Aryan's heart pounded in his chest as he swallowed the Ember Bloom, its bitter warmth flooding his system.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, in an instant, the pain that had gripped his body vanished, replaced by an overwhelming surge of energy.
His eyes shot open, ignited with an intense, fiery glow. Lightning and flames flickered within his irises, casting erratic sparks in the air as raw power surged through him.
His body hummed, the sensation overwhelming as energy raced through his veins, almost too much for his mortal form to contain.
"What… what is this?!"
Aryan's voice trembled with awe, as he flexed his hand, watching the arcs of energy shimmer around it.
"Incredible… It's like I'm burning from the inside out, but… it feels so good!"
He clenched his fists, feeling his strength multiply by the second. The ground beneath him rumbled, responding to the sheer force he exuded.
Yet, as the exhilaration surged through him, a strange resistance tugged at the edges of his newfound power. Something was holding him back, like a dam barely containing a raging river.
"No…" His excitement quickly shifted to frustration.
"Why can't I push past it? Damn it… the Ember Bloom… it's wearing off too fast. Because of my Chakra blockage, I couldn't even tap into half of its power. What a waste…"
His teeth ground together, fists clenching tighter.
'But still… this power I'm wielding right now… it's something else! So this is the power of the Ember Bloom, huh?'
A low, menacing growl echoed through the clearing. Aryan's gaze snapped back to the Thunderclaw Wolf standing a few paces away, its eyes gleaming with savage intent.
"Alright," Aryan muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing as he tightened his grip on his sword.
'I shouldn't waste any time and finish this before the Ember Bloom completely wears off.'
With that, he dashed forward, his speed a blur.
The Thunderclaw lunged at him with a snarl, its claws crackling with electric energy. The beast was fast, but Aryan was faster.
At the last second, he twisted his body, evading the wolf's strike, and swung his blade in a wide arc. His sword sliced through the Thunderclaw's side, drawing a deep, jagged line across its thick hide.
The wolf howled in pain, staggering back as its blood splattered onto the ground.
"How does it feel to be sliced, huh? Hurts, doesn't it? I felt the same way!"
The Thunderclaw's eyes narrowed, its body trembling as it snarled at Aryan. But the beast wasn't done yet. It crouched low, coiling like a spring ready to snap.
"Persistent bastard, aren't you? Let's see how long you'll last."
The wolf leaped again, faster and more ferocious than before. Its movements were wild, fueled by desperation and pain.
Aryan dodged just in time, his body moving with newfound agility, and as the Thunderclaw passed him, he swung his sword once more, landing another cut across the beast's flank.
The Thunderclaw yelped, stumbling, its breath ragged. Aryan smirked, his confidence swelling.
But then, something changed.
The wolf's eyes widened, glowing with an unnatural light. Its body tensed, its wounds seeming to pulse with energy as it rose to its feet, more ferocious than before. Its growl deepened, reverberating in the air with a haunting, guttural sound.
The air around the wolf shifted, thickening with tension as its muscles bulged.
Aryan's smirk faltered. "What now!?" he muttered, eyes narrowing as the beast stood taller, more intimidating.
"Why is it getting stronger!?"
The Thunderclaw charged, its speed even greater than before.
Aryan barely had time to react, throwing up his sword just in time to block the wolf's savage strike, but the force sent him stumbling back.
Another swipe from the wolf's claws tore through his chest, leaving fresh marks on his chest.
"Damn it!" Aryan hissed, gritting his teeth against the pain.
The fight wasn't over.
Aryan staggered, his breathing ragged. His body felt like it was on fire from within, his energy quickly waning.
The Thunderclaw was snarling, preparing to strike once more, its body pulsing with even greater power. The beast's eyes gleamed with savage hunger as it locked onto Aryan.
Panting heavily, Aryan clenched his fists, his legs trembling.
"Do I really have no other choice?" he muttered through gritted teeth.
He glanced at the gashes on his chest, feeling the blood trickling down his skin.
'I don't know what's happening with that wolf, but if I don't do something fast…' He swallowed hard, the weight of his situation pressing down on him. '…I'm done for.'
The wolf's muscles tensed, ready to pounce. Aryan looked at his battered state, exhaling slowly, trying to steady his nerves.
'Well… I guess I don't have any choice after all…'
With a deep breath, Aryan slid into a combat stance, his body rigid but focused. He gathered every ounce of Qi and the remaining Ember Bloom's energy, channeling it into one spot within his core.
His eyes closed briefly, and when they opened, they were blazing once again—sparks of fire and lightning crackling violently in the air around him. He was ready for the final strike.
