The kingdom of Aurelius had stood proud for centuries, its golden spires piercing the sky. Every ten years, the Trial of Guardians selected five champions to protect the realm. This year, a boy with no family name, no noble lineage, and no expectations—Rudra—was chosen.
Marked by the glowing crest of the chosen and thrust into the harsh world of battle, Rudra quickly discovered the leveling system of the Guardians. With each kill of Night Beasts, his level increased, unlocking new powers and artifacts. By Level 5, he had the Blade of Dawn, his first weapon, and by Level 10–15 he began to gain defensive artifacts: a shield and lightweight armor that allowed him to fight more effectively.
Training and small-scale missions against packs of Night Beasts sharpened his skills. Rivalry with Leon Draven, the noble-born guardian, added tension: Leon mocked Rudra at every turn, but the commoner's rapid growth and sheer determination earned grudging respect from the other three Guardians.
As Rudra leveled up, he faced larger waves of Night Beasts, eventually reaching Level 20–30, unlocking faster reflexes, stronger strikes, and mastery of his Blade of Dawn. Villages were saved, and townsfolk began to whisper Rudra's name with hope and awe.
The calm didn't last. From the crimson mist rising in the distance emerged the first true Night Beast boss—a massive, serpentine creature with claws like scythes and glowing crimson eyes. Its roar shattered the air, sending smaller beasts scattering.
Rudra's heart pounded. He could feel his crest burning, the pulse of the system guiding him. The other Guardians readied their weapons, but even together, the beast towered over them.
"Stay back!" Leon barked, though even he looked wary.
Rudra gripped the Blade of Dawn. This is my fight.
The boss lunged. Rudra dodged, parried, and countered with a combination of strikes, each blow causing the number above his head to surge: Level 40… Level 45… Level 48…
The creature lashed out, splitting a boulder beneath Rudra's feet. Sparks flew as metal clashed against claw, and Rudra's aura flared brightly, the energy of Level 50 awakening within him. His sword glowed, cutting through the beast's thick scales.
With one massive, decisive strike, Rudra severed one of the beast's massive claws. The creature screeched, staggering back, and Rudra seized the moment. Artifacts activated: his shield hovered defensively, his armor hardened, and his body moved with superhuman speed.
The battle raged with earth-shaking intensity. Rudra's eyes burned with focus and fury. He had become more than a boy from nowhere—he had become a force of the Guardians, a rising legend.
The chapter ends mid-battle, the boss still alive, its glowing eyes locking on Rudra:
Rudra tightened his grip on the Blade of Dawn. I will not fall. Not today… not ever.
Above him, the glowing number blinked:
[Level 50]
And the crimson mist swirled around him, hiding countless more horrors waiting to strike.