The giant monster charged through the forest like a living avalanche.
Its massive body crushed trees beneath its feet. The ground shook violently with each step as it rushed straight toward Leo.
Kai shouted from behind him.
"LEO MOVE!"
Ryu gripped his sword tightly.
"That thing will crush you!"
Even Luna's calm expression changed slightly.
"Get out of the way!"
But Leo did not move.
Instead, he stood quietly as the monster approached.
The creature's glowing red eyes burned with rage. Dark energy leaked from the cracks in its armor like poisonous smoke.
Its enormous claw lifted high into the air.
If that attack landed, it could destroy half the forest.
Leo exhaled slowly.
Inside his chest, the divine blood pulsed once.
A warm energy spread through his body.
Not the overwhelming power he once possessed in his previous life.
Just a tiny fraction.
Enough to protect everyone here.
The ancient voice inside him whispered calmly.
"Control it carefully."
Leo thought silently.
"I know."
The monster's claw came crashing down.
BOOM.
The ground exploded beneath the impact.
Kai covered his face.
"NO!"
Dust and broken wood filled the air.
For a moment, no one could see anything.
Then something unexpected happened.
The monster suddenly froze.
Its massive claw had stopped just inches above Leo's head.
Leo was standing directly beneath it.
One hand raised.
He had caught the claw.
With one hand.
Kai's jaw dropped.
"…What."
Ryu blinked several times.
"That's not possible."
Even Luna's violet eyes widened slightly.
Leo stood calmly, holding the enormous claw as if it weighed nothing.
The monster roared in anger and pushed harder.
But the claw did not move.
Leo's hand remained steady.
Inside his body, the divine blood flowed gently.
Not violently.
Not explosively.
Just enough strength to stop the creature.
Leo looked up at the monster.
"You shouldn't be here," he said quietly.
The creature roared again and tried to bite him.
Leo released the claw and stepped forward.
His sword moved.
One single strike.
The movement was too fast for the others to see clearly.
For a moment, nothing happened.
The monster stood completely still.
Then—
CRACK.
A deep line appeared across the creature's chest armor.
The crack spread across its body like broken glass.
Dark energy leaked out rapidly.
The monster staggered backward.
Leo raised his sword one more time.
This time he aimed for the exact weak point he had noticed earlier.
The sword flashed again.
A clean strike.
The blade cut through the damaged armor and pierced the monster's core.
The forest became silent.
The giant creature stood frozen for several seconds.
Then its glowing red eyes slowly dimmed.
Its massive body collapsed onto the forest floor with a thunderous crash.
BOOM.
Birds flew away in panic.
Dust rose into the air.
And the battle ended.
Silence filled the forest.
Kai stared at the fallen monster.
Then he slowly turned toward Leo.
"…You."
He pointed with a trembling finger.
"What… are you?"
Ryu looked just as shocked.
"You blocked its attack with one hand."
Milan stared at the scanner.
The monster's energy reading had completely disappeared.
Dead.
He looked at Leo carefully.
"That level of strength… shouldn't exist in a first-year student."
Luna remained silent.
Her glowing eyes watched Leo closely.
She had seen something.
For a brief moment during the fight…
A faint golden aura had appeared around Leo.
Not mana.
Not normal power.
Something deeper.
Something ancient.
Leo cleaned his sword and placed it back into its sheath.
Then he looked at the others calmly.
"It was already injured."
Kai almost screamed.
"INJURED?!"
"That thing was destroying us!"
Ryu laughed nervously.
"If that's your definition of injured, I'm terrified to see a healthy one."
Milan shook his head slowly.
"That explanation doesn't match the evidence."
Leo simply smiled slightly.
"Maybe I just had good timing."
Kai grabbed his head again.
"I'm losing my sanity."
Luna finally spoke.
Her voice was quiet.
"But not entirely false."
Everyone looked at her.
She continued calmly.
"The monster was corrupted."
She pointed at the cracks in its armor where dark energy still leaked.
"That corruption weakened its core."
Milan nodded slowly.
"That's true."
Kai looked between them.
"So we're just going to accept that explanation?"
Ryu shrugged.
"I like being alive."
Kai sighed deeply.
"…Fine."
But Luna was still watching Leo.
Her eyes were thoughtful.
Because she knew one thing clearly.
The monster had not been defeated by luck.
It had been defeated by someone who understood combat far beyond human limits.
Leo turned toward the forest path.
"We should report back."
The others nodded.
The mission was complete.
But as they began walking back toward the academy transport point…
Deep beneath the forest.
Far below the ground where no human could see…
Something ancient slowly awakened.
Two enormous glowing eyes opened in the darkness.
It had felt the battle above.
It had felt the faint ripple of divine power.
And now…
It was fully awake.