"AWOOOO!!!!"
The wolf pounced.
A blur of claws flashed before Luke's eyes. He barely had time to lift his sword.
Clang!
The blow landed with brutal force, his blade barely deflecting it. A violent jolt surged up his arms, nearly dislocating his shoulder. Pain erupted through his muscles as he stumbled back, gasping for breath.
Too fast.
His gaze locked onto the Grimber Wolf as it slinked sideways, fangs bared. Its movements were fluid, honed by countless hunts. This wasn't a wild beast driven by instinct—it was a predator. A killer that had tasted blood and understood how to take lives.
Luke's heart pounded like a drum inside his chest.
'If I fight it head-on, I'll lose. I need to outsmart it…'
[Host, I recommend using Iron Crushing Fist. Your physical strength exceeds the beast's. If you manage to land even a single clean hit… the battle will end instantly.]
'Tch… that's easier said than done,' Luke thought, his eyes never leaving the beast. 'Can I even perform Iron Crushing Fist in time?'
The Grimber Wolf prowled in a wide arc, eyes burning with savage hunger. It was waiting for the slightest lapse, the smallest hesitation.
It was too fast, too efficient.
But Luke didn't have a choice.
For a while, Luke kept the Grimber Wolf at bay, only focusing on defending himself as he patiently waited for the perfect opportunity to strike.
None of the other participants could offer him any assistance, as they were all preoccupied with their own battles. Every single participant had a Grimber Wolf targeting them, and if someone were to be eliminated, their beast wouldn't redirect its aggression to others—effectively making the test easier for the remaining participants.
But for newbie warriors like them, facing such a formidable opponent was more than just a challenge—it was a true test of willpower, survival instincts, and raw determination.
With every swipe and sidestep, Luke could feel the weight of fatigue creeping into his limbs. His breath came in short gasps, and sweat blurred his vision, but he clenched his teeth and pressed on. Giving up wasn't an option.
The Grimber Wolf, as if sensing his growing weakness, suddenly pounced forward with renewed bloodlust. Its fangs gleamed under the flickering light, its claws tearing into the earth beneath with terrifying speed as it lunged straight for Luke's chest.
This time, Luke didn't move.
Or rather—he didn't want to.
His legs felt like they were made of lead, and his reflexes were dulled by the relentless pace of battle. The wolf's eyes gleamed with excitement, sensing its victory within reach.
But just as the beast lunged in, something inside Luke snapped.
Adrenaline surged through his veins like a flood, washing away the fatigue clouding his mind. His grip on his sword tightened, and clarity unlike anything before settled into his gaze.
"Fuck you… If I'm going down—you're coming with me!!"
Without a shred of hesitation, Luke moved.
A desperate gamble, a calculated sacrifice.
He twisted his body just enough, offering his left arm to the incoming bite. Blood would spill, and pain would follow—but that didn't matter. This was his only shot to end it.
"Iron Crushing Fist!!" he bellowed with all his might.
A crimson aura erupted from within him, crackling violently across his body as his muscles tensed to their absolute limit.
⟪ Fist Power increased by 15%. Total: 126.5 kg. ⟫
The system's notification echoed inside his mind like a war drum.
The Grimber Wolf's powerful jaws clamped down on his arm with a sickening crunch. Pain exploded in his nerves, but Luke didn't flinch.
Instead, he used the beast's momentum against it—tightening every muscle in his body as he roared and brought his sword down with earth-shattering force.
In the wolf's eyes, its weakness was obvious to Luke.
Without hesitation, he surged forward and channeled all the strength he could muster into his sword, his grip tightening with unwavering resolve.
"Schluk!"
A wet, sickening crunch echoed through the place as the steel blade plunged deep into the beast's eye socket.
There was no resistance. The blade slid through flesh like water, followed by a soft pop as the eye collapsed inward. The Grimber Wolf let out a final, pitiful whimper before its body slumped to the ground, motionless.
Blood gushed from the socket, running down the side of its snout and soaking the dirt beneath.
Luke stood over the fallen beast, his chest rising and falling heavily. His sword trembled slightly in his grip, crimson dripping from its edge like falling rain.
He slowly pulled the blade free with a sharp breath, the sound of metal leaving flesh sticky and raw.
The Grimber Wolf lay dead at his feet.
A clear sign that he had passed this part of the trial.
'Luckily… this is only a simulation…' Luke thought to himself, his gaze dropping to the stump where his left arm had been.
Even knowing it wasn't real, the phantom pain still pulsed sharply in his nerves, and the sight of his missing limb brought a chill down his spine.
The adrenaline hadn't worn off yet. His heart pounded inside his chest like a drum, refusing to slow down.
Luke took a deep breath.
Another.
Then another.
Only after several seconds did the tension in his shoulders begin to loosen. He slowly lowered his sword and closed his eyes.
He had passed.
[Meanwhile—Outside the Simulation]
In a high-tech chamber lined with floating screens, several robed figures stood in silence. Each screen showed a different participant. Most were frozen, cowering, or dead.
Except for one.
A tall woman with cold eyes leaned forward.
"Participant #19… Luke Dawnbringer."
Another man, dressed in gold-edged armor, crossed his arms.
On the main screen, they watched as Luke, bloodied and limping, stood face-to-face with a vicious wolf.
"Well, that's willpower here," the woman muttered, clearly impressed.
"…He passed," one of the seniors said flatly.
"Not just passed," another muttered.
"He grew. Mid-battle. That fear in the beginning—he overcame it. No guidance. No training. Just will."
All of them were high-ranking seniors of the Extreme Martial Dojo, individuals who held considerable authority and status within the dojo. Their gazes were fixed on Luke—some filled with surprise, others with subtle respect. After all, not just anyone could accomplish what he had, especially someone who was still considered a rookie in their eyes.
The most excited among them was none other than Marcus, the Dean of the dojo himself.
"Hahaha! I knew this kid had potential!" Marcus burst out laughing, his wide grin stretching from ear to ear as he clapped his hands together.