[You have completed the first stage of the Dragon Knight Trial]

[Do you wish to proceed to the second stage?]

[Yes / No]

"Yes."

*Ding*

[Entering the second stage…]

[Attributes of monsters and their abilities will be amplified]

[The second stage of the trials will assess your speed]

[Do you wish to continue?]

[Yes / No]

"Yes."

A portal-shaped door appeared in front of Axton, glowing with a mix of different shades of light.

Without hesitation, he reached out and pushed it open.

Axton stepped into another vast forest arena, the ground covered in moss and glowing mushrooms.

The moment his foot touched the floor…

*Swoosh* *Swoosh*

Something sliced through the air toward him.

His instincts flared.

Axton twisted his body, narrowly dodging the first projectile, then ducked in one smooth motion to avoid the second.

A faint sting brushed his cheek.

He touched it. Blood.

Just a scratch, but the attack had been absurdly fast.

When his eyes adjusted, he saw them.

Arrows!

Two of them lay buried deep in the bark of a nearby tree, their shafts still quivering from the force.

[The second stage of the trial will assess your speed]

The message echoed again, as if mocking him.

Now it made sense.

The arrows weren't just attacks. They were the test.

"Kar tunga uga!" a voice bellowed.

Axton's eyes snapped toward the source.

Dozens of green-skinned archers emerged from the trees, their bodies lean yet muscular, ears long and sharp like blades.

They wore rags around their waist as clothes and carried long bows.

Axton frowned. "Orcs…?"

The system confirmed it.

[Forest Orcs]

[Grade: 2]

[Level: 30]

[Attack: 1600]

[Defense: 150]

[Agility: 1660]

[HP: 200 / 200]

'Shitty defense,' Axton thought, 'but those attack and speed stats are decent.'

The orcs roared again, their cries shaking the leaves above. Then came the sound — like thunder being drawn — dozens of bows being pulled back in unison.

*Swoosh* *Swoosh* *Swoosh*

A rain of arrows darkened the sky.

They were coming for him.

Axton took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

The air around him dropped several degrees, a thin frost forming over the moss at his feet.

A faint, cold mist escaped his nostrils as he raised his right hand.

Time to test it.

[Skill: Frost Assault]

The mana around him surged… and then fizzled.

[Failed!]

Axton's eyes widened. "What? Failed?!"

He felt the backlash instantly, like the skill had been sealed off.

[The second stage of the trial will assess your speed]

'You've got to be kidding me…' he thought, grinding his teeth.

'So it won't let me use any ability other than speed-based ones?'

The arrows were almost upon him.

"Fine then…"

[Flight] + [Black Wings]

Black aura erupted from his back as massive wings unfolded, scattering leaves and dirt into the air.

Axton shot upward just as the arrows pierced the ground where he stood.

*Boom*

Dozens of shafts exploded against the terrain, leaving cracks and dust clouds.

Above the battlefield, Axton hovered mid-air, his eyes scanning the orcs below. They were already reloading, pulling back their bows for another wave.

Axton's wings fluttered a couple of times, doubling his flight speed.

*Swoosh*

He shot forward like a streak of black lightning.

Arrows chased after him, but none came close this time.

The air cracked under the pressure of his movement as he swooped down.

*Shing* *Shing*

[Sword Shower]

A few ethereal swords appeared beside him, each forged from condensed aura.

They struck down the orcs like divine punishment.

Every sword that landed cut through an orc with precision.

Limbs flew and green blood splattered across the forest floor.

The orcs screamed, but their voices did not to remedy their situation.

Axton descended amid the chaos, wings folding back as the last of the orcs fell.

Silence returned.

The entire group of orcs had been wiped out in seconds.

Axton exhaled, landing lightly on his feet.

For a moment, he looked around, half-expecting another ambush. None came.

Then, the familiar tone echoed.

*Ding*

[Congratulations!]

[You have completed the second stage of the Dragon Knight Trial]

[Do you wish to proceed to the third stage?]

[Yes / No]

"Yes."

The scenery shattered like glass.

In an instant, Axton was standing somewhere new — a vast plain of black stone stretching beneath a blood-red sky.

The air was scorching hot, every breath like inhaling smoke.

*Ding*

[Welcome to the third stage of the trial]

[The third stage of the trial will assess your ability to survive]

[Do you wish to continue?]

[Yes / No]

"Yes."

As soon as he responded, the temperature skyrocketed.

The clouds above twisted, forming a massive vortex.

Within seconds, a deafening roar split the heavens apart.

*Rooooaaarrr*

A shadow descended from the vortex.

A colossal dragon, its body wrapped in flames that burned hotter than magma.

Each flap of its wings sent waves of condensed wind across the ground, nearly cracking the black stone beneath Axton's feet.

The heat was intense.

He squinted up at the beast.

Its scales looked like molten metal, and its eyes were like two miniature suns locked onto him.

*Ding*

[Tank the attack of the Fire Dragon]

He was meant to tank this thing?

Not after the status profile he just saw.

Axton froze. "Whaaat?! An attack power of…!"

[Tank the attack of the Fire Dragon]

Axton's expression darkened. "This trial… is insane."

The dragon opened its maw, gathering a sphere of condensed flame so bright it made the entire sky glow like dawn.

The pressure alone almost forced Axton to his knees.

Sweat dripped down his chin, evaporating instantly.

He could feel it.

The attack wasn't something a player was meant to survive under normal circumstances.

It was an execution disguised as a test.

Still, he clenched his fists.

"I see how it is," he muttered, summoning a defensive aura around himself. "You want me to survive this? Then watch me."

A giant block of ice manifested between Axton and the incoming ball of immense fire.

Even then, he felt that the Great Ice Wall wouldn't be enough to counter the flame of the Fire Dragon.

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