Won was in the air, sword drawn, his breath caught in his chest. He twisted mid-air, evading the stomp by inches. A heartbeat later and he would have been paste.
Time slowed. Below him, the massive, three-headed beast twisted its necks, searching for its next victim with eyes that glowed like molten silver.
Then the Codex Map blinked into view, lines of text forming fast:
[Entity's Title: Diaon Drull]
[Entity's Strength: ERROR]
Error?
What kind of monster makes the system glitch? Just how strong are you, bastard! Won screamed inwardly before jumping on.
I won't just wait for those Ashens to react and save me.
When it's about survival, self comes first.
His boots found purchase on the creature's shoulder. The hide was rough, like volcanic rock. Without hesitation, he planted his sword into the base of the nearest head. It skidded off.
He roared, louder than he meant to:
"I'LL GO FOR THE EYES! SOMEONE GET TO THE HEART!"
The battlefield hesitated.
Then two figures broke the stasis.
Blurs of motion: Orson and Blossom, the twins. In perfect tandem, they charged toward the beast's chest. Their black raid uniforms fluttered behind them like twin blades of vengeance. Orson slid under the beast's swinging arm, flipping and slicing with brutal elegance. Blossom ran up a falling chunk of debris like it was solid ground, then launched herself at the creature's side.
Won, above, made it to the first eye. He jammed his sword in, twisting violently. Purple ichor sprayed upward like a geyser, burning through his sleeve. The beast shrieked, its middle head flailing violently.
"DISRUPTING ITS VISION! KEEP IT COMING!" someone shouted from below.
Won didn't stop. He dashed toward the second eye, his footing was uncertain. But it was not time to balance and strike with a certain goal. Also, he didn't even have any combat lessons. How could he possibly know about right footing? It was all just instinct and the Sensari.
The monster began to thrash, trying to throw him. He jumped, grabbing a horn, swung around it, then stabbed again. Another eye burst.
Below, Orson and Blossom were carving their way through the beast's armored chest. Each strike reverberated through the beast like thunder. The hide was so thick, it was like cutting steel with bone.
Why isn't it falling? Won thought. It worked last time.
Then the beast reared up. All three heads screamed in unison, a deafening shockwave that shattered nearby trees.
From the right flank, professional Ashens entered the fray.
"BINDING IT NOW!"
A high-ranking Ashen slammed both hands into the dirt. Ethereal chains erupted upward, wrapping the beast's legs in glowing gold. It staggered, momentarily slowed. Others followed up: fireballs, frost spears, wind blades.
The Diaon Drull roared again making Won's ears bleed and swung its massive arm sideways. It connected with a senior who hadn't dodged in time—he was flung into a tree with a sickening crunch.
"SHIT! STAY BACK!" barked the commander Ashen. "DON'T GET CLOSE UNLESS YOU'RE IN TOP FIVE RANK!"
"It was a mistake to bring kids! This bastard is a killer!" Another Ashen yelled.
Won launched again, feet barely gripping the twitching shoulder. He spotted the third eye, still blinking.
One last strike.
He dove for it, sword-first. As he reached it, a head lunged upward to meet him.
Suddenly, a glowing chain shot past his ear and yanked the head sideways. Won fell onto the brow ridge, drove his blade into the third eye with everything he had.
The beast screamed. Blinded.
He barely held on as it bucked. Below, the twins were still hacking at the chest, energy flaring with every strike. Their coordination was perfect—Orson would deflect a limb, Blossom would pierce between ribs. Still, no heart.
Where the hell is that heart?
"IT'S SHIFTING THE CORE!" Blossom shouted.
Won could feel it. The pulse had moved.
Then, the creature swung wildly. Its claws came down for the twins.
Won leapt without thinking.
Would I make it?
Well I cannot make it if I don't try!
BLAM. BLAM.
Twin shots exploded the monster's wrists mid-swing.
Time seemed to pause once again.
The beast faltered. Its entire arm dropped like dead weight.
Won turned.
A boy was walking through the smoke, rifle still aimed, black hair falling across his eyes. Calm and monstrous aura radiating from him.
But the Diaon Drull was not done. It slammed its body to the ground.
The ground shook violently.
Ashens screamed. The front lines broke. Two professionals were crushed. A senior tried to jump away, but a stray claw slashed him mid-air.
"God! God! They are killed! It cannot be happening!" A first year fell on ground, panicking.
Won was knocked backward, hit the ground hard. Something cracked in his side.
He forced himself up, blinking blood from his eyes.
The boy with the gun was beside him, reloading. "I'll open the path again. One shot. You find the heart."
