---
While Gabriel and his team battled fiercely within the mystic realm, their every move was being closely monitored by the evaluators in charge of the martial arts assessment for Sword Province. Among these observers were esteemed professors from various prestigious universities, all carefully recording data and making notes. These professors had come to the assessment in hopes of discovering and recruiting top talent—students who showed exceptional skill and potential in the face of danger.
"Look at that kid," one professor remarked, his eyes narrowing as he observed Gabriel's calculated movements. "He's got potential. He doesn't intervene much, but when he does, his actions are precise and powerful."
"Patience," replied an old man with thick eyebrows, his voice calm and measured. "Let's continue observing. There's plenty of time to see what he's truly capable of."
As their attention remained focused on Gabriel's team, the scene shifted back to the mystic realm.
---
In the dense heart of the Sunset Forest, the team was growing weary. Jane, her breath labored and her hands trembling, finally threw down her dagger in frustration. "Brother Gab, I'm exhausted! Can we please rest for a while?"
Even Zhao Kong, usually a pillar of strength, nodded in agreement. "She's right. We've made it to the middle section of the forest and encountered so many monsters—some nearly at Bronze 4 ⭐. If we keep pushing without rest, we won't last much longer."
Gabriel, sensing the fatigue in his teammates, glanced up at the sky. The martial arts assessment differed from a typical student examination; there were no scoreboards, only a clock suspended in the sky, relentlessly ticking away. A third of the time had already passed, and with no sign of the other teams, Gabriel had no idea where they ranked.
For now, he decided to heed his teammates' request for a break. He reached into his pack and pulled out a selection of potions he had reserved for emergencies. These weren't ordinary potions—they had been enhanced using his unique talent, Harmony Essence. Among the potions were middle-grade health and mana restoratives, but the most eye-catching was a deep green potion that shimmered with gold when shaken.
---
[Name: Stamina Potion]
[Type: Consumable]
[Grade: Green]
[Description: When at rest, the potion is a deep green color. When shaken, beautiful golden and green swirls transform it into a magical-looking elixir. If left undisturbed for a while, the potion will revert to its original color. It's recommended to give the bottle a good shake before consuming.]
[Effect: Restores stamina by 20% when consumed.]
---
Although Gabriel could only craft potions up to the green rank, these were still highly effective. He handed the Stamina Potions to his teammates, saying, "Take these. They'll help restore your stamina. I understand the need to rest, but too much downtime could cause us to fall behind in rank. These potions will shorten our recovery time and allow us to continue sooner."
His teammates exchanged confused looks before Elton finally voiced the question on everyone's mind. "Stamina Potion? What's that?"
Gabriel chuckled softly at their bewilderment. He uncorked his own potion, raised it to his lips, and drank deeply. "Just try it," he encouraged after a brief pause, letting the potion's effects take hold.
Hesitant but trusting Gabriel's judgment, his teammates followed suit, each uncorking their bottles and drinking the potion. Within seconds, they felt a warm, invigorating energy surge through their tired limbs and bones. The fatigue that had weighed them down moments ago dissipated, replaced by a newfound vitality. Their bodies, once heavy with exhaustion, were now brimming with energy.
Elton, feeling the potion's effects most acutely, marveled at the transformation. "Brother Gab, where did you get this potion? It's incredible!"
The others nodded in agreement, their expressions a mix of awe and curiosity. "This potion is miraculous! With something like this, we could prevent deaths due to exhaustion," Zhao added, his voice filled with admiration.
Gabriel, however, merely brushed off their questions with a nonchalant smile, preferring to keep the origin of the potions a mystery. They chatted merrily as they rested, regaining their strength and spirits. After about five minutes, their energy fully restored, they rose to their feet and continued their journey deeper into the forest.
---
Mystic Realm, Heart of Sunset Forest
"Boom!"
The ground trembled as the Poison Eye Demon Spider unleashed another massive web, its sinister eyes gleaming with malice as it sought to ensnare the team in its sticky, lethal trap. The web, shimmering with a faint, sickly green hue, shot toward them with terrifying speed.
Elton, the archer, reacted swiftly, leaping aside to dodge the web's reach. In one fluid motion, he notched an arrow and let it fly, aiming directly for the spider's grotesque form. The arrow whistled through the air, embedding itself in the creature's tough exoskeleton.
But the Poison Eye Demon Spider was no ordinary foe. This insect-type creature was formidable even among Silver ranks, its resilience and regenerative abilities making it a nightmare opponent. The injuries inflicted by Elton's arrow began to heal almost immediately, the flesh knitting back together as though nothing had happened. The six eerie eyes on its abdomen fixated coldly on Elton, and without warning, it opened its fang-like mandibles and spat a large glob of black, venomous liquid directly at him.
"Zhao Kong, Elton—quick, dodge!" Gabriel's voice rang out with urgency.
Zhao Kong's face paled as he watched the venom hurtle towards Elton. This was the most terrifying attack of the Poison Eye Demon Spider, its venom capable of dissolving flesh and bone in seconds.
