Travis of Brotherhood Legion    

The cave's entrance loomed before them, a jagged maw of rock nestled against the mountainside, half-hidden by thick undergrowth.

For the Brotherhood Legion's newest recruits, this was a familiar sight, but that didn't make the task any less daunting.

They had all been through this before — clearing out beasts from the nearby caves — but repetition didn't dull the edge of danger that lurked within.

This was the Brotherhood's trial, a rite of passage that every new member had to endure for a year before they could ascend in rank.

The recruits gathered outside the entrance, their armor clinking softly as they shifted nervously. Their gear was modest, worn but reliable — leather armor for the rogues and rangers, light mail for the fighters and paladins, with simple staves and grimoires for the spellcasters.

Leading the group was a more seasoned officer, a mid-ranking member of the Brotherhood, tasked with overseeing their training. His steely gaze scanned the group, ensuring everyone was prepared.

"Remember," he said, his voice steady but commanding. "Stick to the plan. Fighters and paladins upfront, rogues stay close but don't rush in unless you see an opening. Rangers, mages, keep your distance and focus fire on the hobgoblins — they're tougher and can rally the smaller ones. We'll move in squads, cover each other's backs. These goblins may be weak, but don't get cocky. They know these caves better than you. We will enter after thirty minutes so be prepared!"

Travis stood among the recruits, towering over many of them with his imposing frame and steely gaze. Among the fresh faces of the Brotherhood Legion, he was undeniably the strongest — a rising star in the ranks.

It was only a matter of time before he ascended, earning his place as a low-ranking officer within the Legion. The other recruits looked up to him, knowing that he wasn't just another player in training; he was destined for something greater.

"I'm so envious of you, Travis," one of the recruits said, glancing at Travis with admiration. "Your stats are insanely high for someone who's only been here a year."

Travis smirked, hiding a flicker of pride. "Just got lucky with the guild. They've given me plenty of resources."

"Rank-A classes sure have it nice. They get all the good stuff."

"By the way, what happened to Cloud? Wasn't he supposed to be the top of your batch?"

Travis's smile faded slightly. "I don't know. He's probably out there somewhere, or . . . who knows, he might already be dead."

The others chuckled.

"That's harsh. Weren't you two friends?"

Travis shook his head. "We only stuck together for mutual benefits."

"Too bad. He really excelled back in the ARK. Guess even geniuses fall."

"Yeah, he's probably out there among the unevolved, begging for scraps," another recruit added, and the group laughed again.

"At this rate, with Travis on our side, we'll dominate the Eternia Games in the newbie section. No doubt about it."

"Speaking of which, the Eternia Games are coming up soon, right? Who's hosting this year?"

"It's the elves this time, in the Crown Jade Woods."

"Interesting," someone mused, nodding. "That's gonna be a spectacle."

"I almost feel sorry for the other guilds," another recruit said with a grin. "With Travis on our team, number one is practically guaranteed for the newbie section."

Travis crossed his arms, a smirk playing on his lips as the weight of their expectations settled comfortably on his shoulders. He welcomed it. Soon, the entire Brotherhood Legion would witness his true strength — and after that, the whole world.

He'd make sure of it. No game, no competition in the newbie section would be left unconquered. He would dominate, and in doing so, bring glory to the Brotherhood Legion. His name would be etched into the annals of Eternia's history, synonymous with victory.

Glancing at his stats, Travis couldn't help but grin in satisfaction. Each point was hard-earned, a testament to his grit, and soon they would be the foundation of something much greater.

|| T R A V I S ||

Race: Human 

Class: Warrior Rank-A

HP: 7000 

MP: 500 

STR: 70

INT: 50 

CONS: 70

DEX: 60 

CHA: 20 

LCK: 20 

|| E N D ||

With his stats, Travis was confident that his name would soon resonate throughout the world of Eternia.

For first-year players, having stats pass +50 was considered a major achievement, as Ability Points (AP) were hard to come by as they increased their stats.

However, Drakha was different. The beasts and monsters there were on a whole new level. Anyone who braved those lands could earn ten times the AP than grinding in Eternia.

"What the hell? What's that?!" a sudden voice broke the chatter, pulling everyone's attention skyward.

"Look at the moon!"

The group turned to see the night sky, and their eyes widened in disbelief.

The moon . . . it had turned blood red.

The mid-ranking officer's eyes narrowed into slits as he realized what was happening. His voice boomed with urgency. "Get inside the cave! NOW!"

"Why?! What's going on?!"

The officer's face paled, his expression grim. "The Red Moon has appeared. Dragons will descend!"

"That's the Red Moon?"

"I've heard rumors," one of the recruits muttered. "It appears randomly, once a year. Could this be it?"

Before they could even process the situation, the air was filled with deafening roars and the gusting winds of massive wings.

Travis glanced up and his eyes went wide in shock.

Dragons — massive, terrifying dragons — were descending from the Red Moon, their forms blotting out the sky as they swirled down toward the world below.

"Everyone, take cover inside the caves!" the mid-ranking officer shouted, his voice carrying over the chaos.

The recruits scrambled for shelter to hide, but Travis stood frozen for a moment, staring up at the approaching dragons with both awe and fear.

This was the stuff of legends, the kind of event that could change everything — if he managed to slay one.

Travis felt a surge of ambition swell inside him. Dragons . . . if I could take one down, my name would be etched in history as a Dragon Slayer! The title was rare and venerated across Eternia. His fame would skyrocket for sure and his future would be set in stone.

"Idiot!" the officer barked, snapping Travis out of his thoughts. "You'll be ripped to shreds before you even raise a fist! Get inside!"

But Travis wasn't listening. His eyes gleamed with determination as he pulled out his [Monocle], a tool that let him assess the beasts' strength. If there was even the slightest chance of taking one down, he would take it.

But then he saw the numbers — three-digit stats that made his blood run cold. The reality hit him like a sledgehammer.

What the hell?! Each dragon had stats that dwarfed anything he'd ever encountered. Even the weakest one would require at least two high-ranking officers from the guild to take down. They weren't just powerful — they were walking calamities.

His bravado crumbled, and his knees buckled. Without a second thought, he dove into the cave alongside the others, seeking safety from the storm of wings and scales descending from the Red Moon.

As he caught his breath, heart pounding in his chest, the weight of his earlier arrogance crashed down on him. A dragon . . .

Travis clenched his fists, eyes glinting with a murderous intent. One day, I'll kill one. I swear it.

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|| A/N ||

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