"Is this the power of a Fourth Rank?"

Celia murmured under her breath, gripping her longsword tightly as she stood firm before the white tiger without yielding an inch.

She was the only one left who could still fight. No matter what, she wouldn't retreat.

At the same moment, the white tiger noticed she was the sole figure still standing. With a roar, it lunged straight at her.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sound of sword clashing against tiger claws echoed through the forest. Each parry drained Celia's stamina. Gradually, exhaustion slowed her movements until she could barely keep up with the beast.

Blood streaked her shoulders and thighs from its claws. Realizing her strongest sword techniques and magic—effective against other monsters—were useless here, her fighting spirit began to fade.

But her will to fight remained. Though the tiger seemed unbeatable now, that might change someday.

After blocking another claw strike, a tail she hadn't seen whipped out from nowhere. It slammed into her sword, sending it flying. Celia crashed to the ground, gasping for breath.

Bruer, lying nearby, let out a bitter chuckle. He knew they'd lost.

That a Second Rank Hero had lasted this long against a Fourth Rank beast honestly surprised him. He felt newfound respect for Celia.

After all, if she'd abandoned them from the start, her team might have had a slim chance of survival.

The white tiger stalked toward Celia, step by step. It loomed over her fallen form, thick saliva mixed with blood dripping from its jaws.

"Don't you dare hurt Celia!"

Isa's voice rang out from behind the tiger. A pair of Ring Blades flew toward it, their blinding glow forcing it to leap aside.

Seizing the chance, Celia snatched back her sword and swung. Scorching flames erupted from beneath the tiger's paws, striking its soft underbelly.

Wincing slightly, it instinctively tried to jump back—but chains suddenly burst from the space beside it, locking its limbs in place.

Trapped, it could only endure the flames. Its belly fur turned charred black.

Aurora, who had fallen earlier, now struggled upright against a tree. She panted heavily, the glow fading from her right hand—the source of the chains.

Their defiance finally enraged the tiger. The fiery patterns on its body flared crimson with surging magic. Terrifying orbs of lightning began swirling around it.

Once its power gathered, multiple lightning orbs screamed toward Celia and the others!

Where they struck, earth exploded and trees blackened. Even sunlight vanished under the blinding white glare.

Bruer's face drained of color. This was truly the end. Defenseless, they'd turn to ash under such an attack.

The scar-faced man tried to scramble up, but fear turned his legs to jelly. He collapsed again immediately.

"Look out!"

Knowing it was futile, Celia still threw herself over the already wounded Isa. She tensed her body, gritting her teeth to endure the blasts.

A Second Rank resisting a Fourth Rank's magic was nearly impossible.

Yet seconds ticked by. No impact came. Even the crackling sound of lightning vanished.

Realization struck. Celia turned.

Ahead of her stood a woman in a black robe. The lightning orbs were gone.

"Instructor!"

Relief flooded her voice. She released Isa and ran toward the smiling woman.

But as Celia approached, the woman's smile vanished. She flicked Celia hard on the forehead.

"Ow!"

Celia clutched her head, stopping in her tracks. She lowered her gaze, the picture of contrition.

"Foolishness! Everything I taught you—forgotten the moment you faced a Fourth Rank beast?"

Celia avoided Dorothy's gaze, guilt tightening her chest.

Against such a monster, they'd been too green. Panic had erased their training.

Without their instructor's arrival, they'd be dead.

"You're still far from true Heroes."

Dorothy stepped in front of Celia, facing the distant tiger.

Since her appearance, the beast had crouched low, growling softly. It sensed her danger but couldn't abandon its prey.

Greed often carries a terrible price. Dorothy raised her hand. Silvery-white petals materialized in the air, drifting slowly toward the tiger on the wind.

ROAR—

Sensing the lethal threat in those petals, the tiger's pupils shrank. Its powerful legs trembled uncontrollably. Its roar turned into a distorted whimper.

It tried to flee, but its body refused to obey. It could only watch as the petals sliced through its flesh, unleashing crimson fountains.

Life seeped away drop by drop. Darkness crept into its vision. Finally, its massive body crashed down with a thunderous thud, snapping fragile trees nearby.

A Fourth Rank monster slain without the instructor even raising a hand—Bruer and the others stared in shock.

They'd known Celia's instructor would win. But not like this. The Fourth Rank beast had crumpled before her like a mere First Rank.

Was this... the power of a Sixth Rank Hero?

The day's events felt unreal. Bruer couldn't recall how he returned to the guild, or who bandaged his arm. Even the relief of survival felt distant.

After receiving treatment, Celia's team left with their instructor. Bruer watched her back disappear, his mind filled only with the image of those silvery-white petals scattering.

That petal pattern... it felt familiar. He thought he'd seen it long, long ago.

...Could it be that senior?

He had no answer.

Silently, he left the guild and headed to the tavern reserved for Heroes.

Whenever troubles weighed on him, he sought solace in a drink.

Daylight meant few patrons. Still, the rich scent of alcohol hit Bruer the moment he pushed open the tavern door.

At the counter, he found two familiar faces.

One was a middle-aged Hero missing an eye, nicknamed "One-Eye Wolf." The other, notorious for drunken antics, was simply called "Drunkard."

With few Heroes in the guild, years of acquaintance had forged a rough camaraderie.

"Care for a drink?"

Drunkard shook his cup. After a pause, Bruer snatched it and downed it in one gulp.

"Bruer, heard you tangled with a Fourth Rank beast? True or false? If true, how'd you walk back in one piece?"

One-Eye Wolf sized him up. "Well, mostly one piece. Lost a hand. Bet you'll earn a nickname like ours soon!"

They burst into laughter.

Bruer barely registered their teasing. He took a stool at the counter, then turned to them with sudden intensity.

"Recently... has any powerful Hero used silvery-white petals woven from magic when fighting?"