The First Armor and The First Hunt

Leonar felt his body vibrate with an indescribable energy. A comforting heat coursed through his muscles and tendons, expanding to the very last fiber of his being. It wasn't just a feeling of power—it was rebirth. His skin, once covered in wounds and dirt, now felt firmer, more resilient. His muscles, though still thin from years of abuse, were toning and hardening at an impossible rate.

He took a deep breath, feeling the air enter his lungs with a lightness he had never experienced before. His chest expanded, his diaphragm worked with absolute precision, and the oxygen seemed to merge with the power of the universe now flowing through his veins.

"This is… incredible," he murmured, raising one hand and clenching it into a fist.

He could feel the latent strength in every movement. It was as if his body, once shackled by weakness and contempt, had awakened from a long slumber.

But this was only the beginning.

With a firm thought, he recalled the system's words.

Summon your Iron Hawk Armor.

Leonar closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on the energy within him. That's when he felt it—a powerful presence, as if something was wrapping around him in an invisible embrace. It was warm, yet imposing. A power different from his own body—something foreign, yet completely his.

A silver glow emerged from his skin, and an invisible pressure fell upon him. Suddenly, he felt his flesh and bones being covered, molded by a metallic structure forming out of nothing.

The first component appeared—a helmet that encased his head with a fierce design, shaped like a hawk with a blade-sharp beak. His field of vision immediately expanded, as if he could see beyond what he ever had before.

Next, a breastplate covered his torso, protecting his vital organs while maintaining flexibility for movement. It wasn't a full or heavy armor but rather a lightweight design, made for speed and agility.

Gauntlets covered his hands, intricate details etched into the knuckles and fingers, mimicking the claws of a hawk, ready to tear through anything. His boots, crafted from the same material, had an aerodynamic design, with patterns resembling the feathers of a bird in mid-flight.

When the armor was fully assembled, Leonar felt as if an invisible wind swept around him, lifting his spirit.

He opened his eyes.

The world no longer looked the same.

The leaves of the trees trembled with an astonishing clarity. He could see the details of every crack in the bark, the tiny insects moving along the ground, and even the dust particles floating in the air. His vision had sharpened to a superhuman level.

"Is this… the Iron Hawk Armor?" he thought.

Without much thought, he pulled his fist back and struck a nearby tree.

BOOM!

The impact made the trunk tremble violently, leaving a deep imprint in the wood. A single punch. If he had used more force, he might have split the tree in two.

Leonar looked at his own fist in astonishment.

"This… this is just a Mortal-rank armor…"

In his memories, Mortal armors were considered the weakest. Nobles like his half-brothers and other knights looked down on them for their lack of power. But what he had just experienced was on another level. Something didn't add up.

"Why does this feel… different?"

As if the system had read his mind, a robotic voice resonated in his head.

"The Celestial Armor System possesses its own ranking classification. Unlike the world you reside in, the system's armors have six levels of power: Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. Currently, the host has received an Iron-tier armor, suitable for his current strength. To obtain stronger armors, he must increase his cultivation power and gather Celestial Points."

Leonar frowned.

"So this armor… isn't really Mortal-rank?"

"Correct. Its power far exceeds that of a conventional Mortal armor. However, it is still the most basic within the system. With proper growth, the host will be able to access far more powerful armors."

Leonar's heart pounded.

Everything he knew about this world told him that a person could only possess one armor in their lifetime. It was something innate, an extension of their own power.

But this system… it was offering him the ability to obtain multiple armors.

"Are you saying I can acquire different armors and switch between them depending on the situation?"

"Precisely. The host can exchange armors as long as he possesses the necessary Celestial Points to unlock them. Higher-rank armors require a greater amount of points."

Leonar fell silent for a moment, his mind working at full speed.

If this was true… then his path was completely different from any other knight in this world.

Not only could he grow stronger, but he could also have multiple combat styles depending on the armor he used.

A fire of determination burned in his chest.

"Then I need those Celestial Points…"

As if the system was one step ahead, at that very moment, a new notification appeared before his eyes.

First System Mission:

Hunt your first wild beast.Reward: 2 Celestial Points.

Leonar narrowed his eyes.

Just as he finished reading the mission, a subtle sound reached his ears.

A faint growl.

He immediately turned his head, focusing his enhanced vision in the direction of the noise. Between the bushes, he saw a pair of black paws slowly emerge.

The air grew dense.

From the shadows, a beast with a fierce appearance stepped forward—a colossal black hound, its body covered in dark, coarse fur. Its eyes glowed with a crimson light, and its mouth revealed dagger-like fangs.

The creature let out a low growl, its muscles tense, ready to pounce.

Leonar felt a mix of adrenaline and excitement surge through him.

For the first time, he wasn't a mere spectator to this world's brutality.

Now, he was on the battlefield.

"Come… let's test this armor," he whispered, a defiant smile forming on his lips.

