2025-09-30 23:07:50Lyra plunged her spear into the hide of a plainstalker. The beast howled, its emerald eyes flashing with rage as it bit at the shaft lodged in its chest.
ROOOAAAAR! Another plainstalker charged at Lucian, baring its teeth with claws extended. It struck so fast he barely managed to block the hit. SKRAAATCH! [-10] The impact slammed him backwards. He clenched his teeth against the sudden numbness in his arm. The metallic smell of blood mixed with the scent of trampled wild grass. "Gods, it's trying to break my arm" he thought, exhaling sharply as he forced his weapon back up. “Tch… you’re really trying to break my arm, huh?” he grunted. “Too bad… I’m not going down that easily.” The plainstalker’s emerald eyes locked onto him, agitated by his defiance. Lucian’s own heartbeat thundered in his ears. Instantly, it leaped. He rolled, the gust of wind from its claws brushing past his face. They tore through the air where his head had been. The moment he found his feet, he pivoted, dashed forward, and shot a straight fist towards its head. BOOOOM! The creature's head exploded in a mist of gore. The force of the blow slammed its lifeless body into an incoming plainstalker, sending both tumbling to the ground. Lucian stared, dumbfounded, at his own fist. “Huh?” he muttered, his mouth agape as he stared at the carcass. Was that… the training? Or the system? The line was blurring. Around him, the battle faltered to a halt. Ronan blinked, his sword lowering slightly. “Didn’t he say he was a 1 star?” Lyra let out a low whistle, her eyes wide. “Remind me never to spar with the kid.” Drex's gaze lingered on Lucian, his expression unreadable. “you don't see that kind of power… from your average 1 star warrior,” he said quietly. Adrian sheathed his sword, nodding slightly. “Whatever the case, in our situation, the stronger he is, the better.” Lucian barely heard them. His focus was on the notification. [Ding] [You have slain a Plainstalker] [EXP +150] [Level Up!] [3 stats points] Immediately, he felt his body become lighter. A surge of vitality rushed through him, and his awareness of his surroundings sharpened. To think I can actually level up like a video game character. This system is amazing. A grin flashed across his face. “Let's see how strong I've become.” Spotting another plainstalker,he dashed forward, closing the distance in a blink. A cold glint in his eyes, he swiped his dagger at its skull with a backhand slash. WIIISSSH! [Ding] [You have slain a Plainstalker] [EXP +150] Lucian sighed in amazement, a newfound thrill flashing in his eyes. “Wow… never would I have imagined I’d be able to defeat a uncommon tier magic beast.” Adrian’s voice snapped him out of his reverie. “Stay alert, everyone. The boss of this realm is yet to come out.” As if summoned, the ground beneath their feet began to tremble. THUD... THUD… The rumble of heavy footsteps grew louder, making its way to their location. They had angered it by killing its subordinates. “GGRRAAAUUUHHH!!” A roar vibrated through the air, causing everyone's heart to race. Emerging from the dark forest was a massive figure over eight feet tall. The boss of the secret realm had arrived; this was the Alpha of the plainstalkers. Its golden eyes focused on Lucian and the group, and a deep roar escaped its jaws. ROOOAARR! A collective gasp was torn from the group. Lyra's knuckles were white on her spear, and Ronan took an involuntary step back, his breath catching. The Alpha's killing intent was a physical weight, pressing down on their shoulders. “That’s… not a normal plainstalker,” Lyra whispered, her voice trembling. Adrian's expression hardened. “This feeling…. I can't move.” [Ding] [Killing intent detected] [Your resistance has increased] ZIIIIIM! The giant Alpha vanished. “Lucian,behind you!” Drex shouted. It was too late. The beast reappeared, its claws coming down like lightning. CLANG! He blocked with his dagger, but the blade split like paper. The impact sent him flying into a tree. CRAAASH! [-25] The force knocked the air from his lungs, and he coughed blood. His vision blurred as he struggled to breathe. I think I’ve broken a rib. He felt the intense pain from his broken ribs and the bleeding gashes on his arm. [Host is in a critical condition] [Healing has begun] Regeneration? he thought, staring at the prompt, confused. Instantly, the bleeding stopped. A warm, tingling