{Black Fang}
It was the name of the beast from the initial written exam.
A mob treated as trash, but that was only within the game.
After moderate growth, it wasn't particularly dangerous,
but in my current state, it wasn't something I could easily take down.
'Only... one.'
Considering Black Fangs' pack-hunting nature, I'd thought there might be more,
but fortunately, that wasn't the case.
Still, it was difficult all the same.
My stats were average right now, and even though it was just one opponent, it was the leader specimen.
Without taking my eyes off the Black Fang, I heightened all my senses across my body, ready to react at any moment.
"Grrrrrr..."
The Black Fang began circling me, growling low.
It was probably searching for an opening to attack.
I kept my eyes locked on it.
A taut tension filled the space—we had no idea when it would lunge.
I didn't move rashly.
The Black Fang had tough hide and blazing speed.
In a situation where I wasn't even sure my attacks would land,
I had to target what passed for its weak point: the softer skin under the chin.
Tak-
At that moment, the Black Fang kicked off the ground and sprang into motion.
It started whipping around me at a speed too fast to easily track with my eyes.
Tree to tree between,
rock to rock between, it leaped freely, popping in and out of sight.
Senses on high alert, I poured every nerve into the Black Fang darting effortlessly through the trees and underbrush.
That instant...
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Skill {Piercing Eyes} activates]
Suddenly, my field of view expanded.
The pitch-black forest took on a gray tint,
and all my senses and nerves seized control of the space.
My senses and nerves began keeping pace with the Black Fang's movements, which were too quick for my eyes alone.
My body adapted to the dominated space,
and I started sensing the Black Fang's motions.
Suddenly, the Black Fang weaving tree to tree shifted its trajectory.
Strength gathered in its legs as it turned to charge straight at me.
'It's coming...!'
Pak-!
In a flash,
the Black Fang kicked off a tree and barreled toward me.
Still fast—still hard to track visually—
but I felt every motion.
My body responded with uncanny speed, matching it beat for beat.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Title {Pioneer} assists your actions.]
I assumed the most effective attack stance against the oncoming foe.
Just before the Black Fang—now right in my face—could land its strike,
'One... two...'
'Now!'
I dropped low on cue.
The Black Fang's attack whistled through empty air,
exposing the skin between its chin and chest—its so-called weak point—right in my strike zone.
Strength surged into my arm muscles
as I settled into a basic thrust position.
From there, I raised my sword, pulled my rear leg back,
and unleashed a thrust at blinding speed.
Basic Swordsmanship - Variant
Upward Thrust
Puak--!
The sound of rending flesh.
The upward thrust sliced through the Black Fang's hide without a hint of resistance.
One strike.
A flawlessly clean, precise blow stole the Black Fang's life.
"Huh..."
A reflexive sigh—equal parts awe and emptiness—slipped from my lips.
The sensation still tingled in my sword hand.
The perfect, no-frills feel of that killing strike,
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Ding-!] [Acquired derived skill {Space Domination} from Skill {Piercing Eyes lv. max}]
left me speechless before the cheerful chime and translucent window.
Apparently, {Pioneer} and {Piercing Eyes} were even more overpowered than I'd imagined.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The gathering place for professors overseeing the academy entrance exams—
Eris, the academy chairman and top authority there,
was watching one particular student's test.
"Ha!"
A gasp blending astonishment and admiration escaped her lips.
"Impressive, this kid."
Lena, peering at the same screen beside her, couldn't hold back an exclamation either.
Swordsmanship Professor Lena Kyle—
even to her expert eye, the movements of the student onscreen demanded awe.
Aden, the first to ever ace the academy's written exam.
His physical prowess was surprisingly unremarkable.
Average among incoming freshmen,
yet in combat, his motions were pristine enough to draw gasps.
No wasted energy—pure restraint.
Strikes that amplified power through minimal motion; these were anything but freshman-level.
'Even graduates would struggle with moves like that...'
And it wasn't just that.
Impeccable judgment and insight,
razor-sharp targeting of weak points, flawless situational awareness—it all screamed anything but ordinary.
"This year's freshmen are on another level... Feels like something huge is brewing, right, Master?"
Lena addressed her master, the chairman, who was still glued to the screen.
"No doubt. This year, we've got talents that defy logic."
The Saintess of the Holy Kingdom, heir to the Magic Tower Lord, the Imperial Princess, the Princess of the Elf Forest, the Sword Saint's disciple...
