In swamp land, a man in iron armor with enough protection for his body fighting against several monsters. He wielded a dual-edged longsword and a shield locked on his arm. This man moved very fast and attacked every monsters' vital points. He was together with other participants, but he wasn't working together with them.

When the monster quite far from him, he straightened his left arm which has a shield. Beneath the shield, there is a hidden crossbow that could be triggered by a pull. He shot the bolt and hit the monster right on its head. The crossbow didn't need to reload because it has a magazine for it.

'Quite convenient to have this set of items.' That person thought. To be the truth, all of these things doesn't belong to him. He took them and luckily they are good quality.

'The fight against immortals too wasn't wasteful!'

He slashed down his sword and easily cut the monster. This person was Evan. He was in disguise as a warrior, armed to toe and perfectly like a veteran. But he clearly knew that he lacked technique as a warrior. He only used his instinct and strength to fight. Although his skill was polished well, it was without technique.

'The monsters are endless. They really forced the participants to work together. An hour fighting is very tiring.'

But Evan who had been fighting without a stop in the immortal fight, this was nothing. He could use magic, but he refrained from doing it. At least, he will have used buff magic.

'I guess, I'll retreat now.'

He already caught attention, a skilled warrior fighting against many monsters at once. Everyone will regard him highly and if he continued to fight. Everyone would think of him as a freak. To make unnecessary attention, for now, he will retreat.

Moving in the swamp was quite hard, who knows the ground would be too soft and hindering movement. Not forgetting that there might monster hidden in the swamp and ready to attack anytime. The participants quickly seek steady ground to fight. But Evan not choosing that, the monsters in this place aren't just swamp monsters, other race monsters exist too. Those monsters also found it hard to move in the swamp and with their number, it was hard to move together. Evan was alone and he was moving very fast in the swamp, the danger of hidden monster couldn't even hinder him.

He retreated quite far and found a cave. Without hesitation, he entered it but only found that several people are already inside. These people are avoiding a fight, they just need to survive for an hour and they would go to the second trial.

"Am I allowed?" Evan asked.

These people glanced at each other and nodded. Evan used magic to cleanse his armor and leaned on the wall.

From these people perspective, Evan was a lone warrior and recently found a cave. One person was harmless for them and beside this cave was quite big for twenty people. They secretly glanced at Evan, curiosity, annoyance and other feelings. Evan kept wearing his armor and thus wouldn't let them see who was inside the armor.

After a while. Evan stood and slightly bowed at them then about to leave the cave but stopped at the exit.

"I suggest all of you leave this place. The monsters will come."

They stared at him in disbelief. They didn't believe a stranger's words, but they also need to take it for caution. But, not long after Evan left. The ground was vibrating and the ceiling cave destroyed. A large monster comes down and screams them.

'I wouldn't think they would let everyone relaxed.'

Evan knew that the trial wouldn't be that easy. People hiding is okay, but they wouldn't last long. Because no matter where they hide, the monsters will find them under the guidance of this realm owner.

"Hm?"

Evan noticed a black firewall. He knew from the information he obtained, the black fire comes from Clara, Noel's friend. The firewall was quite effective to ward off the monsters, adding it is a black fire, no monsters would dare to come closer. Evan was wondering how they will handle this.

But, not to his expectation. A large flat cracked ground flew and descended to the black firewall. Despite black fire could melt anything, the impact of flying ground is severe and as long as the owner is injured, then it is a win situation.

From inside of the black fire, a girl came out in rush towards Evan direction. She was Clara. Although she could survive the flying ground, it would use too much mana. She only realized that she was running into someone and going to bump that person.

Yet, Evan subconsciously merciless. He changed his pivoting and retreated to the side way, allowing Clara passed him away. Due to shock that he dodged her, Clara almost tripped herself.

She steadies herself and looked at the flying ground which smashed her previous location. Then she was looking at Evan with calm eyes. Her eyes filled with suspicious and alert. Towards stranger, she is cold and acts apathetic. She won't trust someone so easily. But she can't help it, her life was always targeted and people close to her died because of it. Noel almost died because of her but she is grateful for him to be alive. After betrayed by her fake bodyguards, her wariness towards a stranger is very high.

Just when they were staring each other, Evan turned his body and walked away. Somehow, Clara sighed in glad because Evan walked away, but it was only for a short moment when Evan stopped and looked at her again.

