THE POWER OF A SWORD

'Is this panel seriously telling me to kill this ferocious beast?' Kaelen thought with a strange look on his face. But the Shadowclaw didn't even give him a moment to breath as it suddenly dashed at Kaelen with lightning speed.

'Sh*t!' Kaelen thought with a panicked look on his face as he quickly took hold of the blue colored sword.

Roar!!

Swoosh!!

While stretching his bodies to the limits, Kaelen managed to graze pass the menacing claws of the Shadowclaw.

'That was close' Kaelen thought as coincidentally landed on his two feets with a drop of cold sweat rolling down his left side of his face.

Roar!!!

It seems like the Shadowclaw quickly became furious when he find out that he has missed his prey as he turned and looked at Kaelen straight in the eyes.

As for Kaelen, he stood at the entrance of the cave, the blue sword clutched tightly in his hands. It's blue light pulsed in rhythm with his racing heart, the runes along the blade glowing with an ancient power. He could feel the weight of the sword, it's enchantments humming through his veins, filling him with a sense of both determination and dread.

Before him, the Shadowclaw prowled, it's obsidian-black fur blending with the shadows, eyes burning with primal fury.

Grrr!!!!

The Shadowclaw growled, low and menacing, a sound that vibrated through out the cave. It crouched, muscles tensing as it prepared to pounce. Kaelen took a deep breath, drawing on the little mana he had left, and stepped forward.

'Please help me get out of this' Kaelen thought with a pleading look on his face while he stared at the blue sword in his hands.

But the Shadowclaw quickly brought back his attention with a roar. After that, the Shadowclaw leaped, claws outstretched. Kaelen swung the Blade of Eternity in a wide arc, the sword's blue light cutting through the dark. The enchanted blade met the tiger's claws with a flash of sparks and a resonant clash. The force of the blow knocked Kaelen back a step, but he held his ground, the sword's power bolstering his strength.

The Shadowclaw landed and immediately launched another attack, moving with a terrifying speed. Kaelen quick enough to notice it, quickly dodged to the side, feeling the rush of wind as the beast's claws sliced the air where he had stood.

He countered with a quick slash of the blade, scoring a shallow cut along Shadowclaw's flank. The tiger roared in pain, it's eyes glowing even brighter with rage.

"Huff... Huff..." Kaelen's breath came in ragged gasps. He could feel his mana dwindling. The energy seeping away with each movement. Summoning every ounce of his remaining strength, he focused on the sword, channeling his mana into the Blade of Eternity. The runes flared, the blue light intensifying.

"Come on" Kaelen muttered, tightening his grip. "Just a little bit more"

Shadowclaw charged again, it's massive form a blur of black and red. Kaelen raised the sword high, waiting until the last possible moment before bringing it down with all his might.

Bang!!!

The Blade of Eternity met Shadowclaw's attack head on, the impact sending a shockwave through the cave and even outside. The sword blue light exploded outward, enveloping both Kaelen and the beast in a radiant halo.

The force of the magic-infused strike staggered the Shadowclaw, it's attack faltering. Seizing the opportunity, Kaelen drove the blade forward, piercing the tiger's chest.

Roar!!!!

The enchanted steel cut through flesh and bone, the runes blazing with a fierce brilliance. Shadowclaw let out a final, pained roar, it's body convulsing before collapsing to the ground.

"I... Did.... It" Kaelen muttered weakly as he stumbled back, the sword slipping from his grasp as he fell to his knees. The cave was silent once more, the only sound his ragged breathing. Shadowclaw lay still, it's crimson eyes dimming as life ebbed away.

After a while, Kaelen glanced at the Blade of Eternity which is now lying beside him with hopeful eyes, it's light dimming but still present.

"Emergency quest: Kill the Level 1 tiger completed!"

"Congratulations, you have reached level 1!"

But just as Kaelen was about to stand on his two feets, a series of transparent screens suddenly appeared right in front of his face along with a monotonous voice ringing in his head which stunned him back to the floor.

'I totally forgot about this' but after a while, Kaelen calmed down as he thought with a wry smile on his face.

"Online: Blades of Eternity," he whispered as he tried to soak everything he has just experienced up. But just then, a translucent screen reappeared before his eyes, hovering just inches away. The interface was filled with options and data, all glowing with that familiar blue hue.

'I wonder if I can see my stats just like in the comics?' Kaelen thought with an expectant look on his face. Not long after, his eyes focused on the 'Stats' section, and the screen immediately shifted, displaying a detailed breakdown of his current abilities. His eyes widened as he read through the information:

Name: Kaelen

Level: 1

Health: 30/100

Mana: 10/50

Strength: 12

Agility: 10

Intelligence: 14

Endurance: 9

Skills: Basic Swordsmanship, Minor Healing, Mana Shield

"So I was in Level 0 before I defeated the tiger huh?" Kaelen muttered with a wry smile on his face. He looked at his mana and health and realized how much the battle had taken out of him. The stats provided a clear picture of his current conditions and capabilities.

But he didn't dwell on that area for too long as he quickly shifted his attention towards the 'Skills' section, and the screen again, showing a detailed list of his abilities along with descriptions:

Basic Swordsmanship: Proficiency with swords, allowing for effective combat

Minor Healing: A basic spell to heal minor wounds and recover some health.

Mana Shield: A defensive spell that uses Mana to create a protective barrier.

Kaelen nodded, absorbing the information. The skills he had were basic but useful. He needed to find a way to improve if he was going to become the greatest swordsman in the world.

"Now let's see how to get stronger" Curious about his progress, he navigated to the "Quests" section. And immediately, a series of quests appeared on the screen in front of his face.

Quest 1: Reach Level 5 in two days (Rewards- Advanced Swordsmanship Skill)

Quest 2: Slay 10 ferocious beasts (Rewards- The Beast Slayer title)

Legendary Quest: Uncover the secrets of the Blades of Eternity (Rewards- Unknown)

'Rewards are unknown?' Kaelen thought with a confused look on his face as he tapped on the legendary Quest. And right after, the details appeared in front of his face.

Objectives;

Find the ancient runestone in the forest.

Learn the history of the Blade of Eternity.

Unlock the next tier of abilities.

(Warning: The required level for this Quest is 50)

'Shit! Level 50!!' Kaelen thought with widened eyes as he quickly left that quest alone.

"I think I should just stick with the minor quest for now" Kaelen muttered wryly as he quickly took hold of the sword and left the cave.

.....

In a the hall where Kaelen got into the pocket dimension, two people could now be seen standing calmly in front of the pocket dimension entrance. One of them is the Headmaster who supervised Kaelen and the others to start the exam.

As for the other one, He was an aged man who stood tall, his presence commanding the attention of everyone around him. Deep lines etched his weathered face, telling tales of the countless battles and years of wisdom. His eyes, a piercing steel gray, held a sharp intensity that seemed to see through to one's very soul, reflecting both a lifetime of experience and a formidable intellect.

His hair, a mix of silver and iron, was pulled back into a neat, low ponytail, adding to his distinguished yet sterned appearance. A well-kept beard framed his strong jawline, further accentuating the aura of authority he exuded.

His skin, though marked with scars and the passage of time, retained a robust, healthy glow, hinting at a vitality that belied his years.

He was clad in a long, dark cloak that flowed around him with every movement, revealing glimpses of a finely crafted suit of armor beneath. The armor, though aged and bearing the marks of many conflicts, was meticulously maintained, each piece fitted perfectly to his powerful frame.

"How long has it been now?" This aged man asked with a straight look on his face. Not wasting anymore time, the Headmaster replied with a respectful look on his face.

"It's been 6 hours sir"