The promotion to D-rank should have felt like a moment of triumph for Eren Thorne, but as he walked through the early morning streets of Drakenridge, the excitement had already begun to fade. The city was just beginning to wake up. Merchants were opening their stalls, guards were changing shifts at the gates, and the smell of fresh bread drifted from the bakeries along the main road. Normally Eren would have felt proud walking through the city after such a dramatic rise in rank. Two days ago, he had been the weakest adventurer in the guild, a man people laughed at whenever he picked up a quest. Now he was officially a D-rank adventurer who had cleared a dungeon alone and killed an ogre in the same day.
But Eren couldn't stop thinking about the guild master's warning.
Something powerful had awakened in the northern mountains.
Several scouting parties had already disappeared.
That meant something dangerous was moving in the wilds beyond Drakenridge.
And for some reason, the thought excited him more than it frightened him.
Eren stopped at a small training field outside the city walls and drew his sword. The field was empty this early in the morning, leaving him alone with the rising sun and the quiet sound of wind moving through the grass.
He took a slow breath.
Then he began practicing.
His sword cut through the air again and again, repeating the same movements he had performed hundreds of times inside the repeating loops of death. Each strike was faster than the last, each step smoother than the one before it.
The difference between the Eren of two days ago and the Eren standing here now was enormous.
Back then he struggled to defeat a single goblin.
Now his body moved with the confidence of someone who had fought hundreds of battles.
He stopped after several minutes and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"I'm still not fast enough," he muttered.
The system messages had increased his strength and endurance slightly, but most of his improvement came from experience. Every time he died, he learned something. Every mistake became a lesson.
That meant there was only one way to grow stronger.
Fight stronger enemies.
A slow clapping sound echoed from behind him.
"Well," a familiar voice said, "that explains a few things."
Eren turned and saw Cassian Voss leaning against the wooden fence surrounding the training field. The tall swordsman looked relaxed as always, his grey eyes calmly observing Eren's stance.
"You've improved a lot," Cassian said.
Eren slid his sword back into its sheath.
"You noticed?"
Cassian shrugged. "Hard not to notice when someone goes from F-rank to D-rank overnight."
Eren chuckled.
"Fair point."
Cassian stepped into the field and folded his arms.
"I've been thinking about something," he said.
Eren raised an eyebrow.
"That sounds dangerous."
Cassian ignored the comment.
"You killed an ogre and cleared a dungeon within a single night," he said calmly. "Both of those things should have been nearly impossible for someone at your previous skill level."
Eren scratched the back of his neck.
"I had a good day."
Cassian stared at him.
"That's not an answer."
Eren shrugged.
"It's the only one you're getting."
Cassian sighed.
"You're hiding something."
"Probably."
Cassian studied him carefully before finally shaking his head.
"Fine. Keep your secrets."
Eren smiled slightly.
"Glad we understand each other."
For a few seconds they stood there in silence.
Then Cassian spoke again.
"Are you planning to investigate the northern mountains?"
Eren's eyes lit up slightly.
"Thinking about it."
Cassian nodded.
"I was hoping you'd say that."
Eren frowned slightly.
"You want to come?"
Cassian smiled faintly.
"I've been bored lately."
Eren laughed.
"Fair enough."
Just as they began discussing their plans, a sudden commotion erupted near the city gate. Several guards were shouting orders while a group of people rushed toward the city entrance.
Eren and Cassian exchanged glances before walking toward the gate to see what was happening.
A group of adventurers had just arrived from the northern road.
Or what was left of them.
Three men staggered through the gate covered in blood and dirt. Their armor was damaged and their weapons were broken. One of them collapsed to the ground the moment he stepped inside the walls.
The guards rushed forward immediately.
"What happened?" one of them demanded.
The injured adventurer struggled to speak.
"Monster… in the mountains," he gasped.
Eren and Cassian moved closer.
The man's face was pale, and his breathing was uneven.
"It killed everyone," he continued weakly. "Our entire scouting party…"
A cold silence spread across the crowd gathering near the gate.
Cassian's eyes narrowed slightly.
"What kind of monster?" he asked.
The injured adventurer looked up slowly.
His voice trembled.
"It wasn't a normal monster."
Eren frowned.
"What do you mean?"
The man swallowed.
"It was intelligent."
Those words made several adventurers nearby exchange uneasy looks.
Intelligent monsters were extremely rare.
And extremely dangerous.
"It spoke," the injured scout continued.
The crowd went completely silent.
Eren felt a strange chill crawl down his spine.
"What did it say?" he asked quietly.
The injured man's eyes widened slightly as if remembering the moment.
"It said…"
He hesitated.
Then he whispered the words slowly.
"Tell the humans their time is over."
A heavy silence followed.
Cassian's expression grew serious.
"That's not good," he said.
Eren crossed his arms.
"Sounds like we found our mountain problem."
The injured adventurer grabbed Eren's sleeve suddenly.
"Don't go up there," he said desperately. "You don't understand how strong it is."
Eren met his gaze calmly.
"How strong?"
The man's voice shook.
"It killed six C-rank adventurers in seconds."
Several people gasped.
Even Cassian looked slightly surprised.
"That's… impressive," he admitted.
The injured man stared at them both in disbelief.
"You're not actually considering fighting it, are you?"
Eren smiled slightly.
"Of course we are."
The man looked horrified.
"You'll die!"
Eren shrugged casually.
"Probably."
Cassian laughed quietly.
"I like your attitude."
Eren looked toward the distant northern mountains rising above the horizon.
Somewhere up there was a creature powerful enough to slaughter entire scouting parties.
A creature that could speak.
A creature that believed humans were no longer the dominant force in this land.
Eren's smile slowly widened.
"Sounds like a challenge."
Cassian shook his head.
"You're insane."
"Maybe."
Eren started walking toward the city gates.
Cassian followed him.
"Where are you going?" the swordsman asked.
Eren glanced back.
"To hunt."
Cassian sighed.
"I should have guessed."
Behind them the injured adventurer watched with disbelief as the two men left the city.
"Idiots," he muttered weakly.
But neither Eren nor Cassian heard him.
They were already walking toward the northern mountains.
Toward the creature that had slaughtered an entire scouting party.
Toward a fight that most adventurers would avoid at all costs.
But Eren Thorne wasn't like other adventurers.
Because if he died…
He would simply try again.