The monstrous creature emerged from the shadows, stepping into the harsh glow of the overhead light. Its tiger-like body was twisted and malformed, the stripes on its fur swirling in chaotic patterns. Its frame was grotesquely enlarged, muscles bulging unnaturally beneath its skin. Two dagger-like fangs protruded from its snarling maw, and its claws were curved scythes that gleamed wickedly. The tail ended in a sharp, venomous stinger that dripped with greenish fluid.
A voice rang out from the observation deck above, cold and commanding.
"Kill it, and you'll pass the assessment. Begin."
As soon as the voice fell silent, the Tiger-Exobeast roared with unrestrained ferocity, saliva flying from its jaws as it lunged toward Cain.
Cain wasted no time. Activating his invisibility ability, he vanished from sight and rolled to the side, narrowly dodging the creature's attack. The Exobeast landed heavily where Cain had stood moments before, its claws gouging deep marks into the metal floor.
From the sidelines, onlookers murmured among themselves, watching the fight unfold with a mix of curiosity and skepticism.
"Invisibility? Interesting," one of them remarked. "But too weak. It won't hold up for long."
Another nodded knowingly. "Exactly. That tiger-Exobeast has a keen sense of smell—it's like having a third eye. It'll sniff him out in no time."
Indeed, the creature soon stopped relying on its eyes, its nostrils flaring as it sampled the air. After a brief pause, its head snapped to one side, focusing on an empty spot in the arena. Without hesitation, it lunged.
Cain barely had time to react. The beast struck him squarely, pinning him to the ground with its enormous paws. He struggled wildly, his breath knocked from his lungs. Razor-sharp claws slashed at his sides, tearing through his jacket and drawing blood. The crimson streaks stained the floor, breaking his invisibility as his camouflage flickered and failed.
Pain lanced through Cain as the beast bore down on him, snarling and snapping its jaws mere inches from his face.
"Damn it!" Cain growled through clenched teeth. Summoning all his strength, he kicked upward with both legs, planting his feet against the creature's chest. With a desperate push, he managed to shove the beast off and roll away.
The tiger-Exobeast recovered quickly, shaking itself and roaring in rage. It charged again, its claws scraping the floor with an ear-piercing screech. This time, Cain was ready. He sidestepped the beast's attack and countered with a powerful punch to its head.
Crack.
Cain's knuckles exploded with pain as they met the creature's dense skull. The force of the impact sent a jolt up his arm, and he staggered back, clutching his throbbing hand.
"Shit!" Cain cursed under his breath. "What is this thing made of?"
Though his attack had done little to harm the creature, it seemed to have dazed it momentarily. The tiger-Exobeast shook its head, clearly disoriented. Cain seized the brief window of opportunity to reassess his strategy.
He began strategizing, realizing he still had no marks left to use, and even if he could, this wasn't the place to reveal them.
Worse, his totem energy was completely depleted—he had run out of cards.
No, wait—there was one more! Cain's mind sparked as his focus shifted to the second totem.
The artifact seemed to stir, emitting a faint, eerie green glow as if responding to his desperation.
But Cain had no idea how to wield its power.
He glanced at the strange glyphs etched into his arm, the remnants of his second totem. It pulsed faintly with a greenish glow, as if responding to his thoughts.
"It's reacting..." Cain muttered, unsure of what to do.
"Trust your instincts," Dante's voice echoed in his mind, calm but firm. "You are its master. Let it guide you."
Cain took a deep breath, nodding to himself. "Alright, let's do this."
The tiger-beast had recovered, snarling as it locked eyes with Cain. With a guttural growl, it launched itself at him again.
This time, Cain didn't dodge. He charged forward, meeting the beast head-on. The two collided in midair, a violent clash of bodies and raw power. They tumbled to the ground, locked in a desperate struggle.
"Whatever you can do," Cain thought, addressing the second totem, "do it now!"
Suddenly, a searing pain shot through Cain's hands. It felt as if his skin was peeling away, replaced by something raw and corrosive. His fingers glowed faintly green, a sickly aura emanating from them.
As his hands gripped the beast's flank, the energy spread rapidly. The tiger-beast let out an agonized howl, its movements growing erratic. Patches of its once-resilient hide began to rot away, revealing raw, vulnerable flesh beneath.
From the observation deck, the onlookers gasped.
"What's happening to it?" one murmured.
"Look closer!" another exclaimed. "His hands—they're... they're inside the beast!"
Cain, undeterred by the grotesque scene, drove his hands deeper into the tiger-beast's body. His fingers found their target—a pulsing, erratic heartbeat. With a surge of adrenaline, he clenched his fists, crushing the organ in one swift motion.
The tiger-beast let out a final, guttural roar before collapsing onto Cain, its massive body twitching once before falling still.
