Renji trudged back home after the Mantis Gate. The faint smell of blood and damp earth still clung to his clothes, but his body felt strangely light. The first time he fought the Mantis King, every step had been torture. This time, the beast fell within minutes.
He dropped into his chair, letting the silence of his room settle around him. For a long moment, he simply stared at the ceiling, hearing the faint echo of Mr. Ain's words in his head.
"Do you think the alphas would be sad that you killed them?"
He hadn't known how to answer then. He still didn't. But the thought gnawed at him.
With a sigh, Renji pulled up his status window.
> [Renji – Rank: E (Silver)]
• Strength: 33
• Speed: 30
• Perception: 35
• Endurance: 39 (+10 Voidheart = 49)
• Vitality: 14
• Luck: 12
Skills: Predator's Gaze (Cooldown), Voidheart Endurance (Passive)
Unused Points: 20
Twenty unspent points blinked at him. A reminder of his progress… and his responsibility.
Renji clenched his fist. If I want to survive that competition, I can't hold back anymore.
He allocated the points carefully—seven to strength, seven to speed, six to endurance. His body shuddered as the changes settled in, muscles tightening, his pulse running stronger than before.
[Stat Points Distributed Successfully]
Renji exhaled slowly. "Alright… now what?"
His eyes narrowed. The answer came easily.
The Mantis King. The Bull Voidspawn.
Two monsters that once towered over him—now reduced to stepping stones. He could enter those gates as many times as he wanted. He could fight, lose, bleed, and fight again until he broke through the limits of his rank.
A small, dangerous smile tugged at his lips. If I push myself hard enough… I can reach D(Bronze) Rank before the tournament.
The thought alone set fire in his veins.
---
Four Days Later
The grind was brutal. Again and again, Renji stepped into the Mantis Gate, cutting down the king with practiced efficiency. Again and again, he stood before the Bull Voidspawn, each time trading heavier blows, each time lasting longer before collapsing.
He bled. He staggered. He endured.
And slowly, something inside him sharpened.
By the fourth day, Renji emerged from the gate, his chest rising and falling with controlled breaths. A faint bronze shimmer pulsed across his status window—the mark of advancement.
[Rank Up: D (Bronze-1)]
Renji sighed, finally, drenched in sweat and blood. He sat on a mound of Voidspawn corpses—more than a hundred Bulls slain during his relentless grind.
"I guess it's time to go," he muttered, pushing himself to his feet.
His eyes were steady, his body humming with newfound strength.
The competition was tomorrow.
Then, with a faint smirk tugging at his lips, Renji whispered to himself,
"…I wonder if I could enter a D-rank Gate today."