The forest trembled as the Abyssal Triple-Maw Jaw Bear roared, baring its twisted, triple-layered fangs. Ethan crouched low, his breath shallow, the adrenaline spiking his veins. The air shimmered with tension as leaves scattered in all directions, disturbed by the aftershock of their first clash.
He gripped his blade tighter. Pulsating in primal energy.
The Wrath still burned in his body, but the surge was fading. The recoil of Abyssal Lunge still echoed through his bones, his muscles every Fibre, but his footing held firm. His eyes locked onto the beast, massive, monstrous, muscles rippling beneath black, armored fur, like tank. It was not just a beast.
It was a gate. A wall. A test. A test that will determine whether he is fit or not, if he is powerful or not, if he will survive to his new path or not.
A scream tore from Ethan's lungs as he rushed forward. His legs kicked up dust, speed building, too fast for the eye, yet barely fast enough to impress the beast. The bear swiveled on its front paw, slamming a claw the size of a shield toward him. Ethan ducked beneath the swipe, skidding on the damp forest floor. The wind from the claw passed just inches above his head, slicing through tree bark behind him.
SLAM! Another paw struck downward.
"That was close... But still it's raw strength is massive. But not enough to stop me" The wrath and rage burned in him. Rage of vengeance, pain as fuel.
Ethan barely twisted out of the way, shoulder-rolling beside the beast's arm. The impact cratered the ground beside him. Dirt and roots exploded upward, leaves rained from above like dying embers.
[EVASION SUCCESSFULLY]
[+3 WRATH Earned for Extreme Dodge.]
[WRATH: 27/30]
"Keep moving… Keep moving!" Ethan whispered, dodging under the beast's second swipe.
"I will definitely end you here and now"
The bear roared in fury, eyes glowing bright red. The bloodlust has risen again. The ant on its pain was making things harder that it thought. Steam flared from its nostrils. It reared back onto its hind legs, towering twice Ethan's height, massive, gigantic, monstrous. Its triple jaws stretched open, each maw baring serrated teeth, shaped as razor, pointed like thorns.
Then—
It crashed down, front paws hammering the earth in a violent Shockwave. A pulse of compressed air generated from the point of hammering and sprayed outward.
BOOM!
The entire forest shook. Trees tilted. Birds scattered. Cracks split the earth where its weight landed.
The system panel opened, glowing, red like an alarm for some seconds, followed by the cold mechanical voice from within Ethan.
[Warning!!!: AREA EFFECT – SHOCKWAVE STOMP]
[Impact Radius: 3 meters]
[Effect: Brief Disorientation]
Ethan was flung sideways from the tremor, tumbling over the forest floor. Pain surged through his side as his ribs struck a jagged stone.
He coughed blood.
"Dammit… you fucken what ever bear that you are. You will pay for this" he hissed, wiping his mouth. The system panel bipped red again for some seconds
[HOST HARMED: THREE FRACTURED RIBS]
[HP: 13/20]
[STATUS: MINOR INTERNAL BLEEDING] [RECOMMENDATION: REPOSITION. RECALIBRATE. PROCEED FIGHT WITH UTMOST PRECAUTION]
The bear charged again, fangs snapping. Trees splintered in its path, like a tank driving on common cars.
Thump. Thump. THUMP.
Ethan pulled himself up, vision hazy. He gritted his teeth.
"I said… I won't die here." Ethan screamed at the depth of his lungs
He channeled everything into his legs. The world narrowed. Time slowed. The sound of the bear's breath. The scent of blood and leaves. The rhythm of his heartbeat pounding like a war drum.
[COOLDOWN COMPLETED]
[ABYSSAL LUNGE – READY]
[WRATH COST: 8]
He activated the skill without hesitation.
FWOOOOOOOOOM!
A sonic boom cracked through the forest. His body blurred again, vanishing in a shadow-like dark crimson streak. The blade in his hand gleamed, pulsating with abyssal energy.
He reappeared mid-air, right above the bear's head.
"DIE!" Ethan screamed
He brought the sword down in a savage arc, cleaving into the beast's shoulder. Flesh split. Dark, steaming blood sprayed upward, like a broken geyser
SLASH!
The beast shrieked, more in rage than pain. Fury, gleaming red eyes, saliva leaking from its mouth, bloodlust hightened. How can a mare ant inflict it this much damage
[WRATH EXPENDED: 8]
[WRATH REMAINING: 19/30]
[DAMAGE DEALT: 11%]
[NEW STATUS: SHOULDER TENDON TORN(BEAST)]
[+2 WRATH GAINED.]
[WRATH REMAINING: 21/30]
But it wasn't enough.
The bear whipped its massive body sideways, slamming Ethan mid-air with its full torso.
CRACK!
He flew like a ragdoll, hitting a tree trunk with a sickening thud. Bark exploded. The trunk cracked. Ethan's vision blurred, eyes turning white but gained back its color instantly. The system didn't want a body shutdown, not in such a critical situation.
"GUUAAAHHHH!!!"
The system interface flickered red like and alarm. Ethan state was alarming.
[HOST HARMED]
[HP: 5/20]
[WARNING!!!: HP LOW!!! HP LOW!!! HP LOW]
[STATUS: FRACTURED ARM]
[WRATH +5 – PAIN RESPONSE]
[WRATH: 26/30]
Ethan collapsed to one knee, gasping. His vision doubled. His left arm was limp, barely usable. Blood trickled down his brow.
The beast limped toward him, eyes murderous, shoulder wounded but not broken.
Ethan forced himself to stand. He pressed the hilt of his sword into the dirt to steady his body.
He was dying. But so was the beast. They stared at each other, two wounded monsters, neither willing to fall.
Then, a whisper echoed in Ethan's mind, not from the system, but from somewhere deeper. This voice was deep, terrific, monstrous and familiar. Thesame voice from Mount Etna.
{Let pain be your fuel. Let the Abyss answer you. Let the Wrath surge in you. Let the primal energy explode.}
He clenched his fist.
Dark-Crimson flames ignited around his body, dancing like chains of smoke and rage. Though faint and weak, it felt like a boost. His Wrath surged, weak but violent and unstable.
[WARNING!!! WARNING!!!]
[WRATH OVERLOAD THRESHOLD NEARING: 30/30]
Ethan laughed Bitterly. Looking up to the sky.
"If I die here, I'll die screaming."
[COOLDOWN COMPLETED]
[ABYSSAL LUNGE — READY]
[WRATH COST: 8]
He activated it. Again.
FWOOOOOOOM!!!!
This time, he didn't aim for the chest or shoulder. He used the air dash to feint upward, then twisted mid-air, diving down instead. His sword tore through the beast's rear flank, right between the legs.
SLASH!
[WRATH EXPENDED: 8]
WRATH REMAINING: 22/30]
[CRITICAL HIT–]
[DAMAGE DEALT: 25%]
[ENEMY MOVEMENT SLOWED]
[WRATH +4 EARNED]
[Wrath REMAINING: 26/30]
"Hope you like that what ever bear that you are... It's either you die or I die... But let me tell you right now, I have no intention of dieing here. My journey hasn't yet started"