The undead dragon writhed uncontrollably in midair, its massive skeletal frame twisting as it lost balance. Its spine had been shattered by Raito's daggers, and it was crashing toward the massive 300-foot castle. Smart enough to avoid total disaster, it shifted its trajectory, aiming for open ground shrouded in fog just beyond the castle walls.

Raito moved swiftly across the dragon's back, daggers flashing, piercing skeleton after skeleton. He raised his dagger, smashing into the core as the dragon plunged into the fog. Crack. Crack. Crack. The final strike shattered the core completely.

Instinctively, Raito leaped clear of the dragon's back. He hovered as the enormous skeletal beast tumbled into the endless fog below. The void swallowed it whole, leaving only the distant echo of its roar.

Raito soared above the fog, the castle now fully visible beneath him. A notification appeared before his eyes:

[Undead Dragon Defeated]

LP +10,000

Combat Experience Gained 50,000

Stat Increase: Strength +20 Agility +15 Mana +50

Holy Burst +20

Skill Acquired: Undead Dragon Slayer (Passive Level 1)

Raito's eyes flicked across the notification. LP, stats, a new skill, and Holy Burst. This much power from a single undead dragon. The Hydra had not even given him this much. If this dragon had been alive… the rewards might have been infinite, but survival would have been impossible.

He glanced at the Holy Burst in his status box. After defeating keito, he had seen it but never had the chance to use it fully. Now he could wield Holy Magic freely. Not just for himself, but to heal others as well. Battlefield-level restoration was now within his grasp.

Raito ascended higher, observing the castle yard below. Forty armored undead knights patrolled in formation, swords in hand, disciplined and organized. It was time. The yard needed to be cleared before entering the main castle hall.

Raito's hand tightened around his daggers, holy light pulsing along the blades. He hovered above, surveying the battlefield with deadly precision.

Raito slowly descended, his feet barely touching the ground. The moment he landed, all forty undead knights shifted toward him, their armor clanking as they began to charge.

"Come at me," Raito said under his breath. His blades pulsed with holy magic. One strike would be enough. There was no need to shatter their cores.

He sprinted forward, weaving through the charging horde with impossible speed. In less than three seconds, he was behind them. He raised his hands. His daggers vanished into his inventory.

The forty undead froze mid-step. Then, one by one, their bodies shattered. Bones splintered. Armor cracked. They collapsed into a heap of rubble on the stone yard.

Raito exhaled calmly. "Done. Now, the main entrance."

He walked toward the massive castle gate, hands in his pockets. With a single push, the doors creaked open. Inside, chandeliers hung from the ceiling, adorned with strange lights that flickered softly, casting long shadows across the hall.

He stepped inside, hands still in his pockets, eyes scanning every corner. "What's here…?" he muttered. The hall seemed empty,

Raito walked deeper into the hall, his footsteps echoing faintly across the vast chamber. "Hello? Anyone here?" he called out. His voice bounced off the cold stone walls, but there was no answer—only silence.

"It seems like no one is here," he muttered, glancing around. "Should I just go back?"

He sighed and shook his head. "Still, I'm surprised. This is just a drill assessment for training, and my stats actually increased after defeating that undead dragon. That's amazing."

Raito took a slow step forward, eyes scanning the intricate carvings across the marble pillars. "But this place… it feels ancient. Like I'm standing inside the ruins of a forgotten civilization." His expression hardened. "Well, since I can't die here, I'll take down whatever stands in my way."

The ground trembled.

Two massive doors at the far end of the hall creaked open, releasing a gust of stale, heavy air. Raito froze, eyes narrowing as shadows poured out.

From the darkness, ten undead warriors stepped forward, their armor cracked and weapons rusted, yet their presence oozed murderous intent.

Raito smiled faintly. "So, it begins."

He raised his right hand, and green light gathered around his fist, pulsing like a heartbeat.

The first undead lunged, shrieking.

Raito moved before it could reach him. His punch connected squarely with its chest.

BOOM!

The impact shattered the creature into dust. Before the others could react, he vanished from sight, his speed blurring his form. In the next instant, he appeared among them—fists flying, each strike landing with brutal precision.

One by one, they shattered into fragments of bone and ash.

Silence returned to the hall.

Raito exhaled softly and lowered his glowing fist. "Is that the best they can do?" He smirked. "They should've done better than that."

Raito turned slowly toward the second door. It stood open, but nothing had come through yet. The silence that followed made his skin crawl.

Then, from the same door the ten warriors had come through, a wave of energy swept across the hall.

The air thickened.

It pressed down on him like invisible hands forcing him to his knees.

"What… what is this pressure?" Raito muttered, his breath shaking.

The torches flickered violently. And then, from the shadows, he saw it. A cloaked figure floated forward, a long staff in its bony hand. The air trembled around it, bending under its presence.

A cold, blue notification appeared before his eyes.

[Warning]

High-level Entity Detected

Designation: Lich

Rank: S-Class

[Accept or Reject]

Raito's eyes widened. "A Lich? Here?"

He took a slow step back, every instinct screaming at him to run. The castle doors behind him sealed shut with a heavy clang.

He clenched his fists. "What the hell… I've heard of Liches. They're classified S rank, nearly impossible to kill. But this was supposed to be a drill assessment."

He laughed under his breath, a mix of disbelief and anger. "Drill assessment, my ass. This isn't training… this is a death trap."

The notification still hovered in front of him, glowing like a taunt.

[Accept or Reject]

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