Kaiser could now detect the faintest traces of arcane and disguised skills, even those buried beneath layers of power that would have fooled most participants. The battlefield was no longer simply a collection of moving bodies and monsters—it was a tapestry of energy, emotion, and intent. Fear, hesitation, and aggression flowed like invisible currents through every participant and creature, twisting and intertwining with the ambient magic of the Trial. Each pulse of energy, each tremor of intent, revealed subtle weaknesses, hidden tells, and unguarded moments that had previously gone unnoticed.
Nice… I'm finally approaching my previous rank, he thought, scanning the battlefield with quiet calculation. The thought brought a faint spark of anticipation to his chest. Leveling up quickly would not be easy; the Second Trial had been designed to weed out all but the most efficient, most adaptive survivors. Yet, for the first time in years, Kaiser felt the familiar thrill that came from operating at the very edge of mastery. This was the sensation he had sought for so long. This was why he had endured countless setbacks, painstaking trials, and grueling skirmishes in the past.
Without hesitation, he dove back into the fray. The Bathob Caublies—the monstrous horde that had been unleashed upon the remaining participants—rushed toward him, claws snapping, twisted jaws opening in grotesque anticipation. Kaiser moved like a shadow among them. Each strike he delivered was calculated, precise, and devastating. Weak points that had once required guesswork were now glaringly obvious under the Eye of Judgment. Armor joints, corrupted energy cores, misaligned limbs, even subtle imbalances in the creatures' posture—the moment they moved, he knew where to strike, exactly how to strike, and with what effect.
The creatures fell like rain. Every strike shattered forms, disrupted magical energy flows, and left dissipating arcs of arcane traces in its wake. Their twisted, garbled howls of pain and frustration were the only sounds that punctuated the silence of the battlefield. Even as chaos swirled around him—the screams of the dying, the panicked shouts of the few surviving participants, the scraping of claws against stone—Kaiser remained a calm, central axis. He was the calm before the storm, the eye around which chaos revolved.
By the time the Trial concluded, the scale of the carnage was staggering. Out of ninety-eight thousand participants, only 9,800 survived. Ninety percent had been crushed—either by monsters or by the efficiency of Kaiser's relentless onslaught. The survivors themselves were scattered across the battlefield, pale, wide-eyed, and trembling. Many could not even process the magnitude of what had just occurred. The Trial had been merciless. Survival had required not just skill but ruthless precision and the ability to exploit every flaw without hesitation.
A ripple of cold energy suddenly announced a presence above the battlefield. The Herald appeared, hovering effortlessly, detached and impassive. Its gaze swept across the carnage, scanning, recording, yet betraying nothing of its thoughts. The dead were ignored; the destruction was simply part of the assessment.
"Approximately ninety percent of the participants are dead," the Herald stated flatly, its voice calm and neutral. Every word resonated through the minds of the survivors, echoing in tandem with the silence of the ruined battlefield.
Kaiser's eyes scanned the area. The remaining participants were scattered, pale, and wide-eyed. The full scale of the Trial's carnage was now obvious. Few dared to move. Every survivor understood, on some subconscious level, how close they had come to death. And yet Kaiser… he was untouched. He had calculated, predicted, and struck with lethal precision, leaving no room for hesitation or error.
Another notification appeared before his eyes. The arcane energy flowing through him pulsed faintly, illuminating every motion he had made, every weakness he had exploited, every strike that had ended a life. It was a map, a record, and a reward all at once.
World Ranking Announcement:
1st — Kaiser: 5,060
2nd — Baron: 630
3rd — Raisel: 500
Even among the survivors, whispers spread at the sheer scale of the kill count. Some stared openly at Kaiser, awe-struck and fearful. Others could only bow their heads, unable to comprehend how a single individual could eclipse the efforts of thousands so completely. The Herald did not comment. It simply observed. Yet its eyes lingered on Kaiser for longer than necessary, following every subtle shift in the arcane aura radiating from him. Every pulse, every slight intensification of magical energy, was noted, logged, and evaluated.
A soft, sharp chime echoed across the battlefield. A subtle, almost imperceptible vibration ran through the air.
[Survivor Rewards Distributed]
Each remaining participant received 1,000 EP and a Common Skill Rune Draw.
Then another soft chime rang, and a translucent notification appeared before Kaiser alone.
Record Notification:
Level-Up Achieved — (Level 27 → Level 30)
Kaiser's eyes narrowed as he absorbed the words. A faint pulse of arcane energy surged through his body, sharpening his senses, tightening his muscles, and syncing his reflexes with the flow of battle. Every nerve, every tendon, every muscle fiber seemed to hum with potential energy. Level 30… he murmured under his breath, almost casually, though a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, betraying his satisfaction. Faster. Sharper. More precise.
He flexed his fingers. The faint hum of arcane within his veins tingled with new potency. Every weak point he had seen before now seemed to glow brighter, as if the battlefield itself had marked them for him. He could feel the flow of combat, the latent energy in the creatures, and the hidden frailties of any participants daring enough to move near him. His mastery was expanding, creeping closer to the rank he had held before—the rank that had once seemed untouchable.
Almost immediately, a second notification followed:
Record Notification:
Achievement Unlocked – Heroic Soul (Unique)
[Heroic Soul – Unique]
Granted to one who has slain thousands of monsters without hesitation or fear.
+15% Arcane (34 → 39)
+5 Luck (21 → 26)
Kaiser's gaze swept over the battlefield, noting the subtle shift in his aura. Arcane energy now pulsed more strongly through him, almost tangible, and his reflexes sharpened to a near-perfect edge. He could sense potential attacks before they happened, anticipate movement before it was initiated, and read subtle tells that betrayed even the most careful of opponents.
"Hmph… Heroic Soul," he muttered, a faint chuckle escaping his lips. Not just for show—it actually improved efficiency. Excellent. He exhaled slowly, allowing himself a quiet satisfaction. Each strike, each calculated motion, had brought him closer to mastery. The Trial was no longer a test—it was a forge, and he had emerged tempered, sharper, and ready for the challenges yet to come.
The surviving participants stared at Kaiser, their expressions a mixture of awe, fear, and disbelief. His presence dominated the field. The aura of lethality, the calm efficiency, the precision of his strikes—all combined to make him something more than a survivor. To them, he was a living weapon, an unstoppable force.
The Herald remained unmoved. Silent. Observant. Its gaze followed Kaiser, measuring, evaluating, yet offering neither praise nor condemnation. It did not interfere. It simply recorded.
Then a man stepped forward, rising above the trembling participants. His uniform bore the insignia of authority, and his posture was formal, respectful.
"Mr. Kaiser," he said, bowing slightly, "I am Levis, representing the Player Association. We request that you register as an official member of our country."
Kaiser's lips curved faintly. The motion was subtle, almost imperceptible, but the question behind it was sharp, cutting.
And what do I gain from this? Power? Influence? Or just another leash? he thought coldly, evaluating the offer with the same precision he applied to every battlefield, the same scrutiny he had applied to every opponent, every weak point, every path to survival. The answer was not yet clear, but one thing was certain: whatever the choice, Kaiser would decide on his terms, with his advantage secured, and without Compromisation.