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The sound of the wind whistled through the trees, rustling the dry leaves scattered across the forest floor. In the distance, the sky was tinged with a soft crimson hue, signaling that the sun was about to set.

But Leonar paid no attention to the scenery.

His gaze was locked onto the creature that had just emerged from the bushes.

A massive black hound, its body muscular and its sharp claws looking capable of tearing through flesh and bone with ease. Its dark fur bristled like needles, and drool dripped from its mouth as it bared its fangs in a menacing growl.

Its eyes, burning red, radiated pure hostility and hunger.

A shiver ran down Leonar's spine.

It was his first time facing a real beast.

On Earth, he had trained countless times in martial arts, facing opponents stronger and larger than himself. But this… this was different. This creature wasn't fighting for pride, training, or sport. It was fighting to kill.

For the first time, Leonar truly understood what it meant to fight for survival.

But instead of being overcome by fear, his body reacted differently.

His breathing steadied. His vision sharpened.

And deep within, he felt excitement.

It was as if the blood coursing through his veins was urging him to test this new power.

He clenched his fists, covered by the gauntlets of his armor, and took a step forward.

—Come.

The hound growled, its muscles tensed.

Swoosh!

In a blink, the beast leaped forward with incredible speed, its jaws wide open, ready to tear him apart.

But Leonar saw its movement with absolute clarity.

It was as if his perception of time had slowed. He noticed the slight shift in the hound's posture before it jumped, the way its weight was distributed mid-air, and the exact direction of its attack.

And then, his body reacted on instinct.

Lateral displacement.

Leonar pivoted on his right foot, completely dodging the hound's lunge, feeling the sharp air left in its wake.

Seizing the opening, his body moved without hesitation.

Counterattack!

His right fist shot forward with tremendous speed, striking the creature's side.

BOOM!

The impact echoed like an explosion.

The Iron Hawk Armor's gauntlets amplified his strength, transmitting the full force of the blow into the beast's body. The black hound was sent flying, tumbling through the air multiple times before crashing violently against a tree.

Leonar landed smoothly and lowered his arm.

He looked at his fist.

—…Was that a normal punch?

Even though he had only used a straightforward strike, the damage he had inflicted was immense.

On Earth, he had trained in boxing, perfecting his punches to generate the greatest possible force with minimal effort. But this… this far surpassed any training he had ever undergone.

He turned to check on the beast.

But it wasn't over yet.

The hound staggered to its feet.

Its side trembled, blood dripped from its muzzle, but its red eyes burned with murderous fury.

Leonar smiled.

—Good.

He bent his knees and raised his fists into a guard position.

—Let's get serious.

The hound let out a deeper growl. This time, it didn't lunge immediately. Instead, it began circling him, analyzing him.

Smart.

But not enough.

BAM!

The hound charged again, even faster this time.

Leonar barely had time to react.

He dodged at the last second, but the beast twisted mid-air and tried to bite his arm.

Iron Elbow Block.

Leonar bent his arm and slammed his elbow into the hound's muzzle mid-leap.

CRACK!

The beast's jaw twisted from the force of the impact, sending it crashing to the ground once again.

Leonar didn't give it time to recover.

He moved swiftly, planting his foot on the ground as a heat surged through his body.

It was an instinctive call—an awakening of his armor's power.

His gauntlets emitted a faint blue glow, and a message appeared in his mind.

Iron Hawk Armor Ability Unlocked:[Hawk's Strike] – Enhances the speed and power of the next attack, mimicking the dive of a hawk hunting its prey.

—Let's see what you can do…

Leonar bent his legs and disappeared.

In an instant, he shot forward with blinding speed.

Before the hound could react, Leonar's fist met its body.

HAWK'S STRIKE!

BOOOOOM!

The impact was devastating.

The energy concentrated in his punch erupted on contact, creating a shockwave that shook the nearby trees.

The beast was flung away like a ragdoll, its body rolling across the ground before coming to a complete stop.

It didn't move anymore.

Silence.

The air grew heavy.

Leonar remained still, staring at the lifeless body of the creature.

He had won.

Not only that.

He had completely destroyed his opponent.

His breathing remained steady. His heart pounded—not from fear, but from pure adrenaline.

He had never felt this exhilarated before.

—So… this is the power of a celestial armor.

At that moment, a metallic sound echoed in his mind.

"Mission Complete: Hunt Your First Beast."Reward: 2 Celestial Points.

A panel appeared before his eyes.

───Celestial Points: 2───

Leonar took a deep breath.

If I earn more points, I can obtain more armors…

Right now, he had the Iron Hawk Armor, but this meant that, over time, he could acquire others—each with different combat styles.

The idea of possessing multiple armors, each with unique abilities, made him smile in anticipation.

—This is just the beginning…

Leonar lifted his gaze and looked at the vast forest stretching before him.

He had no doubts.

He would grow stronger.

Not just to survive, but to exact the revenge he so desperately craved.

With that determination burning in his chest, he turned around and began walking, ready for his next challenge.