The concept of a "Chosen" carried weight—an unspoken reverence that sent shivers down spines. These weren't ordinary warriors. They were the ones who transcended limits, breaking through the E-SSS++ ranks with raw talent and divine blessings. The whispers said that they were chosen by the gods themselves, their power unparalleled. Yet, no Chosen had ever reached the second floor of the Land of the Beginning. Not one.
That thought should've comforted the monster.
But it didn't.
Luceon stood before him, emanating a pressure so suffocating it felt like the air itself had been replaced with lead. His gaze was piercing, his stance unyielding. The air crackled with unspoken challenge.
The monster's instincts flared. A primal fear clawed at the edges of its mind. What is this overwhelming aura?! It gritted its teeth, shaking off the growing panic. It couldn't afford to show weakness.
"You think you're special because you're a Chosen?" the monster spat, its voice laced with arrogance. "You're not the only one blessed by the gods."
Its clawed hands trembled slightly as it raised them, summoning a maelstrom of red lightning that crackled and hissed with raw energy. The bolts spiraled around its massive frame, lighting up the battlefield in flashes of crimson. The creature's already imposing figure seemed to swell, muscles bulging as the ground beneath it cracked and caved under the weight of its power.
"Abdonimi!" it roared, its voice echoing like thunder.
The transformation was complete. The monster stood taller now, its form radiating unrestrained energy. Red lightning danced along its skin, tearing apart the ground wherever it struck. Its eyes glowed with a sinister light, locking onto Luceon with predatory intensity.
But Luceon didn't flinch.
Instead, he smirked. It wasn't a kind smile, nor one of relief. It was the grin of a man who knew he was about to dismantle whatever stood in his way.
"Thanks for the info," Luceon said, his voice calm yet biting. Then his eyes narrowed, and his tone dropped, heavy with intent. "But I don't need advice from a dead monster."
The words hung in the air like a challenge, a declaration of dominance that sent a visible ripple of tension through the monster.
And then Luceon moved.
His right arm, coated in glowing magma, flared to life. The molten rock dripped in fiery streaks, each drop hissing and steaming as it hit the ground. The heat radiating from his arm distorted the air around him, turning his silhouette into a wavering mirage.
With a sharp exhale, he dashed forward, his speed leaving scorch marks in his wake. His magma-covered fist cocked back, ready to deliver a blow that could level a mountain.
The monster's eyes narrowed. It snarled, raising its hands to summon a towering wall of red lightning. The electric barrier erupted from the ground, crackling violently as it stood between Luceon and its creator.
BOOM!
Luceon's fist collided with the barrier in an explosion of heat and energy. The impact sent shockwaves rippling outward, shaking the ground and scattering debris. The heat from his magma clashed with the electricity, creating a dense cloud of steam that quickly enveloped the battlefield.
Shhhhhh…
The sound of the steam dissipating filled the silence. The once-clear battlefield was now a murky haze, blinding both combatants.
Luceon's eyes darted through the mist, searching for his opponent. He stepped cautiously, his magma arm glowing faintly to light his path.
But the monster was already one step ahead.
BZZZT!
A bolt of red lightning tore through the mist, heading straight for Luceon.
"Shit!" Luceon cursed, twisting his body to the side. The bolt whizzed past him, missing by mere inches, and slammed into the ground with a deafening crack.
Before he could catch his breath, another bolt came hurtling toward him, this time from his blind spot.
"SHI—!"
BZZZT!
The second strike hit him square in the stomach.
Luceon's eyes widened in shock as the force of the impact knocked him backward. He crashed to the ground, his body skidding across the dirt before coming to a stop.
Cough!
He spat out blood, his breaths ragged and uneven. Pain radiated from his abdomen, sharp and unrelenting. He pressed a hand to his stomach, his fingers trembling.
Damn it… He gritted his teeth, frustration boiling in his chest. Even with all my elements active, I still can't beat him?
His mind raced as he tried to strategize. Even Reversion can't keep up with his attacks. What the hell is this guy?!
The monster's heavy footsteps echoed through the clearing as it approached, each step deliberate and menacing. Its lightning aura crackled louder, its confidence growing with every inch it closed.
Luceon struggled to push himself up, his body trembling under the strain.
The monster stopped a few feet away, its hulking form looming over Luceon like a shadow of death. Its jagged teeth glinted as it grinned, savoring its apparent victory.
"You thought you could defeat me?" it sneered, its voice dripping with mockery. "Pathetic."
It stepped closer, crouching slightly to meet Luceon's gaze. Its red eyes burned with sadistic glee as it studied him.
"Go ahead," it taunted, its tone soft yet venomous. "Get up. Try again. I'd love to see you struggle."
Luceon's breathing slowed as he clenched his fists. The magma on his right arm flickered weakly, its glow dimming.
But the flames in his heart burned brighter than ever.
The monster tilted its head, its grin widening.
"Or you could just stay down and accept your fate," it said with a chuckle. "You'd save us both a lot of time."
Luceon didn't respond. Instead, he closed his eyes, focusing on the faint flicker of power that still lingered within him.
Krashmiln Activated.]
The words floated in his mind like a whisper, distant yet piercing.
