The ground trembled beneath heavy, rhythmic impacts.
Each step of the monster felt like a hammer striking directly against Nolan's chest, compressing the surrounding air until it turned thick and suffocating.
The forest, already silent—
Now became even more terrifying.
Nolan did not move immediately.
He stood still, maintaining his stance, his gaze locked firmly onto the target ahead.
It was not the calm of someone who knew no fear.
But the absolute focus of someone who understood—
One single mistake…
Meant death.
"…Alright."
Nolan exhaled softly, regulating his breathing.
Ahead of him, the monster roared—a deep, guttural sound that echoed through the forest, sending waves through the leaves.
The distance between them—
Only a few meters.
No room for hesitation.
BOOM!!!
The monster swung its massive fist forward.
The air tore apart, forming a crushing pressure that shot straight toward Nolan.
But instead of dodging on instinct—
Nolan stepped forward.
"Echo Sense."
In an instant—
The world slowed.
Every movement of the monster became absurdly clear.
Muscle fibers contracting.
The trajectory of the punch.
Even the flow of mana within its body—
All laid out like a living map.
"…Right."
He tilted his body just enough.
BOOOOOOM!!!
The fist missed, slamming into the ground behind him, blasting earth and stone into the air.
Without wasting the opening—
Nolan counterattacked.
SLASH!!!
His blade arced upward, striking directly into the monster's abdomen.
CLANG!!!
A harsh metallic sound rang out.
"…That armor's tough."
Though it didn't fully penetrate—
The blade still left a shallow cut.
"…But at least it works."
The monster roared.
Pain drove it into greater frenzy.
It swung again—
Faster.
Stronger.
More decisive.
Nolan immediately retreated, widening the distance.
"Direct confrontation won't work…"
He tightened his grip.
His eyes turned cold.
"…I'll have to think."
The monster charged again, each step shaking the ground violently.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
No tactics.
Only raw power.
And that made it even more dangerous—
Because a single hit…
Would end everything.
Nolan inhaled deeply.
"Mana Flow Control."
Energy began to circulate within his body.
This time, it didn't explode outward—
It was precisely directed.
He channeled mana into his legs.
Muscles tightened.
Acceleration.
WHOOSH!!!
Nolan vanished from his original position—
And reappeared behind the monster.
"…Too slow."
His sword descended.
STAB!!!
This time—
The cut was deeper.
Blood sprayed outward.
The monster roared violently, twisting its body to counterattack immediately.
Faster than Nolan expected.
"…Kh—!"
He couldn't fully evade.
BOOOOOOM!!!
A sweeping strike hit him.
Nolan was sent flying, his body tumbling across the ground.
"…Kh—!"
Blood rose to his throat.
Pain spread through his entire body.
"…That hurts."
He pushed himself up, his body trembling slightly.
"…If this were before…"
"…I'd be dead already."
But now—
Dragon Echo was active.
Silently.
Relentlessly.
Healing.
Reinforcing.
"…Still not enough."
The monster gave him no time to recover.
It charged again, like a machine built to crush everything in its path.
"…Then…"
Nolan smiled faintly.
"…Let's push it a little further."
He closed his eyes briefly.
Focused.
Dragon Echo no longer flowed gently—
It began to rise.
"…Listen to me… just this once."
A powerful heartbeat echoed within his chest.
THUMP!
Then—
BOOOOOOM!!!
A surge of invisible force erupted from his body, spreading outward like a shockwave.
The monster paused—
For just a moment.
"…Good."
Nolan opened his eyes.
His gaze—
Had changed.
Deeper.
Sharper.
"…Now let's try again."
He dashed forward.
His speed—
Exploded.
The monster swung—
But this time—
It missed.
Nolan slipped past with precision.
SLASH!!! SLASH!!!
Two consecutive strikes—
Targeting the exact same point.
STAB!!!
The blade pierced through the armor.
"…Got you."
The monster roared wildly, flailing both arms in uncontrolled fury.
Nolan immediately retreated, maintaining distance.
"…It's almost over."
He exhaled.
"Echo Sense."
The world slowed once again.
Within that massive body—
A point of light appeared.
Right in the center of its chest.
"…The heart."
Nolan smiled faintly.
"…Thanks."
He surged forward at full speed.
The monster charged as well.
Both sides—
Collided head-on.
"…End it."
SLASH!!!
The blade thrust forward—
STAB!!!
A single strike—
Piercing the heart.
The monster froze.
Its crimson eyes dimmed.
Then—
BOOOOOOM!!!
Its massive body collapsed to the ground.
The forest fell silent once more.
Nolan stood there—
Breathing heavily.
"…I won…"
A faint smile appeared.
"Not bad."
At that moment—
[Dragon Echo Synchronization: 5%]
"…It increased?"
He frowned slightly.
"…So the more I fight… the stronger I become."
A thought flashed through his mind.
"…Then where… is my limit?"
A shiver ran down his spine.
Not fear.
But—
Excitement.
"…That's dangerous."
And yet—
He liked it.
Nolan turned, gazing deeper into the forest ahead.
"…What's next?"
A gentle breeze passed through.
This time—
It carried something.
A scent.
Faint.
Elusive.
"…Human?"
Nolan narrowed his eyes.
"…No… not quite."
A strange feeling crept in.
Dangerous.
Yet…
Alluring.
"…Now this is interesting."
He began walking.
Unaware that—
Up ahead—
An encounter…
Would change everything.