The desert wind screamed like a wounded beast, flinging sharp sand across the battlefield as Ethan and Velina staggered to their feet. The twin Crimson Fanged Serpents circled them, venom dripping from their curved fangs, their carapaces gleaming crimson beneath the high twin suns. Each of them stood nearly three meters tall, scratches on their carapaces due to the aspirants struggle to inflict damage, their hoods flared wide like the sails of warships, their slitted yellow eyes locked on the two aspirants.
Ethan wiped sweat and blood from his brow. His breathing was ragged, his blade trembling in his grip, not from fear, but from exhaustion. Beside him, Velina stood, but barely. Her armor was cracked, ribs likely broken, and her hand clutched her side with every breath.
The monsters advanced in unison.
Ethan lunged first, deflecting a tail strike with a harsh clang of steel. He twisted into a side step, ducking as the beast's fangs slashed the air just inches from his neck. Behind him, Velina let out a sharp cry as the second Crimson Fanged serpent swept its tail beneath her feet, sending her crashing into the sand.
"Velina!"
She coughed, blood at her lips, but raised her blade again. "Still breathing!" she barked, eyes fierce through the pain.
Ethan turned just in time to parry another strike
CRACK.
His sword snapped in half.
The impact sent him flying backward, tumbling through the scorching dunes. He hit the ground hard, sand filling his mouth and eyes.
[WEAPON DESTROYED: Steel-Grade Blade]
[WARNING: PRIMARY EQUIPMENT UNUSABLE]
Gasping, he forced himself up. His vision blurred, and his hand bled from gripping the broken hilt too tightly. But he didn't hesitate.
He opened his Inventory. With a shimmer of light and shadow, he summoned the weapon he'd kept hidden. The one which he used through his wild journey in forest and marsh. The loyal brother in arm who stood by him till the end.
The Anthic Sword.
To any other, it looked unremarkable. A plain hilt. A blackened sheath. Dull steel, perhaps, to a casual eye. But Ethan knew better. He saw better and felt better.
He unsheathed it slowly. The edge of the blade was black, midnight without stars. The center glowed faint red, inscribed with runes that seemed to twist and whisper in a language only the Abyss could know. Its surface shimmered like oil, pulsing with a dark aura, only perceived by Ethan's crimson lit orbs ie his eyes.
And the moment the blade cleared its sheath, The Leviathan Mark on Ethan's arm burned, it reacted to the sword, as if accepting it. He staggered for a moment, holding the blade with both hands, gritting his teeth.
"How did you do that... You have spacial abilities?" Velina rasped from behind, her voice small against the howling wind.
Ethan's eyes narrowed. "I don't know what you are talking about...but better act like you've seen nothing"
One of the Crimson Fanged Serpent hissed and struck. Ethan met the attack with the Anthic Sword, The blade cleaved into the monster's armored fang, and cut straight through.
Venom sprayed across the sand. The beast recoiled, shrieking.
"I knew it could cut pass their armor" Ethan said in thought.
"It cut through, how possible" Velina was confused and surprised
Ethan stepped forward, every movement sharper now. Faster. The sword didn't just respond, it anticipated. He slashed twice, once across the hood, then diagonally across its flank. Black ichor spilled, steam rising as it touched the sand.
The other Crimson Fanged Serpent lunged at Velina. She was slower now, hurt, but still managed to roll aside. The beast struck a stone and shattered it, dust billowing. Ethan caught up beside her. They stood back-to-back again.
"I'm slowing you down," Velina said through clenched teeth.
"Shut up and swing," Ethan replied.
They charged.
Velina focused on evasion, while Ethan went full offense. Every slash of the Anthic Sword chipped away the beast's defense. Still, it wasn't enough.
Minutes passed. Dozens of blows exchanged. Neither beast had fallen. Then it happened. A tail slammed into Velina's ribs, again. She gasped and dropped to her knees.
The second Crimson Fanged Serpent lunged, its jaws open wide.
Ethan turned, panic surging, heart thuddling.
"I have no other choice."
[SKILL: ABYSSAL LUNGE – READY]
[WRATH COST: 8]
[WRATH: 110/35]
"ABYSSAL LUNGE!"
The air tore open. He vanished in a blur of black mist and emerged between Velina and death. His blade struck in a clean Arc, right through the open mouth of the beast.
SHRAKKKK.
It reeled back, half its face cleaved. Venom sprayed. Ethan panted hard, crouched low. The Leviathan Mark across his arm and chest flared again.
[WRATH EXPENDED: 8]
[DAMAGE DEALT: 15%]
[+6WRATH EARNED]
[WRATH: 106/35]
[WRATH OVERSURGE DETECTED]
[WARNING: Prolonged WRATH Oversurge May Weaken Seal]
[SYSTEM NOTICE: Host should use Abyssal Skills to suppress WRATH back to Threshold]
[WRATH: 106/35]
He fell to one knee. His muscles throbbed. His heart raced like a war drum.
"I can't let this… keep rising… the system keeps warning about it. I have no choice but surpress it" Ethan Saya to himself
[SKILL: ABYSSAL CLAWS - READY]
[WRATH COST: 20]
[DURATION: 90s | COOLDOWN: 180s]
He had no choice anymore.
"ABYSSAL CLAWS"
[SKILL ABYSSAL CLAWS ACTIVATED]
[DURATION: 90s]
[WRATH EXPENDED: 20]
[WRATH: 86/35]
Abyssal energy surged from his arms. His skin split slightly at the forearms to the hands, morphing to a dark armor just like the serpent's body, as onyx claws erupted, massive, curved, and steaming with power, from his fingers.
-----
The Knights watching through the Light Orbs at the Academy stiffened.
"What… what was that transformation?" one murmured.
"First...that skill which makes him move at blinding speed and now his hands morphs to claws... Who is that no name... What is he?"
The leader said nothing. But his hand gripped the armrest of his chair.
----
Back in the Drazan Expanse. Ethan charged.
The wounded serpent tried to flee, but Ethan blurred forward, slashing. Claw met scale. Carapace cracked. He spun, one, two, three slashes, before leaping and driving both claws into the monster's chest.
CRUNCH.
The serpent howled, its body thrashing violently, then it collapsed in a twitching heap. Light fading from its eyes
[CRIMSON FANG SERPENT DEFEATED]
[+65EXP GAINED]
[+10WRATH EARNED]
[CURRENT EXP: 413/500]
Ethan fell back, panting, the claws fading as the cooldown set in. Only one beast remained. He turned slowly to face it. Velina had pushed herself to her feet, blood trailing from her side. Her blade shook in her hand.
"What were those claws... You took one down," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "Now let's end the other."
Ethan didn't answer. He just stepped forward.
The Anthic Sword shimmered in his grasp, its red runes pulsing harder.
The remaining Crimson Fanged Serpent charged. The storm wasn't over.
Not yet.