The air changed before the world did.
Ravin felt it before he saw anything—before the wind rose, before the ground trembled. It was subtle at first, like a distant echo pressing against his senses. Then, in an instant—
Everything collapsed into chaos.
A violent gust exploded through the forest, far stronger than anything he had experienced before. Trees bent unnaturally, some snapping entirely as the wind roared like a living force unleashed upon the land.
Ravin's eyes widened slightly.
"…This isn't normal."
The ground beneath him trembled.
Not lightly.
Violently.
Cracks spread across the earth, splitting the soil as if something massive was forcing its presence into reality. The sky darkened—not with clouds, but with pressure. An invisible weight descended upon everything.
Ravin's instincts screamed.
Danger.
Not like before.
Not like any beast he had faced.
This was different.
Far worse.
He steadied himself, gripping his sword tightly as both his fire and healing mana surged instinctively to the surface.
"…Something big is coming."
Then—
The sky split.
A deafening roar of wind tore through the heavens as something descended, faster than sight, heavier than anything the earth could welcome.
Impact.
The ground shattered.
A massive crater formed as the force slammed into the forest, sending shockwaves in all directions. Ravin was thrown back several meters, barely managing to regain his footing.
Dust filled the air.
Silence followed.
Then—
A glow.
Red.
Burning.
Alive.
Ravin's eyes locked forward as the dust slowly cleared.
And what stood before him—
Was not the Pegasus he had fought before.
This…
Was something else.
Its wings stretched far wider, glowing faintly with crimson energy. Its body radiated overwhelming power, far denser, far more oppressive than the white Pegasus.
Its eyes—
Burned like embers.
Ancient.
Cold.
Absolute.
Ravin's breath slowed.
"…A boss…"
The realization came instantly.
Not just any creature.
One of them.
The Seven.
The Crimson Pegasus.
A being that ruled not just the skies—
But the storm itself.
The wind around it twisted violently, infused with red energy that made it heavier, sharper, more destructive. Each movement carried a weight that distorted the air.
It stepped forward once.
The ground cracked.
Ravin felt it immediately.
Pressure.
Not physical alone—
But spiritual.
His body reacted.
His mana trembled.
"…So this is the difference…"
The Crimson Pegasus spoke—
Not in words.
But in presence.
A clear intent.
**You challenged one under my domain.**
The air tightened.
**Now face the consequence.**
Ravin exhaled slowly.
"…Good."
No fear.
No retreat.
Only resolve.
His mana ignited.
Flame surged outward, brighter than ever before, while healing energy flowed beneath it, stabilizing his body against the crushing pressure.
"…Then come."
The Crimson Pegasus moved.
And the world broke.
It vanished.
Not moved.
Vanished.
Ravin reacted instantly, turning his body, raising his sword—
Impact.
A force beyond comprehension struck him from the side, sending him flying across the ground. His body crashed through trees before slamming into the earth.
Pain exploded through him.
Bones screamed.
But—
Healing activated.
Forcing his body to respond.
Ravin stood.
Barely.
"…Fast… too fast…"
Before he could fully recover—
It was already there.
Above him.
A wing descended.
Ravin jumped back with everything he had—
The ground where he stood exploded instantly, shattered by compressed wind infused with crimson energy.
"…I can't react normally…"
His mind raced.
This wasn't a fight of equal ground.
This was survival.
The Crimson Pegasus raised its wings.
The air began to collapse inward.
Not outward.
Inward.
Ravin's eyes widened.
"…Compression—!"
Too late.
Release.
A concentrated blast tore forward, far denser than anything he had faced before. Ravin raised his sword, pouring all his mana into defense—
Fire.
Healing.
Everything.
Impact.
The world disappeared.
He was thrown back violently, blood spilling as his body failed to fully withstand the attack.
He hit the ground.
Hard.
Didn't move.
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
A pulse.
Healing mana.
Still working.
Still fighting.
Ravin's fingers twitched.
"…Not… yet…"
He forced himself up.
Slowly.
Painfully.
But his eyes—
Burned.
"…I'm not done."
The Crimson Pegasus watched.
Unmoved.
Unimpressed.
Ravin took a step forward.
Then another.
His body trembled, but his mana surged stronger than before, pushed to its limit.
"…Flame of Renewal…"
This time—
Not controlled.
Not calm.
But pushed to the edge.
His entire body ignited with power.
Fire roared outward.
Healing surged inward.
A dangerous balance.
A breaking point.
Ravin dashed forward.
Faster than ever before.
His blade cut through the air, flames trailing behind it as he aimed directly at the Crimson Pegasus.
For the first time—
It reacted.
It moved.
Its wing rose—
Blocked.
The impact shook the ground.
Ravin's attack landed—
But barely.
The difference in power was absolute.
Still—
He didn't stop.
Strike after strike followed, each one stronger, faster, more desperate than the last. Healing forced his body to keep going beyond its natural limits.
Blood.
Pain.
Movement.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Until—
Crack.
His body failed.
The balance broke.
The flow shattered.
The Crimson Pegasus moved.
A single strike.
Clean.
Absolute.
Ravin was thrown into the ground with overwhelming force, the impact creating a deep crater beneath him.
Silence fell once more.
His body didn't move.
His mana flickered.
Fading.
The Crimson Pegasus turned away slowly.
Judgment complete.
Not worth finishing.
Weak.
It spread its wings.
The storm returned.
And with a single motion—
It rose into the sky.
Gone.
Leaving destruction behind.
And a broken figure in the center of it all.
Ravin lay there.
Still.
Barely breathing.
But alive.
Somewhere deep within him—
A faint pulse remained.
"…I… saw it…"
His voice was barely a whisper.
"…That level…"
His fingers moved slightly.
"…I'll reach it…"
Darkness closed in once more.
But this time—
It wasn't defeat.
It was a promise.
That the next time such a being descended—
Ravin would not fall the same way again.