The dust cloud soared high into the sky.

Theo approached Aksion, who lay bleeding and motionless.

His breathing was ragged.

The whites of his eyes had rolled back, and it seemed that a mere touch would send him gasping for breath.

*Woom, woom—*

The Moonlit Blade cried out.

As if urging Theo to strike him down.

Begging to be fed.

Theo narrowed his eyes.

In both his past life and this life, there was so much he wanted to say to Aksion.

Was it truly you who harmed my mother?

Are you related to those who ambushed me in my previous life?

But these were all unnecessary questions to throw out now, so he quietly raised the Moonlit Blade.

Just as he was about to bring it down—

“Stop that hand—!”

A sharp voice suddenly rang out from above, and four shadows fell.

*Crash!*

Two drew their swords to block Theo's path, while the other two checked on Aksion's condition.

‘Examiners from the Central Security Bureau.’

Theo recognized them instantly as he observed their faces.

At that moment,

*Ding!*

[You have received a quest.]

+

[**Tutorial Quest #16**]

Defeat ‘Aksion Ragnar,’ who is blocking your way.

- Difficulty: B

- Reward: 1 coin

- Failure: ■■

+

‘Another coin reward quest? The content is to eliminate Aksion Ragnar... This means it must be completed.’

Although the difficulty was rated as B,

Theo thought it was a blessing in disguise.

After all, he had never planned to let Aksion go easily.

“Examiner, what is the condition of Aksion Ragnar?”

“He is in critical condition. We are detecting mana backflow, so he should be transported to the medical room immediately.”

The trembling voice of the examiner, who had felt Aksion's pulse, indicated the severity of his condition.

If a few minutes passed like this, he would surely die.

The fact that Aksion Ragnar, who had long boasted the best skills among the North’s Four, was gravely injured would cause a significant uproar if it became public.

“Are you still planning to block my way? The exam isn’t over yet, as I recall.”

Theo asked in an indifferent tone while watching the two examiners who still stood in his way, their expressions hardening.

“The purpose of this exam is to check how well the examinees cooperate and formulate plans in hunting monsters. There was never a guideline that stated they should kill each other.”

*Snicker—*

Theo chuckled softly.

Their intentions were painfully obvious.

“There’s also nothing in the guidelines that states we can’t quarrel.”

“What...?”

“And the evaluation criteria of this exam not only include teamwork among team members but also how to gain an advantage in inter-team competition.”

“...So you intended to harm the examinee, Aksion?”

“It was merely a quarrel that arose during inter-team competition.”

“That doesn’t justify an act of violence.”

“I’m the type who doesn’t leave room for anyone who might grab my ankle someday. It was merely a confirmation process.”

“But the quarrel has ended with you and the examinee, Ray, victorious, and it seems that Aksion won’t be able to retaliate against you for the remainder of the exam.”

“Judging that is my job, not yours, examiner.”

“What did you say?”

The examiner frowned.

It was frustrating to have an examinee of lesser status defy him and disregard his authority.

“Captain! We must hurry!”

In that moment, Aksion’s subordinate, carrying him, snapped the examiner back to reality.

The priority was to rescue the lord's nephew.

“Quickly transport examinee Aksion Ragnar to the emergency room!”

“Right…!”

Just as the subordinate was about to rise with Aksion in his arms,

*Swish!*

He abruptly stumbled backward in surprise.

A claw, shot from the Moonlit Blade, narrowly grazed in front of him.

“If you intend to judge this incident, then no one is leaving.”

With the Moonlit Blade hanging low, steaming with mist, Theo's fierce gaze pierced through the examiners.

The examiners’ faces flushed with anger.

“The judgment on the mishap that occurred during the exam is the rightful authority of the examiners. If you have an objection, go through the proper channels after the exam. If you keep interfering, you will be disqualified on the charge of obstructing official duties and referred to the Judicial Bureau.”

At this point, they could no longer fool around. There was no greater blow to an examinee than being disqualified.