As he prepared himself, his life began to flash before his eyes.
"Ayu, let's play together!" Isha's cheerful voice echoed in his mind, a distant memory of their carefree days. Her bright smile filled the scene, innocent and full of joy.
But it was quickly replaced by harsh, bitter words that cut deeper than any wound.
"You piece of shit! Why don't you just die!"
Darius's cruel taunt rang in his ears.
"He's a disgrace to the Agni family." Cold whispers from his relatives echoed, piercing his heart.
"So, that's the infamous son of the Agni family? The one stuck at the initial stage of the Mortal Realm for years?" A disciple's sneer followed.
Each memory filled him with anger and pain. But there was one memory that stood out from the rest, a moment still vivid in his mind, a memory of warmth amidst the darkness.
"Ayu, you don't have to belittle yourself or blame yourself. It's not your fault that you couldn't open your Root Chakra. I like you just the way you are."
His father's voice was soft, comforting, as he stroked Aryan's head gently.
Aryan, with teary eyes, looked up at his father.
"But Father, everyone says I'm a disgrace. They say I'm soiling the family's name. And the other children... they bully me... They're bad! I hate them!"
His father's expression softened, a warm smile on his face.
"Don't mind them, son. People like that laugh at others' misery because they're selfish and greedy. They'll backstab you when you're down, but when they face a stronger opponent, they'll cower in fear."
He lifted Aryan into his arms, looking into his son's eyes.
"That's why you must be strong. Strong enough to make them tremble whenever they see you. Don't lose courage, Ayu. Become like me, someone everyone respects… and fears."
A small smile spread across Aryan's face, his tears drying.
"Yes, Father! I'll become so strong that nobody will ever look down on me again! And I'll make our family the strongest in the whole continent! I promise!"
His father beamed with pride, patting Aryan's head.
"That's my boy. Keep that promise, and don't cry anymore. Become so strong that no one dares to underestimate you. I believe in you, Ayu."
The memory faded, leaving Aryan standing alone in the present. His father's words echoed in his heart.
Aryan's knuckles whitened around his sword's hilt.
'I'm sorry, Father… I failed you. I couldn't keep my promise.'
His voice trembled, heavy with guilt and regret, but even as the weight of his words pressed down on him, his gaze hardened, locking onto the Thunderclaw Wolf with renewed resolve.
"But if I'm going to die… then I'll take you down with me!"
He glared at the Thunderclaw, fire blazing in his eyes.
"Let's perish together!"
In an instant, Aryan unleashed the full force of his power. The energy he had gathered surged out of him in a torrent of fiery Qi and crackling lightning.
His sword ignited with blazing energy as he activated Swift-Tel, moving faster than the eye could see.
Zaaap!
He crossed the battlefield in a flash, the sound of crackling energy tearing through the air. The Blazing Moon technique, the signature move of his family, left a trail of burning light in its wake. His sword sliced cleanly through the Thunderclaw Wolf at lightning speed.
For a brief moment, everything was still. Then Aryan turned, his eyes wide as he looked at the wolf.
The Thunderclaw let out a low whine, its body split in half. It collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
Aryan staggered, his body trembling. "I… I did it…" he whispered, blood trickling from his mouth and eyes.
His vision blurred as exhaustion overwhelmed him. His body, drained from the fight, finally gave in.
He collapsed onto his back, staring up at the night sky. The stars shimmered above him, scattered across a vast, endless canvas. The moon hung low, its pale light casting a gentle glow over the clearing. It was peaceful.
"Beautiful…"
Aryan whispered as his eyes fluttered closed. Darkness swallowed him.
As the stillness of the night settled in, a shadow moved through the trees, gliding silently toward Aryan's limp body. From the darkness, a figure emerged—a creature unlike anything seen in the Mortal Realm.
Noctharis, the shadow beast, silently loomed over Aryan's prone body. Its sleek, jet-black form seemed to ripple, melding with the shadows as though it were a part of the night itself.
Violet eyes, cold and calculating, gleamed with unnatural intensity, exuding an aura so heavy it chilled the very air. The creature's fur shimmered, almost as if absorbing the moonlight, while long, razor-sharp claws flexed with lethal intent. Its tail swayed slowly, like a predator watching its prey.
Noctharis tilted its head, studying Aryan's unconscious form. Its breath was low and calculated, as though deciding whether the boy before it was worth the trouble.
Without a sound, the creature vanished into the shadows, leaving behind nothing but the lingering sense of dread.