energy flooded his wounds. He watched, mesmerized, as the deep gashes on his arm knitted themselves together, flesh weaving back into place. Faint wisps of steam rose from his skin while the bones of his ribs began to reconnect themselves. “I am actually healing! My ribs are as good as new! Is this a new skill?” He turned his attention to the fight and saw the hunter group clashing with the Giant Alpha. They were already tired, their movements sluggish. CLANG! The giant Alpha knocked Ronan back, sending him stumbling. Then it opened its maw, energy gathering in its throat. RRRROOOAAARRR!!” A burst of sonic energy exploded from its jaws, blasting the squad away like ragdolls. Lucian raised a hand to shield his face from the raging breeze. Looking around, he saw he was the only one standing. At his feet, Adrian's sword lay. He picked up the sword and analyzed it with the system. Galestorm Blade Grade: Epic Type: Longsword Element: Wind STR: +30 AGI: +45 Gale Slash (Passive): Normal slashes release small air waves that deal 30% weapon damage in a 2-meter range. Galestep (Passive): Movement speed +20% while wielding; allows short dashes (3-meter blink, 5-minute cooldown). Wind Rend (Active Skill): Unleash a compressed air slash dealing 200% weapon damage in a line up to 10 meters. Cooldown: 1 minute. “This should be enough to defeat the boss. Well Adrian, I guess I'll be borrowing your sword.” Lucian charged. Due to the wind attribute of the sword, his figure turned into a blur. WHOOSH! He clashed with the massive claws crashing against his swing. CLANG! The impact sent him sliding backwards. He planted his boots into the ground to steady himself. The beast charged, flashing its claws. He pivoted, activating the movement skill. “Gale Step!” His speed skyrocketed as he flickered to its side, slashing across its ribs. Before he could continue, the Alpha twisted with shocking speed and swung its tail. WHAM! It hit nothing but air. Lucian had flickered into the air just in time. While midair, he swung his sword in a wide arc, sending a wind slash that shredded the thick hide of the giant Alpha. ROOOAARR! The beast roared and blasted a sonic wave towards Lucian as he descended, the Gale Step almost ending. He sharply twisted his body, slipping past the line of the blast. The sonic wave grazed his arm, its pressure searing his skin. He landed, his grip tightening on the sword. “Wind Rend!” With a sharp swing, a compressed crescent of air left the blade and sliced clean through the neck of the giant Alpha. [Ding] [you've have defeated the Giant Alpha Plainstalker]
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Chapter 26: beyond the simulation
The chain whistled again, a jagged streak of purple light that sliced through the falling rain. Lucian threw himself into a roll, the weighted end of the weapon shattering the ceramic tiles where his head had been a microsecond before. She’s too fast, Lucian thought, his heart hammering against his ribs. Every time I try to close the gap, that sickle comes around like a boomerang. I’m playing her game, and she’s a pro at it. He ducked behind a massive holographic billboard advertising "Neon-Cola." The humming blue light flickered as the sickle blade bit into the metal frame, sparks showering Lucian’s shoulder. If I don’t change something now, I’m just waiting to get carved up. "System," he whispered, his eyes darting to the corner of his HUD. "Allocate stat points to agility now." Available Points: 3 +2 to Agility (Current: 18 - 20) +1 to Strength (Current: 22 - 23) [ALERT: AGILITY HAS REACHED A MILESTONE (20). UNLOCKING PASSIVE: 'REFLEX ACCELERATION'] A sudden, cold jolt
Chapter 25: spoils of war
The heavy scent of antiseptic and the low hum of mana-stabilisers were the first things to greet Lucian as he drifted back to consciousness. His eyelids felt like lead, stuck together by the crust of a deep, exhausted slumber. When he finally forced them open, the harsh fluorescent lights of the infirmary made him wince. "Finally you’re awake?" Lucian turned his head slowly. A nurse was standing by a terminal, checking his vitals. "How long have I been unconscious?" Lucian managed to croak out, his throat feeling like he’d swallowed a handful of dry sand. "You’ve been out since yesterday afternoon," she replied, her tone a mix of professional detachment and mild lingering surprise. "You pushed your mana pool to the absolute limit. Most students would have ended up being in bed for days, but your recovery rate is... unusual." Yesterday? Lucian sank back into the pillow. Memories of the duel flooded back—the roar of the crowd, the heat of the arena, and the terrifying pressure o