Elton barely managed to roll out of the way, the venom splattering on the ground where he had been standing moments before. The earth sizzled and hissed as the venom corroded it, leaving behind a pit half a foot deep, the edges still smoking. Elton, breathless and shaken, felt a surge of green energy envelop him as Gabriel cast a powerful healing spell, instantly removing the poison status and restoring his strength.
"Brother Gab, thanks," Elton gasped, his eyes filled with gratitude as he looked towards Gabriel, who nodded in acknowledgment. The team was now acutely aware of the danger they faced—this was no mere battle, but a struggle for survival.
---
Outside the Mystic Realm, in the Stadium
The atmosphere in the stadium was thick with tension as the audience watched the battle unfold on the holographic screens. Among them, a man with a furrowed brow leaned forward, his expression one of deep concern. "That's a Poison Eye Demon Spider," he said, his voice heavy with worry. "It's a Silver-tier beast at 2 ⭐. They're in serious trouble."
The revelation sent ripples through the crowd. Murmurs spread like wildfire as the audience grappled with the realization of the peril Gabriel and his team were in. The tension in the air grew palpable, with many fearing for the young warriors' lives.
---
Back in the Mystic Realm
Gabriel quickly assessed the situation, knowing they had little time to waste. "We need to be ready to act at any moment. I'll distract the Poison Eye Demon Spider while the rest of you retreat. I can handle this."
His teammates hesitated for a moment, concern etched on their faces, but Gabriel's tone left no room for argument. "Understood!" they replied in unison, their voices firm despite the fear gnawing at their hearts.
Without missing a beat, Gabriel cast [Goddess Blessing], refreshing the buffs on himself and his teammates.
---
[HPup]: Increases HP by 15%
[Atkup]: Increases Patk/Matk by 50%
[Shield]: Blocks damage up to 6 times the caster's HP
[Immunity]: Immune to all negative buffs
[SpDup]: Increases speed by 30%
---
As the buffs took effect, Gabriel's teammates began to retreat, their movements swift and precise. However, the Poison Eye Demon Spider, driven by its predatory instincts, focused on Jane and the others, its eyes gleaming with a hunger that chilled them to the bone. It wasn't going to let its prey escape so easily.
Gabriel, realizing the danger his teammates were in, moved with lightning speed, placing himself between them and the monstrous spider. His eyes narrowed as he invoked one of his most potent spells, [Cursed Totem].
In an instant, a dark, ominous totem materialized in front of the spider and slammed into the ground with a thunderous impact.
---
Critical Hit!
-75,556 HP!
---
The Poison Eye Demon Spider let out a shriek of pain as the totem struck its weak spot, sending it crashing back through the trees. The force of the attack bought his teammates the precious moments they needed to retreat to a safer distance.
Gabriel quickly glanced at the status panel of the spider, gauging its remaining strength.
---
[Name: Poison Eye Demon Spider]
[HP: 724,444/850,000]
[Mana: 12,500/15,000]
[Patk: 18,500]
[Skills: Venom Spray, Poison Web, Poison Blade, Poison Fang]
[Grade: Silver 2 ⭐, Lord Rank]
[Characteristic: These spiders are solitary creatures that live in the bowels of forests, in remote caves, or in abandoned houses, far from society. Poison Eye Demon Spiders are highly intelligent, cunning, and heartless beings with no feelings and an insatiable hunger.]
---
Gabriel's mind raced as he analyzed the situation. The Poison Eye Demon Spider was still a formidable opponent, with over 700,000 HP remaining and a fierce arsenal of skills at its disposal. He knew that even with their recent successes, they were still in grave danger. The spider's intelligence and relentless aggression made it a lethal adversary, one that could easily decimate his team if they weren't careful.
As the Poison Eye Demon Spider recovered from the impact of the [Cursed Totem], it let out a guttural, hissing screech that reverberated through the forest, shaking the very ground they stood on. The air was thick with tension, the oppressive atmosphere making it hard to breathe. Gabriel's teammates, now at a safe distance, watched in a mixture of awe and fear as he prepared to confront the beast head-on.
"Gabriel, be careful!" Jane called out, her voice tinged with worry. Despite her earlier fatigue, she felt a surge of concern for her leader, who was about to face this monstrous creature alone.
Zhao Kong clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. "We should help him!" he urged, his voice filled with frustration at the thought of leaving Gabriel to fight alone. "We can't just leave him to face that thing by himself!"
Elton shook his head, his expression conflicted. "We'll only get in his way if we go back now. We need to trust Brother Gab—he knows what he's doing."
Gareth, his face pale but resolute, added, "Our priority should be following his orders. If we get in trouble again, we'll only make things harder for him."
Gabriel, overhearing their conversation, called back to them, his voice steady and reassuring. "Stay back and trust me! I'll draw it away and deal with it. Your job is to survive—don't let this thing distract you."
As he turned back to face the Poison Eye Demon Spider, Gabriel's eyes hardened with resolve. He knew that he had to end this quickly before the situation spiraled out of control. Drawing a deep breath, he focused his energy, the air around him crackling with power as he prepared to unleash his next move.
