The moment Ethan Williams' feet touched the forest floor of deserted isle, his body relaxed instinctively, as if nature itself welcomed him.
He felt the pulse of mana thick in the air. The forest around him was alive with the sounds of battle—screams, roars, and the clash of steel. He took a deep breath, the scent of damp earth and fresh air filling his lungs.
"Time to get to work," he muttered, a smirk playing on his lips.
He cracked his neck, his golden eyes scanning the jungle-like terrain of Isle island.
"Let's see what kind of monsters this island coughs up," he muttered, a half-smile tugging at his lips. Electricity danced across his fingertips. "I'm itching for a warm-up.
A rustle in the bushes to his left—Ethan turned without pause and dashed forward. A Novice (Low) rank creature, a Barkwolf, lunged out.
It had wooden fur and thorny fangs, but it didn't even have the time to growl. With a flicker of lightning and a single swing, the wolf exploded into splinters.
+10 points.
"Too easy."
He didn't slow down. A Novice (Mid) rank Vine Serpent tried to ambush him from a tree branch, its body coiled like a noose. Ethan didn't even look. His fingers snapped, and a bolt of lightning curved mid-air, frying the serpent before it could hiss.
Moments later, a Novice (Peak) rank monster—an armored Mantislord—descended from above, blades gleaming in the sunlight. This one tried harder. It unleashed a barrage of strikes.
"Finally," Ethan said, parrying with his sword. The Mantislord's body sparked as lightning surged into it through Ethan's blade. It screeched before collapsing.
Then came an Intermediate (Mid) rank Stonehide Bear. Towering and thick-skinned, it roared and pounded the ground. Ethan simply smirked.
The bear charged. Ethan vanished in a flash of lightning, reappearing behind the beast. Before it could react, a precise thrust to the back of its neck brought it down.
Next came a true beast—an Intermediate (Peak) rank Flameback Raptor. Covered in crimson scales and spewing fire from its mouth.
"Alright, you get two moves."
The raptor charged. One dodge, one parry, and Ethan impaled it with a lightning-charged lunge.
Not too far away, three cadets hiding behind a boulder watched in sheer terror.
"D-Did he just kill a Peak Intermediate Raptor in under ten seconds?" one whispered.
"That's not a candidate of our age… That's a monster."
"We need to get out of here before he sees us!"
They bolted, too scared to even breathe loudly. Ethan didn't notice—or maybe he just didn't care.
Ethan checked his EVOband. A digital screen popped up.
Rank: 29 / 1,000,000
Points: 4150
He raised a brow. "Guess I've been holding back a little too much."
Just as he was about to move again, the skies shifted. A booming voice echoed.
"Attention all candidates! From now, every two hours, the island will begin to shrink. Fight well and Survive."
A massive blue screen materialized in the sky.
Remaining Candidates: 500,789
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
"So they want to herd us like cattle. Clever. Force us into each other's paths… Let the real slaughter begin."
He smirked again. "And they didn't tell us this earlier… to cause panic. Heh. Typical."
He delved deeper into the forest, weaving through foliage and following traces of high mana concentrations. That's when he felt it—an oppressive aura up ahead. His eyes sharpened.
Suddenly, someone blocked his path.
The guy looked like he was carved from granite. He was tall, at least six feet, muscles bulging under his battle-worn armor.
A massive greatsword was strapped across his back. A scar ran across his left cheek, giving his otherwise youthful face a battle-hardened edge. He looked Ethan dead in the eye, grinning.
"Rein Graystone," the musclehead said. "You're the chosen hero of the Goddess of Light, right?"
Ethan tilted his head slightly. "Didn't know I had fangirls who look like muscleheads."
Rein barked a laugh. "Heh! I've wanted to fight you for a long time. Let's see if you're all hype, pretty boy."
Ethan chuckled. "You sure you want that smoke?"
Rein slammed his fist into his palm. "You've been acting all high and mighty. Let's see how you handle real power!"
Without warning, Rein's greatsword came down like a meteor. Ethan parried, sparks flying as steel met steel. The force blew leaves and debris in all directions.
The ground cracked beneath them. Trees snapped like twigs. They danced across the forest, exchanging blow after blow. But slowly, it became clear—
Ethan wasn't even trying.
He was only using 40% of his strength.
And yet, Rein was sweating, breathing heavily, growling with frustration.
Rein activated a red gem embedded in his bracer. His speed shot up instantly.
"Artifact, huh?" Ethan mused.
Rein followed with his fire affinity—blazing trails behind his sword, trying to corner Ethan.
But Ethan moved like lightning—literal lightning. His strikes were precise, his movement effortless. He ducked, dodged, and retaliated with shocking blows that singed Rein's armor.
"Damn it!" Rein growled. "Stand still!"
"Can't. Ugly's contagious."
Finally, Ethan stepped back.
"Yo, musclehead," he called out, spinning his sword lazily. "You've got potential and You're strong. But not strong enough."
Rein snarled and charged.
Ethan's eyes flared with power.
"Let me show you what real power looks like."
He raised his sword. Electricity gathered, with the shimmering divine energy.
'Dawnbreaker Judgement—First Form: Radiant edge!'
The world turned white.
A blinding slash of light and lightning tore through the battlefield. The very air split apart, the trees behind Rein disintegrated. Rein's weapon flew from his hands. He was sent flying backward, skidding through the ground and crashing into a boulder.
Dust settled. Rein lay there, chest heaving, eyes wide.
He stared at the sky. "I've… never lost before…"
All his life, he'd crushed every opponent. But this guy—Ethan—he didn't even flinch. He beat him with a single move of his sword art.
Only one thought came to mind. ' A monster '
'what kind of monster is he . Is there even anyone who can defeat this monster in this entire island.'
" If there is then he will also be a monster… No, a monster among monsters…"
He shivered.
Ethan stepped toward him, sword crackling with residual lightning.
Rein braced himself.
But Ethan stopped.
"You've got potential," he said calmly.
Rein blinked.
Ethan looked down at him, thoughtful. "It would be a waste to eliminate you before you make it into the top 2000." He turned, cloak fluttering in the breeze. "Don't disappoint me."
He walked off, lightning humming around him and Thinking to himself.
'I really looked cool there didn't i.'
-----
Rein lay there for a moment longer. Then he laughed.
"What a weird guy… But he was kinda cool."
It actually worked.