"Move from that place."

Clara was looking at him and doubt it, but then she noticed a shadow enlarging below her. Instantly she rushed away and barely dodged a falling rock. A loud scream was coming closer. The trees destroyed as if they were meet a bulldozer. A giant monster with four arms moving towards them.

Evan unsheathed his sword and stood in front of Clara. She looked at him in shock, why would this stranger stand in front of her like trying to protect her? She couldn't believe this stranger doing this for nothing.

"Clara right?"

Clara nodded hesitantly, it was normal for people to know her name because of the black fire.

"You were using your black fire wastefully. you're were using too much mana and produce weak fire. Seems like you unable to proceed with it."

She widened her eyes, someone advised her about the black fire was something unheard. She knew that the black fire's consumption is very large, but weak fire? She couldn't agree with it. If her black fire weak, how strong the strong black fire?

When the monster came closer, Evan ran toward it. He shot his crossbow but the bolt got repelled by the thick skin of the monster. Evan added speed boost and strength boost. He went to the monster's leg and slashed it. But his sword doesn't give a deep cut. But he didn't stop and slash the same leg again on the same spot.

The monster enraged and tried to smash Evan, but he was too quick for the monster. Suddenly, the monster fell to the ground. Its leg was cut very deep to the bone and unable to stand anymore. It roared and doesn't acknowledge that it already lost but Evan came at him and slashed through its neck. The monster died but Evan's sword got broken. His sword was unable to withstand the monster's thick skin and broke after few hits.

He threw the broken sword away and took out another sword from his storage.

"Thank you." Clara said after coming towards him.

"No need, you can handle it well. It would even better if you able to master the black fire too."

"You seem to know much about black fire? As you know i'm the only human who can use black fire, perhaps you-"

"I've met a dragon before."

That words made Clara silent. Met a dragon, clearly, dragon couldn't be see anymore in this era, they are hiding away and live in peace. But to meet a dragon, it seems preposterous.

"The dragon you met, it could use black fire?"

"Yes, he could. Even more magnificent than yours."

"That means this dragon has Dragon king's bloodline?"

Evan didn't speak but nodded. The first dragon and the one who developed black fire is Rivast. According to the information, Clara inherited Dragon king's bloodline thus allowing her to use black fire normally.

The concept of black fire is too complex and that is why people believed the black fire could only come from the bloodline and that is also the same case with white ice. But, if Rivast can make the black fire, why the others not? If Osion able to create green fire, why the others not? Shortly, the others are unable to find the way to create such terrifying magic. Human is only a small tube for experiment and it was not enough to create terrifying magic. Human only able to apply magic, they couldn't create them. That also same with other races like a human. However, it is not a fixed conclusion. A miracle could possibly happen.

When there is nothing to speak of, Evan wanted to leave but suddenly Clara stopped him.

"If you know about black fire... could you..." she hesitated, "Could you tell me how to master it?"

"Why would I?"

Just when Clara about to answer, Evan spoke again, "Why would you believe I could help you? Could a stranger help you? You are desperate, right?"

His words hit the mark. She is desperate, it was true. Her desperation begin to grow when she noticed Noel's improvement. He keeps getting stronger and leaving her behind. She doesn't want that, she wanted to stand by his side. She couldn't be lagging behind.

"I'm a stranger and people are watching. If you want my help, after this, perhaps."

He said before turning away and leaving. Evan couldn't help her actually. He doesn't understand the concept of black fire but he knows well about it at least. But he could take her to the right person or to be more precise a Lizard.

Forty minutes has passed. The monsters are getting stronger and people starting to disappear. They don't die, when their lives in danger, they will instantly leave the trial.

Evan doesn't know how many people were left. He was walking alone and didn't encounter any single monsters. Perhaps, he was lucky or perhaps he was unlucky. Why unlucky? While there is no monster around, it means the place where he is now is dangerous.

Not long after that, a thunderous roar sounded in the canyon. Evan believes that this place is a territory of strong monster, or perhaps strongest monster in this realm.

"You wouldn't enter that place, right?" A feminine voice. When he turned around, he saw an elf girl coming. She wore a light armor that doesn't restrict her movement. On her waist, there are two daggers and three pouches.

