The clearing was silent except for the Boar King's ragged breaths. Its once-proud frame now trembled, tusks dripping with blood and saliva, eyes dulled from exhaustion. Each strike from Tony had chipped away at its monstrous vitality, until its colossal body was barely holding together.
Tony's own chest heaved as he steadied his blade. His muscles burned, his mind was weighed down by the toll of channeling the formless style earlier, yet his eyes gleamed with fierce clarity. This fight had given him insights he hadn't expected—not just about the game's mechanics, but about himself.
Even with the strain, it was worth it. That style… it has a place here. If I can refine it, this game might truly allow me to ascend further than I did in the real world.
The sisters, still trembling from their brushes with death, watched as Tony shifted gears. No longer pressing himself beyond his limits, he instead slowed his movements, deliberately demonstrating each counter, each feint, each well-timed dodge. He wasn't merely fighting anymore—he was teaching.
"Suzy, notice how I bait its charge before stepping aside," he called calmly, even as the beast's tusks missed him by inches. "That's how you control aggro without wasting unnecessary energy."
"And Maya, when you heal, don't just focus on HP bars. Watch the rhythm of the fight. Healing at the wrong moment is worse than not healing at all."
Sweat dripped from Maya's brow as she nodded vigorously, committing every word to memory.
For nearly an hour, the battle dragged on. The Boar King roared and stomped, its 2% regeneration dragging the fight out painfully, but Tony's relentless precision kept it under control. At one point the monster activated [Ferocity], its body glowing crimson as it sacrificed defense to convert damage taken into restored HP. For a terrifying moment, the beast became a juggernaut of fury, shrugging off blows as it barreled forward like an unstoppable avalanche.
But that skill had its price. With defenses lowered, Tony's sword carved deeper, every strike hammering vital points. Slowly, inexorably, the Boar King's thousand HP dwindled to nothing.
Finally, with a shuddering groan, the ruler of the forest collapsed, shaking the ground as its massive body fell lifeless.
The system notification echoed in all their ears:
Ding!Congratulations! Your party has slain [Boar King – Special Elite]. Bonus EXP awarded.
Suzy dropped to the ground, sprawling on her back as though every bone had melted. "If this fight lasted even one more minute, I think I would've collapsed!"
Maya sank beside her, pale and drenched in sweat. "You're not the only one. I thought my heart would stop every time I saw your HP drop. My healing was so… so clumsy." Her hands trembled as she spoke, recalling every close call, every desperate heal cast just in time.
Tony sheathed his sword, his expression softening as he looked at them. "You both did well. This wasn't an ordinary fight. Special Elites are meant to crush teams of uncoordinated players. The fact that you survived and kept learning—that's what matters."
The sisters exchanged weary smiles, their exhaustion outweighed by pride.
"It's been ages since I've felt this alive," Maya whispered.
"Me too, sis," Suzy said, her face glowing despite her fatigue. "If only we could fight like this more often…"
Tony chuckled. "You'll have plenty of chances. Once players reach towns and advance to second classes, the real game begins. Monsters won't be your only enemies then—other players will be just as dangerous."
Their eyes widened as he continued. "When you reach level 10 and advance, I'll introduce you to a friend who's forming a guild. With training, you could thrive there. Competing against other guilds, fighting for dominance—that's where Ancient Myth truly shines."
"Big brother," Suzy asked suddenly, her eyes hopeful, "you'll be joining that guild too, right?"
Tony shook his head, a smirk playing on his lips. "No. My ambition is bigger. I intend to conquer this game solo. To stand at the top without relying on a guild."
The sheer arrogance of his words might have sounded ridiculous from anyone else, but from Tony, they rang like prophecy. Suzy's admiration deepened until her gaze practically sparkled. To her, anything Tony said was absolute truth.
Tony stepped toward the fallen Boar King. "Since my luck stat's highest, I'll handle the loot. But know this—I consider you both partners, not freeloaders."
The sisters blinked. He didn't need to explain himself, yet he had. The simple gesture made their hearts warm.
But as he knelt by the corpse, the atmosphere shifted.
