Cold wind howled across the barren land.
Ryan stopped as his gaze lifted toward the massive gate ahead—tall, ancient, and covered in deep claw marks that told stories of countless battles.
The Primal Dominion Academy.
Silence lingered for only a moment—
Then—
"RUN—!"
A figure dashed past him, blood dripping from his arm, breath ragged and uneven, eyes wide with fear.
Behind him, a roar erupted—deep, violent—sending tremors through the ground beneath their feet.
Ryan didn't move. His gaze remained steady, calm and unshaken.
"…So it starts already."
Another figure stumbled forward, then another, and within seconds panic began to spread across the area.
"Close the gate!"
"Where are the instructors?!"
"We're going to die—!"
A massive shadow shifted beyond the entrance, distorted by the rising dust.
Then—
A beast stepped into view.
It was low and muscular, its body covered in jagged bone-like armor, with dull crimson eyes glowing faintly as it exhaled hot breath into the cold air.
One student froze in place.
Too slow.
"MOVE—!"
Too late.
BOOM—!
The beast lunged forward, shattering the ground beneath its weight as it closed the distance in an instant.
Ryan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Fast."
The student barely rolled away in time, his arm torn open as blood splattered across the ground.
Chaos erupted.
Students scattered in every direction—some attempting to fight, most failing before they could even react properly.
Ryan remained where he stood, watching everything unfold.
Not fear.
Not hesitation.
But understanding.
His grip tightened slightly as Monarch's Reach pulsed softly in his hand, steady and controlled.
In his other hand—
The egg.
THUMP—
Ryan's eyes flickered faintly.
"…You feel it too?"
The egg grew warmer, and a faint whisper brushed against his mind—not words, but intent.
Ryan exhaled slowly.
"…Yeah."
He stepped forward, moving toward the gate, toward the chaos, toward the beast.
A nearby student shouted in disbelief—
"Are you insane?!"
Ryan didn't respond.
His stance lowered slightly, his grip firm and his breathing steady as he prepared himself.
The beast turned, its crimson eyes locking onto him instantly.
Silence followed.
Then—
A low growl spread through the air as a heavy pressure descended, thick and suffocating.
Ryan's lips curved faintly.
"…Good."
The staff shifted in his hand while the egg pulsed again, responding to the tension in the air.
And just like that—
The trial began.
Ryan stopped a few steps away and looked up at the creature.
It towered over him, its massive frame supported by bulging muscles beneath green skin stretched tight with power. Long, jagged teeth lined its mouth, and in its arm it held a heavy mace formed entirely from bone.
Its crimson eyes burned with hunger.
It glared.
A crushing pressure descended again, thickening the air until it became difficult to breathe.
Ryan's body tensed slightly—
Then his eyes flickered.
Not fear.
Interest.
"…So this is it."
He tightened his grip and swung the staff once—light, almost casual.
And in the next moment—
The pressure shattered completely, disappearing as if it had never existed.
The beast paused, its eyes narrowing in confusion.
Ryan stepped forward, slow and steady.
"…Don't try that again."
The staff tilted slightly as Monarch's Reach pulsed, and in his other hand—
THUMP—
The egg answered.
The beast growled louder this time as it lifted its mace, muscles tightening before it charged again.
BOOM—!
Each step cracked the ground beneath it as it rushed forward.
Ryan didn't retreat.
He moved.
With a slight shift of his body, he avoided the initial impact as the mace slammed down—
CRASH—!
The ground exploded, dust surging upward—
But Ryan was already gone.
Behind it.
The staff spun smoothly—
THUD—!
A sharp strike landed across its back, forcing the beast to stagger forward.
It roared instantly, turning faster than before with a violent backhand swing.
Ryan raised his staff just in time—
CLANG—!
The impact shook his arms and forced his feet to slide backward.
"…Strong."
The beast didn't slow down.
It pressed forward relentlessly, forcing Ryan into continuous movement as another swing followed.
Ryan ducked as the mace tore through the air above him, then stepped in close, closing the distance.