"Why do you think so?" Evan asked he wanted to know why the elf girl would be so considerate to ask him.

"Because that's a dead zone."

"Hm... I know but that also means the safest zone."

After thinking for a while, the elf girl nodded, "That's reasonable. The other monsters wouldn't come closer. We only need to take care of that one."

"We... are you trying to propose something?"

"Yes, working together. I'm confident with my skill I could take down the strongest monster but that will result in a great price. But, by working together, I could lessen it."

"Proposing to work together. What a weird elf, I thought an elf would dislike asking help from a stranger."

"That kind of pride is wasteful. So, teaming up?"

"Sure, my name is Walt."

"I'm Lita, I hope we can work well."

"I hope so."

Evan found it quite strange on why would this elf girl approaching him. Even it is making a team, asking a stranger is bit odd. Where does her trust come from? How could she propose something like that so easily? He remembered about Noel too. Noel also blindly trust Evan back then. Picked a villager out of nowhere and the Viscount Rishawd was the same.

"Say, did you hide something in this teaming up? I found it hard to believe you will ask a stranger to team up. Though there is an occasion where it best to team up together when the situation is dire. Yet, now the situation isn't like that."

"I just want to defeat the strongest monster. That's all." She said indifferently which is not very convincing.

"Taking the risk. Either you are seeking death or battle maniac, there is another purpose, right?"

After a short silence, Lita sighed. "You're right, there is another purpose. Do you know that in this realm, the monsters are real?"

"I do. Oh, you want to get their parts?"

"Exactly! I saw the strongest monster! It's a wyvern!"

Wyvern, unlike dragon. Wyvern is smaller than a dragon, it doesn't have four legs but instead two legs and a pair of wings. There are a few wyverns with intelligence, but most only follow their instinct.

"What kind of type?"

"I don't know, I'm not too knowledgeable about it, but the wyvern's parts are good! If we defeat it, we shall split it evenly!"

"There is still around fifteen minutes, we better be quick."

"Okay, hold on to me then." Lita suddenly grabbed Evan and both of them disappeared and appeared in different place.

'Teleport? Blink?'

Very quickly they arrived at the location. Lita drank a potion to restore her mana and then looking at the surrounding.

"Where is it?"

"We don't need to find it," Evan spoke and took out a potion. He smashed the potion to the ground.

"What's that?"

"Lure."

Not far from then, a roar sounded and then dragon-like being appeared, a wyvern.

"Like a dragon, it might be hiding a treasure, but that's not what we come here for. Let's go."

Lita grabbed Evan again and teleported to above the wyvern. Evan made a free fall and unsheathe his sword. His sword got hardened by magic and it slashed through the wyvern's wing. His sword manages to tear the wing and made the wyvern fall down. But the wyvern quite smart, it attacked Evan with its tail when falling down.

Luckily Lita appeared and catches Evan then appeared on the ground just at the same time the wyvern fell.

"Are you fine?" Lita asked with worry, if Evan were to fall right now, her chance of winning against the wyvern is low.

"Just a crack on my armor. It is fine, it won't hinder me." Evan took out another sword and hold it in his other hand.

"Let's go."

They rushed towards the wyvern. It breathes fire, however, Evan dodged and Lita teleported to above the wyvern. The wyvern suddenly looking at Lita and tried to eat her, but she disappeared and appeared beside the wyvern. Again, they wyvern suddenly looking at her again.

'Very good instinct!'

The wyvern attacked Lita but it also didn't forget to attack Evan with its tail. Evan jumped and avoided the tail but it suddenly makes a return and hit Evan. Fortunately, he blocks it with his shield even though the shield and the crossbow beneath it instantly broken.

"No other choice."

Evan relaxed his body and poured his mana to every place of his body. At once, he disappeared and the wyvern suddenly got smashed down. However, the wyvern only down for a moment before it went berserk.

"You're strong! What kind of strength was that?" Lita said with amazement.

"Great boost."

"Great boost? But that drains a lot of mana unless you are very good in magic."

Evan didn't answer and looking at the wyvern. Despite lost its ability to fly, the wyvern still strong and normal attack wouldn't wound it. Even with boost, Evan managed to knock it down only.

"Lita, are your daggers magic weapons?"

"Yes, that is why I could wound it well. Do you have a magic weapon?"

