Devon observed the initiates surrounding him, their eyes reflecting something more than fear. It was the need for power.
"What about you?" one of the younger ones said, his voice trembling. "Do you really think you'll survive here? In this place?"
Devon smiled—that cold smile he had learned to perfect. The young man understood nothing. None of them did. They were trapped, like rats in a glass cage, gasping for air. But he... he already knew how to break the walls.
"Don't waste my time," Devon replied, letting the glow of the Watcher’s bracelet shimmer in the dying light of the forest. "If you really want to survive… you should learn to look beyond the rules you've been given."
The initiates stepped back, murmuring among themselves, but they didn’t dare attack. Something had changed in Devon. He was no longer the confused boy who had entered this game. Now, he was someone who understood the rules of power—and how to twist them to his advantage.
"I'm not the one who should be afraid," Devon said quietly, almost to himself. "I'm the hunter, and panic only makes me stronger."
And with those words, he turned away, leaving the initiates behind, his mind already set on the next steps. He knew what he had to do. He knew he was ready to go beyond.
Devon walked through the dense forest, his bracelet glowing faintly under the moonlight. The stillness of nature was about to be broken when he heard a sound—heavy footsteps, almost imperceptible, behind him. He turned quickly, ready for anything. What he saw took his breath away.
A man, at least two meters tall, stood in the shadows. His scarred skin was covered in tattoos depicting ancient symbols, tensing as he noticed Devon’s presence. The golden chains wrapped around his wrists gleamed with an ominous light. His eyes were cold, calculating. An E-Grade. Although Devon couldn’t see his opponent’s exact level, the aura surrounding him was unmistakable—dangerous.
"So, the rookie dares to crawl out of his hole?" the man's deep voice rumbled. His tone wasn’t an outright threat, but something in his gaze made it clear there would be no conversation.
Devon clenched his fist, knowing this would be a difficult fight. He wasn’t a fool—he could feel the difference in power. This man was far stronger than him, and without a clear chance of victory, his only option was to rely on cunning.
"I'm not looking for a fight," Devon said, choosing to speak before acting. "I just want to be on my way."
"You care about the path?" the man replied, stepping forward. "There are no choices here. And you, little one, are already in my way."
In the blink of an eye, the E-Grade launched a devastating punch toward Devon, who barely managed to dodge by a few centimeters. The air around him distorted from the sheer force of the impact.
Devon leapt back, feeling the shockwave rattle his bones. This man was a monster. His attacks were fast and precise, as if every movement was calculated. His opponent seemed to have a deep understanding of the system, as if he were waiting for Devon to make a mistake.
"You’ll regret crossing paths with me," the man growled as he advanced, sending a surge of energy toward Devon. It was pure energy, denser than any attack Devon had ever faced.
Devon quickly scanned his surroundings. He didn’t have many options. Facing this man head-on was suicide. He couldn’t win in terms of strength. The only way to survive was through intelligence.
He dodged again, twisting to the opposite side, using his agility to stay out of the energy’s reach.
As he retreated, he felt the ground shift slightly beneath his feet—a phenomenon his perception picked up instantly. He was in an unstable zone.
Suddenly, Devon remembered something—the bracelet. Though he didn’t fully understand how it worked, he could feel its power. He decided to take a risk.
Devon closed his eyes for a second, focusing on the bracelet now linking him to the Watcher. Energy surged from it, forming a weak but effective barrier that managed to block the man’s next attack.
The E-Grade paused briefly, momentarily thrown off by the unexpected defense.
"Is that what you are? A pathetic rookie relying on an artifact?" he scoffed. "You think a mere bracelet will make you win?"
Devon didn’t answer. With a swift movement, he vanished into the trees, using the brief moment of confusion caused by his defense. In the chaos, Devon slipped through the unstable terrain toward an elevated position, where he could see the man from a vantage point.
"You’re going to pay for that, little one," the man roared.
But Devon knew time was on his side. This battle wasn’t just about strength—it was about endurance and patience. The E-Grade was far more experienced, but also overconfident, and that could be his downfall.
Devon used his perception to study the man’s movements, searching for any pattern or weakness. If he could find one, it would be his chance to strike. But he couldn’t allow the man to reach him again.
The fight intensified.
