Rhine's blade clashed against Kaito's again and again—sparks flying, their duel growing more feral with each exchange. The rest of Everhold Dominion's core team, though powerful, were rapidly falling under Genesis's focused pressure.
Hiroto surged forward, shield glowing crimson.
"Burning Drive!"
His flaming charge collided with Rhine's lieutenant, driving the armored warrior into a jagged boulder. The man let out a strangled cry before collapsing beneath the rubble.
Kaede raised his staff again. "Cinderbolt Nova!"
Three flaming spheres swirled into the air and slammed into two more Dominion casters preparing coordinated spells. Their chants were lost in the firestorm.
"Only five left!" Daichi roared, springing forward.
"Flash Palm!"
His palm struck a rogue mid-dash, slamming the man into the canyon wall. Before the enemy could recover, Daichi followed up with a knee to the chest and a cyclone-augmented elbow strike.
"Cyclone Palm!"
The shockwave lifted two nearby archers off the ground, scattering them like dolls.
Suzune vanished again.
"Shadowline Reversal."
She reappeared behind a dual-wielder trying to close in on Aika. Her blade danced in silence—one cut, then another. The rogue dropped before he could scream.
Aika stood firm at the center of the chaos, voice unwavering.
"Radiant Guard."
Her golden dome flared again just in time to absorb an incoming magic barrage.
"Sanctuary Sync."
The healing pulse washed over Hiroto and Daichi, restoring stability to their frontline momentum.
"Three left!" Meirin called from above, perched along a rocky ledge.
She fired.
"Gale Spiral Shot!"
The arrow spun into a Dominion mage as he tried to flee, drilling through his shoulder and detonating with a burst of gale-force wind.
Rhine bellowed.
"You think you've won?!"
Kaito's gaze narrowed. "We already have."
"Mana Step."
In a single flash, he moved behind Rhine, blade already rising.
"Cross Slash."
The red arc cleaved into Rhine's side. The Everhold leader whirled, countering with a desperate slash—but Kaito ducked low.
"Flame Arc Slash!"
His blade ignited in mid-swing, drawing a blazing crescent across Rhine's chest.
Rhine faltered—his HP dipping into the red.
With one final motion, Kaito stabbed forward.
"Cut."
A clean strike pierced through Rhine's last defense. His system notifications flared.
For a heartbeat, silence.
Kaito stood over Rhine's fading data. His sword lowered.
The Blackstone Ravine was still.
Smoke still curled over the battlefield. Armor pieces littered the ridge like bones in an animal's den. Where once thirty members of Everhold Dominion stood, only scattered loot remained.
Weapons. Equipment.
You died, you dropped your gear. Simple as that.
Kaito scanned the field one last time before lifting his hand and activating the system recorder. The battle, start to finish, had been captured. Not for glory. Not for revenge.
For strategy.
He tapped the floating menu in front of him.
[Upload Recording to Forum]
Title: "Genesis vs Everhold"
Tags: Everhold Dominion, South Glade, Blackstone Ravine Clash
Submit anonymously? [Y]
A soft chime confirmed the upload.
Kaito had made up his mind long before the dust settled. With Everhold Dominion aware of this spot, it was no longer a safe zone for peaceful leveling. The moment blood was spilled, the Blaackstone ravine would become a contested territory.
But he wasn't about to hand it back to Dominion.
This was all part of his plan.
By uploading the full battle footage, he would expose Dominion's ambush for what it was—an arrogant display of force that failed. The video would spread, denting their reputation and drawing the attention of countless other players.
The more players came here, the less Dominion could control it.
And the more he could benefit.
As this region dropped fire-infused ore—material vital to his forging sequence. If he couldn't monopolize the field, he'd flood it with players and buy the ore off the market at lower prices.
Besides, most of Genesis had already reached Level 12. The monsters here capped at 14. The experience gain was slowing, the challenge dwindling. Staying would only waste time
...…
After they had swept up all the the loot dropped.
Kaito opened his map.
Bright dots shimmered across the wild land—each representing a hidden treasure.
ten Bronze. three Silver. One Gold.
He tapped the closest icon.
"First target's just past the ridge," he said. "Bronze chests. Should be lightly guarded… if we're lucky."
Kaede snorted. "We're never lucky."
Kaito smiled
....
Kaito led them towards the canyon's outer wall.
The moment they reached the narrow tunnel, Kaito halted and raised a hand.
