"Would you like to make a deal?"
In disbelief, Cullen could only stare at The God.
'How is this possible? Why... why me? What have I done to be worthy?'
The God only chose those who were loved and revered by society. If people knew Cullen was selected, the world itself would have spiraled into chaos. But that no longer mattered. His fate had already been sealed. Cullen was left with no choice but to accept the divine offer or watch as he and his friends were consumed by death. With a tremor, Cullen removed his bloodied hand from the ground and extended his arm toward The God, his voice a desperate whisper:
"Yes."
At that moment, the Abomination hesitated, its fear momentarily breaking. But it quickly surged forward, driven by an inhuman rage, attacking Cullen once more. Yet something was happening to Cullen's body—an unnatural transformation. His broken bones, shattered beyond repair just moments before, began to mend. But it wasn't healing: they were strengthening.
'This is what Gifted feel? It's like I'm a completely new person.'
The pain that had once crippled him began to fade, replaced with a surging power from a different world. Slowly, Cullen pushed himself off the ground, testing his new form. He felt stronger, faster, and even more aware than before. Even his wound from being shot the other day was gone. This was a new body.
Arthur cocked its grotesque body back, preparing for another strike. But Cullen could see it now. With a fluid motion, he leapt backward, narrowly avoiding the brutal swing aimed at him. Arthur's roar echoed through the room, but it was too late. Cullen was already in motion as he darted in front of the creature with lightning speed. With a surge of power, he landed a clean uppercut to its jaw, snapping it shut.
Crack!
Arthur staggered, its massive body stumbling backward from the force of Cullen's punch.
'This isn't one-sided anymore.'
Cullen, who was still afraid, looked straight at the Abomination's eyes. Every action it took seemed to be made out of anger and hatred, but its hollow eyes were still lifeless. All Abminations are… or should be.
'I remember that Gifted are able to sense the cores of Abominations, but I don't feel anything. Maybe it's because I just got my power? Also, I don't even know what my power is. I should have an ability, but I can't feel anything different.'
Actually, Cullen did feel something.
Hatred.
'I'll make sure to rip this monster apart with my bare hands…'
The raw surge of anger compelled Cullen as he charged forward, ready to strike again. But just as his fist was about to make contact, Arthur lashed out, launching a counterattack with terrifying speed.
They both collided with bone-crushing power, their fists meeting each other and producing a loud crack. The equal exchange left both of them momentarily stunned, each reeling back from the impact. The hot air in the room was filled with the scent of sweat and blood. Driven by rage, they threw themselves at each other, landing blow after blow without any thought of defense.
Cullen's knuckles smashed against the Abomination's problematic skin, but each impact was like a striking stone. His hands slowly split open, blood dripping down his fists.
'Shit... I can't hurt it even with my physical enhancements.'
Cullen staggered back, his mind racing for a solution. His exhaustion was growing, and Arthur wouldn't allow him any peace. With a guttural roar, the Abomination lunged forward, swinging its arms with deadly intent.
Cullen's body was already past its limit, so he could barely manage to block the attack with his arms. He was thrown backward, crashing into one of the few remaining bookshelves that still stood amidst the chaos of the library.
The once peaceful room had been reduced to a scene of destruction, the wreckage of broken shelves and scattered pages forming an unsettling carpet around them. Groaning and discouraged, Cullen pushed himself to his feet.
'It beats me in strength, speed, and defense. There's practically nothing I can do to beat it in a head-to-head fight... but there has to be something…'
He scanned the deadly Abomination up and down until he met its inhuman gaze. Cullen's eyes narrowed, a sudden spark of realization flashing in his mind. He saw something different this time when he looked at Arthur.
A slow smile spread across Cullen's face for the first time that day. He found the creature's weakness.
Cullen swiftly bolted away from Arthur, his heart pounding like a war drum. His heart was gripped by fear, but determination overwhelmed him as well. Behind him, the Abomination gave chase, its distorted figure twisting and lunging with unnatural speed. But Cullen's newfound agility was able to keep him just beyond its reach.
'I discovered its flaw, but knowing that isn't enough. I still have to figure out how to kill it.'
Arthur was relentless. With a bone-chilling screech, it surged forward, its claws slicing through the air and missing Cullen by mere inches. He twisted and dodged, barely evading each life-threatening strike. But something was wrong—the beast was learning. It was adapting to his movements, each attack more precise than the last. The gap between them was closing before eventually, they started to connect.
WHAM!
The force of the impact sent Cullen flying. His body hit the ground with a sickening scrape, skidding across the shattered remains of the floor. The pain, not as bad as before, still caused Cullen to gasp for breath.
'Damn it… I should have an ability… but how do I activate it? There must be something I can do!'
Arthur loomed over him, saliva pouring from its twitching mouth, ready to strike again. Cullen rolled over in time as the vigorous claw smashed the floor where he had been seconds ago.
The creature shrieked, and an unholy sound sent a chill down Cullen's spine. But this time, Cullen screamed back.
"I SWEAR I'LL KILL YOU!"
Arthur reacted violently, its monstrous body convulsing as it lashed out in a frenzy. It tore through the scattered wreckage as it swiped at Cullen wildly. Getting creative, Cullen gripped chunks of debris and hurled them at the creature.
He snatched broken wood, shattered glass, anything he could get his hands on just to slow Arthur down. Everything he threw bounced off its armored body, doing no damage, but they enraged it further.
With a thunderous leap, the Abomination launched itself into the air, its legs a blur of pure power. Cullen managed to push himself aside, but not without consequence. A razor-sharp claw grazed his face, leaving a deep, burning gash on his cheek. Blood poured down his body, but Cullen gritted his teeth and moved forward.
Arthur snarled, readying itself for another attack, but Cullen had vanished behind a towering bookshelf. Snorting with rage, the creature charged at Cullen's desperate attempt at cover and swung its claw in a devastating arc. The bookshelf split in two like a sheet of paper, crashing to the ground in a storm of splinters.
But Cullen wasn't there.
The Abomination hesitated, confusion flickering through its monstrous expression. Then, it saw a shadow above.
Cullen descended like lightning, gripping a jagged wooden plank in both hands.
Every Abomination is unique, each one created differently. Arthur's armor is impenetrable, but I guess it can't have everything.
His eyes locked onto its one vulnerable spot.
Those endless eyes.
'I've never heard of an Abomination's core being so small… but there it is. The size of a marble in its left eye.'
With a desperate cry, he plunged the plank downward. The impact shattered the concealed yet weak core in an instant.
Arthur let out a deafening, inhuman wail as its body convulsed, but the life soon drained out of it as its core was broken.
The ruined library was silent, except for Cullen's ragged breathing. Sweat and blood covered his bruised skin, each movement sending throbbing pain throughout his body. He lifted his trembling fists and examined his torn knuckles, which were nearly reduced to bone.
'I wish I had used a weapon- beating my hands against that thing accomplished nothing.'
As if responding to his very thoughts, the lifeless husk of the Abomination contorted. Cullen backed away and held his breath as the unearthly remains began to shift and shrink, condensing inward into its broken core.
"What the hell?"
The once-towering monster continued to shrivel, its form unraveling until all that remained was a single object resting amidst the rubble. After catching his breath, Cullen moved in to see a sleek, pitch-black dagger lying ominously where the monster had been.
Cullen's eyes widened as he hesitantly reached for the blade. He wrapped his fingers around the hilt, sending a shiver down his body.
'This is the same material as the Abomination's hardened flesh!'
His grip tightened as the realization set in.
'Is this my ability? Did I turn Arthur into a weapon?'