The Rampaging Rhinotaur
Blaze ventured deeper into the Friendly Dungeon. His steps were light as he admired the radiant beauty around him. The glowing mana crystals sparkled softly from the cavern walls. They were illuminating a serene forest teeming with gentle magic beasts. Birds with shimmering feathers flitted between branches. Their songs were mingling with the hum of mana.
It really does feel... peaceful. Blaze smiled as he watched a small flock of scrabbits hopping along a mossy path.
But then—
BOOOOM!
A deafening explosion tore through the tranquility. Stormclaws screeched and scattered into the air. The trees trembled violently. The very earth seemed to groan beneath Blaze's feet.
He spun around. His heart was pounding.
From between the towering trees, a colossal figure emerged. Each thunderous step shook the ground. It had the face of a furious rhinoceros. Its crimson eyes blazed with hatred. A massive humanoid body loomed over the forest. It was corded with muscle and strength beyond measure. Resting on its shoulder was a spiked, jagged club. That club was large enough to crush boulders.
Blaze's eyes narrowed. He knew that form.
"Rhinotaur... the boss of the Friendly Dungeon."
Unlike the other magic beasts here, Rhinotaur harbored no affection for humans. And now, its seething gaze was locked on a group of adventurers frozen in terror beneath its shadow.
Move!
Blaze's body reacted before thought. In a flash, he dashed forward. His sword raised high, planting himself between the Rhinotaur and the trembling adventurers.
The beast roared and lifted its colossal club. It brought the club crashing down.
The adventurers screamed.
But the impact never came.
Steel gleamed under the dungeon's eerie light. Blaze stood firm. His blade was glowing faintly as it pressed against the descending weapon. He was somehow holding back the monstrous force. His knees buckled under the pressure, but he held.
"Why... is it here?" Blaze gritted his teeth. "It's supposed to spawn... tomorrow..."
The Rhinotaur's crimson gaze locked onto him. It recognized Blaze now as its challenger. A deep, guttural growl rumbled from its throat.
And then—
ROOOOOAAAARRRR!
The roar shook the dungeon itself. Leaves tore from branches; the adventurers stumbled backward in terror. Some collapsed, paralyzed by fear.
Blaze grinned through the pressure. "Jumping in ahead of schedule, huh? Not very friendly for a Friendly Dungeon."
The Rhinotaur bared its jagged teeth in a chilling grin.
"Tch... what a nasty grin."
It lifted its club again, this time swinging with even greater force.
Blaze leapt aside. The swing missed by inches, yet the sheer wind pressure slammed into him, nearly toppling him. He countered swiftly, his sword flashing in an arc toward the beast's massive arm. Sparks erupted as steel scraped against hide.
But—nothing.
The Rhinotaur barely flinched.
Blaze's heart sank. His strongest strike left only a shallow cut.
That hide... how tough is this thing?!
The Rhinotaur's grin widened. That Rhinotaur was enjoying this.
It's playing with me...?
Blaze's expression hardened. He surged forward. He weaved between the monster's massive swings and slashed at every opening he could find. Blades of light trailed behind each strike. Sparks danced. But every blow felt like slicing stone, no, steel. If it were like stone, he could still cut it.
And then—
Another roar.
But this one... felt different.
A deep red glow erupted from the Rhinotaur's body. Its veins pulsed like molten lava. Its muscles bulged grotesquely beneath its skin.
A message flared in the air.
[Skill Activated: Rage]
Blaze's instincts screamed.
Too slow!
The Rhinotaur vanished from sight with its massive body.
BAM!
A massive fist crashed into Blaze's side. The force sent him flying.
BAM!
A second punch met him mid-air and hammered into his chest. Blood sprayed from his lips.
BAM!
A third punch—straight to his stomach—drove him violently downward.
Blaze gasped, vision swimming. He barely registered the ground rushing up to meet him. Pain exploded through every nerve. His sword slipped from his trembling hand.
The Rhinotaur loomed above him. It lifted its spiked club for the final blow.
No...!
And then—
A blur.
A figure appeared between them and caught the descending club with one hand.
The Rhinotaur's eyes widened in disbelief.
A deep voice cut through the chaos.
"That's enough."
Blaze forced his eyes open. Through the haze of pain, he recognized the man standing tall before him—silver armor gleaming beneath the mana light, sword sheathed at his side.
The captain of Juris. A Knight of the Advanced Order.
In the next instant—
The Rhinotaur collapsed.
Blaze blinked. One moment, the beast roared. The next, it lay unconscious on the ground. Its body shimmered, dissolving into light as its magic crystal and drop item—a jagged Rhinotaur horn—remained behind.
The captain turned and offered Blaze a hand. His eyes were calm, yet sharp.
"Normally, we let high-ranked adventurers handle this," the captain said. "But this was an emergency."
Blaze coughed and weakly took the hand. "Yeah... no kidding..."
As he stood, wincing at every bruise, his gaze drifted to the magic crystal and horn.
That power gap...
