# Chapter 17: Beast of the Ashes
The creature stepped fully into the ruined street, its massive form blocking the flickering light of the distant fires. Muscles rippled under scarred, ash-stained skin, and its eyes glowed a pale, menacing green. Every movement carried weight and intent, each step sending vibrations through the cracked asphalt. Kael could feel the Codex pulsing violently in response, a hunger unlike any he had felt before, urging him forward.
Lyra's staff was poised, her body tensed like a coiled spring. "Kael… this isn't just strong—it's primal. Controlled chaos," she muttered. "If we're not careful…"
Kael's crimson eyes narrowed, his grin widening. "Careful is for the weak. Power waits for the bold. The stronger the opponent, the greater the feast." He adjusted his stance, the Codex humming violently, sensing the immense energy radiating from the beast.
The creature growled, a low rumble that resonated through the ruins, shaking dust from fractured ceilings and crumbling walls. Its gaze locked onto Kael, assessing, calculating, and challenging. Then, with terrifying speed, it lunged.
Kael reacted instantly, steel pipe swinging in a deadly arc. The Codex guided his movements, enhancing his reflexes and strength. The pipe connected with the beast's shoulder, but the impact barely slowed its momentum. The creature roared and slammed forward, massive claws raking across the ground, sending shards of concrete and debris flying.
Lyra struck at the beast's flank with her staff, the reinforced metal connecting with a bone-shattering crunch. The creature twisted, flinging her back, but Kael was already in motion, closing the distance with preternatural speed. Crimson energy flared around him, the Codex feeding on every ounce of tension and force in the encounter.
They clashed again—steel, claws, and raw power colliding in a symphony of destruction. Each strike Kael delivered was precise, every motion calculated, yet the Codex urged him to be more daring, more aggressive, feeding him with energy from the chaos surrounding them.
The ruins themselves seemed to respond to the battle. Debris shifted, walls cracked further, and dust swirled like a storm, feeding the Codex's insatiable hunger. Kael's muscles burned, but he felt stronger than ever, every strike reinforcing his dominance, every dodge sharpening his instincts.
*Skill Progress: Devour Debris — Level 11*
The beast's speed and ferocity were unmatched, but Kael adapted quickly, integrating its energy into his own. He felt himself evolving, his body responding to the Codex's demands, his mind calculating the precise moments to strike and counterstrike. With a sudden surge, he drove the steel pipe into the creature's side, leveraging momentum to send it crashing into a ruined wall.
The beast roared in pain and fury, green eyes blazing with rage, yet Kael felt the surge of energy flowing from the encounter. The Codex devoured it eagerly, amplifying his strength, refining his reflexes, and sharpening his instincts to an almost supernatural edge.
Lyra regained her footing, eyes wide with awe. "Kael… the energy… it's overwhelming. I've never seen anything like it."
Kael's crimson gaze remained fixed on the beast. "It's more than energy. It's power. Knowledge. Growth. Every force in the ruins exists to be claimed by those who are strong enough."
The creature, wounded but far from defeated, rose to its full height, muscles quivering with raw power. Its roar echoed through the city, a declaration of intent. Kael tightened his grip on the steel pipe, a predator ready to confront another predator, the Codex thrumming violently in anticipation of the next surge of chaos.
The God of Ruin and the Beast of the Ashes stood poised for the continuation of their deadly dance, the night trembling under the promise of unrelenting combat and the rise of power that neither fo
rce would surrender willingly.