Chunks of earth were shattered and scattered across the field, blood splattered everywhere, and thick smoke drifted through the air. It looked as if someone had dropped four grenades on the wide expanse of land. Limbs and bodies lay strewn about.
Not human bodies, though. Or human limbs.
These were beasts—monsters, not animals. Some resembled rhinos but were four times the size, with three jagged horns. Others were massive snakes with humanoid heads and limbs. One had a stinger nearly as long as a lamppost.
A large group of people approached the battlefield but stopped short of the smoke. They didn't move closer. Just stood there, watching, waiting—for something... or someone.
Men and women alike, all wore the same uniform: dark green jackets and black trousers, like a military division. Each wielded different weapons—swords, axes, hammers—and an aura radiated from them. Some stronger, some weaker. They looked like elite warriors from a kingdom or empire.
They waited with bated breath as the smoke began to clear.
When it did, a massive crater was revealed in the center of the battlefield. Lying inside was a colossal scorpion, the size of a truck, with four glowing eyes and pincers larger than a car. Its tail—long and segmented like a metal whip—lay motionless.
Dead.
Standing beside the corpse was the one who killed it.
A man.
He had pure white hair blowing gently in the breeze, black eyes, and a lean, muscular frame—not bulky, but solid. In one hand, he held a katana. The aura around him was unlike anything the warriors had ever felt. It dwarfed theirs—combined.
From their vantage point above the crater, the man looked like an angel towering over the demon he had just slain.
But what set him apart more than anything else was his outfit: a crisp black tuxedo. No armor. No uniform. Just a suit—and a red bandana tied loosely around his neck.
He turned to face the warriors and gave a casual, charming smile.
"All right, it's dead," he said, his voice smooth enough to hypnotize half the women on the field.
The soldiers collectively exhaled and began descending into the crater. The women among them tried to keep their composure... and failed miserably.
A bald man, clearly the leader of the group, approached the white-haired warrior.
"Thank you so much. We didn't expect you to show up. Honestly, we were about to lose. You appearing out of nowhere… it was a miracle."
"It's fine," the man replied, glancing at the bald soldier's ID badge. "Recruit Squad 4? What's a squad of recruits doing in a place like this?"
"There were no other teams nearby when the beast rush hit this zone. The higher-ups sent us. Most of them weren't ready for something like this." The bald man paused, looking over at a fallen comrade whose head had been crushed. "But... thanks to you, we survived. I'm grateful."
"Don't mention it," the man said, offering a small smile.
As the other warriors began clearing the battlefield, many whispered quietly among themselves.
"Is that him? Like… really him?"
"Most people never get to see him in person—let alone in action."
"I heard even veterans only catch glimpses. Just once, maybe."
"He's even more handsome than the rumors said."
"Is it even legal to look that good? That's just unfair."
"To stop a beast rush alone... the stories are true. He's the strongest in the whole of the Leigon Empire."
"His Xen... it's so powerful. So pure."
The squad leader didn't bother silencing them. This kind of reaction was common, he'd heard—especially from those seeing the man for the first time. Even he was meeting him now... and struggling to stay composed.
"Well, I'm sure you've got other priorities," the bald man said, bowing respectfully. "We'll handle the cleanup. Thank you, Mr. Red."
"It's fine, man. No need for all that." Red gave a lazy wave, clearly unfazed.
"Um... Mr. Red," the leader asked, tilting his head. "If you don't mind me asking... why the tuxedo?"
Red blinked. "Oh, that's because I was on my way to the gra—"
He froze. His eyes widened. "Oh, shit. The Xen Academy graduation. I'm so late."
And in the blink of an eye, he vanished.
The bald man stood there, stunned for a moment, then slowly began to smile. He turned back to the others.
"All right, recruits! Let's clean this place up. You've seen a glimpse of what the top looks like—don't waste it."