Kaiden's Thoughts
Back in the familiar dim light of the training room, Kaiden stood shirtless in front of a mirror, his mismatched eyes fixed on his reflection. He flexed his arms experimentally, watching the muscles ripple beneath his skin. Despite his growing strength, his physique was lean and efficient—not the grotesque, shifting monstrosity he had witnessed in Lucian.
The image of Lucian's distorted muscles replayed in his mind, and Kaiden grimaced, his stomach twisting at the memory. "Muscles aren't supposed to move like that," he muttered to himself. "It's... unnatural."
He turned away from the mirror and began pacing the room, his thoughts spiraling. Transparent World had shown him the truth—Lucian's body didn't follow the normal rules of anatomy. His muscles seemed alive, shifting and bulging in ways that defied reason.
But the unease Kaiden felt wasn't rooted in fear or jealousy. It was something deeper, something primal. "What kind of person has a body like that?" Kaiden wondered aloud.
He shook his head, running a hand through his dark hair. What am I even doing, thinking about him so much? He realized he didn't view Lucian as an enemy—at least not yet.
"Lucian hasn't done anything to me," Kaiden admitted quietly, "and even his father… I already got my revenge." His voice grew firmer. "The only ones I have a problem with are the raiders who attacked my village. They're the real enemy."
Kaiden clenched his fists, the old anger bubbling up inside him. But he forced himself to take a deep breath. Focus, Kaiden. You're here for a reason. Worry about Lucian later.
Training Resumes
Determined not to waste any more time, Kaiden stepped into the center of the room. He activated Transparent World, his mismatched eyes glowing faintly as he analyzed his own body. The familiar web of veins, muscles, and Flow energy came into view, and he quickly identified the areas that needed work.
His right arm still lagged slightly in strength compared to his left, a subtle imbalance from overusing Vanguard's Grip forms during previous battles. His core muscles were strong, but his endurance—especially for prolonged fights—left much to be desired.
Kaiden grabbed a weighted bar and began a series of grueling exercises, focusing on building his weaker areas. He alternated between physical training and Flow-enhanced exercises, pushing his body to its limits.
Sweat dripped down his face as he worked through the routine, the burn in his muscles a welcome distraction from his thoughts. "Just keep moving," he muttered to himself, his breath coming in short bursts. "Keep getting stronger."
Lucian vs. The Hell Viper
Meanwhile, deep in the heart of the Crucible of Shadows, Lucian Kasir stood face-to-face with a monstrous serpent. The Hell Viper towered over him, its thick, scaled body coiled around the cavern. Its eyes glowed an ominous crimson, and its forked tongue flicked out, tasting the air.
Lucian stared at the beast, his lips curling into a smirk despite the danger. "You're big," he said, rolling his shoulders. "But size isn't everything."
The Hell Viper let out a deafening hiss and lunged, its massive jaws snapping toward Lucian with terrifying speed.
The Battle
Lucian's body moved before his mind could fully register the attack. His legs bulged unnaturally as he activated Body Manipulation, enhancing his speed and agility. He sidestepped the viper's strike, the wind from its attack whipping past him as its jaws slammed into the ground.
The impact sent tremors through the cavern, and Lucian stumbled slightly before regaining his footing. The serpent's tail lashed out, and Lucian barely managed to duck under the massive appendage.
"Fast for something your size," Lucian muttered, his muscles shifting again. His arms swelled as he leaped onto the serpent's back, his fingers gripping the scales tightly.
The Hell Viper thrashed violently, its body writhing as it tried to shake him off. Lucian held on, his enhanced strength allowing him to maintain his grip. He climbed toward the beast's head, his mind racing as he tried to figure out a way to take it down.
"Your scales are tough," Lucian muttered, his sharp eyes scanning the creature's body. "But everyone has a weak spot."
The Weak Point
Using his eyes which he enlarged with body manipulation, Lucian focused his vision on the serpent's scales. He could see the weaker scales through its body, concentrated heavily near its neck and head.
"There," Lucian said, a grin spreading across his face.
He shifted his grip and lunged forward, his enhanced arm driving a fist into the base of the serpent's skull. The impact reverberated through the cavern, and the Hell Viper let out an ear-splitting screech.
But the beast wasn't done yet. It coiled its body and launched itself into the air, slamming Lucian into the cavern wall. The impact knocked the wind out of him, and he dropped to the ground, gasping for breath.
"Okay," Lucian muttered, coughing as he pushed himself to his feet. "You're tougher than I thought."
The Hell Viper lunged again, its jaws wide open. Lucian's legs bulged as he activated Body Manipulation once more, propelling himself forward. He ducked under the serpent's head and slid across the ground, coming to a stop behind it.
With a roar, Lucian leaped onto the serpent's back again. This time, he didn't hesitate. His muscles swelled to monstrous proportions as he wrapped his arms around the beast's neck and began to squeeze.
The Killing Blow
The Hell Viper thrashed and writhed, its movements growing more frantic as Lucian tightened his grip. Its glowing red eyes dimmed slightly, and its hisses turned into strangled gasps.
Lucian gritted his teeth, every muscle in his body straining as he poured all his strength into the hold. "You're done," he growled through clenched teeth.
With one final surge of power, Lucian snapped the beast's neck. The Hell Viper let out a final, pitiful screech before collapsing to the ground, its massive body going limp.
Lucian rolled off the creature, his chest heaving as he sat on the ground, staring at the lifeless serpent.
The Reward
A familiar chime echoed in Lucian's ears, and the translucent blue screen of his system appeared before him.
[System Notification]
Congratulations! You have defeated the Hell Viper.
Reward: +0.8 Free Stat Points
Lucian's lips curled into a satisfied smirk. "Not bad," he muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow.
He stood up, his body aching but his mind sharp. Without hesitation, he crouched down and began digging into the serpent's body, searching for what he had come for. After a few moments, his fingers brushed against something hard and smooth.
Pulling it free, he found a large, black shard of obsidian, its surface shimmering faintly in the dim light.
"Finally," Lucian said, slipping the shard into his storage.
He stood and stretched, his smirk widening as he began walking out of the cavern. The rush of victory filled his veins, and for the first time in a while, he felt genuinely happy.
End of Chapter 66
Lucian emerges victorious after a brutal battle with the Hell Viper, his cunning and enhanced strength proving to be the key to survival. But as the Crucible of Shadows continues, the true challenges are only beginning.
To be continued...