*** Fame is good
The next day, I'm firmly staying in my human form. No dresses, no high heels—those are shoved to the deepest, darkest corner of my closet, where I hope they remain forgotten until the end of time. And I'm working on doing the same with the memory of ever wearing the dang things.
Keeping my mind busy seems to be doing the trick, so I've been scrolling through this site where awakeners advertise their services for realm raids—tanks, mages, and healers, all willing to jump in for a cut of the loot.
Now that I know it's possible to enter other realms, I want to try getting new titles to tier up. Though I'm not expecting much. Most of the people on this site are higher tier than I am. I doubt anyone would even pay attention to a tier one like me. Still, no harm in trying.
I post my own listing under Violet's name, offering to join any raid as long as I get to fight the boss. The replies flood in almost instantly—people asking if I'm really the Violet who soloed a goblin king, and if I'm planning another "extreme solo boss challenge."
I guess Mika really did turn that into a thing.
I briefly consider denying it. I'm not actually running a challenge series or anything. But… Hey, why not lean into it? I write that I'm looking for new bosses to take on. The reactions are overwhelmingly positive, and several people offer to bring me into their realms specifically to fight their boss.
Guess being famous does have its perks.
For the next few days, I went from realm to realm taking on different bosses—mostly rank ones, with a few rank twos thrown in—while crowds gathered to watch. I took on a horned rabbit the size of a bear—it became surprisingly docile once I put it in a headlock—an armored boar—we clashed, and let's just say fists beat tusks.
And now? I'm in the middle of a match with a giant golem. It's one tough opponent. Even with overpower active, the thing still stands a head taller than me. Every punch feels like slamming my fist into a mountain—but honestly? I'm having the time of my life. Dodging its heavy swings, weaving in close, trading blows… it's like sparring with a heavyweight champion. Too bad my hits aren't making much of a dent.
Fine. Time for something new.
I duck under its next swing, slip behind it, lock my arms around its rocky midsection and—I've always wanted to try this—pull off a German suplex. Its head slams into the ground, leaving it stuck upside down like a toppled tortoise.
I don't hesitate. While it flails helplessly, I start hammering its exposed core with both fists, each strike hitting like a sledgehammer. While the party that brought me here cheers me on.
I keep pounding away until the system finally pings—Solo Big Golem Slayer. My fourth solo title.
Turns out you can still get a solo clear while in a party… As long as nobody else lays a finger on the boss. Still not sure if that has any usefulness other than bragging rights.
Oh well. For now, I thank the cheering crowd for the fun fight and exit the realm. I reappear in the NAA center in my human form so I don't immediately get mobbed. Fame is great and all, but being swarmed every time you show your face gets exhausting fast. Good thing my human identity isn't public; as Jax, I can walk around completely unnoticed.
I open my inventory. Looks like the golem dropped some magical ore—more crafting materials. Not something I can use, but it'll sell for a nice chunk of change.
I'm about to go sell it when another notification pops up.
Tier Challenge Approved.
…Approved?
That catches me off guard. Did I finally rack up enough titles to tier up? Wait—approved by who? The system? Some some deity? No clue. I guess I'll find out when I enter the trial realm.
For now, I cash in the loot, head home, and eat. I've already done a search on this trial thing. Got nothing specific, with my class being so… Unique and all. But in general, people get sent to a realm where a mentor of their class resides—like an academy or a dojo.
But with my class?
Better not overthink it. If I start imagining possibilities, I might talk myself out of going.
After washing the dishes, I flop onto the couch and pull up my system screen. A new realm is listed—the Dark Realm. Yeah… that's definitely where my trial is waiting.
Should I go now?
I mean, I'm fully rested, and putting it off isn't going to magically make it less intimidating.
I inhale slowly, steady myself, and tap the selection.
Time to see what this trial has in store.
*** The trial.
I materialize inside what looks like a castle—obsidian walls, towering ceilings, and a whole assembly of… succubi? At least, that's what they seem to be: stunning women with perfect faces and tails, some even sporting wings—probably higher-tier versions of the class.
But what really throws me off are their chests. Why am I bigger than most of them? Don't tell me I'm considered "well-endowed" even by succubus standards. Great. Like I needed—
"So this is the one?" a voice echoes.
I turn and spot her—an overwhelming beauty lounging on a throne. The queen of darkness. The name just pops into my mind. She's tall, with a black crown on top of her head, and… draped in something I refuse to attempt describing.
"It appears so, my queen," says the figure standing at her side—a tall armored guard, fully covered in pitch-black metal.
"Hmm… let's take a look," the queen muses, her gaze sweeping over me. My skin tingles in a very uncomfortable way. Did she just appraise me?
"By the shadows, she really has no charm skill, and yet she's already earned several solo titles! Remarkable." The queen sounds genuinely impressed.
So she was checking my titles… Appraisal can do that? I didn't know.
"Vespera, do you think you could've accomplished such a feat when you were tier one?" the queen asks her guard.
"I would not have, my queen," Vespera replies, stiff as a steel column.
