Chapter 3: The First Trial
Asuka's breathing was heavy, her heart racing as she stood in the clearing, her body humming with energy she could scarcely understand. The Shadow Beast growled low, its enormous form looming like a dark storm cloud, but it was different now. Asuka could feel it—a shift in the air, an energy flowing between them. It was a connection, primal and raw, between predator and prey. Yet, she wasn't the one running.
Her eyes flicked to the woman who had led her here, whose expression remained cool, almost detached, as if watching an unfolding spectacle.
"You're learning fast, Drag King," the woman said, her tone like ice but tempered with something like respect. "The power within you is volatile, untrained. But it's there. That much is certain."
Asuka's gaze returned to the creature before her. It was monstrous, its shadowy body shifting with unnatural fluidity. Its yellow eyes, glowing with malevolent hunger, locked onto her with a chilling intensity. It was far from beaten, and Asuka knew that now, more than ever, she had to rely on herself.
The air crackled with the tension of the moment. The Shadow Beast lunged again, its claws extended, each strike capable of tearing apart the very earth beneath her feet. Asuka didn't have the luxury of hesitating this time. She stepped forward, feeling the power surge in her chest, and thrust her hand out toward the beast.
A pulse of light erupted from her palm, blinding in its intensity, slamming into the beast's chest. The force of the attack sent the creature stumbling backward, but it quickly recovered, growling in frustration. It was as if the creature fed off her energy, thriving on the challenge.
Asuka gritted her teeth. I can't back down. Not now. She closed her eyes for a split second, seeking the energy that had coursed through her before. The raw power, untapped and wild, was still there, swirling within her like a storm. She just needed to focus.
"Control it," the woman's voice echoed in her mind. "Command it."
It was a command, and Asuka took it with every ounce of determination she could muster. She reached deep within, feeling the surge of energy coiling like a serpent, ready to strike. With a guttural shout, she stretched her arms wide, and from the earth beneath her, jagged stone spikes erupted like claws of the land itself. They shot toward the Shadow Beast, slamming into its side with brutal force.
The creature staggered but did not fall. Instead, it let out a deafening screech, charging forward with renewed fury. The beast's claws swiped through the air, aiming for Asuka's chest. Her instincts kicked in once more, her body moving before her mind could fully process the danger. She ducked, narrowly avoiding the swipe, feeling the air rush past her as the beast's claws grazed the ground where she had been just a moment before.
It was becoming a deadly dance—every move, every strike was a test of her resolve. She couldn't afford to let up. She was the Drag King, the words of the woman rang in her ears. She had no choice but to move forward.
Asuka's fingers tightened, her nails digging into her palms. Her breath was shallow, quick, but her focus was sharp. She raised her hand again, the familiar pulse of energy swirling around her. This time, she didn't hesitate. She commanded it. The energy shot forward with purpose, slicing through the air with precision, and collided directly with the beast's throat.
The Shadow Beast recoiled, its growl turning into a shriek of agony. It stumbled backward, clutching at its throat with massive claws, its once-glowing eyes flickering. Asuka watched with bated breath as it fell to its knees, the energy of her attack rippling through the ground.
For a moment, there was silence. The creature twitched once, twice, then collapsed, its body dissolving into shadowy wisps that scattered into the night air like smoke. Asuka stood frozen, her chest heaving with exertion. Sweat clung to her brow, her muscles trembling from the strain.
The woman finally spoke, her voice softer, but with a note of approval. "Well done, Drag King. You survived your first test."
Asuka didn't respond immediately. The weight of what she had just done—the power she had wielded, the life she had taken—settled heavily on her shoulders. She hadn't killed anyone before, let alone an otherworldly creature. But somehow, this felt different. It didn't feel like murder; it felt like survival.
"That was only the beginning," the woman continued, her sharp gaze never leaving Asuka. "The creatures of this forest are the least of your problems. The true test is yet to come. The Shadow Beasts are drawn to power, but they are not the ones you should fear."
Asuka looked at her in confusion, the lingering tension still thick in the air. "Then who should I fear?"
The woman's lips curled into something that could have been a smile, though it was fleeting and cold. "The ones who control the power. The ones who seek to bend the world to their will. You are a symbol, Asuka Aoyama. The Drag King—the one who can unite the fractured lands. But there are others who would see you fall, others who would destroy everything you are meant to build."
A chill ran down Asuka's spine. The words didn't sink in immediately, but their weight settled over her like a shroud. Destroy everything I am meant to build. Her thoughts swirled as the reality of her new life—her new identity—began to take shape. She wasn't just a stranger in this world. She was a weapon, a leader, a king, whether she liked it or not.
"Now, we must move," the woman said, her tone shifting back to its earlier coldness. "There is more to show you. The road ahead will be treacherous, and you will need more than just power to survive it."
Asuka nodded slowly, still processing the fight, the creature, and the strange woman's cryptic words. It wasn't a choice to move forward. She had no choice. The world she had been thrust into wasn't going to wait for her to catch up.
And so, she followed the woman, her steps heavy, her mind still racing. Whatever came next, whatever this world had in store, she was ready to face it. She had to be. The Drag King had no time for doubts.
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The moonlight grew dimmer as they ventured deeper into the forest. With every step, Asuka felt the weight of the journey ahead pressing upon her, the knowledge of what she was becoming, and the dangerous path that awaited her. The woman beside her was silent now, her expression unreadable as she led Asuka toward an uncertain future.
"Where are we going?" Asuka asked, her voice breaking the tense silence. She couldn't help herself—she had to know. "What's next?"
The woman didn't look at her, but her voice was steady. "There's a place, far from here, where you will begin your training. It is where you will learn not just to control your power, but to command it. And where you will face the first of the enemies who will try to take that power from you."
Asuka swallowed hard, knowing that the real battle—one far beyond her initial test—was only just beginning.