After Hiro's swift victory over the B-rank Grizzly, he stood at the entrance of the next floor, ready for the A-rank test. The air crackled with energy as Rianne had set the stage for his next challenge. Hiro stepped into the darkness of the labyrinth, where the shadows danced and twisted, hinting at the danger that lurked ahead.
As he walked deeper into the floor, the atmosphere shifted, thick with anticipation. Out of the shadows emerged a massive Abyss Serpent. Its scales glistened in the dim light, and its eyes glowed with a fierce intensity. Hiro could tell this would be no ordinary fight—the creature was faster and more cunning than the monsters he had faced before.
Hiro gripped his sword tightly. "Let's see how well you can keep up."
The Abyss Serpent lunged at Hiro with blinding speed, but Hiro was quicker. He activated the Amadeus 5th Sword Style: Tempest Reaver. Wind swirled around him as he moved in an unpredictable, blurring motion, and he also used Amadeus 2ns Sword Style: Specter Mirage creating afterimages to confuse the serpent.
The serpent's massive head darted toward one of Hiro's afterimages, but the real Hiro struck from another angle. His sword sliced into the serpent's body, but its tough scales resisted, leaving only a shallow cut. The Abyss Serpent hissed and recoiled, lashing its tail toward Hiro in retaliation.
Hiro jumped, barely avoiding the powerful sweep of the tail. He landed on his feet, eyes focused. "You're tougher than you look."
The serpent coiled, preparing to strike again, but Hiro was ready. He dashed forward with even greater speed, delivering a rapid series of slashes. The winds surrounding him intensified, creating a vortex of cutting blades.
The serpent lunged, jaws wide open. Hiro's eyes narrowed as he prepared his finishing move. With a sharp breath, he poured more energy into his sword, shouting, "Tempest Reaver!" The storm-like wind exploded from his blade, creating a cyclone of strikes that hit the serpent from every direction.
The Abyss Serpent hissed in pain as Hiro's attack sliced through its scales, leaving deep gashes. With one final, devastating slash, Hiro severed the serpent's head from its body. The massive creature collapsed, dissolving into magical energy, leaving behind the indigo a-rank orb.
Hiro picked up the orb, feeling its power resonate within him. "Just one step closer," he muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow. But he had no time to relax—there was still one more challenge.
As he stepped into the final floor, the atmosphere grew even more intense. The air crackled with energy as a deep roar echoed through the cavern. From the shadows, a massive Dark Wyvern emerged, its wings stretching wide as it took to the air.
Its dark scales gleamed under the faint light, and its glowing red eyes locked onto Hiro. The wyvern hovered for a moment before swooping down with terrifying speed, claws extended.
Hiro dove to the side, barely dodging the attack. The wyvern's claws tore through the ground where he had stood just moments before. "This is it—the final test," Hiro muttered, feeling the weight of the challenge ahead.
The wyvern circled above, preparing for another strike. Hiro's heart pounded, but he remained calm. "Let's finish this," he whispered, his grip tightening on his sword.
The wyvern unleashed a blast of dark energy from its mouth, aiming directly at Hiro. He dodged once again, feeling the heat of the attack as it passed by. Lightning began to crackle around his blade as he activated the Amadeus 7th Sword Style: Stormstride.
His body surged with energy as he became one with the storm. Lightning flashed around, illuminating the wyvern's massive form. Hiro dashed forward with blinding speed, his sword glowing with the power of a thunderstorm.
The wyvern roared, its wings beating furiously as it prepared another attack, but Hiro was already moving faster than the eye could follow. He struck the wyvern's body with a powerful lightning-infused slash with paralyzing effect. The wyvern screeched in pain, its dark scales crackling under the force of Hiro's attack.
But it wasn't over yet. The wyvern reared back, readying one last, desperate assault. Hiro, however, had already gathered all his strength for the final blow.
He leaped high into the air, the storm surrounding him reaching its peak. "Stormstride!" he shouted, and with a powerful downward strike, his sword cleaved through the wyvern's neck in a flash of lightning.
The wyvern let out one final, thunderous roar before collapsing to the ground, its body dissolving into shadow. The violet orb floated in the air where the wyvern once stood.
Hiro landed softly, breathing heavily but triumphant. The power of the S-rank orb pulsed in his hand as he held it up. "It's done."
The labyrinth around him began to shimmer and fade as he was transported back to the entrance, where Rianne and the other adventurers awaited. Hiro stepped out, victorious and unscathed.