"Mob zone."
A trio of creatures prowled the ravine clearing—wolf-like beasts with crystalized stone growing along their backs. A fourth emerged from behind the cliff: larger, armored, with magma dripping from its fangs.
[System Alert: Scorchfang Predators – Level 15 Elite Pack]
Kaede braced his staff sighing. "Atleast we can handle them."
The chest shimmered faintly in the distance, half-buried beneath cracked stone.
Kaito nodded.
──────────────
"Radiant Guard!" Aika shouted.
A shimmering dome enveloped them as the first Scorchfang lunged. Its claws raked across the shield, sparks flying.
Kaede swept his staff wide. "Stormlash Surge!"
Lightning arced in jagged streaks, striking two of the beasts. One collapsed instantly, twitching. The larger elite roared in rage.
"Flame Arc Slash!" Kaito's blade ignited as he slid beneath the burning alpha's leap, carving upward in a molten arc.
The beast landed hard, flame leaking from its wound.
But it wasn't done.
"Flash Palm!" Daichi arrived just in time, slamming his open hand into its exposed flank. The resulting gust hurled it sideways, crashing it into the ravine wall with a deafening boom.
Suzune's voice cut through the haze. "Backstab!"
She blinked in behind the third predator. Her twin blades pierced the nape. The creature froze—then fell.
Aika's barrier dimmed. "Last one—finish it!"
Kaede raised both hands. "Cinderbolt Nova!"
A trio of fireballs spiraled toward the final Scorchfang and exploded with pinpoint force. The flames receded. Only scorched ash remained.
The air stilled.
[System Alert: Elite Monster Defeated – Scorch Fang Predator (Lv. 15)] x3
EXP Gained:
Raen: +2,300 EXP
Kaede: +2,000 EXP
Meirin: +2,150 EXP
Suzune: +2,200 EXP
Daichi: +2,250 EXP
Hiroto: +2,220 EXP
Loot Dropped:
x1 Basic Equipment Core
x12 Silver Coins
x1 Uncommon Prop: Ember Hide Fragment
x6 Scorched Tooth (Material – usable in basic alchemy or forging)
....
The chest was now fully visible—an old Bronze container sealed with interlocked rune rings.
[Bronze Treasure Chest – Extraction Lock Applied]
[Requirements: Riddle Glyph Decoder | Unlock Timer – 60 seconds | Failure Chance: 42%]
Kaito knelt before it and exhaled.
...….
The interface flared.
He had 60 seconds to align a rotating glyph pattern.
[Begin Unlock Attempt – Timer Started]
He turned the first ring.
Click.
Second ring.
Click.
Third…
Click—clack. Failed alignment. The glyph pulsed red.
[Unlock Stability Dropped – 58% Remaining]
"Damn."
He reset the ring and tried again.
Click.
Click.
Click.
The glyph flashed green.
[First Layer Unsealed – Proceeding to Final Lock]
Another set appeared, faster, sharper.
This time, he closed his eyes. Recalled a similar structure from the old version of Glory.
Click. Click—click.
Final glyph. His hands moved on instinct.
Click.
[System Alert: Bronze Chest Unlocked Successfully]
[Reward Unlocked: Skill Crystal – Passive Acquired: Precision Decode]
…..
[You have learned a new passive skill: Precision Decode]
→ Increases success rate when attempting to bypass lock mechanisms and ancient technology interfaces.
→ +12% effectiveness when interacting with chests, traps, and glyph-based ruins.
The chest opened with a metallic hiss.
Inside:
A Bronze-ranked forging hammer
Ten Minor Reinforcement Gem
And a scroll containing a blueprint for Bronze-tier light armor
"Let's move on to the next one." Kaito said, tucking the items into his inventory.
His eyes flicked toward the next nearest point.
...
They moved fast. The second Bronze chest was located inside a shallow gorge tucked beneath a crumbled stone archway. No mobs—just an ambient trap.
Kaito stepped in first and used his new passive.
[Passive Skill Activated: Precision Decode]
The chest's needle lock disarmed without issue.
[System Alert: Bronze Chest Unlocked]
Reward:
Skill Scroll – Passive: Glyph Timing (Usable by: Thief)
Bronze Accessory – Ring of Focus (Usable by: Mage, Cleric)
Item – x8 Minor Spirit Grains (Used in: beginner-level mana food recipes)
No one spoke. They kept moving.