And now this sudden irregular onscreen.
Even in an academy teeming with prodigies, nothing like this had ever happened—overwhelming genius converging all at once.
"Something happening, huh..."
It was extraordinary enough to dub a golden generation.
Unrivaled talents from every corner of the world, assembled in one spot.
And this irregular—matching them, maybe surpassing them—who popped up out of nowhere.
Dismissing it as coincidence felt wrong.
"Five hundred years... It's about that time."
A promise etched in her memory, unerasable despite centuries.
She had upheld it for five hundred years and would never falter.
As long as she remained chairman,
no talent would wither unbloomed.
Even against an unstoppable cataclysm,
she'd shield them with her life until the children could stand against it.
"Because... that's the promise."
Eyes brimming with deep yearning, she turned back to watch another student's exam.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Stage 6.
The stage impossible to clear in the game,
and the final one of the practical exam.
Stage 6's monster: Troll.
A hulking mass over 8 meters tall with overwhelming regeneration,
skin toughness leagues beyond the prior stages—
its difficulty dwarfed Stage 5.
The surroundings brightened.
Dense trees dotted with rocks stretched before me.
Still a forest, not a plain.
'In the game, Trolls mostly spawned in forests anyway.'
No deviations from the game so far.
Kung---!
Suddenly, the ground quaked.
Trees swayed from the vibrations,
and the tremors rippled straight through the earth beneath my feet.
Kung---!
Kung----!
The shaking drew nearer.
Kung--!
Through the thick foliage, a single, oppressively glowing eye emerged.
A colossal frame around 10 meters,
each step sending the whole forest into turmoil,
an intimidation from that lone eye beyond comprehension.
The sheer, primal presence—unseen in the modern world—froze my body on instinct.
Raw terror surged ahead of thought.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Unique Trait {Defying Heaven} nullifies status abnormality 'Fear'] [Unique Trait {Defying Heaven} nullifies status abnormality 'Terror']
"Huu-"
My mind snapped back instantly.
My rigid body loosened and moved.
It was still terrifying.
Instinctual dread lingered in my head,
yet my body obeyed my will without a tremor.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Title {Pioneer} assists your actions.]
Setting instinctual fear aside, my mind calculated the optimal way to take down the Troll.
Its hide was thick—uncertain if my sword could even scratch it.
And even if I did cut, that insane regeneration made meaningful damage a pipe dream.
'Then go for the eyes.'
I focused, sharpening my nerves.
In an instant, my senses and nerves dominated the space.
The derived skill {Space Domination} painted the world gray.
The Troll's every motion,
even the faint shivers of nearby trees—
I felt it all.
Decision made to target the eyes,
my body sprang into action.
Troll height: roughly 10 meters.
I scrambled up a nearby tree first.
By then, the Troll had spotted me and closed in with alarming speed.
Kung- kung- kung- kung-
But I beat it to the punch, tree-hopping closer to the Troll.
Distance shrinking fast—
the Troll swung its massive arm as it bore down.
One shot. Right before that arm connected.
"Now!!"
All my leg strength propelled me skyward off the ground.
Whiiiik--
Buuung----!
The Troll's arm carved empty air; the tree I'd been on exploded.
Sheer destructive force.
Chills ran down my spine imagining that hit landing,
but I righted myself midair.
Posture steady, I plummeted sword-first toward the Troll's eye.
Puuk-
The blade sank into the eye without resistance.
Success: I'd blinded it.
I yanked the sword free to plan the next move—
Kroaaaaaarghhh---!!
The Troll unleashed a deafening bellow and flailed wildly.
The eardrum-shattering roar threw off my balance; I tumbled.
Senses and nerves in my dominated space screamed a warning.
A blind swipe from the Troll hurtled toward me point-blank.
No dodging it. Death's terror crashed in.
"Guhak--!!"
The Troll's wild blow slammed home.
Sensation of bones shattering across my body.
Kwang-!
I hurtled away, smashing into a tree before crashing down.
"Kuh..."
Blood filled my mouth.
It hurt.
Everything felt pulverized,
panic flooded in.
I dreaded death.
Even knowing it wasn't real death,
even with "it's just a test" flashing in my mind,
the onslaught of agony and dread erased it all in seconds.
Blackout meant practical exam over.
But the crushing pain dulled my mind.
'Just... wanna sleep...'
I yearned to pass out.
Right now, escape from this torment was all I craved.
And so, darkness crept over my vision.