He clenched his fists.
I'm still so far...
"You're Sir Lumnell's son, aren't you?" the captain asked. "I've heard about you. Heard you've got no affinity for magic." His voice softened slightly. "Don't let that weigh you down, kid. But be careful."
"Yes, sir," Blaze replied, voice hoarse.
"You should head back to the guild and get healed." The captain's lips quirked slightly. "Frankly, you look like the Rhinotaur played basketball with you."
Blaze let out a tired chuckle. "Feels about right..."
Then his brow furrowed. "Captain... it wasn't supposed to spawn today, right?"
The captain's expression darkened. "No. It only spawns early if a powerful mana presence enters the dungeon... or if the dungeon itself senses imminent danger." His gaze swept the forest, sharp and searching. "Something's off."
Blaze frowned. "I didn't sense anyone that powerful. Wouldn't they have stepped in by now?"
"Exactly. I'll be sending magical knights to investigate. Be on guard."
Blaze nodded faintly. His vision blurred again as the adrenaline faded.
And with that, he turned, making his way back to the Adventurer's Guild—limping, aching, yet burning with resolve.
He had survived.
----
A roaring colosseum in a certain world—
"Ladies and gentlemen! Aspirants and onlookers alike... brace yourselves!" The commentator's voice echoed, sharp and electric. "Today marks the battle royale for Secondary order! A clash between one hundred Junior Order swordsmen!"
The crowd exploded into chaos. Cheers, whistles, and frenzied screams filled the massive stone arena.
"Kill 'em! Crush them! Make it rain sparks!!"
The final announcement rang out, and a deep rumbling surged beneath the colosseum.
With a violent crack, the ground split apart. Five-foot-tall rocks burst upward like jagged fangs. It reshaped the once-smooth arena into a rocky field of stone.
In seconds, the battlefield had transformed into a rocky hellscape.
"Ahhh, looks like today's royale turned into a... rock-royale!" the commentator laughed, his voice carrying a thrill of mischief. "Looks like movement will be tricky, folks. You can't go flashing into this arena, now!"
The audience howled in excitement. They were punching the air with their fists.
"YEAHHHHHHHH!"
"WOOOOOOOO!"
"OIIIII.... BREAK SOME BONES...!!!"
Suddenly—
The colosseum filled with ripple murmurs.
The commentator's voice cracked.
"Wait... is this, for real? That's—no way... Red spiky hair... crimson eyes... two swords—one with a blazing red hilt, the other crackling yellow like lightning..."
The crowd fell into a hush. Every eye turned toward the lone figure that stepped into the sunlight.
"That's... that's Yura Murasaki!" the commentator shouted. "He is a Junior Order swordsman, but... this young man—he's already challenged and defeated two Secondary Order swordsmen in an official battle!"
A tremor ran through the competitors.
"...Is that really him?"
"...You've got to be kidding."
"...What's a monster like that doing here?"
"...I'm out. Forget about this."
Some aspirants' faces paled; others clenched their weapons with trembling hands. A few of them quietly laughed. They seemed to be eager and desperate to test their blades against a legend.
Meanwhile, Yura Murasaki stood calm, his eyes half-lidded. His swords rested casually against his shoulders. They looked as if they weighed nothing.
"...There can only be one winner, folks!" the commentator declared. He was trying to stir the crowd from their stunned silence. "So... good luck, all of you competitors!"
A tense pause.
And then—
"BEGIN!!"
The horn sounded.
The battlefield exploded into chaos.
Steel clashed against steel. Dust and gravel flew as feet pounded against the treacherous ground. Cries of determination, pain, and exhilaration echoed across the arena.
And at the center of it all—
Yura Murasaki moved like lightning.
His red and yellow swords danced through the battlefield, cutting through the mayhem like twin streaks of fire and storm.
As the crowd watched, breathless.
---------
Flames, Lightning, and Ice
The signal had been given.
The battle royale had begun—and so had the bloodbath.
Blades clashed. Screams filled the rocky arena as swordsmen fell one after another, their dreams shattered in seconds. Dust rose in thick clouds.
And yet, in the center of it all, stood a single figure—
Yura Murasaki.
Crimson eyes half-lidded, red spiky hair ruffling in the wind, his twin swords rested lazily at his sides. Not a single competitor dared approach him.
Cowards, Yura thought, shifting his weight. Guess I'll have to entertain myself—
Suddenly—
A blue flash carved through the chaos.
It tore through rocks and bodies alike. It was slicing a path of devastation through the crowded arena. One after another, the competitors crumpled like broken dolls. And the field was getting red with blood.
And then, just as swiftly, it stopped—right in front of Yura.
A sharp crack of steel echoed as a blue-hilted sword clashed against one of his twin blades.
Before Yura, there stood a boy—blue hair, piercing blue eyes, and a single earring glinting in the sunlight. His expression was cold, unreadable. His eyes were as sharp as a blade. His presence was like a blade. A blade of ice stabbing through the heart of the battlefield.
