The valley lay quiet after the Steel-Claw Eagle's defeat. Dust swirled in the air where the massive creature had disintegrated into particles of golden light, shimmering faintly in the afternoon sun. Luna hovered beside Kaelen, wings folding gracefully, her newly acquired armor catching the light and giving her scales a warm, metallic glow. The hum of residual magic lingered, the canyon almost reverberating with the echoes of the battles fought moments ago.
Kaelen's eyes shifted toward the two remaining Silver-tier bosses, the Corrupted Tiger and Corrupted Lion. Both were enormous, their auras exuding raw, palpable power. The Eagle had been a test of coordination and strategy, showing him the potential of precise cooperation with Luna, but these two weren't going to be easy. They radiated dominance, a weight in the air that demanded attention and respect.
Kaelen crouched beside a boulder, whispering to Luna, his tone calm but resolute. "We lure the Tiger first. One at a time. Precision strikes only."
Luna responded with a soft chirp, her wings flexing. Even at such a young level, she had the instincts and intelligence of a seasoned warrior. Kaelen could sense her strategy forming as clearly as his own, each movement anticipated, each angle calculated.
The Corrupted Tiger's glowing red eyes locked onto Luna, and with a deafening roar, it lunged. Its claws gouged the canyon floor, sending shards of stone skittering in every direction. Kaelen leapt aside with perfect timing, drawing a balanced iron sword from his inventory. With a flick of his wrist, he activated [Coin Toss], sending the sword spinning like a silver meteor through the air.
The Tiger staggered, a growl vibrating through the canyon walls, and lunged again. Luna twisted in midair, tail coiling to strike, smashing into its flank with devastating force. The creature roared, but the coordinated assault left it no time to retaliate effectively. Kaelen didn't waste a moment. Another sword flew, followed by another. Sparks flew as corrupted energy met steel, and each hit pushed the massive Tiger closer to defeat.
From the perimeter of the valley, a small cluster of players had crept closer, careful to remain unseen. They weren't here to steal the kill—most had learned from the chaos of the Eagle fight. Watching silently, they tried to understand the methods behind Kaelen's success. One whispered, voice barely audible over the Tiger's roars, "Look at that… the dragon's doing all the heavy lifting, and he's just tossing swords from a distance. That's why he bought all those iron swords in the village."
Kaelen ignored the spectators. Every toss, every tail swipe, every minor shift in positioning was deliberate, precise, and calculated. Even with Luna's armor and their leveled-up power, mistakes could be deadly. Timing, distance, and terrain all mattered.
Finally, Luna pinned the Tiger against a jagged boulder, tail lashing down like a whip. The beast let out a final roar before golden light enveloped it, disintegrating its corrupted essence into harmless particles. Kaelen approached the remnants, retrieving the reward left behind: Skill: Comprehensive Understanding – A Tier, a tome promising mastery over a chosen skill.
Kaelen and Luna shared a brief look, acknowledging the efficiency of their teamwork. They had leveled up again, their bond stronger than ever.
Kaelen didn't pause. The Corrupted Lion prowled at the valley's far end, each step resonating with menace. He repositioned, signaling Luna with subtle gestures. The Lion roared, charging with terrifying feral speed. Kaelen launched a series of iron swords with perfect timing, each strike chipping away at the beast's defenses. Luna dove repeatedly, tail smashing into the Lion's side, keeping it off balance.
The combined assault was overwhelming. The Lion faltered, and Kaelen seized the opportunity to throw the final sword into its chest. Golden light enveloped the creature as it disintegrated into particles, leaving behind Lion Hide Hat, a Silver-tier headpiece requiring advanced level to equip. Crafted from the creature's hide, the hat offered exceptional defense and resilience, a rare item that would serve Kaelen well in future battles.
They leveled once more, their powers growing. Kaelen glanced toward the edges of the valley. The spectators had witnessed both kills, their whispers loud with awe and speculation. He knew some would attempt the bosses soon, but the timing would be crucial. A few tried to follow him, but the respawned Silver bosses' looming presence sent them fleeing. Kaelen allowed himself a faint smile.
The path ahead led to Valorheim, a proper town with wide streets and structured buildings, a stark contrast to the beginner village. The town was bustling with merchants, adventurers, and trainers, but Kaelen ignored the crowd entirely. His destination was clear—the center where the class masters resided. Seven figures stood in separate corners, each exuding authority and mastery over their disciplines.
Kaelen's decision was firm. He wanted to be a swordsman, to walk a path of direct confrontation and calculated risk. The swordsman master noticed him immediately, eyes narrowing. "You… you've reached this area alone?"
Kaelen didn't falter. "I want to be a swordsman."
The master's gaze fell on Luna, hovering quietly beside him. Surprise and thoughtfulness crossed his face. A young player, reaching this area unassisted, and with such a powerful companion—this was unusual, to say the least.
"You must complete the standard class advancement quest first," the master said. "A Bronze-tier monster, level 15. Not particularly dangerous for someone of your skill, but still a challenge for most players."
Kaelen accepted without hesitation. The quest led him out of the town and into a lightly wooded area. Trees stretched overhead, casting dappled light across the forest floor. The Bronze Guardian lurked in the shadows, alert but unprepared for the assault it faced.
Kaelen and Luna moved as one. Each tail strike, each claw swipe, each toss of a sword with [Coin Toss] was perfectly timed. The monster staggered repeatedly under the combined assault, unable to find an opening. Within moments, golden light enveloped the Bronze Guardian, signaling the quest's completion.
Kaelen began his return to Valorheim, navigating the forest path quickly. The sun was beginning to dip, casting long shadows across the trail. He noticed movement up ahead and slowed slightly. The swordsman master was waiting, calm and deliberate, blocking the path outside the town gates.
A system notification blinked: a hidden quest had activated — to kill the class master.
Kaelen froze for a brief moment, disbelief flickering across his face. The game could assign such a task? He glanced at Luna, who tilted her head in curiosity, sensing his tension.
The master's expression was calm, almost amused. "It can. And it has. Do you understand why?"
Kaelen's lips curled into a faint grin. "So… if I let you complete the class advancement first, I could gift Luna to you?"
The master laughed, a deep, genuine sound. "You think I'm stupid enough to believe that?"
Kaelen chuckled softly, realizing the layers of the system and its mechanics. Every encounter, every item, every companion had consequences beyond simple numbers. He looked at Luna, who chirped softly, wings folding, waiting. Adventure, danger, and strategy were far from over.
The hidden quest hung in the air, an unexpected challenge promising intrigue, risk, and reward. Kaelen stepped forward, ready to face whatever the system would throw at him next, already calculating how to leverage every advantage. Survival, mastery, and the chance to reshape his life depended on it. And this time, he wasn't holding back.