'It's not a Desert Scorpion... It's a damn giant!'
The first sight of the giant, lit by the dimming desert sunset, was enough to freeze Johan's blood. Its form towered over him, its size making him feel as insignificant as a grain of sand. 'Holy hell...' he couldn't help but curse internally, eyes wide as they scanned the massive figure. 'That's one big problem...'
The giant moved with a slowness that seemed to mock the frantic pounding of Johan's heart. Its every movement created mini sandstorms, the power of its hulking body clear and terrifying. 'So, size and strength...that's a given,' he thought, taking a shaky step back. 'But what about speed? Intelligence?'
Crouching low, he kept his eyes on the monster, trying to predict its movements. It let out a guttural roar, the sound vibrating through the desert and rattling Johan's bones. 'Nope, not friendly...' He internally winced at the terrible noise. 'Alright, Johan... Think. You're not going to outmuscle this thing. So, what's left?'
Johan bit his lower lip, eyes darting around the surroundings as he tried to formulate a plan. The staff in his hands suddenly felt woefully inadequate against the giant beast. 'It's massive... but it's also slow. If I'm quick, if I'm smart... I might have a chance.'
His grip tightened around the daggers, the feel of metallic steel under his sweaty palms grounding him. 'Okay, let's dance, big guy.' And with that, Johan took a deep breath and stepped into the fray. He was playing with fire, and the flames were gargantuan.
With a quick glance at the enormous enemy before him, Johan came to a decision. 'Alright... it's showtime,' he thought, summonded out the small, card he carried. As he poured his energy into the object and crushed it... It began to glow, casting eerie shadows on the sand.
'Come forth, my ghoul!,' Johan commanded, his voice steady and resolute. The air around him seemed to ripple, as though reality itself was being distorted. A black shadow began to form, twisting and writhing as it coalesced into a humanoid figure. The ghoul was massive, its muscular frame standing nearly as tall as Johan himself. Its skin had a dark, ashy tone, and large, bone-like protrusions stuck out from its shoulders and forearms. It's back sported a Kagune, a spider-like appendage, with sharp, claw-like tips.
The giant turned to look at the newly formed creature, its monstrous face showing the slightest hint of surprise. 'Good, got its attention,' Johan muttered to himself, a grim smile tugging at his lips. 'Now for the hard part...'
With a commanding shout, Johan sent his ghoul charging towards the giant. He had identified the creature's sluggishness, and planned to exploit it. The ghoul moved with a speed that belied its size, dodging the giant's slow and predictable attacks while landing several of its own. Each hit from the ghoul made the giant stagger, its colossal form struggling to keep up with the ghoul's relentless onslaught.
'This is going well...' Johan thought, a bead of sweat rolling down his temple. His heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline fueling his concentration. 'Just a little more... We can do this.' As his ghoul continued to battle, Johan couldn't help but feel a small surge of hope. With his ghoul at his side, maybe, just maybe, they stood a chance.
With the giant staggering from the ghoul's attacks, Johan saw his chance. 'Now! Finish it!' he commanded, his voice echoing across the barren landscape. The ghoul sprung into action, its Kagune extending outward with a swift, lethal precision.
With a quick, brutal strike, the ghoul sliced through the giant's neck, severing its head from its body. The giant's head fell to the ground with a heavy thud, sand flying up around it. The rest of its body soon followed, crumpling into a lifeless heap on the desert floor. Johan and his ghoul stood victorious, the monstrous opponent now nothing more than a corpse.
'Good job, buddy,' Johan said softly, reverting the ghoul back into its card form with a grateful nod. He then approached the fallen giant, its card materializing from the sand. He picked it up, dusting it off gently. It was just a common quality card, yet it held so much potential. The word "Giant" was printed on its front, along with a simple sketch of the creature they had just defeated. 'Our first victory...' Johan mused, a small smile appearing on his lips.
Johan tried to summon the card, but there's no reaction. Then Johan felt rush of information from the system in his mind. I turned out that with his current realm, which was unranked... He can only summon one monster. But if he gets promoted to Tier 9, he would be able to summon two. And so on... The higher his realm, the more monsters he would be able to summon!
Exhaustion swept over him then, his adrenaline-fueled energy waning. His legs felt heavy and his muscles ached, the harsh reality of the desert hitting him once more. But he shrugged it off, the victory serving as a boost to his determination. 'There's no turning back now...' Johan thought, tucking the card safely in his pocket. With renewed resolve, he set off again, the endless expanse of the desert sprawling out before him.
As Johan continued his trek through the desert, he couldn't help but reflect on the battle he'd just fought. 'I did it... I actually did it...' he thought, a newfound confidence welling within him. His heart pounded in his chest, a thrilling blend of exhaustion and exhilaration coursing through his veins.
For the first time since the assessment began, he felt a sliver of hope. He realized that his survival wasn't just a matter of brute strength or pure luck. It was about strategy, observation, and making the right decisions at the right time. 'It's not just about power... it's about how you use it,' he mused, his mind wandering back to the arrogant competitor he had encountered before the start of the test.
'Facing the monsters out here... it's dangerous, sure. But I can't let fear rule me. I need to be smart, not just strong.' As he walked, he adjusted the cloth around his face, squinting against the glaring sun.
Despite the danger and uncertainty that awaited him, he felt a strange sense of calm. He was alone, in an unforgiving desert, facing challenges beyond his wildest imagination. But he was not afraid. He was ready.
'This is just the beginning...' he thought as the desert stretched out endlessly before him. He had won his first battle, but he knew there were many more to come. And he was prepared to face whatever the desert had in store for him.
With that, he steeled himself for the challenges ahead, his determination unwavering under the scorching desert sun. He gripped the card in his pocket, the one containing his ghoul, and nodded to himself. 'Let's see what else you've got for me, desert.'
As the sun began to set, painting the desert in hues of red and orange, Johan continued his journey, disappearing into the vast, sandy expanse. His story in the desert had just begun, and he was ready to write it, one step at a time.