On a vast open plain, a horse-drawn carriage raced northward, its wheels rumbling across the wide road. Inside the carriage sat Rey, Emily, and Melvin. The journey was long, and the atmosphere inside was calm, quiet—almost too quiet.

  Rey leaned back against the wooden seat, his eyes half-closed, his mind far from the present road. In his heart, a restless thought echoed:

  “Tomorrow morning is the day Clan Origin takes its next step. Will I make it in time?”

  The wind blew gently through the open side window, carrying the scent of grass and dust. Emily was resting with her eyes closed, while Melvin sat across from Rey, observing him in silence. After a moment, Melvin noticed Rey’s distant expression and finally spoke.

  “Is something wrong, Rey? I can see you’re deep in thought.”

  Rey blinked, snapping out of his thoughts, and looked at Melvin.

  “Oh, it’s nothing. I was just thinking about everyone back at the Clan. Tomorrow is the day of the Tournament. I’m wondering if they’re ready to face that challenge.”

  Melvin smiled faintly and replied calmly,

  “Don’t worry. Isn’t Alex there? And besides, Willson and the others have participated in that tournament many times before. They already understand the flow and structure of the tournament. They know what they’re doing.”

  Emily, who had been resting quietly, opened her eyes and added confidently,

  “Don’t worry, Rey. My sister and Tristan will win that tournament. They’ve trained for a long time to defeat the Adventurer Guild.”

  Rey looked surprised at Emily’s statement and asked,

  “Oh? What do you mean?”

  Emily continued,

  “I was told that Clan Glory was destroyed because of the Arden family. So Tristan will take revenge against the Guild and the other Clans.”

  Rey smiled softly and said,

  “That’s good. So, how do you see their training so far?”

  Emily replied with confidence,

  “Of course I’ve seen it. Their skills and movements have improved a lot. I once saw Drax and Willson spar against them. Their combined strength almost overwhelmed Willson and Drax. They only lost because of the difference in level.”

  Rey smiled in satisfaction.

  “Then I don’t need to worry about that.”

  At that moment, Melvin looked at Rey with a puzzled expression and asked,

  “Rey, I want to ask something. Did you change your clothes?”

  Rey was startled. He immediately looked down at his armor, ‘Absolute Veil’, and realized that its appearance had indeed changed. The color was now darker, with a black and bluish hue that hadn’t been there before.

  Rey frowned and asked the system in his mind,

  “System, what happened to this armor?”

  The system responded instantly:

  “After analysis, ‘Absolute Veil’ is currently in the upgrade phase. The process will take 8 hours. During this time, all abilities will be deactivated.”

  Rey let out a long breath.

  “If that’s the case, I should rest properly. When we arrive at Christope, I’ll need to join the tournament immediately.”

  Rey then told Emily and Melvin to sleep, since their journey was still long. The carriage continued moving through the night.

  While Rey and Emily slept, Melvin sat by the window, staring outside into the darkness. His reflection faintly appeared on the glass. His thoughts drifted.

  “That incident back then… why did I feel such a strong urge to protect Rey? It feels like something changed inside me when we fought the Orc General.”

  The Next Morning – Christope Arena

  The scene shifted to the next morning.

  The massive arena of Christope was filled with noise, banners, and the roar of the crowd. It had been transformed into the official battlefield for the Tournament. Nobles, guild members, and clan representatives filled the stands.

  Alex, Willson, Drax, and Tristan walked together toward the referee platform. Their expressions were serious.

  Alex spoke angrily,

  “This is unfair! Why are we facing a level 75 Minotaur? The previous team only fought a level 70 Earth Dragon!”

  The referee replied coldly,

  “There is no significant difference. The monster is level 70, and it is equivalent. Are you, Clan Origin, cowards just because the monster was changed? We do not have many Earth Dragons, so we adjust according to the situation.”

  Alex’s anger flared.

  “According to the situation? Do you think Clan Origin is a toy for you nobles to play with?”