Yura smirkingly tilted his head.
"Well, well... you picking a fight? You look the same age as me."
No response.
"Oi, you listening, or—"
Without warning, the boy struck again—silent, merciless. His blade flashed toward Yura's throat.
CLANG!
Yura's yellow-hilted sword shot up, stopping the killing blow. Then, with his red-hilted sword, Yura swept in for a counterstrike. But the boy slid back and evaded the attack with inhuman grace.
"You're not someone I can take lightly," Yura murmured. His smirk never left his face. That only shows how confident he is about his strength. "Alright then... you'll taste defeat today. And don't even think about picking a fight with me again."
Yura slid his red-hilted sword into its sheath and lowered his stance.
"One Sword Style: Lightning Flash."
In a golden-yellow streak, Yura lunged. He cut through the air and dashed toward his opponent like a lightning bolt.
He dashed to strike and passed the boy in a blur. Then, sheathed his sword with a snap.
He spun around—but the boy was already gone.
"Wait, where is ...?"
Another flash of blue darted in, forcing Yura to block with his left sword. Another—this time from the left—Yura ducked low and countered it with a slash from his right.
The crowd was silent, holding their breath.
The commentator's voice cracked over the roar of tension.
"W-what's happening?! Is Yura Murasaki actually struggling?! And that boy... that's Nio Kaelen! In his first battle royale, he eliminated every opponent in under two minutes! What will be the outcome of this ferocious match?!"
Yura snarled, stepping back.
"You defeated them all in two minutes, huh...? Not bad." His smirk twisted into something wild. His eyes gleamed with battle lust. "But you're not the only monster here."
Nio's expression remained unchanged—still as cold and empty as a winter sky.
Yura crouched slightly, his aura surging. The yellow-hilted sword sparked, crackling with lightning; the red-hilted sword burned, shimmering like molten flame. His muscles tightened, eyes glowing—one a storm of gold, the other a blaze of red.
"Aaaaaaarghhh—Niooooooo!!"
The air trembled. Heat rippled from Yura's body as he launched forward.
"Two Sword Style: Th-ier Cut!"
With a flash, Yura vanished, reappearing above Nio. His blades were arcing down in a perfect cross-slash.
CLANG!
Nio blocked. He also looked like he was struggling to stop Yura's attacks. His blue-hilted sword was trembling under the force. And his feet skidded back across the stone.
Then, Yura came from behind with a sudden speed and slash.
A sharp sting bloomed on Nio's arm.
A thin cut, blood welling.
He stared at it.
Then, he vanished.
"Wha—?"
SLASH!
From behind, a sharp strike.
Yura twisted, dodging just in time.
Another—this time from the left. Yura ducked, slashing upward.
But Nio was gone again.
A diagonal strike—missed.
A sudden leap.
A somersaulting retreat.
Yura's breath quickened. A thin line of red marked his arm—a cut.
"Wait, when did—"
Another slash from behind, but Yura stopped with his sword, and just as he was going for another strike with his other sword, Nio ducked and jumped toward Yura's back and spun while striking Yura in his back with his sword.
"Slash."
"Damn you... Who the hell are you?! Stop jumping around like a rabbit!" Yura's smirk was gone. It was replaced by a frustrated growl. "I won't let this drag on any longer."
The crowd's hush deepened. Eyes darted between the two. They were barely able to follow their movements.
"Agh... what's happening?! Is Yura Murasaki... losing?!"
The commentator's voice cracked under the tension.
"What will happen in this duel of monsters?!"
Yura's grip tightened.
"You're finished here, Nio."
Still—
Nio did not react.
No flicker of surprise.
No glimmer of satisfaction.
Only that cold. His gaze was still empty.
Yura's aura blazed—fire and lightning dancing across his body.
He squatted low, swords raised high above his head.
"Aaaaaaarrrrggggg!"
Heat surged from his body as the wind spiraled upward. His muscles bulged, veins pulsing, and with a sudden burst of force, he launched himself forward—the ground beneath his feet cracking apart.
He went to strike. His swords were crossing in a lethal arc, the blades cleaving through the air with explosive power.
But then—
"Freezing Slash."
A whisper of cold air cut through the storm.
Blue light surged.
A single stroke.
The two passed each other in silence.
Yura froze mid-step. His eyes were wide. His twin swords trembled in his hands.
The colosseum fell utterly still.
Nio stood with his back to Yura. His sword glowed faintly with a shimmering blue aura.
Slowly, the glow faded. He sheathed his sword with a quiet click.
Yura remained frozen, ice creeping along in the cut in his body, locking him in place.
The crowd erupted.
"W-what just happened?! Is... is Yura Murasaki frozen?! This can't be real! Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of today's battle royale is... Nio Kaelen!!"
A wave of whistles, cheers, and stunned gasps rolled through the colosseum.
Still, Nio did not look back.
No triumph.
No anger.
No joy.
Only silence.
Without a word, he turned and walked away, vanishing into the shadowed halls.