Lior then came in, stepping forward without hesitation, placing himself between Kaiser and the others.
He didn't say a word.
He didn't need to.
Everyone understood.
He was buying time.
"MOVE!" he shouted.
That was all it took.
The remaining cadets began retreating, some dragging the injured, others barely able to stand on their own. Fear still gripped them, but now—there was purpose.
Survive.
Get out.
Live.
Behind them—
Lior charged.
At the same time, another figure stepped in beside him.
Riley.
A B-rank.
Without wasting time, he moved forward with sharp precision, his presence calm yet deadly.
"There's no way we win this," Riley said quietly.
Lior didn't respond.
"Good," Riley smirked. "Then we're on the same page."
And just like that—
They attacked.
Simultaneously.
Lior moved first, rushing toward Kaiser, drawing its attention with speed alone. His movements were sharp despite his exhaustion, forcing the dragon's gaze onto him.
Riley followed.
Silent.
Calculating.
Their goal was clear—
Delay.
Every second mattered.
Kaiser struck.
A claw came crashing down—
BOOM!!
Lior barely dodged, the impact sending shockwaves through his body. The ground beneath him shattered, forcing him to roll away just to stay on his feet.
Riley appeared from the side.
His blade flashed.
CLANG!!
He struck Kaiser's side—but instead of brute force, his strike was precise.
Targeted.
Controlled.
Kaiser reacted.
Turning instantly.
But Lior was already there.
He leaped forward, slashing across its body, not aiming to deal damage—but to provoke.
To distract.
To pull its focus.
And it worked.
Kaiser shifted its attention between them.
Left.
Right.
Back.
Forward.
It was being forced to move.
"Keep it moving!" Riley called out.
Lior nodded.
They moved like that—
Back and forth.
Constant pressure.
Constant distraction.
Time passed.
Seconds felt like minutes.
Minutes felt like hours.
Then—
A change.
Kaiser's movements slowed slightly.
Not from weakness.
But from adjustment.
It was learning.
Adapting.
Riley noticed immediately.
"…We don't have much time."
Lior clenched his teeth.
He knew.
Then suddenly—
Riley smiled.
"…Looks like they're out."
Lior glanced back briefly.
The last of the cadets had disappeared from sight.
They had made it.
That was enough.
Riley stepped forward.
"Let the game begin."
His voice changed.
Serious.
Focused.
He charged.
Straight at Kaiser.
No hesitation.
This time—
He wasn't holding back.
His movements became sharper.
Faster.
Cleaner.
He targeted specific parts of the dragon's body.
Joints.
Weak spots.
Hidden gaps in its scales.
Lior watched for a split second—
Then understood.
Without a word—
He followed.
Riley struck first.
A precise cut along Kaiser's lower side.
The dragon reacted instantly—
But Lior came in at that exact moment.
Timing perfect.
His blade slammed down with force.
A heavy strike.
Not random.
Not rushed.
Calculated.
Kaiser staggered slightly.
Just for a moment.
That moment—
Was all Riley needed.
He stepped forward.
His stance shifted.
Different.
Refined.
"This ends here."
Energy gathered along his blade.
Condensed.
Focused.
His aura changed completely.
Then—
He moved.
A single step.
A single strike.
"Grand Strike!"
The attack landed clean.
Direct.
Explosive.
BOOM!!
The impact shook the entire dungeon.
A massive burst of energy tore through Kaiser's body, sending it crashing backward.
Dust filled the air once again.
Silence followed.
Lior stood there, breathing heavily.
"…What was that…?" he asked.
Riley rested his blade on his shoulder.
"Family sword style."
Simple.
Casual.
As if it was nothing.
Lior nodded slowly.
"…We should go."
Riley agreed.
"Yeah. No point staying."
They turned.
And began moving.
Fast.
They needed to regroup.
On their way—
They saw someone approaching.
Sylvia.
Supporting Jack, who was barely able to walk.
Lior stepped forward immediately.
"What happened?"
Sylvia looked at them, her expression tense.
"We completed our side and were moving out with the instructor…"
She paused briefly.
Then continued.
"…but we were attacked by a Behemoth."
Lior's eyes widened slightly.
"A Behemoth?"
Sylvia nodded.
"It was insanely strong. Rain and Mike told me to make sure the rest moved out safely—"
She didn't finish.
Because Lior and Riley had already started moving.
Fast.
Towards the direction she came from.
Lior's mind raced.
Rain… Mike… Jason…
How did Rain end up there?
There was no time to think.
No time to question.
Only one thing mattered—
Getting there.
They pushed forward at full speed.
The air grew heavier as they approached.
The ground showed signs of destruction.
Cracks.
Burn marks.
Impact zones.
Signs of a massive battle.
Then—
They arrived.
And what they saw—
Stopped them for a moment.
The Behemoth—
Was down.
Massive.
Collapsed.
Defeated.
Standing nearby—
Mike.
Rain.
Jason.
All breathing heavily.
All injured.
But standing.
They had done it.
"…You're late," Rain said, a faint smirk on his face.
Lior exhaled.
"…Looks like you handled it."
Mike nodded.
"Barely."
Jason dropped to the ground.
"I'm never doing that again…"
Lior stepped forward—
Then stopped.
Because something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
He looked around.
Then—
He saw him.
The instructor.
Lying on the ground.
Not moving.
Not breathing.
Lifeless.
Silence fell over them.
The victory—
Felt empty.
Heavy.
Painful.
Lior walked closer.
Slowly.
Each step heavier than the last.
He knelt beside the instructor.
No reaction.
No movement.
Nothing.
His hand tightened slightly.
Behind him—
No one spoke.
Because there was nothing to say.
They had survived.
They had won.
But—
At a cost.
A cost they couldn't ignore.
A cost they couldn't undo.
Rain looked away.
Jason lowered his head.
Mike clenched his fist.
And Lior—
Remained still.
Staring.
Because for the first time—
The reality of their world hit differently.
This wasn't just training.
This wasn't just a test.
This—
Was real.
And in that silence—
They all understood.
Things were only going to get harder from here.