Lucian Kasir moved silently through the cavern, the dim light from the glowing rocks on the walls barely enough to illuminate his path. His slender frame navigated the jagged terrain with practiced ease, his dark eyes scanning every corner for movement. He wasn't in the mood for surprises.
As he crouched low near an outcropping, a translucent blue screen appeared in his vision, his system's familiar hum echoing faintly in his ears.
[System Panel]
Name: Lucian Kasir
Level: 17
Stats:
Strength: 20.5
Agility: 22.8
Vitality: 18.9
Intelligence: 20.5
Endurance: 10.5
Skills:
Basic Combat Proficiency
Body Manipulation – Very Basic
Rage Amplification – Locked
Flow Compatibility: High
Lucian's eyes lingered on the stats, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face. Still not good enough, he thought. His agility had improved after months of deliberate effort, and his strength wasn't terrible, but his endurance...
He let out a quiet sigh. "Endurance is trash," he muttered to himself. "If I get stuck in a drawn-out fight, I'm screwed."
The system screen faded as Lucian stood upright, brushing off his thoughts. There was no point dwelling on what he couldn't fix right now. He needed to focus on surviving this stage and getting his hands on the obsidian shard.
The Plan
Lucian's mind buzzed with strategy. He thought of Kaiden, that infuriating enigma who had been watching him on the monitors earlier. He had sensed it—a prickling feeling of being under scrutiny. Kaiden's mismatched eyes had locked onto him, watching, analyzing.
"What do you want from me?" Lucian muttered under his breath as he continued forward, stepping over a small crevice. He hated the feeling of being observed, of someone putting the pieces together.
But then, the realization hit him: he didn't owe Kaiden an explanation.
We're not friends. Hell, I barely know him, Lucian thought, his expression hardening. And I plan to keep it that way.
He moved with renewed determination, his focus narrowing. If Kaiden wanted answers, he'd have to wait. Right now, Lucian had a shard to find.
The Encounter
Lucian's thoughts were interrupted by the faint sound of claws scraping against stone. His body tensed, his instincts sharpening as his eyes darted around the cavern. The sound grew louder, closer, until finally, a pair of glowing yellow eyes appeared in the darkness.
A Shadowclaw Panther emerged, its sleek black form blending almost seamlessly with the shadows. Its low growl reverberated through the cavern, and Lucian's sharp eyes quickly caught movement behind it. Another panther appeared. Then another.
"Three of you, huh?" Lucian said quietly, rolling his shoulders. He cracked his neck, his body already shifting into a fighting stance.
The panthers didn't wait for him to make a move. The first one lunged, its claws slashing toward Lucian with deadly precision.
Body Manipulation in Action
Lucian sidestepped the attack with practiced ease, his movements fluid and precise. His right arm bulged unnaturally as he activated his Body Manipulation, the muscles twisting and expanding to an almost grotesque size. With one swift motion, he swung his enhanced fist upward, catching the panther mid-air and sending it crashing into the wall with a sickening crunch.
The second panther was already on him, its claws slicing through the air. Lucian twisted his torso, the muscles in his abdomen shifting unnaturally to absorb the impact as he caught the panther by its throat. With a grunt of effort, he slammed it into the ground, his enhanced strength turning the creature into a lifeless heap.
The third panther hesitated for a moment, its instincts telling it that this wasn't prey—it was a predator. But Lucian didn't give it a chance to flee. The muscles in his legs coiled like springs before launching him forward with explosive speed. He closed the gap in an instant, his hands gripping the panther's head as he twisted sharply.
A loud crack echoed through the cavern.
Lucian exhaled, letting the lifeless body drop to the ground. His breathing was steady, his body already reverting back to its normal proportions.
Kaiden Observes
Unbeknownst to Lucian, Kaiden had been watching. His mismatched eyes narrowed as he leaned closer to the monitor, analyzing every detail.
"His muscles..." Kaiden muttered to himself. Transparent World was active, allowing him to see the intricate Flow patterns in Lucian's body. What he saw made his stomach twist.
The way Lucian's muscles moved wasn't natural. They bulged and shifted in ways that no human body should be able to replicate, almost as if they were alive.
"That's... not normal," Kaiden said under his breath. "He's moving his muscles like they're pieces on a chessboard. What the hell is this guy?"
The guard standing beside Kaiden cleared his throat. "You've seen enough. It's against the rules to observe for too long—it could give you an unfair advantage."
Kaiden sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Fine, fine," he muttered, standing up. But as he walked away, his mind lingered on what he had just seen.
Back to Lucian
Lucian crouched beside one of the dead panthers, his fingers brushing against the creature's sleek fur. The fight had been straightforward, but it served as a reminder of the dangers lurking in the cavern. If these were just the warm-up act, he needed to be ready for whatever came next.
He pressed forward, deeper into the cavern. The air grew heavier, the darkness more oppressive. The faint glow from the rocks on the walls was dimmer here, making it harder to see.
His mind wandered briefly to the obsidian shard. He wasn't even close to finding it yet, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching him—something far more dangerous than the panthers.
The Serpent Emerges
As Lucian rounded a corner, he froze. A low hiss echoed through the cavern, followed by the sound of scales scraping against stone.
From the shadows emerged a massive serpent, its body as thick as a tree trunk and its length disappearing into the darkness. Its eyes glowed with a sinister red light, and its forked tongue flicked out, tasting the air.
Lucian's body tensed, his hands curling into fists as he assessed the situation. The serpent was enormous, its sheer size making it a daunting opponent.
"Well," Lucian muttered, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Guess I'm not getting out of here without a fight."
He shifted into a fighting stance, his muscles already beginning to bulge unnaturally as he activated his Body Manipulation once again. The serpent reared back, its jaws opening wide to reveal rows of razor-sharp fangs.
Lucian's smirk widened. "Bring it."
End of Chapter 65
Lucian's journey through the Crucible of Shadows continues as he faces increasingly dangerous foes. With his abilities and cunning, he's managed to survive so far—but the massive serpent ahead may prove to be his greatest challenge yet.
To be continued...