ECHO

"But how did that beast even get here? This is supposed to be a safe zone!" Duke's voice cracked with panic, his eyes darting wildly around the clearing.

Erin tried to keep a level head, though her heart thundered in her chest. Duke had a point—nothing should've been able to breach this part of the training ground. The barriers, the wards, the surveillance… all of it should have detected a Class A threat long before now.

"All students, retreat! Class trial is over—evacuate immediately!" Erin barked, her voice slicing through the growing chaos like a whip.

Then came the scream.

A blonde-haired girl stood frozen in place, paralyzed by fear. The beast crawled on six limbs, each thick as a tree trunk, its body armored in dark, chitinous plating like obsidian glass cracked through with glowing orange fissures. A long, segmented tail arched high above its back, tipped with a curved, serrated stinger the size of a broadsword. It gleamed wetly, but not with venom—with blood. Human blood. Before she could even run, the beast lunged forward and tore her apart with a sickening crunch, splattering blood across the cobblestones.

"GO! I'll distract it!" Erin yelled, drawing the dual Loa katanas strapped to her thighs. She didn't stand a chance—and she knew it. But if she could buy even a few seconds, maybe the others would survive.

She charged.

Each of her swings was fluid, a dance of desperation and training. The blades glimmered under the tunnel lights, slicing across the beast's thick hide. But it barely flinched. Its tail whipped around and sent her crashing into the nearby wall, ribs cracking on impact.

"What about the Zeta? The bait—he's still in there!" a student shouted as they ran.

"You're welcome to go back and save him," Flynn replied, already halfway across the evacuation path, not looking back.

---

Meanwhile, Sage stood, slightly confused. He had heard the growl, but nothing was in sight. His instincts screamed for him to move—but the issue was: where to?

Then slowly, he saw it.

It emerged from the shadows, red, thick liquid dripping down its plated body—red blood.

Wait... beast blood isn't supposed to be red... That's human.

His system chimed:

> [ Quest Alert: Class A Threat Detected ]

[ Objective: Survive for 5 Minutes ]

Reward: ???

Sage's eyes widened as the beast's gaze locked onto him. It roared—a low, rattling sound that shook the tunnel—and charged.

Its tail snapped into the ground where he had just been standing—splitting the earth like an axe.

Sage leapt backward, narrowly missing the attack.

Damn... it's almost as fast as Kai...

> [ Skill Activated: Blood Surge ]

All skills doubled for 2 minutes.

Power flooded his limbs like wildfire. Sage dashed left, barely dodging another tail strike that demolished a stone pillar beside him.

With a growl, he launched himself forward.

He couldn't keep fighting this way—Blood Surge only lasted 2 minutes.

Channeling all his strength into one surprise counterstrike—pulling back his left leg slightly—he slammed his fist into the beast's face.

It staggered back, slightly disoriented. Sage prepared himself for a follow-up attack but—

> [ System Update: Blood Surge Ended ]

71 hours 56 minutes till next use.

Damn it, Sage cursed under his breath.

The beast's body vibrated, clearly enraged.

It unleashed a storm of strikes, its tail blurring into afterimages. Sage ducked, rolled, tried to avoid them all—but it was just impossible. One near-miss slashed across his side, tearing his uniform and drawing blood.

> [ Skill Activated: Iron Veins ]

Endurance +20%

Pain Resistance +50%

Duration: 5 Minutes

His skin hardened. Every blow now felt duller, muffled by the system's shield—but the blows kept coming. His ribs groaned under pressure. Sage changed tactics—aiming at the beast's legs, its underbelly—trying to stay out of reach of that monstrous tail and find a weak spot.

He wouldn't die here.

Not as someone's bait.

But he could feel it. With every second, his body grew heavier.

> [ Warning: Iron Veins Expired ]

Fatigue: 90%

Oh no...

A tail strike grazed his chest, sending him flying.

> HP: 14/100

One more hit like that, and I'm dead...

But as much as he tried, he couldn't even stand.

The beast hissed, its massive body looming over him. Letting out a loud shriek, it launched itself forward.

Sage closed his eyes.

A blur of black and steel.

A long, curved black broadsword tore into the beast's side, slicing clean through one of its front legs. Kol landed between Sage and the beast, eyes burning.

"Stay down," he ordered, voice tight with fury.

Kol moved like a reaper. His sword spun in concentric circles, forcing the beast to back away, tail deflected just inches from his throat. Kol struck high—and he looked like he was getting faster with each strike. But even he couldn't land a fatal hit.

Then suddenly, the beast pivoted—and ignored him.

Its eyes locked back on Sage.

Its mouth opened, and spikes went flying toward him.

"NO!" Kol cursed as he jumped in, taking the strike.

The spike slammed into Kol's ribs with a brutal crack. He was flung across the field, groaning in agony.

The beast moved fast toward them, sensing the opportunity.

Sage wanted to do something, but his body...

> [ Fatigue: 99% ]

[ Injuries: Critical ]

Shit, Kol hissed.

Suddenly, a whirlwind came descending on the beast's face, sending it back several meters—twin katanas slicing into the creature's exoskeleton.

"Can you fight? I won't be able to hold him for long," Maple said, swinging her sword at the creature's legs.

Sage heard a ping sound in his head, and suddenly—hope.

> [ Quest Complete: 5 Minutes Survived ]

Reward: +50 HP Restored

New Skill Unlocked: ECHO

Effect: Able to draw power (20%) from opponents within 100-meter radius.

Cost: -5 HP per minute

HP Remaining: 62

Sage's eyes snapped open.

He stood, bloodied but renewed.

My turn.

> [ Skill Activated: ECHO ]

In an instant, Sage became a blur—faster, stronger, sharper.

He moved, slamming his fist into the beast's head, sending it crashing into the wall. Sage leapt onto the beast's back, driving Kol's broadsword into its exposed eye.

Maple's voice rang out, "What the hell—?"

Even Kol, struggling to rise, muttered, "That's… impossible…"

Sage jumped down, swinging his blade into one of its jointed legs—tearing it completely.

We might actually make it out alive.

But it couldn't last.

> HP: 15...

HP: 10...

HP: 5...

He didn't even realize the 9 minutes were up.

Sage dropped to his knees again, gasping. Everything faded to red. The beast, though battered, still moved.

> Skill ECHO ended

Can only be used when HP reaches 50%

Sage looked up at the creature towering over him.

This is it...

A golden hammer crashed into the beast's side, launching it into the nearest wall. Lightning cracked through the impact.

"Run," Kai ordered. "NOW!"

No one hesitated as they ran toward the exit.

---

Maple assisted Kol and Sage as they reached the clinic. Though she was injured, her wounds weren't as extensive—thanks to Sage and Kai.

The infirmary buzzed with whispers as they walked in.

Sage, Kol, and Maple lay across separate cots, bloodied but alive. Students peered in, murmuring in awe. Even teachers looked stunned.

"They survived a Class A beast...?" Duke said, wide-eyed.

"Zetas don't last thirty seconds with those things…" Flynn muttered, completely stunned.

"Sage Erlanger," he added, "there's really more to you than meets the eye."