The Wastes were silent when Kaelion arrived.
Stretching beyond the cliffs west of the Draythorne estate, the barren lands were a cursed place—void of light, drained of color. Twisted trees rose like black claws from cracked soil, and jagged stone ridges cast long, sinister shadows under the morning sun.
No one sane ventured here.
No one unprepared returned.
Kaelion crouched beside a shattered obsidian tree, eyes scanning the lifeless ridge ahead. His breath was steady. His system pulsed softly within his mind.
> [Target Confirmed: Tier-4 Beast – "Dreadmaw, Guardian of the Wastes."]
[Combat Trial Objective: Kill or disable the target alone.]
[Time Limit: None. Retreat voids trial.]
The earth trembled slightly.
Kael's eyes sharpened.
It was coming.
---
Dreadmaw burst from the rocky slope like a thunderclap, stone and dust erupting in every direction. It was monstrous—nearly thirty feet long, plated in granite-like scales, with a maw wide enough to crush a horse whole. Its claws tore the ground as it landed, snarling low, yellow eyes fixed on Kaelion like twin torches.
Most warriors would've run.
Kael stepped forward.
> [Activating: Corebreaker Martial Path – Void Flow Stage Two.]
[Passive Buff: Pain Reduction 40%. Mental Clarity Enhanced.]
He moved first—launching forward with Void Pulse Step, flickering past the beast's initial charge.
A claw missed him by inches, tearing through a boulder.
Kael twisted midair, flipping over Dreadmaw's neck and slamming a full-force palm into the base of its skull. The Core Shatter Strike landed—but barely cracked the beast's outer scale.
Kael landed, rolled, and dodged just as a tail slammed down where he'd stood.
> [Core Integrity: 93%]
[New Weakness Identified: Fracture point behind right eye.]
[Recommendation: Use Echo Trace to create angle.]
"Got it," he muttered.
He ran straight toward the beast again.
Dreadmaw roared and lunged—but Kaelion vanished mid-charge.
The air blinked where he had stood.
Then—Echo Trace.
Kael reappeared behind the beast, already mid-strike. His fist glowed with focused energy.
This time he didn't aim to bruise.
He aimed to break.
His knuckles connected with the soft fracture behind the eye. A loud, sickening crack rang out, and the beast howled, stumbling violently.
> [Hit confirmed. Skull integrity compromised. Core rupture: 12%]
[Repeat sequence advised.]
Kael ducked a wild tail swipe and blinked forward again, chaining another Echo Trace to gain elevation. He jumped from stone to stone until he leapt from above—fist cocked back, eyes locked on the target.
The beast raised its head too late.
CRACK.
The second blow shattered bone.
Dreadmaw slammed into the dirt, blood gushing from its eye socket. It writhed in rage, smashing the ground in fury. Kael was thrown back by the tremor but rolled to his feet instantly.
He was panting now, arms shaking. Blood seeped from a wound on his shoulder where a shard of scale had grazed him. But he stood.
> [Final Opportunity Detected.]
[Unlocked: Limit Break – Void Flow 2.5: Rift Step.]
> [Warning: High strain. Body tolerance: 62%. Execute at risk.]
Kael didn't hesitate.
He surged forward.
For one split second, he broke the rhythm of movement—disappearing entirely, a step between space and nothing.
Rift Step.
He reappeared atop Dreadmaw's wounded head, golden energy flooding his Core. The light in his chest pulsed harder than ever before.
He drove his palm down with everything he had—focusing all the power, all the pain, all the rage of a boy deemed worthless.
BOOM.
The ground split open from the impact. Wind howled outward like a shockwave. Dust choked the air.
And when it cleared—
Dreadmaw lay still.
Its massive body collapsed, blood oozing from the shattered skull.
Kaelion stood atop the fallen monster, drenched in sweat and crimson, chest heaving.
He was shaking.
But he was alive.
> [Trial Complete.]
[Tier-4 Beast Eliminated: +2 Corebreaker Points]
[Primordial Core Progression: 18% ➝ 26%]
[Skill Acquired: "Void Rift Step – Beginner Tier"]
[Body Status: Extreme Fatigue. Medical attention recommended.]
Kaelion didn't fall.
He climbed down slowly, boots hitting the cracked earth with a solid thud.
Then, and only then, did he allow himself a breath.
The System fell silent. The world stilled.
The only sound was the wind.
And in it, Kaelion heard nothing.
No praise. No witness. No applause.
Just the soft, solemn beat of his own heart.
Proof that he had survived.
Alone.