This trait is… absolutely insane, Kaelen murmured, a fierce, burning hope flickering in his eyes. Miracle Engine had shattered limitation after limitation. If he couldn't make something of himself in this world, then he truly deserved his fate.
"No more delays," he said softly, tightening his grip on Frostbite Blade.
The afternoon sun bathed the Humblebrook outskirts in molten gold. Dust swirled around his boots, carried on a faint wind that whispered through the dry grass and echoed the hum of cicadas across the plains. The light brushed against his armor, highlighting the subtle gleam of the metal, making him feel almost weightless—not because his body was healed, but because he had purpose, direction, and for the first time in years, the clarity to pursue it.
"Alright, partner," Kaelen muttered, voice low, eyes scanning the open plains. "Let's see what this so-called Miracle Engine can really do."
The first targets appeared: a herd of [Corrupted Goats]. Their coarse black fur bristled with faint, malevolent energy. Horns curved like hooked blades, eyes gleaming a predatory red. Not exactly dragons, but a start.
Kaelen smirked. "Perfect. A warm-up."
He stepped forward, and the blade in his hands caught the sunlight as he swung in a wide arc. Frostbite Blade moved with fluid precision, cutting through the nearest goat in a single clean stroke. The animal fell with a brief, startled bleat. Another charged at him, horns aimed to gore, and Kaelen pivoted under its attack, bringing the blade down neatly across its neck.
The little dragon leapt, tail glowing faintly as it smashed into another goat, sending the creature skidding backward across the plains. Dust rose in clouds with each impact, and Kaelen felt the vibrations through the earth, a pulse of raw force.
"Okay, note to self—don't stand directly behind that," he muttered, chuckling.
The herd scattered under their combined assault, Kaelen striking with calm efficiency while the dragon swooped and slammed. Golden light reflected from his armor and her scales, the world feeling simultaneously vast and intimate.
As they moved, Kaelen took in the rhythm of combat: a step back, a swing, a parry, a surge forward. It wasn't about numbers—it was about timing, space, and instinct. He felt alive in a way he hadn't in years.
Over the next hour, they tore across the plains. Corrupted Goats, hares, and even a wandering slime that burst in a violent explosion when struck all fell before them. Every encounter sharpened their coordination, the dragon's small, fierce body moving as though guided by instinct and intelligence rather than code.
By the time he wiped slime off his gauntlet, Kaelen realized he had grown. Not in numbers, but in confidence. He understood now that his strength didn't come from equipment alone—it came from his ability to read, anticipate, and adapt.
"Don't get cocky," he murmured to the dragon, who chirped proudly and puffed smoke from her nostrils. "We're still small fry. Let's find something with fangs."
His gaze drifted to the canyon beyond the ridge. Faint echoes of battle carried on the wind—metallic clashes, bursts of energy, the harsh shouts of players in combat. He crouched low, moving closer to observe.
Three players were locked in battle with a massive, crimson-furred beast. Its claws dug deep into the rocky ground, eyes burning with anger, muscles rippling with every movement.
[Corrupted Wolf Alpha] — Bronze Boss (Lv. 10)
The three players' names hovered above them: [Summer's End], [Autumn's End], and [Galeslice], all around Level 6.
Kaelen watched from behind a rock, eyes narrowing. "That thing's out of their league…"
A small claw tugged at his sleeve. The dragon tilted her head, letting out a low hum—almost like saying, Wait.
Kaelen blinked. "You want to hold back? Observe first?"
She nodded once, sharp and deliberate.
He chuckled quietly. "Barely hatched, and already thinking tactically. You're something else."
The fight was unraveling before him. Summer's End overextended with a swinging strike, misjudging the timing. The wolf reacted instantly, teeth snapping close enough to graze his shoulder. Summer's End cried out, stumbling, and finally fell, vanishing in a flash of light—respawning back in the village.
"Dammit! We should've waited until Level 8!" Autumn's End yelled, stepping back to avoid another swipe.
"Retreat!" Galeslice barked. "We're wasting time!"
The group's formation crumbled. Only two survivors fled, stumbling toward the canyon exit, leaving the wolf alone. It growled low, limping back toward its den, its breathing heavy but its wound slowly knitting together.
Kaelen's jaw hardened. "Not today."
He and the dragon stepped out from cover, moving with silent precision. The wolf's head lifted, eyes locking onto him, hackles raised. Kaelen felt the familiar rush—danger and opportunity entwined.
He lunged, blade slicing in a clean arc. The wolf lunged simultaneously, claws scraping the stone. Kaelen pivoted, bringing the blade down to catch it under the jaw, redirecting its momentum and keeping his balance.
The dragon jumped into the fray, wings opening for lift, tail swinging in a wide, precise strike. The wolf staggered but recovered, snapping toward her. Kaelen shifted his stance, bracing for the counterattack, reading the beast's movement as if predicting the next heartbeat.
Together, Kaelen and the dragon moved as a single unit. Each strike and counterstrike built rhythm: step, dodge, swing, leap. There were no numbers, no criticals—just skill, timing, and instinct.
Finally, the wolf faltered. It reared, claws slashing air, eyes wide with confusion and exhaustion. The dragon inhaled, throat glowing faintly, and released a concentrated burst of shimmering energy, striking the wolf's chest with force. It collapsed, body dissolving into a mist of red particles as the canyon fell silent.
Kaelen exhaled slowly, surveying the empty battlefield. The dragon landed gracefully on his shoulder, curling her tail around his arm.
"Good job," he whispered. "We make a good team."
Back at the canyon edge, Galeslice and Autumn's End stared at the fading scene. "What the—?" Galeslice muttered. "Someone else killed it? When we couldn't even survive?"
"That boss was supposed to be impossible for day one…" Autumn's End said quietly, unease in her tone.
Kaelen glanced toward the horizon, where the sun dipped low, painting the canyon in deep crimson light. His heart thrummed with quiet satisfaction. For the first time in years, he wasn't waiting for death. He was chasing life.
[System Notification]: First Blood! Bronze Boss defeated by Kaelen. Rewards: Level +2, Reputation +20, Free Skill [Coin Toss] acquired.[World Announcement]: Player 'Kaelen' achieved the world's first Bronze Boss kill!
Golden light shimmered faintly around him. His focus was not on fame, but on what came next. There would be more, larger, more dangerous creatures. But with his dragon, his skill, and his Miracle Engine, Kaelen knew he could handle it.