The examiner gave his subordinate a knowing look to prepare to leave.

*Whoosh!*

[Skill: Lesser Drake Piercer responds to hostile intent!]

“You dared—!”

The chilling aura from Theo captured their ankles.

*Thud thud thud!*

Finally, all four examiners drew their swords, ignoring Theo.

“In this holy examination, where external interference must be minimized, you dare impose personal judgments and call it ‘official’? You’ve really gone too far.”

But Theo was not backing down, his intent only intensifying.

In this moment, he was confronting them not as an examinee but as a rightful heir.

And then,

“That statement is very true.”

This signal was the arrival of other shadows that dropped in behind Theo.

There were three of them.

Though their number was small compared to the examiners from the Central Security Bureau, their presence was far from insignificant.

‘Members of the White Armor Expedition...!’

Theo recognized their affiliation instinctively.

Their temperament was strikingly similar to Julius.

They exuded a relaxed air while reminding one of the high sky.

Yet they also conveyed the sharpness of a dragon.

“Selford! You don’t mean to say you wish to cross swords with us!”

A man with white hair suited him, an examiner from the White Armor Expedition named Selford sneered.

“What can’t I do? Didn’t you just say moments ago? That the judgment on the mishap is the rightful authority of the examiners?”

“...!”

“And since I believe the intervention of examiners in this incident has exceeded the permitted level, I find it an abuse of authority. So, let go of that man and retreat. If you have objections, follow the formal process after the exam is over.”

“...!”

Selford's words threw Tyrone's face into a deep shade of red with anger.

He couldn’t help but feel rage at hearing his own words thrown back at him.

The problem was that his objections didn’t end with him.

“We also agree with Examiner Selford’s statement.”

Like petals falling gently, the examiners from the Plum Blossom Palace descended quietly.

There were four of them.

“When there are disagreements among examiners, the regulations state that a vote from the nearest examiners must be taken to determine the situation.”

The examiner from the Plum Blossom Palace, Natasha, coldly scrutinized Tyrone and his entourage.

“It seems that the claim from Examiner Selford is more credible, so I advise you to set Aksion Ragnar down and withdraw, unless you wish to create unnecessary misunderstandings.”

Although it was a suggestion, it was practically a threat that they would use force if he didn’t comply.

Although there were hardly any who upheld their duties, the examiners were obliged to remain neutral.

*Gnash!*

Tyrone gritted his teeth, momentarily hesitating.

He couldn’t let Aksion go while following Selford and Natasha’s orders.

If he did, it would certainly mean Aksion’s death, and they would be responsible for it.

But it was also impossible to confront the seven of them.

Unless they could kill them all and silence their mouths.

Given their current strength, that was not feasible.

Then?

‘Damn it! Is there really no way out but to die here?’

Tyrone chose the path of sacrifice for his two comrades.

He would ensure that Aksion and his subordinate would escape this place.

If so, even if they died here, their lord would somehow protect the remaining family.

Someday, they would avenge them.

They had that much firm faith in Ed Troyban.

Ultimately, their gazes darted back and forth among themselves.

“Now!”

*Fwoosh!*

Tyrone and the other two rushed toward Selford and Natasha with all their might, while the subordinate carrying Aksion dashed in the opposite direction.

“Do you think you can escape with that little trick?”

Selford sneered, then suddenly stiffened, realizing something was off.

For some reason, Tyrone and his comrades' spirits felt ominously strong.

“Selford! Quickly deploy the aura shield, now!”

Natasha screamed, reading Tyrone’s intentions in desperation.

Veins bulged prominently on Selford’s pale face.

The signs of *Reverse Flow Blood Explosion* were evident.

It was a self-destructive technique that forcefully reversed mana to elevate the state of a few levels above.

“Troyban, may you live forever!”

With gritted teeth, Selford unleashed his aura in front of him, spreading it to form a wide barrier, and the examiners from Natasha and the Plum Blossom Palace simultaneously unleashed their swords toward Tyrone and the others.

