The Armored Boar stomped the ground with force, the scraping of its stone-like plates against the dirt producing a low metallic hum. Its massive body was like a moving wall, and Nyx knew very well that a direct hit from it would shatter his bones without question.
He inhaled slowly, raising his hand as faint sparks danced between his fingers.
"A D-rank Armored Boar right at the start? …Great."
He muttered sarcastically, settling into a battle stance.
The beast lunged forward—far faster than something its size had any right to be—tearing up the ground beneath its hooves. Nyx jumped aside, but the edge of its armor clipped his shoulder, launching him back nearly two meters.
A sharp burn spread across the struck area, but he ignored the pain.
He lifted his hand.
"Lightning Thread!"
Electricity crackled along his arm before firing in a concentrated line.
The bolt struck the boar's armor, making its entire body jolt, but the creature shook its head and regained posture almost instantly.
"Thick armor… as usual,"
Nyx hissed under his breath.
The boar charged again—this time with even greater ferocity. It shot forward like an arrow, its lowered head slicing through the air. Nyx leaned forward and leapt over its head at the last second, feeling the heat of its breath pass beneath his feet as it barreled ahead.
Landing behind it, he slammed his electrified fist into the only exposed joint behind its neck. A faint sizzle echoed in the air.
The boar roared sharply, spinning its bulky body in an attempt to crush him with its armored tail. Nyx avoided the blow but lost his balance and fell. Before he could get fully up, the boar was already charging with murderous intent.
Nyx thrust his hand forward.
"Lightning Burst!"
A small but sharply condensed sphere of lightning shot out and struck the beast directly in the eye. The boar staggered and shrieked in pain. Nyx seized the moment—jumping onto its side and driving his electrified hand into the vulnerable spot behind its skull.
The boar convulsed once… then collapsed with its full weight.
Nyx exhaled shakily, his knee trembling slightly.
"This exam was supposed to be a gentle introduction."
He wiped dirt off his cheek, wincing from the pain in his shoulder and chest, but managed to stand upright.
"It's fine… this is only the beginning."
He took a few steady breaths—then froze.
A soft hum… wings fluttering above him.
Nyx slowly raised his head.
Two Night Ravens perched high on the branches, watching him with glowing violet eyes. Their sleek black wings looked like pieces of living shadow.
Before he could even process them, a sharp screech echoed behind him.
He turned—only to see a massive Blood Bat hanging from a nearby tree, its open maw dripping with faint crimson saliva.
Three monsters.
All staring at him as if he were their next meal.
Nyx raised his hands in mock surrender.
"Can't I get a moment of rest…?"
Naturally, no one answered.
One of the ravens dove first, streaking down toward his head with a piercing cry meant to disrupt focus. Nyx ducked low, the air above him tearing as its talons sliced through it.
No time to breathe.
The second raven lunged from behind, and the Blood Bat opened its enormous wings, revealing rows of sharp teeth ready to bite.
"Alright… let's finish this."
Nyx raised his right hand, sparks gathering rapidly.
"Flash Bolt!"
A short lightning strike shot toward the nearest raven. It didn't hit its body directly, but clipped its wing. The bird wobbled midair, thrown off balance, though not enough to fall.
"Fast… more annoying than I expected."
The Blood Bat swooped at him, its wings crashing downward like massive sheets of leather. Nyx dodged, but the second raven's talons tore across his upper shoulder, leaving a long bleeding gash.
Blood splattered.
Nyx clenched his teeth silently.
The pain was real… but not unfamiliar.
He sprinted between the trees as the three monsters pursued from above. He could hear the bat's screech overhead, and the ravens' wingbeats flanking him on both sides.
Suddenly, he stopped—
and turned.
He raised both hands, small sparks orbiting him in thin rings.
"Electric Pulse."
A burst of electricity exploded around him. Weak—but enough.
Both ravens, being too close, were forced back as their bodies twitched.
The Blood Bat, due to its size, was affected even more—it dropped two meters before catching itself.
"That's better."
Nyx rushed toward the bat first. It was large, but slower than the ravens.
He leapt up and slammed an electrified punch straight into its face. The bat convulsed violently and crashed to the ground.
Before it could shield itself with its wings, Nyx extended his hand:
"Lightning Shot!"
The bolt struck its exposed wing, leaving a faint burning smell. Its body spasmed… then fell still.
"One down."
---
The Night Ravens
They didn't give him a moment to breathe.
Both dived at once—one from the right, the other from the left. Nyx raised his arms to shield his face, feeling talons rip through his shirt and graze his skin.
He shoved them away, but they immediately took flight again.
"Persistent birds…"
One hovered slightly higher, the other lower—a pattern.
A small smirk tugged at Nyx's lips.
He planted his foot firmly, then dashed toward the lower raven. The creature, startled by the sudden aggression, tried to climb upward—but too slowly.
Nyx grabbed its wing and slammed it to the ground, shocking it directly in the chest.
The bird's body convulsed before going limp.
Nyx looked up at the last one.
The raven flapped its wings harder, as if realizing it was now alone.
"Your turn."
It dived—faster than before—a dark spear plunging toward him.
Nyx braced himself… waited…
At the perfect moment, he thrust his hand upward and fired a precise, concentrated bolt into its chest.
Not powerful—
but exact.
The spark pierced its feathers, freezing its muscles.
It dropped beside its companion, motionless.
---
Nyx breathed heavily, hand pressed against his chest, wounds burning… but he remained standing.
He looked at the four fallen monsters—the Armored Boar, the two ravens, the bat.
"Well… that's 280 points. Not bad for a start."
Despite the exhaustion, a faint smile appeared on his lips.