CHAPTER 3
The earth cracked beneath the monster's charge, each step a thunderous blow that sent vibrations crawling up Orion's legs. Stones shattered, dirt exploded, and the colossus thundered toward him like a living calamity.
Orion's cloak whipped violently in the shock wind.
He tightened his grip on the sword.
The giant beast raised its massive arm, claws gleaming like obsidian spears. When it swung, the wind pressure alone tore through the battlefield, sending other monsters tumbling.
Orion stepped forward.
Not back—forward.
He moved like drifting shadow, slipping beneath the titanic strike. The creature's arm slammed into the ground behind him, carving a crater so deep the boy watching staggered in terror.
Orion's sword traced a single line across the beast's abdomen as he passed.
A fine, shallow cut.
A test.
Blood leaked, but the colossus barely reacted. Thick hide. Dense muscle. A monster bred for war. Its head turned, three burning eyes locked onto Orion.
Its body twisted unnaturally fast for its size.
Its tail lunged like a spear.
Orion raised his blade one-handed.
The tail struck with a crack like lightning—
and stopped.
His sword didn't move.
His boots didn't slide.
The monster's tail trembled against his unmoving blade.
The boy's breath caught in disbelief.
Orion exhaled softly and pushed his sword aside.
The giant stumbled from its own momentum. Orion took that instant and leaped upward, cloak billowing behind him. He spun midair and brought his blade down—full weight, full force.
Steel met flesh.
The beast howled as a long gash tore across its shoulder.
It struck blindly, one sweep of its arm flattening a dozen nearby monsters. Orion landed lightly, knees bending, sliding back across the dirt. The ground rippled beneath him.
The pressure in his chest squeezed tighter.
His pulse roared hotter.
His vision sharpened.
His thoughts thinned into instinct.
Stage 5 was here. It clawed at him, whispering to erupt.
But he forced his breathing to steady.
Not now.
Not yet.
The giant stomped forward, shaking the land each time. Its muscles swelled, aura thickening around it like molten stone.
It wasn't mindless.
It understood one thing—
that this human in black was the only threat.
The monster charged again.
Orion sprinted to meet it. Their collision shook the entire wasteland. His sword danced like flowing ink—each slash carving new wounds across the beast's hide.
But the monster adapted.
It started reading his timing.
Blocking with its forearms.
Counterattacking with its tail.
Reducing space.
Raising pressure.
Orion felt the chill of danger crawl down his spine.
Perfect.
This was exactly what he needed.
He stepped left—barely avoiding a crushing blow.
He ducked under another strike—feeling wind graze his hair.
He twisted and slashed upward—cutting through a tendon.
The giant roared, staggering.
The battlefield trembled again… and this time, Orion dropped to one knee.
Not from injury.
From pressure.
His soul shook violently.
His vision washed white for a moment.
Stage 5 pushed harder from within.
His body trembled.
The world slowed.
Every breath of wind.
Every distant scream.
Every heartbeat, including his own—
—became painfully clear.
He raised his head, sweat rolling down his cheek.
The giant beast loomed above him, sensing weakness. It lifted both arms, preparing to crush him into the earth with a single devastating blow.
The boy shrieked a warning.
Orion didn't hear him.
All he heard was the pulse of his own soul unraveling.
A soundless boom erupted inside his chest.
The world blurred.
And suddenly—
the battlefield froze.
Monsters halted mid-step.
Dust hung motionless in the air.
The giant's descending arms stopped inches above Orion's skull.
Everything stopped.
Except him.
He slowly rose to his feet.
Time wasn't stopped by technique.
Not by skill.
This was a spiritual phenomenon.
The threshold of Stage 5 had broken open.
But instead of light—
instead of warmth—
instead of the comforting embrace of ascension—
Orion felt pull.
Not from the land.
Not from the monster.
But from above.
His vision dimmed—
—and the world dissolved.
The ground vanished beneath him.
The sky turned to ink.
His body became weightless.
A vast, silent void stretched in every direction.
He floated in endless darkness that shimmered faintly with starlight.
Then—
Twenty-five lights appeared in the distance.
Like stars.
Like lanterns.
Like souls.
They pulsed with incredible pressure, each one radiating the power of a Domain.
Orion stared, breath frozen.
Seven lights drifted toward him.
Twenty-three fled with fear.
Those that approached circled him, humming softly like ancient laws acknowledging their chosen bearer.
One light pressed into his chest.
Darkness exploded outward.
And a voice—
cold, ancient, emotionless—
echoed through the void:
"Eternal Darkness — You are chosen."
The vision shattered.
Orion's eyes snapped open.
He was back on the battlefield.
Time resumed.
The giant's arms crashed down—
but Orion was no longer there.
He stood behind the monster, sword lowered, cloak fluttering like shadow.
A line of darkness traced the creature's massive torso.
The giant paused.
Then fell.
Split in half.
The boy stared, speechless.
Orion exhaled once.
Blood dripped from his blade.
His vision darkened at the edges.
The Domain inside him had awakened…
but it wasn't open.
Not yet.
The sky darkened suddenly.
A ripple of killing intent spread far beyond the plains—
so powerful even the remaining monsters froze.
The true battle hadn't begun.
This was only the opening step.