The arena was in ruins, yet the battle was far from over. Hanzo stood amidst the debris, sweat dripping down his brow, muscles burning from exertion. The monstrous, flame-wielding beast before him snarled, its molten eyes locked onto him. The gathered knights and guild masters watched in silence, waiting to see if this E-rank had anything left to give.

(The beast roars, flames surging around its body. It slams a massive claw down, aiming for Hanzo.)

Hanzo (dodging, gritting his teeth): “Too slow.”

(He sidesteps and leaps onto the beast’s arm, using its own strength against it. With explosive power, he drives his fist into its shoulder, causing it to stagger.)

Cain Ardent (Guild Master of White Flame, observing): “He’s using his raw strength to compensate for his lack of magic.”

Darius Voss (Guild Master of Obsidian Fang, arms crossed): “Hmph. Strength alone won’t win wars.”

(The beast recovers, whipping its tail around. Hanzo barely manages to duck, but the force sends him skidding backward. He digs his hands into the dirt, stopping himself just in time.)

Elena (watching, impressed): “He’s not just strong—he’s adapting.”

(The beast lunges, but this time Hanzo doesn’t dodge. He braces himself, arms up, absorbing the impact. The crowd gasps as he holds firm, veins bulging from the strain. Then, with a roar of his own, he twists the beast’s arm, sending it crashing into the ground.)

Hanzo (panting, smirking): “Looks like I hit harder.”

(The beast shrieks and retaliates, spewing fire in a wide arc. Hanzo, lacking magical defenses, dashes forward through the flames, ignoring the burning pain. He leaps, using his momentum to deliver a crushing knee to the monster’s head.)

Sylvaine Raine (Guild Master of Azure Tempest, raising an eyebrow): “He doesn’t rely on magic, yet he’s overpowering a beast that requires most recruits to use their full abilities.”

(The beast stumbles, dazed. Hanzo seizes the moment. With a powerful sprint, he jumps high and delivers a spinning kick straight to its skull. The sound of impact echoes through the arena.)

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(Silence. Then, with a final groan, the beast collapses.)

Cain Ardent (standing up, voice firm): “Enough. The trial is over.”

(Hanzo remains in his fighting stance, breathing heavily. His body is covered in burns and bruises, but his spirit burns brighter than ever. The gathered knights murmur amongst themselves—some in disbelief, others in awe.)

Darius Voss (grinning slightly): “I’ll admit… that was impressive.”

Sylvaine Raine: “Agreed. The boy has potential.”

Garrick (crossing his arms, smirking at Hanzo): “Looks like you passed.”

(The realization washes over Hanzo. He did it. He proved himself.)

Aftermath of the Trial:

(Garrick steps forward, arms crossed, observing Hanzo with an unreadable expression.)

Garrick: “You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that. But don’t get cocky. Strength alone won’t keep you alive in a real war.”

Hanzo (wiping sweat from his brow): “I’m ready to learn. Just tell me what’s next.”

(Elena approaches, tossing Hanzo a canteen of water, her usual smirk present.)

Elena: “You barely survived that fight. But I’ll admit, you’ve got something most rookies don’t.”

Hanzo: (drinks and exhales) “What’s that?”

Elena: “An iron will.”

(A slow clap echoes from the sidelines. A new figure steps forward—a tall, imposing knight with piercing red eyes. His name is Valric, a high-ranking White Flame officer known for his brutal training methods.)

Valric: “We’ll see how much that willpower is worth when you face something beyond your limits.”

The Mission to Black Hollow

No rest for the weary. The day after the trial, Hanzo and a select group of trainees were assigned their first mission—an escort through the cursed lands of Black Hollow, where demon activity had been reported.

(Inside the White Flame war room, Garrick points to a map spread across the table.)

Garrick: “You’ll be escorting a group of scholars to Black Hollow. Reports suggest demon movement in the area, but nothing major. This is a test of teamwork and survival. Follow orders, stay sharp, and don’t take unnecessary risks.”

(Hanzo tightens his fists. This was his first real step into the battlefield.)