Kael wanted to see exactly how this man intended to block a greataxe's cleave with nothing but a slender rapier.

  He watched as the man raised his blade.

  Following the trajectory of the descending axe, the rapier grazed the edge of the heavy blade with surgical precision. In a heartbeat, the momentum of the greataxe was redirected, sliding harmlessly into the empty air.

  Pfft—Squelch!

  A faint, dull thud followed. Kael felt a sharp, searing pain in his chest as his blood began to flow down the length of the man's rapier.

  "How am I supposed to win this?!"

  After dying 376 times, a newly respawned Kael screamed in frustration, his face contorted with rage. He finally understood: while this man had the physical stats of an ordinary human, his combat mastery was that of a Transcendent Saint. To expect Kael—a novice who had never touched a weapon before—to defeat such an opponent was an impossible task.

  However, time stood still within the Trial Space. He felt no hunger, no fatigue. He could try again, and again, and again.

  [System: Host, please maintain your composure. Time is frozen within the Trial Space.]

  "I..."

  Kael knew exactly what the System meant: You can die ten thousand times for all I care, but the mission must be completed.

  "Fine! Again!" Kael barked through gritted teeth.

  He snatched a random weapon from the rack and charged. That rapier was a literal death warrant from the God of Death. Yet, under the tutelage of this "Saint," Kael was rapidly evolving from a greenhorn into a master of arms.

  The death toll continued to climb. 1,000... 2,000... 10,000... 20,000...

  Eventually, Kael grew numb. His existence narrowed down to a single cycle: respawn, grab a weapon, and charge. The terrifying techniques of his opponent were being carved into his very marrow, blow by blow, until they became pure instinct.

  "One strike... to the throat!"

  Kael’s feet moved in a strange, rhythmic pattern. His longsword found a microscopic opening beneath the man's rapier, lunging toward his jugular. With a subtle flick of the wrist—

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  Splash! Crimson blood sprayed across the white void.

  [System: Trial Quest completed.]

  Kael didn't know how long he had spent in that void, but the moment he returned to his beloved shop, he nearly collapsed in relief.

  "I missed you guys so much," he whispered, hugging his counter with tears of joy in his eyes.

  [System: 'Brave-rank Mark' issued. Brave-rank Skill: 'Weapon Mastery' loaded.]

  [Weapon Mastery]: Grants the ability to use all weapon types and martial skills with expert proficiency, increasing damage and granting a small chance to inflict debuffs on enemies.

  [System: Manager Set—Weapon: 'Omni-Sphere' issued. Please check your inventory.]

  As he leaned against the counter, Kael felt a surge of energy scouring his body, tempering his flesh and bones. His level began to skyrocket under this baptism of power, only stopping once he hit Level 30.

  A silver-white metal ball, about the size of a fist, appeared on the counter.

  "So this is the Omni-Sphere?" Kael picked it up. Guided by his new Weapon Mastery, he instantly understood how to operate it.

  The next step was to gather materials from the Cloud Mist Forest.

  "I'll head out tonight and finish the collection so it doesn't interfere with tomorrow's business."

  No longer the frail shopkeeper he once was, Kael felt a surge of adrenaline. This power had been bought with countless deaths in that frozen void.

  "It's time for those monsters to taste my fury."

  [System: Quest Item: 'Material Synthesizer' (Single-use) issued.]

  The Cloud Mist Forest at night was far more treacherous than during the day. The aggression of the beasts spiked as soon as the sun dipped below the horizon.

  "Light the fires! Set up camp here! Teams one and two, alternate watch. Keep your eyes peeled for ambushes," Blood Wolf barked, organizing his crew.

  Pitching camp in the wild was second nature to veteran mercenaries. The orange glow of the campfires began to push back the encroaching darkness. Blood Wolf sat down by the flames, exhaling slowly.

  A bald, burly man approached, resting his greatsword by the fire before sitting down. "Boss, I heard the Lan Ye Squad also took this commission."

  "It's only natural," Blood Wolf replied, watching the dancing flames. "If they get those guild points, they’ll become the Number One squad in Cloud Mist City."

  "The Iron Bear Mercenary Group was the first to enter," he continued. "They brought back the news about the Class-rank monsters, but they paid a heavy price in blood. As for the other squads... they aren't worth worrying about."

  Blood Wolf tossed a few damp branches into the fire. They hissed and sputtered, sending up thin trails of white smoke.

  The bald man tapped his fingers. "Boss, I heard the lower-ranked squads have formed a temporary coalition. They're being led by Iron Bear himself."

  "Iron Bear? Since when did that brute have the brains for leadership? Just because his group used to have the most members?" Blood Wolf sneered dismissively.

  The Iron Bear Mercenaries, the Blood Wolf Squad, and the Lan Ye Squad were the three pillars of the city. Lan Ye’s group was the smallest but had the highest individual power. Blood Wolf’s crew was mid-sized and elite. Iron Bear, meanwhile, relied entirely on overwhelming numbers.

  That was why Blood Wolf respected Lan Ye, but looked down on Iron Bear.

  "Enough talk. Get some rest. We move deeper into the forest tomorrow," Blood Wolf said, waving him off.

  The bald man nodded, grabbed his sword, and ducked into a tent. Blood Wolf remained, chewing on a blade of grass, his eyes fixed on the fire.

  The orange light was bright, but it could hide many things in the shadows—including a pair of dark green eyes watching from deep within the thicket.