Devon knew he couldn’t afford any mistakes. Every blow he took from the E-Grade left him more breathless, and the pain in his body multiplied with each step. The enemy was bigger, stronger, and his presence was suffocating, as if the very earth feared his power.
Unlike his previous opponents, the E-Grade was no fool. His perception was outstanding. Every time Devon tried to dodge or slip between the trees, the enemy's eyes followed him. Every distraction trick, every attempt to change direction, was quickly dismantled. The enemy had refined instincts, and Devon knew he couldn’t rely on the same methods over and over again. The E-Grade observed, calculated, and didn’t make mistakes.
"You think you can fool me?" the man roared, unleashing a blast of energy that tore through the air.
Devon was thrown backward but quickly got back up, his feet nearly slipping in the mud. The fight was turning into a battle of endurance, and he couldn’t afford any more mistakes. He needed to find a weakness.
His opponent’s speed was impressive. Not only were his attacks powerful, but also precise, leaving no room for improvisation. Every time Devon attempted a quick strike, the man blocked it with terrifying ease.
Despite the disadvantage, Devon began analyzing his enemy’s behavior. What made him vulnerable? Where was his weak point?
Then he saw it. The E-Grade wasn’t moving as fluidly as someone of his power should. There were moments during the fight when his body seemed overloaded. Each attack was devastating, but it also wore him down. Despite his sharp perception, the E-Grade didn’t seem to have strong defenses against quick, light attacks that disoriented his movements.
Devon took a deep breath. If he could keep the fight moving, not allowing his opponent to take full control, he might find an opportunity.
He began shifting from side to side, but this time with a different approach. It wasn’t just about dodging—it was about provoking the enemy, making him angry. Every time the E-Grade threw a lethal strike, Devon moved with an agility his opponent couldn’t match, all while keeping up the pressure and searching for flaws in his pattern.
The E-Grade’s perception allowed him to anticipate almost everything, but what he couldn’t predict was Devon’s mental strategy. As he dodged, Devon started using his surroundings more intelligently. Instead of running toward the edges or cliffs, he focused on conditioning his opponent’s movements. He forced him into a confined space, surrounded by large rocks and thick shrubs.
The enemy, confident in his superior strength, began losing patience. He could no longer keep up with Devon’s smaller, faster attacks. At first, he thought he was being led into a trap, but then he realized there was no actual trap in that space—just a subtlety in Devon’s movements that slowly threw him off balance.
Devon now knew what he had to do. Every time the E-Grade used his energy, the strain on his body became more noticeable. But Devon also knew he needed to strike directly—not with force, but with precision.
He seized the perfect moment. When the E-Grade prepared a final blow—a blast of energy that nearly split a tree in half—Devon slipped toward him, aiming for a weak spot on his side, just below his rib.
The E-Grade tried to block the attack, but Devon’s timing and technique were enough. The strike was precise, and though it didn’t kill him, it weakened the enemy enough to make him stagger backward.
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“No… this can’t be…” the E-Grade murmured, trembling from the pain.
Devon watched his enemy, breathing heavily, but now with a determined expression. He had gained ground in the fight. His opponent was fatigued, and now, he had the advantage.
The E-Grade staggered back, gasping for air after the direct hit to his side. His movements became more erratic, the fatigue already taking its toll. Devon didn’t let his opponent catch his breath—his instincts pushed him to keep pressing, to force the fight to its conclusion.
Despite the overwhelming physical disadvantage, Devon knew that with every passing second, the enemy was losing his edge. Each of his attacks required more effort, and although he could still counter and block, Devon’s precision and speed kept him in a constant state of uncertainty.
“Don’t think you can win just because you’ve landed a couple of hits,” the E-Grade growled, his voice a low hiss of rage. “I’ll tear you apart, no matter how much you move.”
But instead of taking it as a threat, Devon saw it as an opportunity. The E-Grade was relying too much on brute strength, underestimating the exhaustion that was beginning to drain his stamina.
Devon needed one final push. A decisive move.
“Make no mistake,” he whispered to himself, stepping back and gazing at the E-Grade with a calmness that contrasted with the chaos of the fight. “You don’t win with strength… you win with cunning.”