The spider, now fully recovered, wasted no time in launching its next attack. Its six eyes locked onto Gabriel with a predatory gaze, and its massive, hairy legs began to skitter toward him with terrifying speed. The ground trembled under its weight as it charged, its mandibles dripping with venom, ready to deliver a fatal bite.
Gabriel's mind was clear, his focus sharp. He raised his staff, the familiar weight of it steadying him as he invoked one of his spells, [Celestial Judgement]. The sky above the forest seemed to darken for a moment, as if time itself had slowed, and then a massive pillar of searing white flames descended from the heavens, engulfing the Poison Eye Demon Spider in its fiery embrace.
---
Critical Hit!
-105,275 HP!
---
The spider let out a deafening scream as the flames scorched its exoskeleton, the intense heat causing its tough armor to crack and blister.
At the same time it thrashed wildly, trying to escape the dps damage of [Curse Totem], but Gabriel's control over the spell was absolute, and the curse continued to pour down upon the beast, reducing its HP by 35,892 with every passing second.
But the Poison Eye Demon Spider was not so easily defeated. With a surge of desperate strength, it managed to leap out of the inferno, landing heavily on the ground a few meters away, its body smoking and charred. It was severely injured, its movements slower and more labored, but its eyes still burned with a fierce, undying hatred.
Gabriel's breath was ragged as he watched the spider struggle to recover. The [Celestial Judgement] had taken a lot out of him, and he knew he couldn't afford to make any mistakes now. The Poison Eye Demon Spider, even in its weakened state, was still incredibly dangerous.
The spider, sensing Gabriel's momentary weakness, skittered forward once more, its mandibles snapping aggressively as it prepared to strike. But Gabriel was ready. With a swift motion, he cast [Light Barrier], erecting a shimmering, translucent shield between himself and the advancing spider.
---
[Light Barrier]: Erects a barrier that blocks all incoming physical attacks for 10 seconds. Reflects 50% of the blocked damage back to the attacker.
Mana Cost: 300
Cooldown: 10 seconds]
---
The spider slammed into the barrier with full force, but instead of breaking through, it was violently repelled, the impact sending it staggering backward.
-----
[Poison Bite: A sharp-fanged attack. May badly poison target. The user bites the foe with toxic fangs. It may also leave the foe badly poisoned.
Damage: 500% Patk
Mana Cost: 800
Cooldown: 5 seconds]
----------
The energy from the barrier reflected the force of the attack back at the spider, dealing significant damage and causing it to falter.
-35,000 HP!
Gabriel seized the opportunity, raising his staff high and channeling his remaining energy into a final, decisive attack. His eyes glowed with a fierce determination as he invoked [Celestial Judgment], his most powerful spell.
---
[Celestial Judgment: Calls down a ray of divine light from the heavens, dealing massive Holy damage to a single target. Has a high chance of inflicting a status effect that reduces the target's defense by 50%.
Damage: [(500% x Sk.lvl){Matk x (1+MagicPen)}]
Mana: 2,000
Cooldown: 60 seconds]
---
A beam of brilliant, pure light shot down from the sky, striking the Poison Eye Demon Spider with unerring precision. The spider let out a final, anguished shriek as the light pierced through its body, its tough exoskeleton shattering under the intense force of the attack.
Critical Hit!
-150,000 HP!
As the light faded, the Poison Eye Demon Spider's massive form collapsed to the ground, its HP finally reduced to zero. The beast twitched once, then lay still, its once terrifying presence now reduced to a lifeless husk.
Gabriel lowered his staff, his body trembling with exhaustion. He had used nearly all of his energy to defeat the creature, but it had been worth it. The Poison Eye Demon Spider was no more, and his teammates were safe.
The team, who had been watching from a distance, rushed over as soon as they saw the spider fall. Jane was the first to reach him, her face a mixture of relief and concern. "Brother Gab, are you okay?"
Gabriel gave her a tired smile, nodding. "I'm fine. Just a bit drained, that's all."
Zhao Kong clapped a hand on Gabriel's shoulder, his eyes wide with admiration. "That was incredible, Brother Gab! You took down a Silver-tier beast on your own!"
Elton and Gareth joined in, their voices filled with awe. "Yeah, we didn't stand a chance against that thing, but you... You're amazing!"
Gabriel, still catching his breath, waved off their praise. "We all did our part. Remember, it was our teamwork that got us this far. I just did what needed to be done."
---
Outside the Mystic Realm, in the Stadium
The audience erupted into applause as the holographic screens displayed Gabriel's victory over the Poison Eye Demon Spider. The earlier tension had dissolved, replaced by admiration and relief. The man who had earlier expressed concern now had a look of profound respect. "He did it... He actually defeated that monster."
The old man with thick eyebrows nodded slowly, a hint of a smile on his face. "It seems we've underestimated this young man. His potential is extraordinary."
The professors from the various universities took note, their interest in Gabriel growing stronger with each passing moment. They had witnessed something remarkable—this was a student who not only possessed incredible power, but also the wisdom and courage to lead his team through the most perilous of situations.
As the evaluators continued to watch, the sense of anticipation grew. This was only the beginning, and they knew that Gabriel and his team would continue to surprise them with their strength, skill, and determination.