The forest had grown eerily quiet.
Moments earlier, the massive Frostfang Beast had appeared, filling the clearing with a freezing aura that made the air feel heavy.
Most applicants would have run immediately.
But not Adrian Solhart.
The young man stepped forward calmly, his sword already drawn.
"Everyone move back," he said firmly.
His voice carried a natural authority that made several nearby students instinctively retreat.
Elena hesitated.
She knew how dangerous Frostfang Beasts were.
But before she could speak—
The creature roared.
A wave of icy wind exploded outward, freezing the grass and leaves around the clearing.
Adrian moved instantly.
His body blurred forward with surprising speed.
The beast's massive claw slammed toward him.
BOOM!
Adrian rolled to the side just in time.
The ground cracked where the claw struck.
"Fast…" Elena murmured.
She raised her hand.
A faint blue glow formed around her fingers.
Ice magic gathered in the air.
"Freeze."
Several sharp ice spikes shot toward the beast.
CRACK!
The spikes struck the creature's shoulder.
But the Frostfang Beast barely reacted.
Its thick fur absorbed most of the attack.
Adrian frowned.
"Too tough…"
The beast roared again and charged directly toward Elena.
Its instincts recognized the mage as the bigger threat.
Elena's eyes widened.
She quickly tried forming another spell.
But the beast was already too close.
Just as its enormous jaws opened—
Adrian appeared between them.
CLANG!
His sword collided with the beast's fangs.
The impact forced him backward several meters.
But he held his ground.
"Run!" Adrian shouted.
Elena froze for a moment.
Then she realized something.
Adrian was fighting purely with physical ability.
No magic.
No aura.
Which meant—
"He's a commoner…"
Yet his strength was already rivaling trained noble fighters.
The Frostfang Beast lunged again.
Adrian stepped forward instead of retreating.
His movements were precise and efficient.
He slashed toward the creature's leg.
SHHK!
A shallow cut appeared.
The beast howled in anger.
But Adrian didn't stop.
He moved around the monster quickly, striking again and again.
Each attack was small.
But together they slowly weakened the beast.
Elena watched with amazement.
"He's… incredible."
At that exact moment—
A pair of silver eyes observed the battle from the shadows of the trees.
Lucien Aurelius.
He leaned casually against a tree trunk.
The system interface hovered quietly in front of him.
Destiny Event Active
Hero saving Elena Valtieri.
Probability of bond formation: 87%
Lucien sighed softly.
"That's still too high."
He watched Adrian carefully.
The protagonist truly lived up to his reputation.
Even without magic, he was handling a powerful magical beast alone.
If the battle continued normally…
Adrian would soon defeat the beast and collapse from exhaustion.
Elena would help heal him.
That would begin their partnership.
Lucien couldn't allow that.
But he didn't want to reveal himself too early either.
He needed the perfect moment.
The Frostfang Beast suddenly slammed its tail toward Adrian.
WHAM!
Adrian blocked with his sword but was thrown backward.
He landed roughly on the ground.
For the first time, he looked slightly strained.
The beast roared triumphantly.
Its freezing aura intensified.
Ice began forming across the clearing.
Elena tried casting another spell.
But the cold air was interfering with her mana.
Her spell collapsed.
"Damn…"
The beast charged toward Adrian again.
Its jaws opened wide.
Adrian tried standing—
But his leg slipped on the frozen ground.
For a brief moment—
The future of the story balanced on a single instant.
In the original timeline, Adrian would still manage to dodge.
Then he would strike the beast's weak point.
Victory.
Heroic rescue.
But suddenly—
CRACK!
A thin silver blade flashed through the air.
The Frostfang Beast froze.
A deep cut appeared across its neck.
For a moment the clearing became silent.
Then—
THUD.
The massive creature collapsed.
Dead.
Adrian blinked in surprise.
Elena stared in shock.
A calm voice came from the trees.
"You two looked like you were struggling."
Lucien stepped out slowly.
His black coat moved gently in the cold wind.
His silver eyes reflected the faint light filtering through the forest.
Adrian quickly stood up, gripping his sword tightly.
"Who are you?"
Lucien smiled politely.
"Lucien Aurelius."
The moment Adrian heard that name—
His expression changed.
Even commoners knew the Aurelius Clan.
One of the most powerful noble families in the empire.
Adrian glanced at the dead Frostfang Beast.
"You killed it…"
Lucien shrugged lightly.
"It was about to interrupt the exam by killing applicants."
His gaze shifted briefly toward Elena.
"But it seems you two were doing quite well already."
Elena frowned slightly.
Something about Lucien's timing felt strange.
But she couldn't deny the result.
Without his attack, Adrian might have been seriously injured.
Adrian slowly lowered his sword.
"…Thank you."
Lucien nodded casually.
Then the system interface appeared again.
Destiny Event Interrupted
Heroic Rescue: Failed
Bond Formation Probability: 31%
Reward Granted: Destiny Points +300
Lucien's smile deepened slightly.
That was a significant drop.
Adrian looked at the beast again.
"Your attack… was incredibly precise."
Lucien tilted his head slightly.
"Basic swordsmanship."
Adrian studied him carefully.
Something about Lucien felt strange.
Too calm.
Too confident.
And somehow—
It felt like Lucien had been watching the entire fight.
Before Adrian could ask anything else—
Several academy instructors suddenly appeared in the clearing.
One of them looked at the dead Frostfang Beast in surprise.
"A Frostfang Beast… defeated already?"
His eyes moved between Adrian, Elena, and Lucien.
"Which one of you killed it?"
Adrian hesitated.
But Lucien answered casually.
"I only finished it."
He gestured toward Adrian.
"He did most of the work."
The instructor nodded approvingly.
"Impressive teamwork."
Adrian looked slightly confused.
But Lucien had already turned away.
"Good luck in the exam," he said lightly.
Then he walked deeper into the forest.
As he disappeared between the trees—
The system interface appeared again.
Main Mission Progress
Disrupt Hero's Destiny Encounters
Current Progress: 40%
Lucien chuckled softly.
"Still a long way to go."
But the most important thing had already happened.
The hero's first great moment…
Had been stolen.
Behind him in the clearing—
Adrian watched Lucien's disappearing figure.
For some reason…
He felt like he had just met someone extremely dangerous.
Someone who had quietly stepped into his path.
Someone who might change everything.
Adrian tightened his grip on his sword.
"…Lucien Aurelius."
For the first time—
The hero had noticed the villain.
And their story had truly begun.