Dain's punches tore through the air, connecting seamlessly like a perfectly choreographed routine.
Although his punching skills were basic, he felt like he was practicing an advanced technique.
In the distance, his fluid and precise movements caught the attention of other kids. Some paused their training to watch him.
"Why does it look like a basic punching skill yet feel so different?" a boy muttered in confusion.
"Yeah… There's something strange about it."
"Nonsense. It might just be all for a show without any real power. Let me test him out."
A tall, well-built boy smirked confidently and strode toward Dain.
"You. Let's spar," he said arrogantly.
"Not interested…" Dain responded without even looking at him.
"Why? Are you scared?"
Dain ignored the taunt and continued his training. Tomorrow, they would dive into their first Rift. Against real monsters, they would all have the chance to prove their strength.
The boy, Ronan, scowled and summoned his Soul Construct. A deep brownish glow enveloped him from head to toe.
"I have a defensive Soul Construct. Let's fight, or I'll make you fight."
His Bastion Soul Construct was renowned for its unparalleled defense among the Inferior Rank.
Without waiting for Dain's response, Ronan threw a powerful punch aimed at his abdomen.
Dain remained unfazed, sidestepping with ease and countering with a sharp jab to the lower body.
Ronan staggered, shocked by how fluidly Dain had reacted. But rather than being intimidated, it ignited his competitive spirit.
"Bring it on!" he shouted, launching a barrage of punches.
Meanwhile, Dain's Soul Construct activated.
[Analyzing…]
[Seven weak points detected in the enemy's movements.]
In an instant, seven precise weak spots appeared in his vision, each accompanied by the optimal counterstrike.
Though the entire process seemed lengthy, it had taken less than five seconds.
Dain smirked but continued dodging Ronan's attacks with practiced ease.
"What?! Are you just going to keep dodging? Fight like a man!" Ronan bellowed in frustration.
"Alright…" Dain muttered. His stance shifted.
[Recalculating…]
As his Soul Construct processed new data, Dain closed the distance between them, leaned back to evade a left hook, and drove a powerful punch into Ronan's knee.
"Ahh!"
Ronan winced in pain. His Bastion Construct, supposedly unmatched in defense, had failed to protect him.
He stumbled back, gritting his teeth. How could his punches be this strong?!
The watching kids were stunned.
"I knew it! His punches aren't ordinary!"
"Yeah, but it's too soon to tell."
"Ronan is strong, even without his Construct."
Meanwhile, Ronan tried to shake off the pain. Unbeknownst to him, his nightmare had just begun.
[Reprogramming enemy attack patterns…]
Dain surged forward. Ronan responded with another flurry of punches, but Dain dodged them effortlessly—almost as if he knew exactly when and where the attacks would come.
Is he reading my mind?! How the hell does he know when I'm about to strike?!
His thoughts were in disarray, and he failed to notice the incoming fist.
Bang!
Dain's punch struck his chest, sending a powerful tremor through his body.
"Huh?!"
Ronan gasped for air. For a moment, it felt as if the blood flow to his brain had stopped. He tried to shake it off and retreat—
Bang!
Another punch connected, this time straight to his face.
"Argh!"
[Enemy fighting style has been analyzed. Countermeasures deployed.]
This is overkill, Dain thought, momentarily stunned by his own efficiency.
Then, he delivered a final uppercut.
Bang!
The punch landed squarely on Ronan's jaw, sending him tumbling to the ground.
Ronan felt like he had been hit by a moving train. His vision blurred, his consciousness faded—then, everything went black.
Silence fell over the training ground. The watching kids held their breath, shock, and disbelief written all over their faces.
"He's too strong…" a girl muttered, sucking in a sharp breath.
"Ronan looked like a helpless kid in front of him."
"That wasn't a fight… It was a one-sided beating."
"We should avoid him from now on."
Nods of agreement spread through the crowd before they dispersed, though a few glanced back at Dain with wary eyes. Even those who prided themselves on their strength hesitated before meeting his gaze.
Dain, however, paid them no mind. Without sparing Ronan a second glance, he moved to practice his sword techniques. Time was limited, and he wouldn't waste it on meaningless chatter.
As he trained, his Soul Construct continuously analyzed and refined his weaknesses.
—
Meanwhile, in a lavish mansion, two figures clashed in a private training ground.
Bang!
Garrick sent Astrid flying with a strike from his long black spear. He stood confidently at the center, watching her recover.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"I'm fine." Astrid forced a smile as she withdrew her Soul Construct. "Now I understand why everyone thinks so highly of a Refined Rank."
Garrick retracted his Soul Construct and grinned. "With me around, tomorrow's dive will be as easy as breathing."
Having signed with the Azure Order, one of the most powerful organizations in the city, they had been granted elite resources, powerful skills, and high-grade weapons.
"Should we form a team with others?" Astrid asked.
"Why?" Garrick scoffed. "With my Soul Construct rank, we don't need a group."
"I wonder how Dain's doing with his useless Soul Construct." He sneered, his voice dripping with disdain.
Astrid's expression turned complicated, but she remained silent. She had made her choice.
Besides, she wasn't willing to return to a life of poverty—starving for days. This was the life she had always dreamed of.
—
The next day, Dain arrived at the Soul Construct Authority (SCA) building. To qualify as a Soul Warrior, he needed to register.
Seated inside the registration room, he waited patiently for his information to be recorded.
"Dain, do you want the SCA standard gear or not?" a male staff member asked with an encouraging smile.
"I'd love to have it."
"Good. Follow me."
Dain was quickly provided with a backpack containing all the essentials for a Rift dive, along with a common-grade sword.
Once geared up, he was led to another section of the building where other kids were waiting.
They only spared him a glance before returning to their own thoughts. A palpable tension filled the air. Though they tried to hide it, the nervousness was evident in their trembling hands.
Shortly after, a massive Etherglide arrived.
Dain and the others boarded. Within minutes, they were soaring through the city—
Heading toward either their doom or salvation.