"No." Yes, he has it but he won't use it. Rather, using magic to wound the wyvern is enough for him. If the sword broke, he will bring out another one.

The wyvern charging at them and suddenly jumped, it uses its wings to glide towards them and tried to catch them with its foot. Both Lita and Evan are moving in synchronization, they dodged and slashed the wyvern's legs.

Once the wyvern landed, Lita blinked to near the wyvern's neck and slashed it. The wound she inflicted isn't quite deep. Evan slashed its tail and with magic poured into his sword, the sword almost made a deep cut. In pain, the wyvern twists its body and breathe a fire around it. Lita took Evan and blink to above the wyvern. Once the wyvern stopped breathe a fire, they blinked once again and appeared right in front of the wyvern's head. They moved and thrust their sword and dagger to the wyvern's eyes. Afterward, they disappeared and appeared again and slashed the wyvern's neck.

"It wouldn't be able to see but it could smell us."

"Don't worry." Evan took out a potion and throw near the wyvern. The potion let out a liquid with a nasty smell. The wyvern got disturbed by the smell and went berserk

"Walt! Time is almost up! We need to defeat it!"

"Yeah..."

Evan boosted himself and at great speed, he arrived below the wyvern. He thrust his sword into the wyvern's heart and pierced the scales. However, just when half of the sword entered, the sword broke. Evan thrust his other sword and penetrate it deeply; his sword pierces the wyvern's, heart. With an increase of his strength, Evan cut through the scales and rip it apart. As a result, his sword broke again.

The wyvern screamed and slowly falling down. With its heart pierced, it died.

"Come, let's dismantle it."

Lita nodded and went to help Evan to dismantle the wyvern. However, the time wasn't enough and they unable to finish it. When the time was over, they returned to the tournament. Lita was showing great disappointment and sighed many times. While Evan didn't mind much about it.

"357 participants have fallen! Only 10386 remains! Now! The rank!"

First rank, Geralt. Monster killed: 370

Second rank, Rasvelt. Monster killed: 365

Third rank, Faiz. Monster killed: 364

Fourth rank....

The ranks were shown until all names of participants were listed. Evan whose name is Walt killed 189 monsters while Lita killed 130 monsters. Evan looking at Noel's name and he has killed 321 monsters. While the last is Glein who didn't kill any monster.

"But! There are two people who get the hidden bonus! Walt and Lita! They killed Wyvern!" Two figures, Walt and Lita appeared on the disk array.

The audiences cheered and the other participants are looking at Walt and Lita. Who wouldn't know a wyvern? A Flying Lizard lower than a dragon. No ordinary people could defeat it. The participants are looking with envy, amaze, curious, and apathetic. Lita didn't care about their gaze since she disappointed for unable to get her loot. While Evan checking his equipment which is broken.

"They will be rewarded with two items! Directly by Union Council!"

From VIP seat, an elf with Union robe flew at them. Evan recognized this lady elf. According to the daemon elder, this elf elder is the one who has the trial realm.

"Congratulations." The elf elder smiled at Evan and Lita. "Both of you have defeated my best monster. I shall give you two rewards."

She shifted her gaze to Evan and says, "Walt, you are a brave warrior. Dare to stand against the wyvern and received all the damage. I shall reward you with this." She gave him a sword. The sword is covered by a metallic scabbard, it is not heavy but thick. While the sword, its hilt looks ordinary but, there are runes carved into the sword.

Everyone gaze directed to the sword. The sword with runes is expensive, it's not ordinary sword and without imbued mana, the sword is already powerful. However, a runic sword is quite weaker than a magic sword. The Runic Sword has static power, it couldn't be improved except changing the rune while magic sword could be improved by pouring magic into it.

"This sword has four runes. Hard, sharp, swift, and flexible. Use it well."

"Thank you, Elder." Evan received with a bow and stored the sword inside his storage. The elf elder then moving towards Lita.

"Your Blink magic is amazing and you can move in coordination well. I shall reward you with this." She gave her a ring. The ring has purple jade and looks ordinary.

"It's cloning ring. Pour your mana into it and you can create your own clone. It is perfect to distract your opponent and launch a sneak attack."

"Thank you, elder."

"Yes, also, send regards to Calez."

Lita somewhat shocked but nodded in acknowledgment. Afterward, the elf elder went back to the VIP seat.