At close range—
The staff shifted, becoming shorter and more compact.
STRIKE—!
A clean hit landed against its ribs, a crack echoing through the air.
The beast flinched—
But didn't fall.
Instead—
It smiled.
A twisted, violent smile.
Its muscles bulged as the pressure returned, stronger and heavier than before, causing the ground itself to tremble.
Ryan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Now we're talking."
The egg pulsed violently.
THUMP—! THUMP—!
Heat spread through his palm as a faint whisper followed—
"…Break it."
Ryan's lips curved faintly.
"…Don't rush me."
The beast roared again and charged.
This time—
Ryan stepped forward.
Not back.
Forward.
The staff aligned in his grip as his breathing slowed and his focus sharpened, everything around him narrowing to a single point.
"…Come."
The distance vanished in an instant—
CLANG—!
Steel met bone as the impact rang across the arena.
Ryan pressed forward, not giving it space, rotating the staff tightly within his grip.
THUD—! THUD—!
Two rapid strikes landed in succession—shoulder, then ribs—forcing the beast back momentarily.
But only for a moment.
It roared louder, angrier, its muscles swelling as veins pulsed beneath its skin.
Then—
It attacked again.
Faster.
Heavier.
Ryan shifted his body just enough to avoid the first strike, but the second came instantly.
He blocked—
CLANG—!
The force drove him backward, his feet digging into the ground.
"…Getting serious now."
The beast continued pressing forward, relentless, forcing him back step by step.
Ryan exhaled slowly as his grip tightened.
Monarch's Reach pulsed brighter.
The egg in his hand responded—
THUMP—!
Heat surged stronger than before.
Ryan's eyes flickered.
"…Alright."
His stance changed—lower, sharper—as his breathing slowed and his focus reached its peak.
Everything narrowed to a single point.
The beast charged again.
Ryan didn't move.
At the last moment—
He stepped forward.
The staff aligned perfectly.
"…First—"
The air shifted as faint golden patterns spread across the staff, and the ground beneath his feet cracked under the pressure.
"…Form—"
The beast was already in front of him—
Mace raised—
Ryan moved.
A single step.
A perfect arc.
The staff descended—
BOOM—!!!
A massive burst of force erupted outward, causing the air itself to tremble as the beast was lifted and slammed into the ground.
Dust exploded outward.
Silence followed—
For a split second.
Ryan stood still, breathing steady.
"…Heaven's—"
"Enough."
A cold, absolute voice cut through the arena.
Everything stopped.
The pressure vanished.
The dust, which had hung in the air, fell instantly.
Ryan's gaze shifted.
A figure stood between him and the beast—tall, unmoving, one hand raised.
The beast was frozen in place, pinned as if the air itself had locked it down.
Ryan lowered his staff slightly.
"…Instructor?"
The man didn't look at him.
His gaze remained fixed on the beast.
"…This is an entrance trial."
A pause.
"Not an execution."
With a slight motion of his hand, the beast was forced backward, sliding across the ground before coming to a complete stop.
Silence returned once again.
The instructor finally turned, his sharp eyes landing on Ryan.
"…Name."
Ryan met his gaze calmly.
"Ryan."
A brief pause.
The instructor's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You were about to release a technique."
Not a question.
A statement.
Ryan didn't deny it.
"…Yes."
Silence lingered for a moment.
"…Good control," the instructor said.
A faint pause.
"But poor judgment."
Ryan's expression didn't change.
"…Noted."
The instructor turned away.
"Next time—"
A pause.
"…finish it before I step in."
Ryan's eyes sharpened slightly.
"…Understood."
Behind him, whispers spread among the other students.
"…Did you see that?"
"…He almost crushed it…"
"…Who is that guy…?"
Ryan ignored them.
His grip loosened slightly as the staff calmed, and the egg pulsed softly in his hand—warm, almost satisfied.
Ryan glanced down briefly.
"…Not bad."
Then he looked forward.
The trial wasn't over—it had only just begun.