fear, but sheer disbelief. He hesitated before glancing toward the five red-masked figures. Four of them nodded eagerly, their curiosity undeniable. Only No. 2 remained still, his expression unreadable.
The referee exhaled sharply before raising his hand.
The battlefield trembled once more. Ten massive cages emerged from the depths, their rusted bars rattling ominously. Inside, ten one-star+ monsters stirred. Their auras alone were suffocating. Individually, they were slightly weaker than the dungeon boss of DX 1.5. But together? Their combined presence weighed heavily on the air, a crushing force.
Morca's fingers twitched in anticipation. Yes. Finally.
This was no longer a one-sided massacre. This was a real battle.
He exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders as tension coiled in his muscles. The challenge had finally arrived.
A familiar transparent screen materialized before his eyes, glowing faintly.
-----
Status
Name: Morca Sherman Nihility
Age: 16 years
Rank: Awakened+
Level: 6 → 9
EXP: 120/300
---
Attributes:
Strength: 12 → 16.7
Agility: 12 → 17.4
Endurance: 11.5 → 15.6
Intelligence: 7.6 → 13
---
Affinity/Class: Darkness, Shadow
Bloodline: Infinity Nihility
Talent: Unique SSS+
Unique Skills: Blank, Oblivion Blade
---
System Notification
Mission: Awakened - Be the solo winner of the Dark Avengers Club
Reward 1: 200 EXP
Reward 2: +5 to all attribute stats
---
Curse: Eternal Doom
-----
A smirk curled at his lips. 'In just a few days, I've already reached the peak of the Awakened rank.'
The more he killed, the stronger he became. The battlefield had been his crucible, refining him into something monstrous.
And now? He was leagues beyond his former self. The battle against the Bloodthirsty Thorn Wolves had been a mere warm-up.
His fingers flexed around his blade, his blood roaring in excitement. Ten monsters. This will be fun.
But even as he prepared for the upcoming clash, his mind was already looking ahead.
The real test isn't them, it's the two-star- beast waiting at the end.