Amid the chaos of the ongoing battle, a mysterious figure sat atop a pile of bodies, his demeanor unnervingly calm. His massive, towering frame was covered in blood, though none of it was his own. The ground around him was littered with the corpses of those foolish enough to challenge him. He looked down at one of the fallen fighters, idly running his fingers over his own weapon—a giant, bloodstained axe.
"Ahh," he mused, his voice a deep rumble, "who was that? The one who unleashed that power… Can he fight me? Or will he die like all the others?"
The giant man glanced up at the horizon, where a massive crater still smoldered in the distance. He grinned wickedly. "Maybe this trial won't be so boring after all."
As he rose to his feet, his massive form casting a long shadow over the battlefield, a chill ran down the spines of the remaining fighters who dared to glance his way.
Meanwhile, Dave struggled to stay on his feet. He could barely move, let alone fight. The sheer exhaustion from unleashing the Heaven Shattering Strike had taken nearly all of his energy. His body ached, and his breaths came in ragged gasps. He knew he was vulnerable.
Suddenly, the system's voice echoed in his mind, clear and urgent. "Dave, every person at this trial is looking at you right now. You must flee. You have almost no stamina left. Staying here means certain death."
Dave's heart skipped a beat. The system wasn't exaggerating. He could feel the intense pressure of countless eyes focused on him, predators waiting for the right moment to strike.
Without hesitation, Dave teleported, blinking away from the crater and into the shadows of a dense forest on the outskirts of the battlefield. He staggered as he landed, leaning against a tree to catch his breath. His energy was nearly depleted, and he knew he needed to rest—fast.
"I need to hide... I can't let them find me like this," Dave muttered to himself, his voice hoarse.
He focused inward, using what little control he had left to suppress his aura, making sure to dampen his presence. If he was going to recover, he had to stay out of sight, at least until his strength returned. He couldn't risk drawing attention to himself in his current state.
Back at the crater, several fighters arrived at the scene, their eyes filled with bloodlust. They had all seen the terrifying display of power earlier, and each of them was hunting the source of it. If they could kill the one who unleashed such a devastating attack, they would surely rise in rank, gaining both fame and power.
"Where is he?" one of the fighters growled, scanning the area.
"I know he's around here somewhere," another snarled, brandishing their weapon.
But no matter how hard they searched, they couldn't find any trace of Dave. He had vanished without a trace.
"He must be hiding," one of the fighters said, narrowing his eyes. "He's weak right now. Find him, and he's ours."
Frustration boiled over as the group of hunters turned on one another, each hoping to be the one to claim the kill. Blades clashed, and the air filled with the sounds of combat as they tore each other apart.
In the shadows of the forest, Dave listened to the distant fighting and allowed himself a small sigh of relief. "At least I've bought myself some time," he whispered, wiping the sweat from his brow. His stamina was slowly starting to return, but he knew he wasn't out of danger yet.
"System," Dave said mentally, trying to focus, **"I need something to help me fight. I don't know how long I can keep dodging these attacks."
The system replied promptly, its tone direct. "You should start mastering a weapon, Dave. While your fists are strong, you need something more versatile for these kinds of battles."
Dave frowned, deep in thought. "What kind of weapon? I've never trained with anything specific."
The system paused for a moment, then responded, "You can adapt to any weapon, but for now, dual daggers will suit your current fighting style. Fast, agile, and deadly—perfect for quick attacks and counters in this kind of environment."
Dave nodded, his mind already working on a plan. "Alright, system. Prepare two daggers for me, one for each hand."
A list of available daggers appeared in his mind, and Dave quickly selected a pair of sleek, razor-sharp blades that seemed to hum with latent energy.
"Purchase confirmed," the system said. "These daggers are made from an alloy called Noxium, a material capable of cutting through even the toughest defenses. Their rank is SSS, and they're designed for precision and lethality. Additionally, I will provide you with knowledge of dagger combat to make you more efficient."
Dave could feel the new knowledge flooding into his mind—techniques for wielding the daggers with speed and precision, how to maximize his strikes, and how to use the terrain to his advantage.
He gripped the hilts of his new weapons, their weight balanced perfectly in his hands. A slow smile spread across his face as he imagined his next fight.
"Alright then," he said quietly, his voice filled with newfound confidence. "Let's see what these babies can do."