Luceon's knees buckled as a wave of pain surged through his body, originating from the gaping wound in his stomach. His breath hitched, ragged and shallow, as if the very air was too heavy to inhale.
What the…?
His vision blurred, the edges of the world smearing together like a watercolor painting left out in the rain. The pain intensified with each passing second, gnawing at his consciousness. He could feel himself slipping.
Darkness crept in, swallowing him whole.
"...Am I dead?"
The words tumbled out of Luceon's mouth, half a whisper, half a plea. His voice sounded foreign to his own ears, echoing in the void.
[Do you wish to activate Krashmiln?]
The system's voice wasn't a question—it was a challenge. A warning wrapped in neutrality.
"Yes," Luceon rasped, his voice trembling but resolute. "If it can make me win this fight… I don't want to lose here."
There was no hesitation in his words, only determination.
[Krashmiln will automatically adapt to your emotions. What I mean is, the emotions you once held in the past.]
The system's response struck a nerve.
Luceon froze. His stomach churned, not from pain this time, but from the weight of the statement. The past wasn't a place he liked to visit—not even in his thoughts.
The past? The phrase clawed at the back of his mind, dragging with it memories he had buried long ago. You're really making me remember this now…?
His hands clenched into fists, the pain in his body momentarily forgotten as anger and confusion bubbled to the surface.
"Yes," Luceon said, louder this time. His voice echoed through the void, firm and unyielding. "I accept."
[This is the path you've chosen. This action will have consequences.]
The words hung in the air for a moment before the void itself seemed to respond.
A brilliant light engulfed Luceon, so bright it burned his retinas, forcing his eyes shut. The heat was overwhelming, searing into his skin, his very soul.
And then, just as suddenly as it appeared, the light was gone.
"..!?"
The monster's eyes widened, the once cocky smirk wiped clean off its face. Its sharp claws twitched involuntarily as a shiver ran down its spine. Just how powerful is this guy going to get?!
When the smoke cleared, Luceon stood there, his appearance transformed.
His black hair had grown longer, the strands falling past his shoulders, shimmering with an otherworldly sheen. His eyes, once sharp and calculating, now glowed with a golden intensity that seemed to pierce through the very fabric of existence. A glowing blue mark etched itself onto his face, starting from just beneath his right eye and snaking down to his chin like a crack in porcelain. The mark pulsed faintly, as if alive, radiating an energy that made the air hum.
The aura around him was suffocating. Not just powerful, but commanding—an overwhelming force of nature that demanded submission.
Luceon's lips curled into a smirk. I won't lose this time. I won't run away anymore.
"ABDONIMI!"
The monster roared, launching a red lightning bolt straight at Luceon. The bolt crackled through the air, the energy within it so intense that the ground beneath its path split and burned.
Bang!
The bolt collided with Luceon head-on, the impact sending a shockwave rippling through the battlefield. Dust and smoke billowed into the air, obscuring everything in its wake.
For a moment, there was silence.
And then the smoke cleared.
Luceon stood exactly where he had been, untouched. His expression hadn't even flinched, and the golden glow in his eyes burned brighter, almost mocking the monster's attempt.
The monster's jaw dropped.
"What…?"
Luceon rolled his shoulders, the blue mark on his face glowing faintly with each movement.
"I learned something from this fight," he said, his voice calm but cutting. "Never underestimate your opponent."
He raised his hand, the energy swirling around him shifting.
"Abdonimi," he commanded, his voice ringing with authority.
The monster's eyes widened in disbelief. H-how?!
Before the creature could comprehend what had happened, a bolt of red lightning appeared beside Luceon, identical to its own attack.
"No," the monster whispered, stepping back. Its fear was palpable now, seeping into its every movement. "How can he do that?!"
Luceon smirked, the bolt crackling with energy as it floated effortlessly at his side.
"Let's see who does it better," he said, flicking his wrist.
Shnng!
The bolt launched forward, slicing through the air with a deafening roar. The sheer speed of it was mind-boggling, far surpassing the monster's original attack.
The creature barely had time to react.
Shit! Its thoughts spiraled into chaos. It's too fast! Too strong!
The monster raised its hands, summoning a wall of lightning in desperation. The barrier erupted in front of it, crackling violently as it attempted to block the incoming attack.
BOOM!
The bolt tore through the barrier like it was paper, its energy overwhelming and unrelenting.
It struck the monster directly, pulverizing its left arm in an instant.
"AGHHHH!"
The creature screamed in agony, clutching the stump where its arm had been moments ago. Sparks of red lightning flickered uselessly around the wound, unable to heal the damage.
Blood splattered across the battlefield, pooling beneath the monster's trembling form.
The creature's eyes darted toward Luceon, its once-arrogant demeanor now replaced with sheer terror.
Shit… he's going to kill me.
It staggered backward, its remaining hand gripping its injured shoulder. Panic consumed its thoughts as it desperately searched for a way out.
"Then I have no choice!"
The monster's voice was filled with desperation as it raised its head, its remaining arm trembling.
"DEATH'S EYE!"
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
A crushing pressure filled the air, heavier than anything Luceon had felt before. It wasn't just power—it was malice, pure and unfiltered. The monster's remaining eye glowed with a dark, menacing light, its gaze alone enough to make the ground beneath it crack and crumble.