When Scott stepped back into the Celestial Realm, the jade-like gate behind him slowly faded, dissolving into nothingness as if it had never existed.
The air was dry.
Still.
Unforgiving.
Scott adjusted his grip slightly as his Red Teeth Knife formed from his soul core, its familiar weight grounding him.
"…Back again."
He hadn't even taken ten steps when he heard voices.
"…I'm telling you, that place is cursed."
"That's because you're weak."
Scott paused.
He knew those voices.
He turned—
And there they were.
Jamie and Rylan, walking side by side, clearly heading somewhere with purpose.
Scott raised a brow.
"…You two again?"
Jamie turned first—and immediately lit up.
"SCOTT?!"
He jogged over, looking him up and down dramatically.
"You're alive! I lost a bet because of you, you know."
Scott frowned slightly.
"…You bet on me dying?"
Jamie didn't hesitate.
"Of course. The odds were amazing."
Rylan sighed from behind him.
"…Ignore him."
Scott glanced at Rylan.
"…Where are you heading?"
Rylan crossed his arms slightly, looking past Scott toward the horizon.
"Another shelter. This one's not safe anymore."
Jamie nodded seriously for once.
"Yeah. Too many strong creatures roaming nearby. I like danger, but not 'get deleted instantly' danger."
Scott considered that briefly.
"…I'm looking for stronger prey."
Rylan looked back at him, studying him more carefully this time.
"…How strong?"
Scott didn't hesitate.
"Tyrant."
Jamie choked.
"YOU WHAT?!"
Rylan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You're serious."
Scott simply nodded.
There was a brief silence.
Then Rylan turned and pointed toward the far distance.
"Then you don't want a shelter."
Scott followed his gaze.
Endless land stretched outward—
Until it slowly shifted into something else.
Sand.
A vast desert.
"Weed Desert," Rylan said calmly. "That's where creatures like that gather."
Jamie immediately shook his head.
"Nope. Absolutely not. That place has 'bad decisions' written all over it."
Scott's eyes remained fixed on the horizon.
"…Good."
Rylan looked at him again.
"…You're really going?"
Scott nodded once.
"That's enough direction."
Jamie raised both hands.
"Wait, wait—before you go get yourself killed, at least let me say something inspirational."
Scott glanced at him.
"…What?"
Jamie grinned.
"Don't die."
Scott stared at him for a second.
"…That's it?"
Jamie nodded proudly.
"Short. Powerful. Memorable."
Rylan rubbed his temple slightly.
"…Just go."
Scott didn't say anything else.
He turned—
And began walking toward the desert.
---
Jamie watched him leave, then leaned toward Rylan.
"…You think he'll survive?"
Rylan didn't answer immediately.
He kept his eyes on Scott's back as it disappeared into the distance.
"…If he comes back," he said finally, "he won't be the same."
Jamie whistled softly.
"…Yeah. Either stronger… or gone."
---
From there, Scott continued alone.
Step by step—
Toward Weed Desert.
Toward something far beyond his current level.
---
And this time—
He turned and began walking.
Ryland blinked.
"…Wait—you're actually going?"
Scott didn't stop.
"You gave me the direction."
Ryland sighed.
"…You're insane."
---
The deeper Scott went, the harsher the environment became.
The heat intensified.
The wind turned violent.
Sand whipped through the air, reducing visibility and stinging against his skin.
Still—
He continued forward.
Step by step.
---
Then—
He felt it.
A presence.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
Scott stopped.
His breathing slowed.
His grip tightened on the knife.
"…Found you."
---
The sand shifted.
A massive shape emerged.
Its body was thick, layered with hardened plates like armor forged from stone and bone. Its limbs were heavy, its tail dragging behind it like a weapon.
Its eyes glowed faintly beneath the sandstorm.
And when it moved—
The ground trembled.
Scott's expression turned serious.
"…Tyrant."
---
For a moment—
Neither moved.
Then—
The creature attacked.
---
It didn't roar.
Didn't hesitate.
It simply moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
Scott's eyes widened as Blizzard activated instantly. Hundreds of predictions flooded his mind—
All ending the same way.
Death.
---
He moved anyway.
Twisting his body at the last second—
The claw barely missed his chest.