  At that moment, Helberg stood up from his throne-like seat and spoke calmly but firmly,

  “Clan Origin, if you are dissatisfied, you may withdraw.”

  Edric stepped forward and shouted loudly,

  “This tournament is not valid! If you want to measure strength based on completion time, the monster must be the same!”

  Helberg replied indifferently,

  “The problem is, the Earth Dragon is no longer available. Didn’t you hear the referee’s words?”

  Edric fell silent for a moment before speaking again,

  “The Hartz family possesses a level 70 Earth Dragon. I request to replace the Minotaur with the Earth Dragon for this round.”

  The referee shook his head.

  “That is not possible, Lord Edric. Tournament regulations require that the monster be selected several days in advance. Therefore, the Hartz family’s monster cannot be used as a replacement.”

  Alex clenched his fists and said angrily,

  “Fine! I accept this challenge. But I want something in return.”

  The referee looked at him.

  “Oh? What is your request?”

  Alex smiled darkly.

  “If we defeat it faster than them, I want extra points for our Clan.”

  The atmosphere instantly fell silent.

  The referee looked toward Helberg and the other judges. After a brief exchange of looks, he spoke.

  “Very well. We will grant an extra 5 points if you defeat the monster in a faster recorded time.”

  Alex smiled sinisterly and turned away. As he passed Vincent, he spoke in a cold, serious voice,

  “Finish it quickly. You’re free to go wild.”

  Hearing this, Vincent and his team smiled cruelly.

  Two captains from Divisions 2 and 4 began stretching their bodies, their muscles tensing as they prepared for battle. They started warming up, ready to destroy the Minotaur as fast as possible.

  Behind them stood three mages, including Vincent, and two support members, already preparing their buffs to empower the two captains.

  The air around the arena grew tense.

  The tournament battle was about to begin.

  After the Referee finished the countdown—

  “3… 2… 1…”

  Both captains moved.

  Their acceleration was so extreme that the audience could barely follow their movements. To the spectators, it looked as if their bodies had vanished entirely, leaving only ripples in the air and distorted shockwaves.

  In a single instant, the Minotaur’s arms and legs were brutally severed. Deep gashes tore through its massive limbs, and a powerful stun effect froze its movements for three seconds.

  Blood sprayed violently into the air, splattering the arena floor.

  Before the monster could even scream, Vincent and the two other mages stepped forward in perfect synchronization. Their mana surged and intertwined, forming a massive circle of heat and destructive energy.

  “Inferno Hell.”

  A colossal fire-based attack rained down on the Minotaur.

  In less than a heartbeat, the monster’s existence was erased. Its massive body disintegrated into ash and light, vanishing completely. The combined attack was so devastating that the arena floor itself shattered, cracking and collapsing into broken fragments.

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  For a moment—

  Silence.

  Absolute silence.

  Helberg, the Leader of Clan Aegis, the Leader of Clan Obsidian, and Victor stood frozen in disbelief. Their faces were pale, their expressions blank, as if their minds could not process what they had just witnessed.

  Edric, however, remained calm, clapping his hands slowly with a faint smile as he observed the destruction.

  Then—

  The crowd erupted.

  The entire arena exploded into cheers and screams.

  “Clan Origin!”

  “Clan Origin!”

  “Clan Origin!”

  The audience roared with excitement. No one had expected Clan Origin to defeat a Level 70 Minotaur so quickly. Not even five minutes had passed, yet the monster had been completely annihilated.

  From the stands, a voice shouted loudly:

  “Clan Origin will usher in a new era in Christope!”

  The declaration echoed throughout the arena, sending the crowd into an even greater frenzy of cheers and applause.

  Helberg’s face twisted in frustration. His fists clenched tightly, veins bulging on his forehead. He turned sharply to Mercury, his voice low and seething with suppressed rage:

  “I want you to win the next match!”

