The air crackled with tension. Lycius stood still, his small frame deceptively unthreatening against the behemoth that loomed before him. The monstrous creature, a fusion of dragon and nightmare, exuded an aura of primal devastation. Its obsidian scales gleamed under the dim forest light, each plate reinforced with centuries of battle scars. Jagged crimson eyes fixated on him, filled with murderous rage.
A low, guttural growl rumbled from deep within its chest, shaking the earth beneath them. It was a warning. A declaration.
Lycius didn't care.
With a flick of his tail, the young demon shifted his stance, muscles coiling like a predator ready to strike. He had no extra stats allocated—his raw power was locked away—but even so, his body was beyond mortal comprehension. His mother and aunt had set the conditions: defeat the beast without using his hidden strength.
It was an impossible task.
But impossible was merely a word.
The creature moved first. It didn't charge—it vanished. One moment, it was towering over him, and in the next, a deafening sonic boom shattered the air as it reappeared at his side. A single swipe of its colossal claws aimed to erase him from existence.
Lycius barely had time to react.
His instincts screamed, and his body moved on its own. He twisted, ducking low as the force of the beast's strike split the ground where he had stood, sending shockwaves through the air. Splinters and debris exploded in every direction. He pivoted, eyes locking onto the monster's exposed flank, and in an instant, he retaliated.
He lashed out with a lightning-fast strike, his claws slicing toward the beast's side.
A loud clang echoed through the battlefield.
Lycius's eyes widened. His attack had landed—but it hadn't cut. His claws, sharper than any blade, had skidded against the creature's scales like a dagger against steel. The impact sent a numbing vibration through his arm.
A mistake.
The monster capitalized on his momentary shock.
It spun with horrifying speed, its tail—thick as a fortress wall—whipping toward him with the force of a meteor.
He had no time to dodge.
The blow connected.
An explosion of pain ignited through his ribs as he was launched backward like a broken doll. He crashed through tree after tree, each impact rattling his bones. The forest trembled with every collision until, finally, he slammed into a jagged rock formation, shattering it on impact.
Silence.
Dust and debris settled around the impact zone.
From afar, Lana and Elizabeth observed, unfazed.
"That looked painful," Elizabeth noted, resting her chin on her hand.
"He'll manage," Lana replied.
Elizabeth smirked. "If he doesn't, then he doesn't deserve to be our kin."
The pain was fleeting. Lycius groaned as he pulled himself from the rubble, his body already repairing the damage. His breath came slow and measured, but his heart pounded like war drums.
He had underestimated the creature.
It wasn't just strong—it was fast, intelligent, and its defenses were near impenetrable. His normal attacks wouldn't work.
Lycius exhaled sharply.
No matter.
He wouldn't break.
His mind sharpened, analyzing every detail about his opponent. Speed. Strength. Durability. A direct assault was useless—he needed a different approach.
The monster was already closing in. Its massive form blurred as it lunged toward him, the ground cratering beneath its monstrous weight.
This time, Lycius was ready.
At the last second, he shifted his footing and twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the creature's crushing stomp. His tail flicked upward, striking at the beast's throat with pinpoint accuracy.
The attack landed.
A sickening crack echoed as the impact connected, forcing the monster's head to snap sideways. It stumbled, claws digging into the ground to maintain balance.
There it was.
A weak point.
The beast's scales were near-indestructible, but the joints—the connections between those plates—were vulnerable.
A plan formed instantly.
Lycius darted forward, his movements sharp and precise. The monster roared and swiped at him, but this time, he was faster. He ducked under the claw, using the momentum to launch himself onto the creature's back. His fingers curled, claws elongating as he drove them deep into the beast's exposed neck joint.
A roar of agony tore through the air.
The monster bucked wildly, trying to shake him off, but Lycius held firm.
He twisted his claws deeper, feeling flesh and tendons tear beneath his grip.
The beast thrashed, slamming its body into trees, rolling across the ground in a desperate attempt to dislodge him. Pain flared through Lycius's body as he was crushed against the earth, but he didn't let go.
Then, suddenly—
It stopped.
The monster froze. Its muscles tensed unnaturally, and a violent shudder ran through its body.
Lycius barely had time to process the shift before he felt it.
A pulse.
Dark energy surged from deep within the creature, and in an instant, an explosion of raw force erupted outward.
The shockwave sent Lycius flying.
He twisted midair, barely managing to land on his feet as the creature stood tall once more. But something was different now.
Its body was changing.
Its crimson eyes darkened, swirling into pits of pure abyss. Its scales shifted, jagged spikes erupting from its spine. Dark tendrils of energy coiled around its form, warping the space around it.
It had evolved.
Lycius's blood ran hot with exhilaration.
Good.
This was what he wanted. A true fight.
The creature let out an earth-shattering roar, and the battle resumed.
---
Time blurred.
Blows were exchanged, each impact sending shockwaves through the forest. Claws met claws, speed against speed, raw power clashing in a violent symphony of destruction.
Lycius danced between death and survival, his movements growing sharper, more refined with every exchange. He adapted. Every mistake was a lesson, every wound a new piece of knowledge.
The creature fought like a demon possessed, but Lycius was learning.
He was evolving.
Bit by bit, he began to outmaneuver it.
He struck faster, more efficiently. He targeted weak points relentlessly. A slash to the tendon. A strike to the exposed joint. A devastating blow to the skull.
The beast weakened.
Its movements became sluggish. Its breaths ragged.
And then—
An opening.
Lycius lunged.
He drove his claws into the monster's throat, carving deep, feeling the warmth of blood coat his hands.
A final, gurgling snarl escaped the creature's lips before its body collapsed with a thunderous crash.
Silence followed.
Lycius stood over the corpse, panting, his chest rising and falling steadily. He was bruised, bloodied—but victorious.
The impossible had been conquered.
A familiar voice entered his mind.
"Not bad, little one," Elizabeth praised.
"You barely survived," Lana teased, though pride laced her tone.
Lycius smirked. "Barely is enough."
[Mission Complete!]
[Mission Title: The Impossible]
[Reward: Depends of feat]
[Measure rank of host's feat...]
[Rank - Mythical]
As the system chimed with the completion of his mission, Lycius only had one thought.
He was ready for more.
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