The campfire crackled softly, its warm light flickering across the clearing as the forest seemed to retreat into the shadows of night. Kenzai sat by the fire, his thoughts swirling like the smoke rising into the sky. His arm—now wrapped in improvised bandages—still tingled faintly from whatever power had coursed through him earlier.
Varek leaned against a tree, sharpening his axe with deliberate, rhythmic strokes. The sound was oddly soothing, a constant amidst Kenzai's turmoil. Finally, unable to keep his questions to himself, Kenzai broke the silence.
"What happened back there?"
Varek didn't look up. "You adapted."
"That's not an answer," Kenzai snapped, his frustration boiling over. "I felt something—something… primal. Like my body wasn't mine anymore."
Varek sighed and set the axe down. "It's yours, all right. But it's also more than that." He gestured toward Kenzai's arm. "You're a Nexophage. Your body isn't static—it's alive in ways you don't understand yet. When you're pushed to the edge, it evolves to survive. Today was just the first step."
Kenzai frowned. "So what? I'm a freak who grows glowing arms?"
"Freak?" Varek chuckled, his voice low and gravelly. "Kid, that 'freak' inside you is the only reason you're still breathing. The more you fight it, the harder it'll be. Embrace it, and you might just become something worth fearing."
Kenzai stared at the flames, his mind replaying the moment when his body had shifted. Was it really something he could control? Or was he just a passenger in his own skin?
---
The next morning, Varek wasted no time.
"Get up," he barked, kicking the edge of Kenzai's bedroll.
Kenzai groaned, his muscles still aching from the previous day. "You're relentless," he muttered, dragging himself upright.
"And you're slow," Varek retorted. "That power you felt yesterday? It's just a spark. If you don't fan it, it'll die out."
"What's the plan this time?" Kenzai asked, rolling his shoulders to shake off the stiffness.
Varek's expression darkened. "We're going deeper into the forest. There's something I want you to face—a real challenge."
Kenzai's stomach twisted. "Define 'real challenge.'"
"You'll know it when you see it," Varek said with a smirk.
---
The forest grew denser as they ventured deeper, the air heavy with moisture and the faint, earthy scent of decay. Sunlight barely pierced the canopy, leaving the undergrowth shrouded in perpetual twilight.
Kenzai's senses were on high alert. Every rustle of leaves, every distant cry of an animal, sent his heart racing. But Varek seemed unfazed, striding confidently through the wilderness.
"Stop," Varek said suddenly, raising a hand.
Kenzai froze, his grip tightening on the new iron blade Varek had given him that morning. It wasn't much better than the wooden sword, but at least it wouldn't shatter on impact.
Varek pointed ahead. "There."
Kenzai followed his gaze and felt his breath catch. In the clearing ahead, a massive creature was crouched, its body partially obscured by the underbrush. It resembled a bear, but its fur was a sickly green, and its flesh seemed to writhe as if alive. Long, jagged spines jutted from its back, and its eyes glowed a sinister red.
"What the hell is that?" Kenzai whispered.
"A Wretched Devourer," Varek replied. "It's been corrupted by something—likely the same kind of power you hold. It's strong, fast, and smart. You're going to kill it."
Kenzai's jaw dropped. "You can't be serious! That thing will rip me apart!"
Varek shrugged. "If you die, then you weren't worth training anyway."
Kenzai glared at him but knew there was no point arguing. Clutching his sword tightly, he stepped into the clearing.
---
The Devourer lifted its head as Kenzai approached, sniffing the air. A low growl rumbled from its throat, and it rose to its full height, towering over him.
"Okay," Kenzai muttered to himself, trying to steady his breathing. "You've got this. Just… don't die."
The Devourer charged without warning, moving with surprising speed for its size. Kenzai barely managed to dodge, the creature's claws carving deep gouges into the ground where he had stood.
He countered with a swing of his blade, but the Devourer's thick hide deflected the blow. It roared, swiping at him with a massive paw. Kenzai ducked, the force of the swing sending a rush of wind past his face.
Focus. Watch its movements.
Kenzai circled the creature, his eyes scanning for a weakness. He noticed that the spines on its back seemed to pulse in rhythm with its breathing. Maybe they were more vulnerable than the rest of its body.
The Devourer lunged again, and this time Kenzai didn't dodge. Instead, he stepped forward, narrowly avoiding its jaws, and drove his blade into one of the spines. The creature howled in pain, thrashing violently and sending him flying backward.
Pain shot through Kenzai's ribs as he hit the ground, but he forced himself to his feet. The Devourer was enraged now, its movements erratic but no less deadly.
As it charged again, something inside Kenzai stirred. His vision sharpened, his hearing heightened. The world seemed to slow as his instincts took over.
---
The Devourer swung a claw, and Kenzai sidestepped effortlessly, bringing his blade down on another spine. The creature roared, its body writhing as greenish-black blood oozed from the wound.
Kenzai felt the same tingling sensation in his arm as before, but this time it spread throughout his body. His muscles tightened, his movements became faster, more precise. It wasn't just instinct anymore—his body was changing, adapting to the fight.
When the Devourer lunged once more, Kenzai didn't retreat. He met its charge head-on, sliding under its massive frame and slashing at its exposed belly. The creature collapsed, its roar fading into a pitiful whimper.
Kenzai stood over it, his chest heaving, and drove his blade into its heart. The Devourer shuddered and fell still.
---
As Kenzai staggered back, his legs threatening to give out, Varek approached, clapping slowly.
"Not bad," Varek said, a hint of approval in his voice. "You're starting to understand."
Kenzai dropped his sword, his body trembling. "I… I didn't think I'd survive that."
"You didn't just survive," Varek said. "You adapted. Your instincts, your body—they're evolving. That's your domain: Adaptation. And today, you've taken the first true step in mastering it."
Kenzai glanced at his hands, which still glowed faintly with that strange green light. For the first time, he didn't feel afraid of it.
"I'm ready for more," he said, his voice steady.
Varek grinned. "Good. Because this is only the beginning."
---