They were attempting to block their approach by any means necessary.

But by then, Tyrone and the others had already disregarded their lives and narrowed the distance to engage them.

*Swish!*

The sharp gust of wind swirled, starting to slash at everything around them.

The snowstorm whirled chaotically.

*Boom!*

However,

*Shua!*

Suddenly, Tyrone, who was supposed to collide with Selford, changed direction at the last moment and retreated sideways.

Only then did Selford realize Tyrone’s intention and scream.

—Tyrone was racing towards Theo at breakneck speed.

“Damn it! Protect Theo Ragnar!”

The gazes of Natasha and the examiners from the Plum Blossom Palace quickly shifted in that direction.

The blades they flung were released in a hurry, but it was already too late.

‘No matter what, I must take him with me! If he’s left alive, he will surely become a hindrance to the great work of Troyban...!’ 

Tyrone’s eyes reddened with rage.

“Die, Theo Ragnar!”

Tyrone’s sharp sword approached Theo in an instant.

The examiners’ swords had wounded them, but they could not stop Tyrone.

But even then,

Theo, facing imminent death, showed no signs of panic.

As if it wasn’t his concern.

Instead, he merely stretched his empty hand forward.

What’s this?

Just before his neck was about to be severed, Tyrone thought, and then he realized the reason too late.

—Theo was not looking at him.

He was pulling at the empty air as if he were grasping an invisible hook.

[The skill: Hatchling Syncro grabs hold of the targeted object with telekinesis!]

Right now,

Theo envisioned his telekinesis as the hand of an invisible giant.

As he mimicked grasping the necks of Aksion and the Central Security Bureau examiner in the distance with the giant's hand and pulling them back forcefully,

An immense gravitational force slammed the two backward, causing them to tumble on the cold snowy ground.

*Boom!*

With the recoil, Theo soared high into the sky, swiftly passing over Tyrone and the others.

*Swish!*

Tyrone’s sword barely missed Theo's last position.

It was a stunt difficult to describe, even with one’s own eyes.

Regardless of friend or foe, the gazes of the examiners, including Tyrone, were all fixed upward.

“No!”

Tyrone’s scream echoed out,

Meanwhile, Theo descended perfectly toward Aksion and his subordinate.

The Moonlit Blade once again glimmered with beams of light.

Crash!

‘Captain...! I will never forget your sacrifice!’

The subordinate running with Aksion on his back forced back his flowing tears.

He vowed that he would repay this humiliation someday.

Just then,

“W-What...?”

He suddenly felt an invisible force pulling him fiercely backward.

Before he could resist that force, he found himself rolling in the cold snow with Aksion.

‘What’s happening...!’

His thoughts didn’t linger for long.

Before he could figure it out, the sky was already filled with bright white beams of light.

Boom!

The claws of the dragon not only swept the heads of Aksion and his subordinate but also violently scoured the white snowfield.

Amidst the immense frictional heat, steam swirled around.

Thud!

Theo landed on the now blood-soaked ground.

“...!”

“...!”

“A-Ah, no! Nooo! Aksion!!!”

Standing on the white and red earth,

He looked so cold and alien,

Yet, simultaneously beautiful,

That people stared at Theo in a daze for quite some time.

As Selford and Natasha stared blankly at Theo, Tyrone was engulfed in shock and screamed.

In the meantime, the duration of the Reversed Blood Explosion was also ending, and it began to age rapidly.

“This can’t... be...!”

All the while,

Theo was checking his new rewards.

Ding!

Ding!

[Congratulations! You have successfully overcome an overwhelmingly unfavorable situation and completed Tutorial Quest #16.]

[Evaluation: A+]

[Your level has increased.]

[You have surpassed Level 20.]

[You have received 1 coin as a reward.]

[You have gained the right to use the <Shop> as an additional reward based on your evaluation.]

‘Shop?’

Coins and shops.

He felt that there might be some connection between the two.

Theo reached his hand toward the shop window.