"Jeez, Vespera. Do you ever loosen up?" the queen sighs.
Vespera does not loosen up.
"Still, this puts us in a bind," the queen continues, turning her attention back to me. "Ordinarily, we have our younglings display their charm magic as part of their tier evaluation."
Yeah, absolutely not happening.
The queen taps her claws thoughtfully.
"But it'd be such a loss to deny someone who can solo a realm boss." The queen pounder.
Huh, guess solo titles do have a use.
"I know! Vespera, how about a duel? Test this little one to see if she's worthy."
Vespera removes her helmet—revealing a breathtakingly sharp face framed by short green hair.
"I agree," she says, smiling with a cold, elegant menace. "I've been curious about her as well."
She hands her helmet to another guard—along with her sword—then descends the throne platform with a lethal grace that spoke plenty of her skills. She's strong. Stronger than anything I've fought so far.
I can't help but grin. How often does someone get the chance to trade blows with someone like this?
Without anyone saying a word, I step forward, cracking my knuckles as the surrounding succubi instinctively fall back, opening a wide circle for our fight.
"Oh, this one's bold," the queen remarks, lounging on her throne like she's settling in for premium entertainment.
Vespera nods, her ice-cold smile turning predatory. "Show me what you got, little one." She raises her fists.
Barehanded? Perfect.
"With pleasure." I trigger overpower.
I can hear the entire room gasp as my form expands—muscle stacked on muscle, towering over everyone like some war titan.
I ignore the reaction and charge, throwing a punch with enough force to total a minivan. My fist slams into Vespera—
I intended to send her flying, but she blocks the blow and merrily skids backward across the obsidian floor.
Damn, it feels like I just punched a block of steel. Still, she was shocked. Eyes widen for a split second—she wasn't expecting that.
"Wow! I've never seen such a skill." The queen cheered, actually leaning forward in excitement.
"It has impressive strength," Vespera concedes, shaking the arm that took the hit. "I see how she earned those solo titles."
I'm barely listening. Focusing on my foe. I can't see a single opening. Just what kind of monster—
Her eyes flick.
She's moving!
I launch myself to the side just in time. She vanishes from sight, reappearing where I'd been a heartbeat earlier, her fist obliterating the air with a sonic boom.
Another glance—!
I snap my guard up, catching her kick with my forearm just before it caves in my skull. The impact detonates through the chamber like a gunshot. Feels like my bone just crack.
But I grit my teeth, and return fire with a brutal right hook. She blocks it—doesn't matter. I pour everything I have into the strike and force her skidding backward once more.
Good—space. I check my arm. Numb, but intact. I can work with that.
I charge in—I don't have much of a choice. She's too fast; I can't keep up. My only shot is to force her into close-quarters and keep her there.
I plant my feet and start trading blows. Every impact between our fists cracks through the chamber like rolling thunder—loud, brutal, and relentless.
It's a savage exchange. Despite her lean build, she hits harder than I do, but I'm the more experienced boxer. I keep a tight guard, blocking what I can while hammering her back with every ounce of strength I've got.
By all logic, I should be winning—yet something feels wrong.
I parry another bone-rattling strike and snap my elbow forward, smashing her forehead. Total foul in boxing—perfectly valid here. Blood trickles down, but before I can capitalize, the wound knits shut in seconds. Just as I suspected: healing passive. Fantastic.
If this keeps up, I'm done for. I need to take a risk.
I drop my guard, exposing my midsection. She falls for it instantly, driving her fist deep into my gut. The pain nearly folds me, but I clamp down hard and fire an uppercut that sends her airborne. It probably didn't hurt much—but up there, she can't dodge. Perfect opportunity!
I've never done this before, but—now or never. I push overpower even further. My muscles bulge, swelling to the point they almost hinder my movement. Doesn't matter. I only need one hit.
As she hangs helpless in the air, I drive my fist down, smashing her into the ground. The castle trembles as Vespera is buried beneath a fist the size of a wrecking ball.
Everyone in the room goes silent while I stand there, more massive than ever before. But the price is steep. My muscles feel like they're screaming, and magic is steaming out of my body. I can't hold this form for long. But I wasn't stopping. The fight isn't over. I didn't even need to see to know that Vespera's still fine. I'm barely keeping her pin down, thanks to this new bulk. The second I ease up, she'll jump out and end me.
I need to… ugh. No. I really hate this, but…
"I give up!" I shout, letting overpower drop. My body shrinks back to normal, and I collapse on my butt. Ugh. I hate losing, but I'm out of magic and exhausted from pushing my body past its limits.
"What a battle!" the queen cheers, absolutely delighted.
"Yes, this little one's quite exceptional." Vespera says as she rises, brushing dust off her armor.
Ugh. She's not even hurt. What a monster.
"To think a tier one held her ground against a tier five. I'd say she more then earn her right to promote." The queen announces, and the crowd erupts in cheers.
Great. Looks like I've somehow gained a fanbase among succubi. But seriously—a tier five? No wonder she was so strong.
Will I be that powerful once I reach that level? That's something to look up to.