Darian stood amidst the ruins of his battle with the lesser orcs, his body thrumming with newfound power. The air was thick with the metallic tang of blood, and the cavern walls bore the marks of his ferocity—deep claw gouges and splatters of crimson. His claws glinted in the dim light, sharper and deadlier than before, as if forged anew by his transformation. His breath came out in slow, steady exhales, though the energy coursing through him made it difficult to remain still.
The chieftain, a massive orc wielding a crude but heavy war hammer, stood across the cavern. Its red eyes gleamed with malice, and its snarling mouth revealed jagged, yellow teeth. The beast slammed its hammer into the ground, creating a small quake as it issued a guttural challenge.
Darian grinned darkly. "You think that will intimidate me?" he muttered, his voice laced with a menacing undertone. "You're nothing but a stepping stone."
In a blur of motion, Darian sprang into the air, his claws extended. The motion was fluid and precise, almost elegant in its lethality. He swung his arms in a wide arc, sending a wave of energy hurtling toward the orc. The chieftain roared and raised its hammer, managing to block the attack, though the force pushed it back a few steps.
With surprising agility for its size, the orc retaliated, swinging the massive hammer down with enough force to shatter stone. The weapon connected with Darian, slamming him into the ground with a deafening crash. Dust and debris erupted from the impact, obscuring him from view.
The orc let out a triumphant growl, leaning its full weight on the hammer to crush the pesky human beneath it. But then, the hammer shifted—no, it was being pushed back. A fierce grip from beneath held the other end of the weapon, threatening to shatter the crude iron.
The chieftain's eyes widened in shock. How could a human hold back such weight?
Darian chuckled as he stood, unbothered by the massive weapon pressing against him. "Weak," he said with a sneer. With a single powerful motion, he threw the hammer upward, forcing the orc to stumble back to regain its balance.
"Hahaha!" Darian's laughter echoed through the cavern, cold and menacing. His confidence was unshakable, his grin predatory.
Unbeknownst to him, a figure watched from the shadows, her eyes wide with a mix of awe and trepidation. She had been observing the battle, her presence concealed, but now she couldn't look away from the monstrous power displayed before her.
"Is that all you've got?" Darian taunted.
The orc snarled in response, gripping its hammer tightly before swinging it again with surprising speed. This time, it caught Darian mid-taunt, sending him hurtling into the cavern wall. The impact created another massive crater, debris raining down around him.
A normal human would have been obliterated by the blow, but Darian merely smiled as his body began to regenerate. His bones cracked back into place, his wounds sealing themselves almost instantly.
"Now that's more like it," he said, wiping blood from his lips. Without hesitation, he launched himself toward the orc in a blur of motion. His claws gleamed like obsidian as they tore through the chieftain's thick hide, sending sprays of dark blood across the cavern.
The orc roared in pain, swinging its hammer in a desperate arc, but Darian danced around the attack effortlessly. The battle escalated, the cavern filled with the sounds of clashing blows, deafening roars, and the wet tearing of flesh.
When the orc raised its hammer again, Darian anticipated the move. He leaped back, avoiding the strike that left another crater in the ground. Without wasting time, he lunged forward, scaling the chieftain's massive arm and tearing through its flesh with ruthless precision. His claws dug deep, shredding sinew and muscle as the orc screamed in agony.
Nearly severed, the chieftain's arm dangled uselessly by its side. It stumbled back, clutching its wounded limb as dark blood poured onto the cavern floor.
"Pathetic," Darian said, his smirk widening. "I thought you'd be more of a challenge."
The orc let out a guttural growl, its remaining hand fumbling for something at its waist. Darian's eyes narrowed as the creature produced a small, black orb pulsing with an ominous energy.
"What's this?" Darian muttered, his curiosity piqued.
The chieftain muttered in its guttural language before swallowing the orb whole. Darian's eyes widened as the transformation began.
The orc's body contorted and expanded grotesquely. Massive horns erupted from its head and back, its teeth elongated into jagged fangs, and its muscles bulged unnaturally. Black veins pulsed beneath its skin as its height increased, nearly brushing the cavern's ceiling.
Darian stared at the abomination with a mix of intrigue and amusement. "So, you've leveled up, huh?" he said. "Let's see if that helps you."
The transformed beast let out an earsplitting roar, its new form radiating raw power. Without warning, it lunged at Darian, swinging its grotesque limbs with blinding speed.
Darian dodged effortlessly, his movements a blur. He countered with a flurry of slashes, his claws cutting through the creature's thick hide. Yet, the beast's durability seemed endless—it absorbed the blows and retaliated with relentless fury.
As the battle raged on, Darian's body began to change. Black-red scales coated his skin, his horns extended further, and wings sprouted from his back.
[Transformation: Level 2]
[Host has taken on a partial transformation]
[Draconic Rage: Max???]
[Power Level: ???]
The system notifications flashed in his mind, but Darian ignored them. All he cared about was the thrill of the fight.
With newfound strength, he launched himself at the beast, slashing through its flesh with unparalleled precision. In a matter of moments, he severed one of its massive arms, sending it crashing to the ground.
The beast let out a pained roar, staring in disbelief at its severed limb.
Darian smirked. "Losing your edge already?"
In desperation, the creature unleashed a new attack. Tendrils of dark energy erupted from its back, whipping through the air with destructive force. One struck the cavern wall, causing chunks of rock to fall.
Darian's eyes narrowed. If this continued, the cavern would collapse.
He darted through the tendrils, cutting through them with ease. The creature roared in frustration, swinging wildly as Darian closed the distance.
"Time to end this," Darian muttered, his body glowing with a golden light. With a single, devastating motion, he plunged his claws into the beast's chest, tearing through muscle and bone.
When he emerged on the other side, he held a massive, pulsating red orb in his hands—the creature's core.
"You're done,"