chapter 24: blood, sweat and gold
The dust cloud hung thick in the air, swirling like smoke after an explosion. For several long seconds, the entire martial hall stayed frozen in shock at the scale of the devastating attack displayed by the two students. every student, every instructor, every breath held. Inside the haze, both of the fighters had fallen the force from their attacks had blown them away. Lucian managed to stand with a hunched posture, his chest heaving as he tried catching breath. Blood dripped steadily from the cuts on his arms and ribs, staining the sand dark. His body was screaming in pain and fatigue from pushing it to the limit, but he forced himself to stay upright. Across from him, Damien was in no better shape. His longsword was nowhere to be seen; the impact of the collision had knocked it from his grasp. He held his ears that were bleeding and ringing. His vision had become hazy as his head was foggy, and he saw droplets of blood drip to the floor from his nose. Lucian's sonic blast had dis
chapter 23: more than a Duel
All eyes locked on the lean bronze-badge boy with short red hair as he strode forward, fists clenched tight. Lucian felt the familiar heat flare in his chest—hotter than usual. Today, he thought, I stepped into my new rank, and determination burned through him. On his hands were the intermediate-tier gauntlets—black leather reinforced with crimson flame runes, lion heads etched across the knuckles. They fit like a second skin. Only Harry had seen them before; they’d been a gift from a wealthy family friend the week Lucian left for the academy. Today was the first time he’d wear them in real combat. A small thrill mixed with the nerves. I need a different badge colour. The benefits—resources, portals, and real training—will propel me forward faster than anything else here. His gaze flicked across the hall. Damien stood with his usual golden-badge crew, arms crossed, smirking like he already knew what was coming. Lucian stepped forward. “Damien!” The hall went dead quiet. Da
chapter 22: blood Vs saber
The night before the big day, several instructors gathered in a brightly lit faculty office. Lanterns flickered on the long table, casting shadows across their faces. The meeting was short, but the mood was serious. The vice head instructor leaned forward, hands clasped. “We’ve decided to give the students a real chance tomorrow. Let them prove their badges mean something. If they’ve earned their rank, they keep it. If not… someone stronger takes it.” A murmur of agreement went around the room. One of the younger teachers nodded. “Tomorrow’s advancement day. I want to see who climbs to a higher badge—and if any of these kids can actually surprise us.” Kenshi, the combat instructor with the sharp eyes, smiled faintly. “There are some who’ve shown real promise. Especially a certain redhead in my class. Lucian. He was one of the first to master mana channelling properly. Picked it up fast and was able to use it in training.” The elemental affinity teacher Vian raised an ey
chapter 21: open challenges
The next morning, the martial hall buzzed louder than usual. Every student—mages and warriors alike—had crammed inside, shoulders pressed together, voices overlapping in restless waves. Even the instructors lined the raised platforms, arms crossed, eyes scanning the crowd like hawks. Lucian, Harry, and Graece slipped through the doors just as the heavy wooden panels thudded shut behind them. “Wow,” Graece murmured, silver hair catching the sunlight. “There are way more people here today than normal.” Harry nodded, scanning the sea of faces. “Yeah. Feels like everyone showed up expecting something big. Wonder what they’ve got planned.” They pushed forward until they reached the front rows, close enough to hear the lead instructor clearly. The man was tall with a raspy voice like gravel stepped to the centre of the sand ring. His black robe bore the academy’s silver crest. “When you first arrived here,” he began, “if you can recall, you were told one thing clearly: your badge r
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