The shockwave alone sent him sliding across the sand.
"…So that's how it is."
Scott steadied himself.
His breathing became controlled.
Focused.
"…Again."
---
The Tyrant attacked relentlessly.
Each strike carried enough force to crush him instantly.
Scott dodged.
Barely.
Again and again.
Blizzard screamed inside his mind, calculations stacking over calculations, pushing his limits.
His body was slower.
Weaker.
But his mind—
Was adapting.
---
A strike came from the left—
Scott ducked.
Another from above—
He rolled.
A tail sweep—
He jumped—
Too slow.
The impact caught him mid-air and slammed him into the ground.
---
Scott coughed.
Blood filled his mouth.
"…Damn…"
His body ached.
His vision blurred.
---
The Tyrant approached.
Slow.
Certain.
Like it already knew the outcome.
---
Scott pushed himself up.
His legs trembled.
But he stood.
"…Not yet."
---
This time—
He didn't retreat.
He stepped forward.
---
The Tyrant lunged.
Scott moved.
Closer.
Inside its range.
The claw came down—
He twisted, letting it graze him instead of crush him.
Pain exploded through his side—
But he ignored it.
---
"Infiltration!"
His knife struck.
The blade pierced the outer layer—
But stopped.
Not deep enough.
---
"…Tch!"
The Tyrant reacted instantly.
Scott barely avoided the follow-up strike.
---
The fight dragged on.
Slowly.
Painfully.
Scott wasn't winning.
He was surviving.
Every movement cost him.
Every mistake nearly killed him.
---
Then—
Something changed.
---
The sandstorm intensified.
Violently.
The wind howled louder than before.
The Tyrant's movement—
Slowed.
Just slightly.
---
Scott noticed.
His eyes sharpened.
"…Now."
---
Blizzard surged.
Predictions aligned.
For the first time—
A clear path appeared.
---
Scott moved.
Not perfectly.
Not cleanly.
But decisively.
---
He slipped beneath the creature's body as it struggled against the storm—
Raised his knife—
And struck upward with everything he had.
"Infiltration—!"
---
The blade pierced deep.
Deeper than before.
Straight into its core.
---
The Tyrant roared—
Then faltered.
---
It collapsed.
---
Silence.
---
Scott dropped to one knee, breathing heavily.
"…That wasn't just me…"
He looked at the raging sandstorm.
"…Lucky."
---
Then—
The voice echoed.
---
Tyrant-Class Creature Slain: Armoured Slayer Beast
Celestial Relic Gained: Tyrant Bone Armor.
Essence Gained: Tyrant Essence x1.
---
A dark armor formed before him.
Heavy.
Dominant.
Alive with power.
---
Scott reached out.
The armor dissolved into light—
And entered his soul core.
---
"…I like this place."
---
After resting, Scott made his way back.
---
The shelter appeared gradually from the distance.
Crude.
Rough.
But safe.
---
As he entered—
"LOOK WHO DIDN'T DIE!"
Jamie's voice rang out instantly.
Scott paused.
Then sighed.
"…You're still loud."
Jamie ran over, grinning widely.
"My guy! I thought you got eaten or something. I was already planning your funeral speech."
Ryland leaned against a wall nearby.
"…He'd make it about himself."
Jamie gasped.
"Of course! I'd cry dramatically too. Very important."
Scott shook his head slightly.
"…I killed a Tyrant."
Silence.
---
Jamie blinked.
"…You what?"
Ryland straightened.
"…You're joking."
Scott summoned the armor briefly.
A dark glow flickered around him.
---
Both of them froze.
---
Jamie pointed.
"…Okay, I take back everything. You're officially not normal."
Ryland exhaled slowly.
"…You actually did it…"
Jamie suddenly grinned again.
"So… when you die next time, can I have that armor?"
Scott stared at him.
"…Try it and I'll test it on you first."
Jamie laughed loudly.
"That's my guy!"
---
They sat down together.
For a moment—
Things were light again.
---
"Remember when we couldn't even beat one Knight creature?" Jamie said.
Scott smirked faintly.
"…You couldn't."
"Wow," Jamie said, placing a hand on his chest. "Betrayal. After everything we've been through."
Ryland shook his head.
"…You two are ridiculous."