I was running so fast it didn't even feel real.
My body—no, everything—had changed since I advanced to D- rank.
From F to E, there had been growth. My strength, stamina, mana—each stat increased steadily, but they still felt within human limits. Manageable. Measurable.
But this…
This was a qualitative leap.
I could feel it. If I punched a boulder right now, it would shatter.
My feet were moving faster than my mind could process. At one point, I even lost control and was flung off the ground, skidding across the earth like a thrown doll.
And now I understood.
Why I couldn't defeat Daren or the other D-rank knights back at the fortress.
To them… I was just a child.
But I didn't have time to savor this power.
The hounds were still behind me—snarling, ravenous, tireless.
I needed my sword.
If I had to fight… I couldn't do it empty-handed.
"Just a little more…" I muttered under my breath, eyes locked on the distant slope.
Almost there. Just a little more
I leap over the fallen trunk, boots scraping against the bark as I land and keep running. Behind me, the C-rank hound—the one I blinded—is charging like a demon unleashed.
Its breaths are loud, feral, closing in with terrifying speed.
If I slow down even for a second, it'll tear me apart.
I've gotten stronger—faster. But not strong enough to fight this beast barehanded. Not yet.
The sword. I just need to get to my sword.
Almost there...
Two more minutes of sprinting through the trees, and I spot it—right where I threw it earlier. Half-buried in the dirt, the blade waits for me like a lifeline.
I lunge for it, diving into a slide. My fingers close around the hilt, cold steel grounding me.
I twist.
The moment I turn, the hound is already in the air above me. Its claws slash down—and crash into my raised blade.
Sparks explode on contact.
The impact sends me flying back. I crash into the ground, wind knocked from my lungs. The hound lands on top of me, jaws snapping inches from my face.
I shove the sword between us just in time.
It bites down on the blade, snarling like a mad beast, teeth grinding metal, trying to rip through it and me at the same time.
My arms strain. Muscles scream. It's no good—others are getting close, and I'm still pinned under this fucking C-rank monster.
I slam my foot into the hound's belly, using all my strength to toss him aside.
He crashes into the dirt with a snarl, but he's not down for long.
I scramble to my feet.
He's already coming at me again—eyes bloodshot, jaws wide, wild fury in every step.
I raise my katana and slash.
Clink!
A harsh metallic ring fills my ears as steel meets claw.
Thank the gods this blade is made from reinforced metal—anything weaker would've snapped in half by now.
I grit my teeth.
The hound stumbles back, snarling, but before I can breathe, the others arrive.
More of them.
Fangs. Claws. Growls.
I am surrounded.
A hound lunges at me from the side, jaws wide, aiming straight for my throat.
I twist and sidestep—barely.
My katana arcs out in the same motion, slashing across its flank.
To my surprise, the blade sinks deep. A gash tears open, spraying blood.
Just days ago, I couldn't even scratch these monsters. Now, I'm cutting through them.
It's just a D-rank hound, but still... that's progress.
The beast stumbles, yelping in pain. Before it can recover, I close the gap and drive my katana straight into its chest.
A sharp, guttural howl escapes as it thrashes—then goes still.
Dead.
But there's no time to celebrate.
The other hounds snarl and charge, enraged by their fallen packmate.
I leap backward, mana surging to my palm. A fireball ignites in my hand.
Three hounds cluster together, eyes burning with hatred.
Perfect.
I hurl the fireball.
They try to scatter, but it's too late. My speed has increased since my last advancement—and so has the fireball's velocity.
The spell strikes the ground between them.
Boom.
A sharp, deafening explosion rips through the air. Flames engulf the hounds, sending them flying.
They land with whimpers and scorched fur—wounded, but still alive.
Still, the blast was enough.
The other hounds slow, suddenly cautious.
Good.
It gives me a moment.
Just a breath.
I exhale, katana still dripping blood, eyes locked on the approaching pack.
Now... think.
"Think. Think harder, Kael."
What do I do now?
There are still fifteen hounds alive. Three of them are injured, barely standing. The rest? Still full of bloodlust. All of them are D- to D+ rank. And their leader—C- rank—is staring at me with cold fury, lips peeled back in a snarl.
Even if I'm D- rank… I can't take him head-on. Not like this.
"Come on... there has to be something. Anything."
I grit my teeth, forcing my panicked thoughts into order. What can I use?
Darkness affinity. But I don't know how to tap into it yet.
Primordial sigils? They're passive. But they're working. I can feel it. Despite everything, my breathing is steady, my focus sharp. I'm adapting, even without realizing it. Their movements—I'm reading them, predicting them. Instinctively. That has to be the Eyes of the Origin at work.
And the Mask of the Nameless… it's suppressing the fear. Keeping me calm when I should be frozen in terror.
Still, what about the third sigil? The one that gives me complete control over aura?
Tch.
I've spent two months trying to grasp even a flicker of aura—and failed. If I try now and mess up, I'm dead. I can't afford a gamble like that. Not now. Not when one mistake will get me torn apart.
No. I need another way.
My mind races, formulating plans and throwing them out just as fast. In reality, only a few seconds pass—but to me, it feels like an eternity. The world slows. Every movement, every breath, every heartbeat—I'm aware of all of it.
Because of the sigils.
I'm still alive because of them.
And for that, I'm grateful.
In battle, staying calm… that's everything.
Without them?
I would've been dead already.