Breathing heavily, Cain pushed the lifeless creature off him. His hands trembled, slick with blood and whatever corrosive energy had emanated from his totem. In front of him, a faint glow caught his attention.
A crystalline shard materialized above the beast's body, shimmering with a faint light. Cain recognized it immediately—a higher-grade Evolution Crystal, far more potent than the ones he'd encountered before.
He picked it up, tucking it into his pocket as the arena doors slid open with a mechanical hiss. A man's voice rang out again.
"Congratulations, Cain. You've passed the assessment. Welcome to the Grim Reaper Project."
Cain staggered to his feet, barely registering the words. His entire body ached, and his mind reeled from the brutal ordeal.
"This was just the first test?" he muttered to himself. "What the hell have I gotten myself into?"
Before Cain could catch his breath, the guards escorted him to a sprawling training complex filled with groups in drills. They stopped at a grand building adorned with arched windows and intricate carvings, radiating a distinct magical presence.
A man in flowing robes and round spectacles greeted them at the entrance. His demeanor was calm, almost scholarly.
"Thank you, soldiers. I'll take it from here," the man said with a polite nod.
The guards saluted and departed, leaving Cain alone with the stranger.
"Welcome, Cain," scholarly man said, then examined Cain with a discerning gaze before offering a warm smile. "It seems they didn't go easy on you. Are you holding up?"
"I'm fine," Cain replied, his voice steady despite the exhaustion. "I can keep going."
"Good to hear. I'm Cedric Lancaster, from the Greenwood Magic Kingdom, and I will be your instructor."
Cain's heart skipped a beat. A real magician! Standing right before him!
The Greenwood Magic Kingdom was one of Gaia's strongest allies, a Tier-3 magical civilization with an illustrious reputation on the Eternal Battlefield.
A Tier-3 civilization—just beneath the gods themselves. Their power was legendary, beyond the wildest dreams of ordinary beings.
Immortality? Routine.
Creating life? A mere pastime.
Destroying worlds? A flick of their fingers.
Cain felt his chest tighten, not from fear of Cedric himself, but from the weight of what this man represented: the boundless strength of a civilization on the cusp of divinity.
"It's an honor to be your student, Master Cedric," Cain said, his tone formal yet sincere.
Cedric adjusted his glasses, his smile widening slightly. "A polite young man. That's a promising start. Come, Cain. Let me introduce you to your team."
Cain followed Cedric through winding corridors until they entered a classroom that seemed to come from another age. Every inch of the room radiated an ancient, mystical charm, its design steeped in the aesthetics of magical tradition.
Inside, two individuals stood waiting.
The first was a somber young man, about Cain's age. His stoic expression made him seem older, and his sharp, angular features exuded a sense of restrained intensity.
The second was a strikingly beautiful girl with fiery red hair that shimmered under the dim lighting. Her presence was commanding, a mix of confidence and defiance that seemed to burn as brightly as her hair.
As Cedric entered, both of them stood, their expressions reflecting a mix of curiosity and respect.
"Master Cedric," the red-haired girl asked, her tone carrying an edge of impatience, "is this the new recruit?"
"Indeed," Cedric replied, gesturing to Cain. "His name is Cain Lee. From today, he is officially a member of Team Seven."
Cain gave a nervous smile. "Hello, everyone."
The stoic young man snorted, his lips curling into a faint sneer. "Let's see how long he lasts. Hopefully, he's not as pathetic as the last idiot they threw our way."
Cain felt a spark of irritation but held his tongue. He wasn't here to pick a fight—yet.
Cedric merely chuckled, brushing aside the comment with practiced ease. "Cain, meet your teammates. The gentleman here is Zhang Feng, from the Eastern Territories of Earth. And the fiery young lady is Miyamoto Eri, from the Western Territories, though she carries Eastern heritage."
Eri nodded curtly, her fiery demeanor softening only slightly. "Let's hope you're not a waste of time, Cain."
Zhang Feng offered no such courtesy, merely rolling his eyes before turning away.
Cedric clapped his hands, breaking the tension. "That's enough for today. Zhang, Eri, you're dismissed. Cain still has work to do to catch up."
The two left without protest, leaving Cain alone with Cedric. The room suddenly felt much quieter.
"Now," Cedric began, his voice shifting to a more academic tone, "before we proceed, tell me, Cain, what do you know of the Eternal Battlefield and Evolvers?"
"Not much," he admitted. "I know the Eternal Battlefield is endless and… Evolvers are said to be chosen by gods."
Cedric let out a low chuckle, pushing his glasses."Well, at least you're honest. But you have much to learn, Cain. Far more than you realize."
Cain straightened, his determination hardening. He might be out of his depth, but if there was one thing he knew, it was how to fight—and learn.
"Then teach me, Master Cedric," Cain said, his voice carrying a sharp edge of resolve. "I'm ready."
Cedric 's smile widened into a grin. "Good. Let's begin."