The announcement came at dawn.
A deep bell echoed through the Demonic Cult—slow, heavy, impossible to ignore.
Every disciple froze.
Then a voice followed.
"All outer disciples will gather at the Black Arena."
"Ranking Trial begins today."
Jin Muyeon opened his eyes.
"…So it starts."
Outside, the entire sect was already moving.
Hundreds of disciples flooded toward one place—
The Black Arena.
When Muyeon arrived, he stopped.
The arena was massive.
Dark stone. Blood-stained ground. No decorations.
Only one rule carved into the entrance:
"Strength is Truth."
Above the arena—
Elder Seo stood, watching.
Alongside him were other elders, their presence heavy like mountains.
Instructor Han stood below them, silent.
Muyeon stepped inside.
Instantly—
Eyes locked onto him.
Whispers spread like wildfire.
"That's him…"
"The one who fought Instructor Han…"
"He's going to die today…"
Muyeon ignored all of it.
His focus shifted to the center.
A massive stone pillar stood there.
And on it—
Names.
Ranks.
[OUTER DISCIPLE RANKINGS]
Kwon Daesik
Hwa Ryun
Jin Tae-Kang
…
—
…
Unranked…
Muyeon's name wasn't there.
Yet.
Instructor Han stepped forward.
"Rules are simple."
"Win—and take their rank."
"Lose—and fall."
A pause.
"Die… if you're weak."
Silence.
Heavy.
Cold.
Then—
A loud drum sounded.
BOOM.
"Trial begins."
The first fights started instantly.
No hesitation.
No mercy.
Muyeon watched calmly.
Fists. Blades. Techniques.
Brutal.
Efficient.
Deadly.
A disciple was thrown across the arena.
Another had his arm broken.
One didn't get back up.
Muyeon's eyes didn't change.
"…Too slow."
[System Notification]
[New Quest: Enter the Rankings]
Win 3 consecutive matches
Defeat a ranked disciple
Reward: Skill Unlock + 100 Villain Points
Muyeon smiled faintly.
"Finally."
A voice shouted:
"Next!"
A disciple jumped into the arena.
Rank 42.
Strong.
Confident.
Muyeon stepped forward.
"I'll take this one."
The arena quieted.
"That guy… he's starting already?"
"He's unranked!"
The Rank 42 disciple smirked.
"You've got guts."
Muyeon stood calmly.
"Come."
The match began.
The opponent moved first.
Fast.
A straight punch aiming for Muyeon's jaw.
Muyeon didn't move.
At the last second—
He tilted his head.
Miss.
Then—
A single step forward.
CRACK.
The disciple's ribs shattered under Muyeon's strike.
Silence.
The man collapsed instantly.
One hit.
The crowd froze.
"…What?"
"That's Rank 42…"
Muyeon exhaled slowly.
"Too easy."
[Victory Achieved]
[Rank Updated: 42]
[Villain Points +25]
Above, Elder Seo's eyes flickered slightly.
"Next," Muyeon said.
No hesitation.
This time—
Rank 28 stepped forward.
A woman.
Calm.
Focused.
Dangerous.
"…You're not normal," she said.
Muyeon tilted his head.
"And?"
She took a stance.
"I'll test that."
She vanished.
Faster than the last.
Sharper.
More controlled.
Muyeon's eyes sharpened.
Good.
Finally.
Their strikes collided.
BAM.
Shockwaves spread.
The fight lasted longer.
Ten exchanges.
Twenty.
Muyeon smiled.
His body moved smoothly.
Combat Instinct guiding him.
Then—
He saw it.
An opening.
One step in.
Palm strike.
BOOM.
She was thrown back—
But landed on her feet.
Breathing heavy.
"…Monster," she muttered.
Muyeon didn't respond.
He moved again.
Faster.
This time—
He didn't stop.
Three strikes.
One opening.
CRACK.
She dropped to her knees.
Defeated.
Silence.
[Victory Achieved]
[Rank Updated: 28]
[Villain Points +40]
The arena erupted.
"He jumped from unranked to 28?!"
"This is insane!"
Muyeon stood still.
Calm.
Unshaken.
Then—
A new voice echoed.
"…I'll take the next match."
The crowd split instantly.
Fear spread.
A man stepped forward.
Slow.
Heavy presence.
Muyeon's eyes narrowed.
Rank 10
The pressure alone was different.
The man smiled slightly.
"You've climbed fast."
A pause.
"But this is where it ends."
Muyeon smiled back.
"…We'll see."
[System Alert]
[High-Level Opponent Detected]
The arena fell silent.
This wasn't just a match anymore.
This—
Was his first real wall.