Orson interrupted, swinging his hand, "No, Won has done enough! I will do it!"
"You cannot!" The gun boy quietly spoke in calm voice with no hesitation. Then added, "This guy," looking at Won, "only he can do it."
"What are you saying? That's too risky for a flintshade! He's bleeding all over."
The guy boy smirked and ignored Orson, then looking at Won he asked, "Can you do that?"
Won gritted his teeth. Nodded.
Orson glanced between them and decided to keep faith on Won, then moved.
A few seconds later…..
BOOM.
The bullet hit the same weak spot on the chest the twins had softened. A splintered gap opened.
Won ran. Pain in every step. The Codex Map blinked. He could see it now.
The heart. Moving. Shimmering with energy.
He screamed.
"NOW!"
Won reached the chest, blade drawn. He stabbed.
The blade went in deep. Won twisted. Found the magic heart.
The Diaon Drull let out a final shriek. Then fell. Massive. Earth-shattering.
It was over.
[You have slain a Diaon Drull]
[Do you wish to claim the heart core as your own achievement or divide its boons among your companions?]
Won chose the latter.
Boons: Sense 12
Bearings: Sensari
Bearing Rate: 16
Skill Used: Sensari
Vitality: 40
Won fell to his knees, blood running down his arm. Panting. Shaking.
Did I win? Did I really win?
Boots crunched.
The boy in black stood there, offering a hand. Won stared at it for some seconds before grabbing it and rose to his feets.
The boy pulled Won closer then whispered some unrecognisable language to his ears that ended with, "Gravemarch Won!"
What!
Won's eyes widened, of course he didn't understand what the boy said in whole but he understood the boy calling him a Gravemarch!
He tried calming himself down. There was no way he could be exposed right now. This boy must be joking, right?
The boy let go of his hand and said, "I meant how cool it is to meet you, Gravemarch Won!"
Won shrugged, trying to act nonchalant, and said, "Gravemarch? Sounds like you have been in sort of wrongness here. Spending too much time on Ashens' Library huh?"
The boy chuckled, unfazed. "Yeah, maybe. I like the words of legends." He tapped his temple. "Stuff sticks."
He offered a hand again, voice casual. "Leocadio Gaecia, first year, ranked skarnveil. Just call me Leo."
Won gave it a glance, then shook it on. "Won. Just Won. I don't have any title named Gravemarch. Ranked flintshade."
Leocadio nodded slightly. "Won. Right. Simple. Clean."
Won was still doubting him, this guy was strong, he could feel that already. But he wasn't sure if this boy, Leo, was just joking or pretending to joke.
Won nodded once, slow. "Glad we're clear."
They started moving towards where everyone was gathering. Some people died.
With hands in his pockets Leo said, "Don't worry—I mess names up all the time. People call me things too. Hero. Heretic. Depends who's talking."
Won raised an eyebrow and decided not to say anything. This boy was weird.
"Don't worry, I'm not the talking type," he added.
Won studied him a moment longer and said. "Good. I'm not the listening type."
Leo laughed loudly before they stopped in front of the crushed bodies of at least six people.
Both Leo and Won had no expression on their faces as they watched the bodies on the ground. Leo glanced at Won and muttered:
"Seems like we'll get along just fine."
***
It had been hours. Everyone was pushing deeper into the veyne, searching for the boss. There was no way to leave the veyne unless the boss was defeated. The commander of the Ashens had thanked four of the first-year students for their kill.
Won tried not to dwell on it too much. It wasn't like he had done it alone — everyone had played a part. If it had been just him, he would've been dead in seconds.
"Are you thinking about something?" Orson asked, walking beside him.
"Yeah…" Won nodded. "The people who died — what happens to their bodies?"
"When people die inside a veyne, most of the time it's impossible to recover their bodies and bring them back to the surface," Orson replied.
"So we just… leave them there?" Won asked, bewildered.
Orson nodded. "Yeah. But if we make it out before the veyne collapses, or if the circumstances allow, sometimes it's possible to retrieve the bodies. Though it's rare. I haven't seen it happen myself or even read about it."
That's cruel! Won thought bitterly.
It's like the Ashens who fight to save the earth just vanish without a trace! What kind of insane job is this?
I only chose this path because I had nothing to begin with — but why do people with power and money see this kind of work as a reward? Are they out of their minds?
"Everyone, halt!" the commander's voice rang out, sharp and commanding. His hand shot up in the air.
"Something's coming," Won murmured under his breath, catching the faint sound of something crawling.
For a few tense seconds, everything fell into an eerie silence. No one was moving.
Then Won shouted, "From below! Get clear!"