  Mercury met his gaze calmly and replied with confidence:

  “Don’t worry, uncle. I’ll handle it.”

  After Clan Origin’s overwhelming victory in the first match, the rankings were updated:

  ·   First place: Clan Origin

  ·   Second place: Guild Adventurer

  ·   Third and fourth: The remaining two clans

  The arena atmosphere had shifted completely. Clan Origin was no longer seen as an underdog—they had become a true threat.

  For the second round, ten members from each clan and guild would enter a dungeon.

  They were tasked with clearing Floors 10, 9, and 8.

  The scoring system was simple:

  ·   Monsters above Level 70 → 10 points

  ·   Monsters below Level 60 → 5 points

  ·   Monsters below Level 50 → 3 points

  All teams would enter the dungeon simultaneously.

  Most importantly—

  There would be no rules inside.

  This meant any team could steal items, kill competitors, ambush other groups, or take rewards by force—without punishment.

  It was a battlefield disguised as a tournament.

  Alex understood immediately.

  This was not a fair competition.

  It was a trap.

  A system designed to eliminate Clan Origin.

  He gathered his core members and gave his orders with calm authority, his eyes cold and sharp.

  Every captain from Division 1 to Division 6 was ordered to join the team.

  Then he chose four high-ranking elites to lead the squad:

  Tristan, Eris, Evelyn, and Luna, with Luna assigned as primary support.

  Alex spoke firmly:

  “In this round, you must understand one thing. You are facing not only powerful monsters, but also the scum from enemy clans and guild adventurers. Do not underestimate them.”

  Tristan stepped forward confidently:

  “Don’t worry, Alex. I’ll lead our team properly.”

  Alex placed a hand on Tristan’s shoulder:

  “Thank you, Tristan. I’m just a little stressed thinking about all the problems we’ll face one by one.”

  Tristan understood immediately.

  He knew exactly what Alex was worried about.

  Rey.

  Whether Rey was still alive.

  Whether he would return.

  Whether Clan Origin could survive without him.

  After all preparations were complete, the teams moved toward the dungeon.

  Inside the arena, a massive screen appeared, divided into four smaller screens, each showing one clan or guild team inside the dungeon in real time.

  Alex remained inside Clan Origin’s command tent, desperately attempting to contact Rey and Floryn through the communication channels.

  No response.

  Nothing.

  Then—

  A sudden roar erupted from the crowd.

  Alex rushed outside and looked up at the screen.

  His eyes widened.

  His expression turned furious.

  Tristan’s team was facing Clan Aegis and Guild Adventurer, led personally by Victor.

  At the same time, Clan Obsidian’s Vice Leader led his squad, hunting powerful monsters along a different path.

  Three forces.

  One target.

  Clan Origin.

  They had formed an alliance.

  Their plan was clear—

  Crush Clan Origin first.

  Tristan drew his sword.

  Eris vanished instantly, her body dissolving into shadows as she activated camouflage.

  Luna raised her staff and released a powerful area buff, covering the entire Clan Origin squad in radiant energy.

  Seeing Luna, Victor’s eyes widened in shock.

  He shouted sharply:

  “Take down the enemy support! She is the backbone and must be eliminated first!”

  The enemy forces moved with ruthless precision.

  They attacked from all directions.

  Warriors charged.

  Assassins flanked.

  Mages rained down spell after spell.

  Tristan and the division captains formed a defensive front line, holding back the relentless assault. Their bodies were pushed step by step, forced into a defensive formation under overwhelming pressure.

  Then—

  Eris struck from behind.

  Her blade slashed across Victor’s back.

  But—

  His armor held.

  High-tier equipment.

  Elite-grade.

  The damage was minimal.

  Victor counterattacked instantly, spinning around and punching Eris squarely in the face.

  Blood burst from her mouth as she flew backward.

  Tristan saw it.

  His eyes burned with fury.

  His aura flared violently.

  He activated his skill:

  ‘Berserker.’