He continued taking small lateral steps, almost as if he were dancing around his opponent, waiting for the perfect moment. The E-Grade, blinded by fury, chased him without a second thought every time Devon made a quick move to the side.
Then, he saw it.
An open space. The perfect spot. If the E-Grade kept moving at the same speed, he would walk right into the trap Devon had set—without even realizing it.
Devon dashed to the left, dodging swiftly. The E-Grade followed without hesitation. Devon took a deep breath, his heart pounding, and rushed toward the edge of a nearby cliff.
The E-Grade was too close—the attack was just seconds from landing. And just as his enemy threw a brutal punch, Devon leaped—not backward, but sideways, toward the cliff, moving with such unpredictability that the E-Rank couldn’t react in time.
The E-Grade’s leg landed right at the edge, his foot striking a rock as he tried to steady himself. The sound of his massive body teetering backward was barely audible.
Devon seized the moment. His sharp perception caught the slightest misalignment in the E-Grade’s balance, and without hesitation, with the same speed he used to dodge his blows, Devon lunged forward.
The final push was subtle but effective. The E-Grade completely lost his footing, slipping over the edge and plummeting down the cliff with a strangled cry.
Silence.
Devon stared at the empty space where the E-Grade had fallen, his body still struggling to recover from the intensity of the battle. His muscles ached, pain coursed through every inch of him, but a quiet sigh of relief escaped his lips.
He had won.
But not without cost.
Devon's body trembled with adrenaline as he watched his opponent fall. His breathing was ragged, and his muscles ached deeply from the effort. Yet, despite everything, he felt a strange satisfaction within him—a sense that something inside had changed.
A soft light began to glow before his eyes, like a fleeting radiance materializing in the darkness of battle. It was the same sensation he had experienced before upon completing challenges, but much stronger this time. The system was recognizing his victory.
[You have defeated Markus Vross – Level 19 (Grade F) | Class: Ebony Hunter!]
[XP gained]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[+3 to all stats]
[+15 Free Points]
---
So it was a F-Grade. Devon watched the glow that had begun to surround him. Without warning, his body felt lighter, his mind sharper as he allocated 5 points to Strength, 5 to Agility, and 5 to Endurance. The experience points gained from the battle against the E-Rank had become something tangible—something that elevated him.
"Status."
[Name: Devon Fiore – Level 9]
[Race: Human (Grade G)]
Health: 129/160
Mana: 190/190
Stamina: 153/210
---
Attributes:
Strength: 23
Agility: 34
Endurance: 21
Vitality: 14
Toughness: 13
Intelligence: 21
Wisdom: 17
Perception: 30
Free Points: 0
--
[You have reached the limit of your Grade.]
[Do you wish to evolve from Grade G to Grade F?]
[The process is irreversible.]
[Accept] [Reject]
Devon smiled and accepted.
The system emitted a muffled sound, as if a heavy lock had been unlocked deep within his being.
[Evolution completed.]
[Level Up!]
A strange sensation enveloped him. Devon felt his body adapting to the new power bestowed upon him, his muscles tightening slightly as his mind expanded with newfound clarity. The bones in his fingers creaked faintly, as if being molded into a more powerful, more capable form. The air around him seemed to vibrate, and a surge of energy coursed through him, from the tips of his feet to the crown of his head.
[You have ascended to Grade F.]
[+5 to all stats]
The system continued its message, breaking down the change that had just occurred. His body and mind had been reconfigured in ways he hadn’t expected.
[By reaching Grade F, you will now receive 2 points in all stats per level and 10 free points to distribute in any of your attributes.]
As he listened to the system’s words, the feeling of power grew, filling his being. His health, mana, and stamina were much higher, and his abilities were enhanced by the increase in attributes. His vitality gave him more endurance, his wisdom increased his ability to manage mana, and his agility, strength, and perception reached a new level. He was no longer the same.
The evolution had not only increased his physical and mental power, but it had also given him a new sense of possibility. Now, he could face much greater challenges, and the idea of continuing to climb to higher levels kept him alert.
"Status."
