Chapter 29: Unsteady Power
Kazuki's breaths came in ragged gasps as he stared down at the fallen Alpha. Its massive body lay still, blood pooling around it. The forest was eerily silent, the only sound the heavy panting of Kazuki, Elara, and Tara.
"Kazuki... that was incredible," Elara said, her eyes wide as she approached him. "You actually took down an Alpha."
Kazuki wiped sweat from his brow, feeling the lingering surge of the Alpha Command skill pulsing through him. The power was intense, almost intoxicating, but it also felt unstable, as if it was too much for him to control.
"You okay, Kazuki?" Tara asked, her tone uncharacteristically serious. "You look... out of it."
Kazuki nodded, but his vision swayed slightly. The world seemed to blur, and his chest tightened. "I'm... fine. Just... need a second."
Elara stepped closer, her hand resting gently on his shoulder. "You're pushing yourself too hard. You've copied too many skills in a short time."
Kazuki tried to steady his breathing, but the Alpha Command skill continued to surge through him, making his muscles tense involuntarily. He gritted his teeth, feeling the power slipping from his control.
"Kazuki!" Elara said, her hands gripping his arms. "Focus. Breathe. You need to calm down."
Kazuki's eyes met hers, and for a moment, her calming presence seemed to anchor him. The wild energy inside him began to settle, the overwhelming power gradually fading to a manageable level.
"Better?" Elara asked, her voice soft.
Kazuki nodded, his breathing slowing. "Yeah... thanks."
Tara crossed her arms, a small smirk playing on her lips. "Looks like you're not ready to be the big, bad Alpha yet, huh?"
Kazuki chuckled weakly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Guess not."
Elara's expression remained serious as she knelt beside the fallen Alpha, her fingers brushing over its thick fur. "If an Alpha is this close to the village, it means something must have driven it here. They usually stay deeper in the forest."
"You think something stronger forced it out?" Tara asked, raising an eyebrow.
Elara nodded, her eyes darkening. "Or someone."
Kazuki swallowed, a chill running down his spine. The thought of something more dangerous than an Alpha lurking in the woods made his skin prickle. But even as fear gripped him, a part of him was curious — and excited. If he could absorb stronger skills, he could become even more powerful.
But at what cost?
"Let's head back to the village," Elara said, standing up and sheathing her sword. "We need to regroup and let the others know what we've found."
Kazuki took one last look at the fallen Alpha, its lifeless eyes staring blankly at the sky. The power of Alpha Command still thrummed within him, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was playing with fire.
And if he wasn't careful, he might just get burned.