  His strength surged to terrifying levels.

  His speed became lightning itself.

  In an instant, he lunged forward and slashed at Victor.

  Victor couldn’t even perceive the movement.

  The strike cracked the dungeon floor, sending shockwaves through the surrounding area.

  But—

  Victor did not fall.

  His armor absorbed the impact.

  Armor provided by the Arden Family, specifically designed to ensure victory in the tournament.

  Then—

  From behind—

  The Vice Leader of Clan Aegis struck.

  His blade sank deep into Tristan’s back.

  A fatal blow.

  Tristan collapsed to one knee, blood spilling onto the dungeon floor.

  Victor threw his head back and laughed loudly:

  “Hahahhahaha, Tristan, Tristan!

  I know your weakness all this time.

  I provoked your anger so you would lose focus.”

  Victor kicked Tristan backward with brutal force, sending him sprawling across the dungeon floor. Yet what he didn’t realize was that Eris had already appeared behind him.

  Her body shimmered into the shadows, skillfully activating ‘Backstab’ fused with ‘Poison’, ensuring that the wounds inflicted on Victor were now incredibly toxic and deadly. The poison spread rapidly through his veins, searing his body with a painful heat that left him weakened and staggered.

  Eris smiled faintly and whispered:

  “You’re very careless, Victor. But do you know Tristan isn’t as weak as you think?”

  Suddenly, a heavy impact reverberated through the corridor. The Vice Leader of Clan Aegis collapsed from a single strike delivered by Tristan. Blood and dust swirled around him as Tristan wiped a bit of sweat from his brow, a faint smile on his face despite his dizziness.

  “Victor,” he said, gripping his head as he steadied himself. “I always thought you were my friend… but it turns out you were the serpent behind it all. Today, I’ll show you every ounce of strength I’ve gained from my training.”

  In an instant, Tristan punched Victor squarely in the face. Using the stun effect from the blow, he followed with a final, decisive strike. Victor crumpled to the ground, completely incapacitated.

  With their enemies defeated, Tristan and his squad proceeded deeper into the dungeon, seeking powerful monsters to increase their point totals.

  On Floor 8, a deep, menacing voice resonated from the shadows, its aura thick with malice:

  “The item the Lord seeks has not been found? Who took it? You lowly humans must retrieve it immediately, or else…”

  A figure dressed like a sage stepped forward and replied respectfully:

  “Do not worry, my Lord. I will find it at once.”

  The ominous voice faded into nothingness.

  Suddenly, the sage detected the approach of adventurers clearing monsters nearby. These were people from Christope participating in the ongoing tournament. The sage’s eyes narrowed as he muttered under his breath:

  “I will interrogate each one of you. Be ready.”

  With a flash of high-level magic, he vanished, leaving no trace behind.

  Meanwhile, Tristan, Eris, and Evelyn led their squad through the depths of Floor 9. Something felt off—the monsters were unusually quiet, nowhere to be seen on the surface. Tristan’s gaze hardened.

  “Everyone, stay alert. Something’s not right.”

  As they progressed, they stumbled upon a vast pool of blood, fresh and dark. Tristan immediately ordered one of the captains skilled in reconnaissance to investigate further.

  Moments later, the captain returned, panting and wide-eyed.

  “Lord Tristan… something unexpected has happened ahead.”

  Tristan’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

  The captain swallowed hard. “I… I saw the Obsidian Clan’s squad completely slaughtered by a massive and powerful monster.”

  Eris and the others froze in shock.

  “What kind of monster could be that terrifying?” someone asked.

  The captain shivered. “I saw a giant wolf monster… I’ve never witnessed a wolf of such monstrous power before.”

  Tristan’s jaw tightened. He knew they couldn’t risk moving forward blindly.

  “We need to turn back,” he decided. “We have to inform the outside world of what’s happening immediately.”

  Back in the Beginner City arena, the screens that displayed each squad now showed nothing. The images had gone blurry, as though some interference had disrupted the signals.

