A rustle of wind swept through the forest canopy.
Then, with a sickeningly clean sound, the body of the Triple-Eyed King Snake split.
A perfect line of separation appeared from its jaw to its tail.
The massive beast slid apart and collapsed with a heavy thud-thud, sending dust and leaves flying. Blood sprayed in two perfect arcs, but Arin—still standing where he had struck—was untouched.
He slowly opened his eyes.
His hand was empty, fingers slightly trembling. The hilt of his sword was shattered, only a jagged half-grip remaining.
He turned around, breathing heavy, and saw the aftermath.
The King Snake—cut in two. Not a brutal gash. Not a mess.
A perfect slice, as if a divine blade had divided the creature with surgical precision.
"…I did it," he whispered, more in disbelief than pride. Then, under his breath, "What… was that slash?"
From the distance, the old man's jaw hung slightly open.
He hadn't flinched during the strike. Hadn't blinked. But now, the silence of the aftermath pressed on him like a storm.
"That wasn't martial strength," he thought, eyes narrowing. "It was as if the sword obeyed not physics… but will."
He walked slowly toward Arin, his boots crunching softly over fallen leaves and snake scales.
Arin didn't notice until the old man was beside him.
"You killed it," he said flatly. But his tone carried awe.
Arin looked up, face flushed from exhaustion, but his eyes… calm. Focused.
"I had to."
The old man crouched, examined the King Snake's body. His fingers hovered over the cut line.
"No burn marks. No tearing. Just... a seamless divide. Even a Rank S artifact wouldn't be able to produce this unless it was wielded by someone trained in absolute control."
He turned back to Arin, his eyes scrutinizing every detail of the boy's posture, breath, and expression.
"You've grown far more than I imagined."
"I said I'd kill it in a week," Arin said, trying to steady his breathing. "I don't make promises I can't keep."
A faint smile touched the old man's lips—something between admiration and fascination.
"I'm not even sure I could have done that cleanly in your shoes."
Then, from his cloak, he pulled out a small velvet pouch and tossed it toward Arin.
It jingled as it landed—heavy.
Arin caught it instinctively. "What's this?"
"A reward. From a man who saw a boy… and instead found a monster."
Arin opened it slightly and caught the gleam of gold—coin after coin, stacked and pressed in.
His eyes widened slightly, but he shut the pouch quickly and looked at the old man.
"I don't need—"
"Don't argue," the old man cut him off. "Consider it an investment. Because I want you to come to the Magic Academy."
Arin tilted his head. "Why?"
The old man looked toward the sky.
"Because this world is cruel, Arin. It beats down those without power. And you… you might just be the one to climb above it. You've already begun the journey."
He then reached into his coat and pulled out a small, leather-bound book with intricate golden edges. Its title, engraved on the cover, shimmered in the dying sunlight:
"World of Body and Mind."
"Take this too. It's not just about magic or martial arts. It's about the connection between the two. You'll need it where you're going."
Arin took the book carefully, his expression unreadable. His fingers lingered on the cover.
"Come to the Academy. Pass the exam. Give me the snake's third eye… and I'll make sure you grow into a force this world has never seen."
The old man turned, his cloak rustling, and began to walk away.
But he paused after a few steps.
"I'm not sure what kind of monster you are yet, Arin. But I want to be there when the world finds out."
He vanished into the trees.
Arin stood alone, the pouch of coins in one hand, the book in the other, and the cooling corpse of the King Snake at his feet.
He looked up at the sky, the stars just beginning to emerge.
"The Magic Academy, huh…"
"Maybe that's where I'll find the answers. "
He turned and walked home.
Tomorrow, a new path would begin.