The moment the monster charged—
Everything slowed.
Kael's vision sharpened, the world narrowing down to a single point.
The creature's massive claw tore through the air, aiming straight for him, fast enough to crush bone and steel alike.
But Kael didn't move.
He watched.
Felt.
Listened.
The energy inside him surged, not violently like before—but with purpose.
Like it understood.
At the last second—
Kael stepped forward.
Not back.
Forward.
The claw slammed down—
—and Kael caught it.
BOOM.
The ground beneath him cracked, shockwaves rippling outward as dust exploded into the air.
Gasps erupted behind him.
"He… stopped it?!"
"No way—that thing broke the barrier!"
Kael's arm trembled slightly under the weight.
The monster was strong.
Stronger than anything he had faced before.
But instead of fear—
He smiled.
"…Got you."
The moment his hand made contact—
The Abyss Core reacted.
Dark energy surged from his palm, wrapping around the monster's claw like living chains.
Then—
It began to absorb.
The creature roared in pain, its massive body shaking violently as its power was slowly drained.
"What is he doing?!" an instructor shouted.
"That's not normal absorption—it's too fast!"
Kael's eyes glowed faintly.
He could feel it.
The energy flowing into him.
Hot.
Wild.
Powerful.
"…This is insane," he whispered.
The monster tried to pull back—but Kael tightened his grip.
"You're not going anywhere."
With a sudden twist, Kael redirected the absorbed energy into his other hand.
Dark tendrils burst outward—
—and slammed into the creature's chest.
BOOOOM.
The impact sent the monster skidding backward, tearing through the ground as it roared in fury.
Silence fell for a split second.
Then—
Chaos.
"That kid is fighting it alone?!"
"Is he crazy?!"
"Or… is he winning?"
Drex stood frozen, flames flickering wildly around his hands.
"…No way," he muttered.
Even Luna's calm expression had cracked, her eyes wide with shock.
"…He's controlling it," she whispered.
The monster roared again, this time louder, angrier.
Its body pulsed with energy as it slammed its claws into the ground.
Spikes of dark matter erupted upward, racing toward Kael at terrifying speed.
Kael reacted instantly.
He jumped—
but one spike grazed his side.
SLASH.
Blood spilled.
Kael landed roughly, sliding across the ground.
Pain shot through his body.
"…So you can still hit me," he muttered, wiping the blood from his mouth.
For a moment—
The energy inside him wavered.
Unstable.
Hungry.
It wanted more.
More power.
More destruction.
Kael clenched his fists.
"Not yet," he growled.
He wasn't losing control here.
Not in front of everyone.
The monster charged again, faster this time.
Kael inhaled slowly.
Then—
He changed his approach.
Instead of blocking—
He let it come.
Closer.
Closer.
At the last possible moment—
Kael stepped to the side.
The claw missed by inches.
And in that instant—
He struck.
His hand slammed into the creature's side.
Dark energy exploded outward—
—but this time…
It didn't just absorb.
It took.
A chunk of the monster's energy ripped away completely, flowing into Kael's core.
The creature staggered.
Weakened.
Kael's eyes widened slightly.
"…So I can do that too."
A grin spread across his face.
Now he understood.
This wasn't just a power.
It was a weapon.
One that grew stronger the longer the fight lasted.
"Then let's finish this."
The energy around him surged again—stronger, denser, more controlled.
Dark tendrils spiraled around his arm, forming something sharper.
More focused.
A blade.
The ground cracked beneath his feet.
Students watched in complete silence now.
Fear.
Awe.
Disbelief.
Kael stepped forward slowly.
The monster hesitated.
For the first time—
It felt danger.
Real danger.
Kael raised his hand, the dark blade humming with power.
"…You shouldn't have come out."
The monster roared and lunged one last time.
Kael vanished.
For a split second—
He was gone.
Then—
He reappeared in front of it.
And struck.
SHHHK.
The blade cut clean through.
The monster froze.
A deep line formed across its body—
Then—
BOOOOOOM.
It split apart, collapsing into fragments of fading energy.
Silence.
Complete silence.
Kael stood in the center, breathing heavily, the dark energy slowly fading from his body.
The portal behind the creature flickered—
Then collapsed.
Gone.
The threat… was over.
No one spoke.
Not the students.
Not the instructors.
Not even Drex.
They all stared at Kael.
The F-Rank.
The "unstable" one.
The one they had underestimated.
Kael exhaled slowly, looking at his hand.
"…This power…"
His voice was low.
Uncertain.
"…What exactly am I becoming?"
Behind him—
Unseen by everyone—
A faint ripple of darkness spread across the ground.
Watching.
Waiting.
Growing.