A chill cut through the clearing.
From the shadows, a dagger whistled toward Tony's back, gleaming with lethal intent.
"Tony!" Maya screamed.
For the sisters, time seemed to freeze. The strike was impossibly fast, aimed straight for Tony's heart. Yet to Tony, it was almost expected. His body twisted at the last instant, the blade slicing nothing but air.
"You finally showed yourself," Tony said coolly, eyes narrowing at the figure materializing before him.
The attacker was cloaked in black, his hood drawn low to obscure his face. Only his eyes gleamed through the shadows—cold, predatory, unblinking. Their sheer menace made Suzy's knees tremble.
The man chuckled darkly. "Ho… to dodge my ambush. Few can claim that."
Tony's expression sharpened. "Your mistake was revealing killing intent a heartbeat before striking. If you hadn't, even I might've been caught."
The hooded man tilted his head, intrigued. But before he could speak again, Tony moved.
In an instant, Tony was upon him, his blade a streak of silver death. The speed was inhuman—faster than lightning, aimed to annihilate.
Yet the black figure flowed like water, twisting midair to avoid the fatal blow. He spun, daggers flashing, one blade grazing Tony's side with a crimson arc.
Tony didn't flinch. His sword split into four illusory images, all converging on the figure's vitals.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The man barely blocked, his daggers sparking as he deflected three of the strikes. The fourth forced him back several steps, his boots digging furrows into the earth.
"Young man," the stranger muttered, his voice tinged with awe, "you're a monster."
Tony exhaled, eyes locked on his opponent. Smooth… lethal… his assassination skills are top-tier. At least a Peak Expert.
"You're no simple man yourself," Tony said coldly. His aura shifted, killing intent flooding the clearing like a suffocating tide. For the first time, Suzy and Maya saw him angry—not their warm, dependable big brother, but a demon unchained. Their bodies stiffened, their instincts screaming at them to flee.
The cloaked man stiffened as well, though he forced a grin. "Easy there, young man. I only wanted to test you. Nothing personal."
Tony's glare didn't soften. "Then you picked the wrong target."
Even the stranger's vast experience told him this was no bluff. Tony wasn't posturing—his killing intent was real, honed in life-and-death battles outside any game.
The man sighed, raising his hands slightly. "Young man, just who are you? Don't insult me by pretending to be an ordinary player. That façade won't fool me."
Tony snorted. "Can't you read names?" Then his eyes narrowed as a system notification popped up. He hadn't checked it during the ambush.
System Alert: You have been attacked by [Silent Shadow].
Recognition flared in the stranger's eyes. His composure shattered. "Impossible… are you telling me—you're the real Mad Demon!?" His voice rose in disbelief, his eyes widening until they nearly bulged.
Tony smirked faintly. "This is too much fuss for someone with 'Silent' in their name. And what if I am? Got a problem with that?"
The man froze. Silence stretched, then he suddenly burst into laughter. "Hahaha! Mad Demon… of course! I once saw you fight years ago. That arrogance, that aura—it matches perfectly. There's no doubt!"
He clasped his hands together in an old martial salute. "It's an honor to meet you."
Tony returned the gesture curtly. "And who are you?"
"You may not know me now," the man said, his voice softening with nostalgia, "but ten years ago, I was famous on the Abyss Battlefield. An incident left me crippled, forced me to abandon martial arts. Since then, I've survived in VR."
Tony's eyes sharpened. "The Abyss Battlefield… not a place for the weak. What was your name back then?"
The man hesitated, then lifted his gaze to the sky. His voice carried both pride and sorrow. "Back then, I was called… Phantasm Slasher."
The words struck Tony like thunder. His pupils contracted.
"Holy… I actually met a legend."
This time, it was Tony's turn to be shaken. Phantasm Slasher wasn't just some fighter—he was one of the monsters of the Abyss Battlefield, a prodigy who had forged his own style without guidance. Some had worshipped him; others had reviled him. But no one could deny his brilliance.
Tony's respect deepened instantly. For the first time in years, he felt the stirrings of genuine excitement—not just for combat, but for the rivalries and alliances yet to come.