A metallic scent drifted through the forest wind.
Zhou Tieshan was the first to notice.
He didn't possess high cultivation, but years beside the furnace had sharpened his senses—especially his nose.
"…Blood," he muttered.
"A lot of blood."
The words had barely left his mouth when the ground trembled.
Not from one direction.
From all directions.
"Retreat!" the soldier roared instinctively.
Too late.
Trees snapped like twigs.
Something enormous forced its way through the forest.
A monster three times larger than the bone wolf stepped forward.
It had no fur.
Its skin looked flayed and regrown again and again, glowing with a dark crimson sheen.
Along its spine—
A row of bone blades slowly unfolded.
The sky refreshed with golden text.
[Warning: High-Tier Predator — Bloodblade Direbeast][Threat Level: Current party cannot engage head-on]
Someone swallowed.
"…Cannot engage head-on?"
"What does that even mean?"
Another line appeared.
Cold.
Merciless.
[Recommendation: Retreat]
But before anyone could move—
Another one emerged.
Then another.
Seven total.
The forest was completely sealed.
Collapse of the First Line
The Bloodblade Direbeasts moved.
They didn't charge.
They advanced together.
"Sp—!"
The shout never finished.
A scholar-looking cultivator was swept into the air by a single claw.
His body spun before smashing into a tree.
The crack of breaking bones echoed brutally.
[Member "Lin Wen" — HP Depleted][Return Triggered]
White light flashed.
He vanished.
Silence followed.
Someone's hands trembled.
"…Did he just die?"
"No."
The soldier clenched his teeth.
"But he just got wiped."
This wasn't training anymore.
This was the real price.
The Second Fall
The monsters allowed no recovery time.
The second strike came with terrifying precision.
A veteran soldier was impaled through the shoulder by a bone blade.
He didn't scream.
He only turned and shouted—
"Don't worry about me—!"
The claw came down.
[Member "Zhao San" — HP Depleted][Return Triggered]
Two casualties.
Less than ten seconds.
For the first time—
Fear truly gripped everyone.
"…We can't win."
Someone whispered.
"These aren't starter monsters."
"They're too strong…"
Zhou Tieshan Steps Forward
Zhou Tieshan suddenly stood up.
"Can't win?"
His voice was hoarse.
"When you saw me fight that bone wolf earlier…"
"…did you think I could win then?!"
No one answered.
He slammed his hammer against the ground.
"I thought I was going to die too!"
His eyes burned red.
Not from fear.
From refusal.
"But I didn't run!"
"And that's why it slowed down!"
The words struck like a spark.
Something ignited.
Trial Realm — Hidden Rule Triggered
The sky suddenly filled with crimson text.
[High-Pressure Will Detected][Hidden Rule Unlocked: Last Stand]
Every surviving member felt their heart pound.
[Effect: When retreat is impossible, willpower converts to temporary combat strength][Cost: Failure penalty doubled]
"…That's insane," someone whispered.
"What kind of rule is this?!"
The soldier tightened his grip on his blade.
"It's an opportunity."
"Either we die now…"
"…or we make it count."
Counterattack
"Zhou Tieshan!"
The soldier shouted.
"Can you hold the one on the left?!"
Zhou Tieshan grinned.
Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.
"Nope."
"But I can still swing."
He charged.
No formation.
No technique.
Just an ordinary man running straight at a monster with a hammer.
The Bloodblade Direbeast lunged.
Bone blades descended.
Zhou roared—
"NOW!"
The soldier's blade sliced precisely into the joint where the bone blade connected.
CRACK!
The bone blade snapped.
The monster howled.
"It feels pain!"
Someone screamed.
"It actually feels pain!"
And suddenly—
Everyone's eyes turned red.
No one retreated.
Even when thrown through trees.
Even when bleeding.
Someone laughed wildly through blood.
"THIS punch was worth it!"
One monster fell.
Then another.
When the third Bloodblade Direbeast collapsed, the sky exploded with system text.
[Major Event: First High-Risk Counterkill Achieved][Survivors: 5][Eliminated: 4]
But the battle—
Was not over.
Four monsters remained.
And they went berserk.
Zhou Tieshan's Last Stand
Zhou Tieshan dropped to one knee.
His arms barely moved.
He looked up at the charging monster.
And smiled.
"Damn."
"My life's been worth it."
Mortal Sect — Observation Platform
Su Wan stared at the screen.
"Your Majesty…"
"If this continues, they'll all reset."
Xiao Xuanyin didn't move.
His gaze was steady.
"This was their choice."
"They chose not to retreat."
"So this battle…"
"…won't be a wipe."
"It will be a birth."
Final Blow
The monster lunged.
At the final moment—
Zhou Tieshan used the last of his strength.
And threw the hammer.
Not to smash.
To stake.
The hammerhead drove straight into the beast's open throat.
BOOM!
Blood erupted.
The monster collapsed.
The last one.
The forest fell silent.
System text appeared slowly.
[First High-Risk Zone Cleared][First Trial Realm Hero Born][Title Awarded: Blood-Forged Warrior]
Zhou Tieshan lay on the ground.
Breathing like a dying dog.
"…Hero?"
He laughed weakly.
"I became a hero?"
"…Because I refused to step back?"
Then a new message appeared in everyone's vision.
[Warning][Trial Realm Coordinates Detected by External Observers]
Far beyond the world—
A cold voice spoke for the first time.
"Confirmed."
"This is not a wild civilization."
"This is a combat world ready for harvest."
Outside the gateway—
Xiao Xuanyin slowly clenched his fist.
His gaze hardened like steel.
"…They've seen it."