The portal flared to life as Kale stepped into the 5th Main Trial. He found himself in the middle of a chaotic battlefield, a war scenario unlike anything he'd faced before. All around him, players were gearing up, sharpening blades, loading guns, and readying spells. The air was thick with tension, and Kale's instincts immediately went on high alert. This was no ordinary trial—it was a full-scale conflict, with each player assigned roles based on their achievements and skills.
Kale had dreaded this kind of scenario. With so many players involved, he expected his talent, Greater Risk, Greater Reward, to make things far worse than any solo trial. More people meant more dangers, amplified to deadly extremes. Yet, as he glanced around, he felt… nothing. No surge of oppressive difficulty, no overwhelming aura that marked his talent's activation. Confusion flickered across his face.
"What's going on?" Kale thought, trying to piece together why his cursed talent hadn't triggered. It was the first time he had been among other players, and he had braced himself for chaos. But whatever the reason, Greater Risk, Greater Reward remained dormant. He decided to set the mystery aside. There would be time to unravel it later—after he survived this trial.
System messages flooded his vision, outlining the rules. The battlefield was divided into two factions, each led by players selected for their strength and accomplishments. Roles were doled out, from soldiers to generals. But when Kale's turn came, he was given a title that caught everyone's attention: The Hero. It was a role reserved for the most powerful individual on the field, a symbol of hope and destruction rolled into one. Kale grinned. His reputation and strength had finally been acknowledged.
Excitement bubbled within him. This was his first true test against other players, and he intended to make a lasting impact. Kale knew that the role of Hero wasn't just a title—it was a stepping stone. To become The True Hero, a legendary figure who could sway entire trials, he needed to start building his legacy now. The more significant his influence here, the more doors would open in future trials.
Kale unsheathed his new sword, the blade gleaming ominously under the crimson sky. He dashed forward, plunging into the fray with a ferocity that caught everyone off guard. His movements were fluid, precise, and brutally efficient. Players fell like leaves in a storm, unable to match his speed or anticipate his attacks. Each swing of his sword was a calculated masterpiece, cutting through enemy lines with ease.
He was a whirlwind of destruction, tearing through dozens of players without breaking a sweat. His stats, experience, and combat intuition placed him leagues above the rest. Most couldn't even react before they were on the ground, defeated. He switched between swordplay and martial skills effortlessly, mixing strikes with bursts of mana-infused attacks that sent his opponents flying.
One player tried to flank him with a spear thrust, only for Kale to sidestep and counter with a devastating slash that shattered the weapon. Another attempted to snipe him from afar, but Kale sensed the attack coming. Omniscient Eyes painted the trajectory in his mind, allowing him to dodge at the last possible moment and retaliate with a mana bolt that disintegrated the would-be attacker.
Kale's every action was a statement. He was not just surviving; he was dominating, and it was clear to everyone watching that this was no ordinary player. He was the Hero in every sense of the word—a force of nature unleashed on the battlefield.
Kale's breath came in ragged gasps as he faced down the relentless wave of players. Despite his overwhelming power, the coordinated assault from the enemy team began to take its toll. Arrows whizzed past him, spells crackled through the air, and swords clashed with deafening force. He was fighting off dozens at once, each movement a blur of precision and raw power. But no matter how many he cut down, they kept coming, forcing him into a grueling dance of survival.
The opposing team's Hero—a towering warrior wielding a Warhammer the size of a man—charged forward with a thunderous battle cry. Kale barely dodged the first swing, the ground shattering where the hammer struck. He retaliated with a swift series of slashes, his blade moving faster than the eye could follow. But as he pushed the Hero back, Kale noticed the enemy team closing in, surrounding him on all sides.
"Damn it," Kale muttered, his mind racing. The numbers were overwhelming. No matter how many he felled, there were always more. Playing solo was starting to show its limitations. His own team, much weaker and disorganized, struggled just to hold their ground. It was as if the Tower had deliberately stacked the odds against him.
Kale's eyes darted around the battlefield, analyzing every movement, every attack. His foes moved with frightening coordination, their strategy clear: isolate and overwhelm. The air hummed with danger, and Kale could feel the weight of his choices pressing down on him. He was powerful, but this was not a battle he could win through sheer force alone.
He needed more. He needed an edge.
Gritting his teeth, Kale tapped into his deepest reserves. He activated Sage's Eyes, feeling his perception sharpen as the world around him slowed. Patterns emerged in the chaos—the slight hesitations in his enemies' movements, the gaps in their defenses. With each passing second, Kale's mind processed the battlefield with inhuman clarity, finding openings where none should have existed.
But even this wasn't enough. Kale's instincts screamed at him, urging him to push further, to unleash every ounce of his power. He hesitated for only a moment before making the decision that would change everything.
"Nandaki," Kale whispered, his voice laced with fierce determination.
[You have met the minimum requirement to use Nandaki.]
A surge of energy exploded from his body as the mystical power of Nandaki wrapped around his blade. The sword glowed with an eerie light, every swing now imbued with the essence of the ancient weapon. Each strike carried a devastating force that shattered armor, pulverized shields, and tore through the ranks of his enemies like a storm.
But just as Kale was starting to turn the tide, the system chimed, its cold, mechanical voice cutting through the noise.
[You have met the minimum requirement to use Sage's Eyes.]
The battlefield shifted. Every move, every strategy of his opponents laid bare before him. Sage's Eyes dissected their actions, predicting their next moves with terrifying accuracy. Kale could see every spell before it was cast, every strike before it was swung. But this newfound clarity also came with a grim realization—he was still outnumbered, and the enemy's focus was entirely on him.
Sweat dripped down his brow as he parried another flurry of attacks, his stamina pushed to the brink. He could feel the system straining to keep up with his demands, the notifications flashing faster than he could process.
Kale looked up, his gaze sweeping the battlefield. He could see every player converging on his position, the enemy's Hero leading the charge with a sadistic grin. He tightened his grip on his sword, the weight of the challenge settling on his shoulders. His vision blurred slightly as exhaustion began to claw at him, but he refused to back down.
He had one last move, one last gamble that could turn this fight around. But before he could act, a thunderous voice echoed across the battlefield, shaking the very ground beneath his feet.
"Everyone, focus on the Hero! Take him down!"
Kale's heart pounded as he watched hundreds of players rallying against him, their combined power and fury converging in a desperate bid to bring him down. He activated his skills, feeling the surge of power course through his veins, but even as he did, he knew this was just the beginning.
The air crackled with energy, and Kale's instincts screamed at him—this next clash would decide everything. With Sage's Eyes and Nandaki fully active, he braced himself, ready to face the oncoming storm. But in the back of his mind, a single thought lingered.
What happens when the Hero falls?
The enemy Hero lunged forward, hammer raised high, and Kale's world exploded into chaos. The screen of his mind flickered with warnings, power levels, and damage projections, all leading to a single, inevitable conclusion.
The battlefield had turned into a crucible of power and strategy, and Kale was right at the center.
But even as the tide of players rushed toward him, a smirk crossed his lips. His eyes burned with determination, and his heart pounded with the thrill of the fight. For Kale, this wasn't just another battle—it was the proving ground of legends.
And then, with one final surge of energy, Kale activated everything.
The battlefield roared to life around him, and the fight was about to reach its climax.