  Alex’s gut twisted with unease. He immediately called for the Judge.

  “Check the dungeon. Make sure everything inside is okay. None of the screens are displaying anything.”

  The Judge replied calmly, asking Alex to be patient.

  Yet the Arden Family intervened, demanding the Judge repair the screens and verify the positions of all teams inside the dungeon.

  After some time, adventurers from the Guild, along with squads from the other clans, entered the dungeon to investigate the anomaly. Alex ordered Willson and Vincent to lead a 20-member team into the dungeon, providing Willson with a communication device to relay the situation back in real time.

  Alex’s thoughts churned. “What has truly happened? Rey… where are you right now?”

  Meanwhile, at the border between Hyleos and Christope, Rey’s carriage had stopped for inspection.

  When it was his turn, the Hyleos guards halted his vehicle. One of them spoke sharply to the driver:

  “A fee of fifty gold coins is required for foreign entry into Christope.”

  Rey’s voice was cold, almost lethal:

  “Hey, are you trying to rob us?”

  The guard raised his hands defensively. “Do not act impulsively. This is the law set by the Christope government.”

  Rey calmly displayed the Clan Origin Emblem.

  The guards’ expressions changed instantly—shock and fear overtook them.

  “You… you are Duke Ace! We apologize for our insolence! Welcome back, Duke Ace!”

  They bowed deeply, showing respect in accordance with the strict custom: any citizen or adventurer encountering a Duke of Clan Origin must acknowledge them formally. Clan Origin had long aided Christope and was recognized as equal in power to the nation of Xylandra.

  Before moving forward, Rey asked:

  “Has the tournament already started?”

  One guard nodded: “Yes, Duke Ace. It began several hours ago.”

  Rey instructed the guards to tighten security at the border. He also urged the driver to hasten toward Beginner City so he wouldn’t miss the tournament events.

  In his mind, he calculated: “The tournament will last three days. Today is the main event. Tomorrow, every clan will enter the dungeon. And now… it’s already evening. Night is approaching.”

  When Rey arrived at the dungeon entrance, a crowd had already gathered. Confused, he asked Emily and Melvin:

  “Why are so many people here? Isn’t the dungeon supposed to open tomorrow?”

  Melvin pointed toward the crowd: “Rey, I see Willson over there. He’s with Drax and squads from Divisions 8 and 9.”

  Rey immediately instructed the driver to turn the carriage toward the dungeon.

  As the carriage arrived, the crowd noticed its noble Xylandra markings. Whispers spread—foreign noble carriages rarely entered Christope, especially during tournament events. Entry for outsiders usually required a hefty fee, a regulation to prevent the leaking of military or magical power.

  Rey stepped down, followed by Emily and Melvin. Every onlooker froze, then erupted in cheers as Willson’s face lit up.

  “Welcome back, Duke Ace!”

  Rey approached Willson directly. “What happened?”

  Willson recounted the chaotic events of the day. Rey’s frustration deepened as he heard of the Arden Family’s manipulations. He was shocked to learn that the second-day events had been moved forward to today.

  “So what about tomorrow’s schedule?” Rey asked urgently.

  Before Willson could respond, a terrifying roar echoed from the already-open dungeon entrance. Rey stiffened, detecting the immense power of a nearby monster.

  “Everyone, stay away from that entrance!” he commanded.

  A torrent of fire erupted from the doorway, scorching the ground as Rey and his companions barely dodged.

  In his mind, he realized: “Something strong has risen to the surface. This has never happened before… except that time.”

  He recalled the Level 89 Frost Dragon, the offspring of a Level 124 monster he had fought on Floor 7.

  “Luna and the others are inside. I must enter the dungeon to save them. This monster’s power… it surpasses even the one on Floor 7.”

  With resolve burning in his chest, Rey tightened his grip on the reins, preparing to charge into the dungeon and face the unknown threat.