CHAPTER 233: SUN ISLAND III

Rhys tightened his grip on his sword.

"Fine. If it’s a fight you want, I won’t back down."

Caria stepped forward immediately.

"Hold on—if he’s level 12 in the global rankings, shouldn’t I go first? I’ve been itching to punch someone strong."

Solbrand shook his head.

"No. This is between me and the boy with the Ancient."

Lyra clicked her tongue.

"Of course it is."

Aqua grabbed Rhys’s sleeve.

"Master... you don’t have to fight him."

Puddle stood in front of Rhys with tiny clenched fists.

"Bad sun man no take Puddle!"

Solbrand raised an eyebrow.

"...Adorable, but irrelevant."

Rhys stepped past them and stood a few meters away from Solbrand.

"All I need to do," he said calmly, "is show you I’m not weak."

Solbrand nodded once.

"That’s it. Show me your worth."

Sophia whispered to the group, "Don’t interrupt. Strong players get offended if you jump into their personal duel."

Aria nodded.

"But be ready to heal him the moment it’s over."

Caria grinned.

"If he wins, I’m demanding a spar too."

Lyra rolled her eyes.

"Focus."

Solbrand raised his sword.

Rhys raised his.

The duel began.

Solbrand moved first.

He dashed forward in a straight line—fast but not unpredictable. Rhys managed to block the first slash, though the impact rattled his arms.

Too strong... but manageable.

Solbrand followed up with a clean horizontal slash. Rhys ducked under it and countered with Swift Cut, hitting him with three quick strikes.

Solbrand stepped back with a small nod.

"Good speed."

He tapped his sword on the ground.

A burst of heat exploded outward in a small wave.

Rhys jumped back just in time.

Caria whistled from the sidelines.

"He’s holding back. A lot."

Sophia sighed.

"Obviously... he’s testing him, not killing him."

Rhys rushed in with Water Blade. The attack sliced cleanly, leaving a faint steam trail where the water hit Solbrand’s armor.

Solbrand didn’t flinch.

"That’s better."

He shifted his stance and swung downward with a Sun Strike—an attack bright enough to leave afterimages.

Rhys blocked with Mana Shield, but the force pushed him several steps back.

Aqua yelped.

"That’s cheating! He’s too fast!"

Lyra crossed her arms.

"That’s normal for top players."

Puddle stomped her tiny foot.

"Master stronger! Master win!"

Rhys charged again, this time combining Vertical Slash with a normal combo. Solbrand parried two hits, dodged the third, but the fourth landed cleanly on his shoulder.

Solbrand smiled slightly.

"Good. You learn during the fight. That’s rare."

Then he suddenly vanished.

Rhys’s eyes widened.

"—Behind?!"

Solbrand appeared behind him with a flash-step and tapped Rhys’s back with the blunt side of his sword.

Not a killing blow.

Just a sign.

"That’s enough."

Rhys froze mid-motion.

Solbrand stepped back and lowered his weapon.

"You’re strong," he said calmly. "Rough around the edges, but strong. And that strength wasn’t carried by your Ancient. You earned it."

Rhys let out a shaky breath.

"...So?"

Solbrand turned fully toward him.

"I won’t take the Ancient from you."

Aqua collapsed in relief.

"Thank goodness..."

Puddle jumped up and clung to Rhys’s arm.

"Master safe! Puddle safe!"

Caria stretched.

"So, big guy, are we done glaring at us?"

Solbrand nodded.

"For now. But Sun Island isn’t gentle. You’ll need more than teamwork and luck."

He pointed deeper into the island.

"If you can survive the Trial Plains, then you’ve proven you belong here."

Rhys exchanged looks with his party.

Sophia sighed.

"Of course there’s a trial."

Aria smiled softly.

"We’ll face it together."

Lyra shrugged.

"I expected worse."

Solbrand gave a final nod.

"I’ll be watching. Don’t disappoint me."

Then he walked off toward the cliffs, vanishing into the sunlight.

Rhys sheathed his sword.

"...Well," he said, "looks like our welcome party is over."

Caria cracked her knuckles.

"Good. Now let’s go see what this island really has."

Aqua gulped.

