Daily Rewards! Transmigrating into a novel as a side-character!

A cold expression formed on my face. A Commander-rank beast leading organized attacks represented a serious threat to the kingdom's stability and the safety of its citizens.

"Which duke's territory does this town fall under?" I asked, my voice taking on a harder edge.

"Duke Blackwood, Your Highness."

I considered this information carefully. Duke Blackwood was a capable military leader with substantial resources, but a Commander-level beast required careful handling.

"Send him an official letter immediately. He needs to eliminate the Commander-level beast before more damage can be done to the surrounding regions. Tell him that we will support his efforts with some of our royal guards, this threat cannot be allowed to spread further."

***

After I opened the massive door, the room beyond was shrouded in almost complete darkness, challenging even my enhanced vampire vision. Through the oppressive shadows, I could make out the silhouette of a large beast resting in the center of the chamber. The shape confirmed my suspicions - it was indeed the lion I had anticipated from the door's carved handle.

I stepped across the threshold into the room, and the door immediately slammed shut behind me, as if the mechanism had been waiting for precisely that moment to trap me inside.

The moment the door sealed, torches began igniting spontaneously around the circular chamber's perimeter. One by one, they burst into magical flame, gradually illuminating the entire space with flickering orange light that cast dancing shadows across the stone walls.

Now I could see my opponent clearly, and the sight made my blood run cold.

My eyes landed on the magnificent yet terrifying beast before me. It was massive - easily twice the size of any normal lion, with a muscular frame that spoke of incredible physical power. Its most distinctive feature was the brilliant golden mane.

'The Golden mane clan... just like I thought. The fact that someone was able to capture this lion and place him for this trial...this lion must be really angry and waiting for anyone to vent its anger upon.'

A grim expression formed on my face. Golden mane lions were among the most dangerous Transcendent-rank predators in existence. They possessed not only devastating physical capabilities but also innate magical resistance.

The beast's eyes opened slowly, revealing pupils that glowed like molten gold. It had been resting, conserving its energy, but my presence had clearly awakened it from its slumber. The creature rose to its feet with fluid grace, every movement displaying the danger of a perfect predator.

This was going to be the fight of my life. Unlike the stone guardians, this opponent was a living creature with unpredictable instincts, adaptive intelligence, and years of hunting experience. There would be no mechanical patterns to exploit, no predictable attack sequences to counter.

The Golden mane let out a low rumble that seemed to vibrate through the stone floor beneath my feet, its golden eyes fixed on me with focus. The real challenge was about to begin.

Facing this Transcendent-rank Golden mane, I immediately began activating every enhancement at my disposal. This was absolutely no time for restraint or gradual escalation.

First, I triggered my Blood Enhancement ability, feeling the familiar surge as my bloodline power flooded through my system. My heart rate accelerated, pumping enhanced blood to every muscle fiber and sharpening my reflexes to supernatural levels.

But that wasn't enough against a creature of this caliber. I reached for the crimson blood pendant hanging around my neck - the one containing precious Transcendent-rank blood I had been saving for exactly this type of emergency. The moment I activated it, I felt an entirely different level of power coursing through my body. The Transcendent-rank blood provided enhancements far beyond what my own Elite-rank abilities could generate.

My muscles swelled with incredible strength, my vision sharpened to see every detail of the beast, and my reaction time decreased to almost precognitive levels. The combination of my natural enhancement with the Transcendent blood created a temporary state that allowed my strength to approach the transcendent rank .

Next, I channelled my Blood Enhancement into my rare-rank sword, watching as the blade took on that familiar crimson aura. The weapon's cutting power increased dramatically, giving it the ability to potentially penetrate even Transcendent-rank hide and magical defenses.

Finally, I activated my Stone Armor Echo, feeling the protective magical coating spread across my entire body. The armor would provide crucial defense against the devastating attacks that were surely coming.

I deliberately held back from using my Silent Predator aspect at this stage. The Transcendent-rank version had a six-hour cooldown, making it a eight-use ability for this entire examination period. I needed to save it for the perfect moment when it could provide maximum advantage - perhaps when the lion was preparing its most devastating attack, or when I needed to create an opening for a killing blow.

ROAR!!

The Golden mane's thunderous roar exploded through the circular chamber with overwhelming force. The sound wasn't just noise - it carried concentrated magical energy designed to paralyze prey through sheer intimidation and fear.

I felt my body freeze involuntarily for a terrifying moment, every muscle locking up as the lion's skill took effect.

Immediately, I forced my blood to circulate even faster, pushing my enhancement abilities beyond their normal limits while simultaneously channelling mana to counteract the stunning effect. The combination of accelerated blood flow and magical energy helped break through the paralysis.

This was definitely a specialized skill, it was not just a normal roar, but a Transcendent-rank ability designed to create openings against powerful opponents.

The moment I regained control, the Golden mane was already in motion.

The massive predator launched itself across the chamber with explosive speed, covering the distance between us in a single bound. Its claws extended like golden daggers, each one capable of tearing through steel, while its jaws gaped open to reveal fangs that glowed with energy.

I managed to raise my sword in time to intercept the first swipe of its massive paw. The impact sent shockwaves up my arms despite my Transcendent-level enhancement.