Ethan trudged through the unforgiving desert, his thoughts heavy with the strange encounter from earlier. His head pounded from the aftermath of his battle with the Rank 2 Desert Charger, and his muscles ached as he continued walking. The desolate wasteland stretched endlessly before him, the heat relentless, but Ethan welcomed the physical pain. It helped distract him from the questions swirling in his mind.
He didn't trust that woman—Talia, as she had called herself. She claimed to represent Sloth, and yet, she had been far from lazy when they encountered the beast. The way she had moved, so casually controlling the creature, set off alarms in his mind. How could someone embodying Sloth possess that kind of power?
And why did she seem so… familiar?
The wind kicked up sand around him, and for a moment, Ethan paused, his senses on high alert. His instincts had grown sharper since his awakening. He could feel something in the distance—something big. It was a strange sensation, as though Wrath itself was calling to him, urging him toward the unknown.
Suddenly, the ground trembled beneath his feet. Ethan's eyes widened, his heart rate quickening as a shadow loomed ahead. Emerging from behind a towering dune was a massive, coiled figure, its body covered in glistening scales. Its crimson eyes locked onto Ethan with predatory intent.
A Rank 3 Awakened Beast—one known across the desert as a Sand Serpent.
The creature hissed, its long tongue flicking out, tasting the air. Ethan's hands clenched into fists, Wrath already stirring within him, its power bubbling just beneath the surface. There was no escape. This was a fight he had no choice but to face.
Without hesitation, the serpent lunged at him, its body moving with terrifying speed for its size. Ethan dodged, rolling across the hot sand just in time to avoid the crushing blow of the serpent's massive tail. He sprang to his feet, adrenaline surging through him.
The serpent's tail whipped around again, forcing Ethan to leap back. His body felt sluggish from exhaustion, but Wrath refused to let him give in. The power inside him pulsed violently, demanding that he fight—no, that he destroy.
With a primal scream, Ethan charged at the serpent, his fists glowing with the fiery intensity of Wrath's power. He aimed for the beast's side, striking with all his strength. The impact sent shockwaves through the air, but the serpent barely flinched, its scales absorbing the brunt of the attack.
Ethan cursed under his breath. This wasn't going to be easy.
The serpent reared back, its head looming over him like a shadow of death. Ethan could feel its eyes boring into him, as if it recognized him as something more than prey. There was an intelligence behind those crimson eyes, and it unnerved him.
Before he could react, the beast struck again, its jaws snapping dangerously close to his face. Ethan narrowly dodged the attack, his feet sinking into the sand as he stumbled back.
He couldn't keep this up forever. The serpent was faster, stronger, and had more endurance. And yet… Wrath urged him on, whispering promises of strength and victory in his mind. The power wanted to be unleashed, but Ethan knew there would be consequences.
As the serpent prepared to strike again, Ethan made a split-second decision. He reached deeper into Wrath, allowing the rage to fuel him. His vision blurred, the heat in his veins becoming almost unbearable. He could feel the power surging through him, overwhelming his senses.
With a roar that echoed across the desert, Ethan charged once more. This time, his movements were faster, more precise. He ducked beneath the serpent's snapping jaws and slammed his fist into its underbelly—a weak spot. The serpent recoiled in pain, hissing angrily.
Ethan didn't stop. He couldn't stop. Wrath consumed him, driving him forward. His fists were a blur of motion, each strike more powerful than the last. The serpent lashed out in desperation, but Ethan was relentless. He felt invincible, unstoppable.
But with each blow, the power inside him grew more unstable. His body ached, his muscles screamed in agony, but he pushed through the pain. Wrath demanded victory, and Ethan was its willing vessel.
Finally, with one last punch, Ethan sent the serpent crashing to the ground. Its massive body lay still, defeated. Ethan stood over the fallen creature, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. His vision swam, and he could feel the aftereffects of Wrath's power taking their toll.
His knees buckled, and he collapsed onto the sand, exhausted. The heat of the desert felt distant, as if his body was numb to everything but the burning fire inside him. Wrath had given him strength, but it had come at a cost.
"Not bad," a familiar voice said, cutting through the haze.
Ethan groaned and looked up to see Talia standing a few feet away, watching him with her usual lazy smirk. She had been there the whole time, observing.
"Why didn't you help?" Ethan growled, his voice hoarse from exertion.
Talia shrugged. "Why would I? You seemed to be handling it just fine."
Ethan glared at her. "You don't care if I live or die, do you?"
Talia tilted her head, considering his words. "You're Wrath. You're not supposed to die easily. Besides, what would be the point of interfering? You need to learn to control it on your own."
Ethan struggled to stand, his legs shaking from the effort. "What do you know about control?"
Talia's smile faded slightly, her eyes narrowing. "More than you think."
Before Ethan could respond, the ground trembled again, and a low rumble echoed in the distance. His eyes widened as he saw something on the horizon—an approaching storm, but not of wind and sand. It was a horde of Awakened Beasts, their dark silhouettes moving with terrifying speed toward them.
"Great," Ethan muttered. "More beasts."
Talia's expression remained calm, almost indifferent. "Looks like we've got company."
Ethan forced himself to stand tall, despite the pain in his body. Wrath stirred inside him once more, though it was weaker this time. He wasn't sure how much longer he could fight.
Talia glanced at him, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Think you can handle this?"
Ethan gritted his teeth. "What about you? You just gonna stand there and watch again?"
Talia chuckled softly. "We'll see."
As the beasts drew closer, Ethan felt the familiar pull of Wrath once again. The power was addictive, intoxicating, but dangerous. He had barely survived the last battle, and now he was faced with an even greater threat.
But he had no choice. The world was changing, and so was he. Whether he liked it or not, Wrath was a part of him now. And if he wanted to survive in this new world, he would have to master it.
With a deep breath, Ethan clenched his fists, preparing for the next battle. The storm of beasts was upon them, and there was no turning back.