[Name: Devon Fiore – Level 10]
[Race: Human (Grade F)]
Health: 230/230
Mana: 260/260
Stamina: 270/270
---
Attributes:
Strength: 30
Agility: 41
Endurance: 28
Vitality: 21
Toughness: 20
Intelligence: 28
Wisdom: 24
Perception: 37
Free Points: 10
--
Devon looked at his status with narrowed eyes, absorbing every change with a mix of awe and satisfaction. The cold air of the forest no longer seemed as thick. There was a vibration in the air, an energy that seemed to pulse around him. Everything felt different. Better. Stronger.
"230 health... 260 mana... 270 stamina..." he thought, a smile curling his lips as he saw the results of his evolution. "Is this what it feels like to be someone truly powerful?"
He sat down, letting the wind brush against his face. Though he had just come from a fight that had pushed him to the edge, he now felt as if he had been reborn. As if his body was filled with renewed strength, ready to tear through any obstacle in his path.
"The fight... it was in my bones, it hurt... but now..." His mind replayed the battle, the way he had felt the blows, the way he had used every resource at his disposal. "I’ve recovered everything. The pain doesn’t exist anymore, my body is whole, like nothing ever happened."
Looking at his status now, it was as if everything had been reset. The physical wear from the fight faded, and in its place, the feeling of power grew. His vitality had increased, and the agility he felt in his legs was more pronounced, as if he could move even faster, push past his own limits.
"This power... is this what it feels like when you leave behind who you were?" Devon felt a slight shiver run down his spine. His strength, now much greater, pulsed in his muscles, as if every fiber of his body was ready to burst with energy. "I can feel it in my veins... in every muscle. I’m much stronger, much faster, much smarter."
It wasn’t just a physical improvement. His mind felt sharper, as if the neural connections were working with greater efficiency, processing information at an accelerated speed. His perception of the environment had skyrocketed, he could notice every movement in the distance, every crackling leaf around him. As if he could see beyond the obvious, reaching a mental clarity that had once eluded him.
"2 points per level... 10 free points... can I make this even deadlier?" he thought, with a sly smile. His mind was already planning how to use those points. More strength? More speed? Or maybe... more of that perception that made him see every detail, every trick in the air? The power was now in his hands, and he could mold it to his will.
The breeze brushed against his face as he closed his eyes, letting the feeling of being at new heights take over. "This is just the beginning... I’ve just reached Grade F... and I already feel like I’ve climbed a mountain that once seemed insurmountable."
A sense of inevitability washed over him. The questions that once tormented him—how far could he go? How could he face the challenges ahead?—now felt less unsettling. Now, he felt that no matter what came, he had the power to face it, to overcome it, to claim what was his.
"There are no limits to this." Devon murmured to himself, opening his eyes and gazing at the horizon. "This is just the beginning of a new era for Fiore."
His breath steadied. In his hands, the future was waiting to be claimed.
---
The man in the gray suit observed from his elevated position, not missing a single detail of the scene before him. The vastness of the tutorial landscape stretched out in front of him, but his focus was fixed on a single point: Devon Fiore.
The young man had just gone through the process of evolution, a palpable change in his body and soul. He remained still, but the energy around him seemed to vibrate, as if his mere existence was reconfiguring the laws of that world. The man showed no surprise.
He knew. The power of the Fiores has never been something to underestimate.
In his mind, there was no astonishment or admiration. Devon's evolution was simply another step in the process, another cog falling into place in the grand scheme. He knew what this moment meant, what it would mean for the Fiore family and the pact that had been sealed long ago.
He should have known the progression would be this fast. It’s not the first time I’ve seen a Fiore unlock their potential. Each one has their own pace, but most of them... rise with ease.
The man in the gray suit adjusted his dark glasses, unfazed, watching how Devon's energy stabilized and his body adapted to the new form of power. There was something almost predictable in the way the Fiores developed.
Evolution is never an obstacle for someone like him. What’s to come will be even more interesting. The Fiore family never settles for anything less than the best.
A fleeting smile crossed his face, not out of excitement, but recognition. Devon was no different from the other Fiores. The young man had taken the first step on his path toward something much greater. A path that the man in gray had been watching from the shadows, certain that the Fiore family would play a crucial role in the events to come.
And when the time comes, when everything is resolved... when he faces his final destiny...
His gaze grew more intense, as if he could see beyond the present, to a point still distant in time.
...he will be more than a piece on the board. He will be the change that everyone is waiting for.