"I hope it’s not more serpents..."

Puddle raised her fist.

"We fight everything!"

Rhys smiled tiredly.

"Yeah. One step at a time."

The group gathered themselves and started walking toward the deeper path.

Their real adventure on Sun Island had finally begun.

The path leading away from the coastline turned into a narrow trail of sun-baked stone. The air was warmer here, almost heavy, and every few seconds the ground seemed to hum with energy.

Caria looked around with a huge grin.

"Okay, this place is definitely dangerous. I love it already."

Sophia adjusted her grip on her staff.

"I’m detecting monsters ahead. Multiple signatures."

Aqua hid behind Rhys again.

"Strong ones?"

"Very," Sophia answered.

Puddle marched confidently in front.

"Puddle protect! Puddle fight!"

Lyra shook her head.

"Please don’t run off. Everything here hits harder than that serpent."

Aria pointed ahead.

"The Trial Plains should be straight through this canyon."

They reached a wide opening between two cliffs. Sunlight poured in, brighter than before, almost blinding.

A system message appeared.

[ Entering Zone: Trial Plains ]

[ Hazard Level: High ]

[ Monsters inside adjust their strength based on intruder level. ]

[ Minimum recommended party size: 5 ]

Rhys blinked.

"So the monsters scale with us? That’s new."

Caria cracked her knuckles again.

"Then they’ll be nice and tough. Perfect."

Before Rhys could reply, the ground started shaking.

A deep rumble echoed through the canyon.

Sophia raised her staff.

"Something big is coming!"

A few seconds later, the first monster stepped out of the dust:

A tall, lion-shaped beast with a mane made of glowing shards.

[ Sunmane Guardian – Level ??? ]

[ Strength scales to party average ]

Its yellow eyes locked onto Rhys’s group.

Aqua squeaked.

"C-Caria... can you deal with that?"

Caria’s grin widened.

"Oh yeah. I’ll take the front!"

She rushed forward, axes ready.

Rhys followed right behind her while the others formed a quick formation.

Lyra, still the calmest of all, muttered,

"Don’t let it hit you. Their claws break shields."

Puddle flapped her tiny arms.

"Master! Puddle use support!"

She cast Gleaming Halo, and a soft healing glow surrounded the party.

Rhys felt the boost and nodded.

"Thanks. Let’s go!"

Caria swung her axe at the beast’s paw. The monster blocked with surprising speed and swiped at her. She barely dodged and whistled.

"Whoa! This thing’s fast!"

Rhys used Magic Missile and Water Blade from behind. The attacks hit the guardian’s flank, drawing its attention.

The beast roared and charged.

"Scatter!" Rhys shouted.

Everyone moved at once—except Aqua, who froze.

The Sunmane Guardian pounced straight at her.

"Aqua!" Aria shouted.

Before it landed, Puddle threw herself forward and unleashed Shadow Tendrils, slowing the monster just long enough for Rhys to dive in and pull Aqua away.

Aqua clung to him, trembling.

"Th-thank you..."

Rhys stood up and faced the monster again.

"Stay behind us."

Caria shouted from the left,

"Rhys! Ready a finisher!"

She slammed her axe into the beast’s shoulder, forcing it down to one knee.

Rhys saw the chance.

He activated Vertical Slash, leapt upward, and brought the glowing strike down on the monster’s back.

The beast roared, the ground shaking...

Then it fell.

The Sunmane Guardian dissolved into golden particles.

A system chime followed.

[ First Trial Beast Defeated ]

[ Progress: 1 / 10 ]

Rhys stared.

"Ten?!"

Sophia sighed.

"I had a bad feeling it wouldn’t be just one."

Aria healed the group again.

"Well... at least we’re warmed up."

Aqua peeked over Rhys’s shoulder.

"Do we... have to fight nine more?"

Puddle raised her hand confidently.

"We fight ten! Or twenty!"

Caria laughed.

"I like your spirit!"

Rhys tightened his grip on his sword and looked toward the shimmering plains stretching ahead.

"Alright," he said.

"One trial down. Nine more to go."

The team stepped deeper into the Trial Plains—

Sun Island’s real challenge waiting just ahead.