The moment Ankit's feet touched the new arena, a metallic clang echoed across the vast emptiness.
A coliseum—its stone pillars rising hundreds of meters high—stood in the middle of a barren desert. The walls were stained with old blood. Dozens of iron gates lined the perimeter, like jaws waiting to open.
There was no sky here. Just a dark crimson dome, pulsing like a heartbeat.
And overhead, the system's voice returned, cold and absolute:
[Simulated Training Realm: Final Phase – Coliseum of Beasts Initiated]
Objective: Survive 3 Waves of Increasing Beast Threats
Bonus Objective: Execute a Perfect Kill (1 strike, 1 kill)
Time Limit: 30 Minutes
Failure Condition: Total Knockout / Soul Fracture
Reward: Tier Evaluation Upgrade, Bloodline Resonance Exposure, Entry Ticket for Awakening Trial
Ankit's grip tightened around his talwar.
He wasn't the same boy from Day One of this training.
He had faced his fears. Battled fire serpents. Walked through the illusion of his mother.
And now… this was the final trial before bloodline awakening.
Clang!
The first gate opened.
A Level-12 Direhorn Boar stormed out—massive, armored hide, bone tusks longer than Ankit's arm, and a stench of rotting flesh.
Its red eyes locked onto him.
It charged.
"Let's dance, then."
Ankit leapt to the side, drawing his blade in a smooth arc.
[Swordsmanship Proficiency: 24%]
[Shadow Link: Active – +10% agility boost]
He slid beneath the creature's legs, the edge of his talwar glowing faintly. Mana surged through his core as his steps flowed—like water bending through cracks in stone.
One cut.
A clean slice through its unarmored underbelly.
The beast stopped. Shuddered.
And collapsed.
[Perfect Kill Achieved – +1 Bonus Reward Point]
Ankit exhaled.
But there was no time.
CLANG. CLANG.
Two gates opened.
Wave Two.
Twin Fangwolves, Level-14, moving in coordinated patterns—white fur bristling, lightning coursing across their bodies.
They circled him.
One snapped from the front, the other feinted toward his back.
[Shadow Step – Activate]
He vanished.
Reappeared behind the first.
Strike.
His blade carved a shallow arc along its spine. Not deep enough.
Too slow.
The second leapt onto him, fangs flashing—
CLANG!
The talwar turned the bite, but he skidded back, blood trailing from his shoulder.
[Warning: Minor Wound Detected – Endurance Check Passed]
[Mana Surge Activated – Temporary Boost: Reflex +10%]
He crouched.
Then surged forward.
Dash. Slash. Evade.
In five seconds, the first wolf's head rolled. The second followed six seconds later.
He stood panting, body trembling from exertion.
But his eyes burned brighter.
[Wave 2 Cleared]
[Stats Increased: Agility +1, Endurance +1]
[Bloodline Pulse: 32% Detected]
[Next Wave Begins in 20 Seconds]
Ankit knelt.
Breathing deeper.
His talwar pulsed, alive with dark light.
This was it.
Wave Three.
The final challenge before the Awakening.
The coliseum rumbled.
Not one. Not two.
A single gate opened—larger than all others.
And from it walked a creature of myth.
A Simulated Wyvern-Class Beast.
Its scales shimmered with obsidian mana. Its wings beat once, and the sand around Ankit lifted like a storm.
Its name blazed into his mind:
[Varkor the False Dragon – Simulated Grade: Level 20+]
Ankit's hands trembled.
Not from fear.
From excitement.
"Finally… something that might kill me."
He stood tall.
Talwar raised.
And ran straight at the dragon.
To be continued...
End of Chapter 7