"Good," Kaiser thought calmly. That checks another item off the list.
He reviewed his gains quickly. Each level granted three free stat points. Without hesitation, he allocated all of them into Agility.
Agility: 14 → 17(2)
The change was immediate. A subtle hum seemed to resonate through his muscles, a sensation of lightness spreading from his feet to his fingertips. Movements that had been deliberate now felt fluid, as though gravity itself had relaxed its hold on him. Every step, every swing, every slight shift in posture became sharper, faster, more efficient.
"Much better," he muttered under his breath, the faintest trace of satisfaction threading his voice.
There was no time to waste.
Kaiser surged forward once more, his figure cutting across the trampled grass like a streak of shadow. The Eye of Judgment guided every step, every strike. With enhanced speed, he became nearly untouchable. Goblins fell before they could even complete their lunges, their claws shredding the air where he had already been. Their red eyes widened in terror just before his blade found the gaps in their armor, joints, and exposed limbs.
The achievement was worth more than he had initially anticipated. In trial conditions, eliminating over a hundred creatures so efficiently was equivalent to nearly seven levels of experience. Each strike now felt like investment, each kill a calculation bringing him closer to true dominance.
A faint smile touched his lips as another goblin's body crumpled under a precise swing. The metallic scent of blood mixed with dust and trampled grass, thickening the air around him, but he barely noticed.
At this pace, cutting them down became almost effortless. With the Eye of Judgment, every movement was mapped, every weakness exposed before it could even be exploited. The Eye not only showed him where to strike—it predicted their patterns, their hesitations, even the slight miscalculations of each creature.
His gaze flicked briefly toward the sky. The invisible timer continued its relentless countdown, a constant reminder that time was both ally and enemy.
"The only thing worth obtaining in the first trial is the skill, Rune," he thought, analyzing the battlefield as the horde surged and fell. "But there is enough Time…"
Kaiser tightened his grip on the sword, letting the blade hum faintly with energy. He could feel the weight of possibility pressing against him, the thrill of combat sharpening his mind.
"I'll just have to speed things up a little."
And with that, he disappeared back into the swarm, a blur of motion and inevitability.
Kaiser kept moving. He killed, and then killed again. He struck with surgical precision, exploiting every weakness the Eye revealed. Each goblin's death was clean, predictable, unstoppable. He moved as though the battlefield itself bent around him. Limbs were severed, jaws crushed, torsos cleaved with swift arcs of his sword. Each fallen creature dissolved into motes of light, leaving only the faint echo of their last cries in the air.
Some participants tried to follow, but their movements were chaotic, uncoordinated. Goblins turned on them with terrifying speed, tearing at legs, arms, and torsos before they could react. The screams were deafening, a sharp, discordant symphony of panic and pain. Blood stained the grass, and the faint metallic tang filled every corner of the plain.
By the time the invisible timer finally reached its end, the grassy plain had been trampled into mud, dark with blood. Broken weapons lay scattered, cracked and bent, and the air was thick with the combined scent of iron and sweat. The battlefield had been transformed into a chaotic tableau, a testament to the trial's deadly precision.
Then—everything froze.
The goblins dissolved into motes of light, their snarls abruptly cut short as if they had never existed. Even the air seemed to hum with finality.
A moment later, translucent panels appeared across the sky, shimmering with authority.
[Trial Result Announced]
Deceased: 60,000
Survivors: 98,000
A heavy silence followed. Some survivors collapsed where they stood, drained by shock and exhaustion. Others wept openly, overwhelmed by relief and terror. Many simply stared at the numbers, disbelief etched across their faces.
Kaiser exhaled slowly, a quiet breath that carried the weight of someone who had mastered chaos rather than been consumed by it.
A familiar presence descended once more. The Herald hovered above them, its form radiating cold authority. Its violet eyes scanned the survivors with measured judgment.
"Congratulations on surviving the first trial," the Herald announced. Its voice echoed directly into their minds, calm yet unnerving.
"Among the participants, one individual has demonstrated exceptional combat performance."
The Herald raised its arm.
"World Ranking will now be displayed."
A massive black panel unfolded in the sky, dwarfing everything beneath it. Its edges glimmered faintly, as though forged from obsidian and energy alike.
🌍 World Ranking — First Trial
1st — Kaiser | 6129 Eliminations
2nd — Baron | 590 Eliminations
3rd — Raile | 521 Eliminations
4th — …
A ripple of shock ran through the survivors. Whispers spread instantly, fear and awe mixing in equal measure. Some glanced at Kaiser with newfound reverence; others looked away, uneasy.
A soft chime echoed in Kaiser's mind.
[Level Updated]
Level. 1 → Level. 9
He didn't react outwardly. His expression remained calm, controlled. He lowered his sword and let out a quiet breath.
That's enough for now.
Before anyone could approach him, another message appeared:
[Record Notice]
Participants will be granted a mandatory rest period.
Duration: 4 Hours
Combat and trials suspended.
The oppressive tension in the air eased slightly. Participants sank to their knees, some laughing, others trembling, while a few simply remained frozen, staring blankly at the scorched, trampled grass.
Kaiser sat down on the grass, resting his back against a broken tree trunk. For the first time since the trial began, he allowed his muscles to relax, the tension bleeding out slowly. His breathing steadied as exhaustion finally caught up to him.
Four hours.
That's more than enough, he thought calmly. The real trials—the ones that would truly define who survived—were only just beginning.
Above him, the rankings remained etched across the sky, unchanging, immutable. Then—
The air shattered.
A crimson screen slammed open in front of his eyes, sudden and violent. Even Kaiser stiffened at the intensity of the light. Red. That wasn't normal.
Before he could react, the Herald's presence descended once more. The pressure alone made several nearby survivors freeze in place, unable to move or even breathe freely.
"Anonymous Ranking will now be disclosed."
A deep black panel split the sky, layered beneath the red glow, presenting the new evaluation.
◼ Anonymous Ranking
1st — Kaiser | 6129 Eliminations
2nd — Neo | 6089 Eliminations
3rd — Arzen | 6002 Eliminations
A murmur rippled through the survivors. Shock, awe, and disbelief intermingled.
"World ranking and Anonymous ranking?" whispered one participant, eyes wide.
The Herald tilted its head slightly, its gaze sharp, unnervingly focused.
"A single participant has achieved first place in both global and anonymous evaluations."
"Observation priority has been elevated."
Kaiser's eyes narrowed. So that's how it works… he realized. Even with his extraordinary performance, there was no guarantee he would qualify at the top. The slight gap between the top three confirmed his suspicion.
The Herald snapped its fingers. A soft chime echoed everywhere at once.
[Record Notification]
All surviving participants have been granted 1,000 CP.
Relief spread instantly. Some laughed hysterically, some sank to their knees in gratitude, others simply stared at the glowing numbers in stunned silence.
Then the Herald's attention returned to Kaiser. It snapped its fingers again. This time, the sound carried weight, a gravity that pressed against his chest.
A notification unfolded before Kaiser's eyes alone.
[Record: Contribution Assessment Initiated]
Analyzing combat efficiency…
Calculating monster elimination value…
Searching for eligible rewards…
Kaiser exhaled slowly, letting the tension coil and uncoil within his chest.
Here it comes.
The red screen pulsed once, brighter than before.
The Herald's voice entered his mind—calm, cold, and unmistakably curious.
"Your performance exceeds the expected parameters for this world."
"Proceed with caution, participant."
The Record continued to process.
For the first time since the trial began, Kaiser felt something rare. A spark he had not experienced in decades. Not fear. Not calculation. Not even satisfaction.
Anticipation.