---
The air was thick with smoke. The once-thriving village was now nothing more than a burned ruin, the aftermath of a monstrous rampage. The screams of the villagers had long since faded, replaced by the guttural roars of a beast—a Chimera. Its massive form loomed over the destruction, its serpent-like tail sweeping through the debris and knocking the last of the defenders to the ground.
Kenzai staggered forward, his body bruised and covered in blood. His vision swam, his breath ragged. His comrades—Gareth, Sylra, Kael, and Lyra—had been fighting desperately against the beast, but even their combined efforts were not enough. The Chimera was too powerful, too unpredictable. The group's leader, Gareth, had already fallen, his shield shattered under the beast's relentless attacks.
The others were still alive, but barely. Sylra, the elven archer, fired another arrow, her hands trembling with fatigue. Kael, the rogue, was crouched low, waiting for an opening, his knives glinting in the dim light. Lyra, the mage, stood by, her hands crackling with magical energy, ready to unleash another spell. But the Chimera was not so easily defeated. It roared, its clawed feet slamming into the ground with such force that the earth trembled beneath it.
"I won't let it end like this!" Kenzai shouted, his voice hoarse as he gathered his strength and rushed toward the battle.
But the beast was too quick. With one swipe of its tail, Kael was sent flying through the air, his body crumpling to the ground like a ragdoll. Kenzai's heart sank, but there was no time to mourn. The Chimera turned its attention to Lyra next, and before she could cast a defensive spell, it lunged, its jaws closing around her torso. A sickening crack filled the air as the mage was crushed, her body crumpling like a broken doll.
"No…!" Kenzai's voice was a mixture of anger and despair.
Sylra's arrows kept flying, but the Chimera dodged with unnerving speed. With a flick of its tail, it knocked the last of her arrows aside and charged at her. In a blur, the beast's clawed hands struck out, and in an instant, Sylra was on the ground, blood pouring from her chest. Kenzai could do nothing but watch as his friends were torn apart, one by one.
He had failed them.
[System Alert: Critical Life Status Detected.]
[Emergency Class Awakening Available. Proceed?]
Kenzai collapsed to his knees, unable to process the horror of what had just transpired. The pain in his chest was unbearable, but it was nothing compared to the guilt eating at him. I couldn't save them...
His vision blurred. But even as despair threatened to overtake him, a surge of energy rushed through his body. It wasn't overwhelming—just a sharp, intense feeling, as if something deep inside him was awakening. The earth beneath him trembled, and his muscles tensed involuntarily.
He pushed himself to his feet, barely able to stand. The Chimera was still looming over the remains of his comrades, but it didn't notice him. Not yet.
[Class Unlocked: Primordial Reaver]
Pain shot through his bones as his body began to change. His limbs lengthened, his skin darkened, and jagged, armor-like scales began to form across his body. His eyes burned with a golden light, and his hair twisted into something wild and untamed. His hands grew claws, and his legs grew longer more beastial, spikes grew on his back and his face elongateing to form a dragon like face, he could feel his strength surging—raw and primal.
The transformation was agonizing, but there was no time to focus on the pain. He was aware of his power, but the feeling wasn't like being overwhelmed—it was more like tapping into something he had never used before. A hidden potential that he had yet to fully understand.
The Chimera turned at the sound of his movements. It locked eyes with him, its massive jaws snapping, but Kenzai didn't flinch. His body was filled with a new kind of energy—a different kind of strength.
[Skill Activated: Beastial Instinct]
[Skill Activated: Primal Resilience]
His wounds healed at an accelerated rate, his strength and agility enhanced. He could feel his instincts kicking in. His senses sharpened—he could hear the Chimera's heartbeat, the swish of its tail, the shift of its massive claws. Every movement seemed to slow as Kenzai focused.
With a primal roar, Kenzai charged forward, his new claws slashing through the air. The Chimera reacted quickly, but Kenzai's agility surpassed his previous limits. He ducked under a massive claw strike, rolling forward and sinking his claws into the creature's side. The Chimera howled in pain, but it retaliated with a brutal swipe, sending Kenzai flying through the air.
He hit the ground hard, but his body healed almost instantly. He stood, shaking off the impact, and charged again.
[Skill Activated: Beast's Frenzy]
[Skill Activated: Adaptive Flesh]
This time, Kenzai's strikes were faster, more focused. He avoided the Chimera's claws and teeth, finding small gaps in its thick hide. His Genesis Fang shifted, elongating into a jagged, serrated weapon as he stabbed at the creature's underbelly. The Chimera screeched in agony, but it wasn't enough to bring it down.
The beast's tail lashed out, striking Kenzai squarely in the chest. He was thrown back once more, his body skidding across the rocky ground. He was battered and bruised, but the surge of energy within him refused to die. His transformation was still incomplete, but it was enough to keep him going.
[Skill Activated: Monstrous Howl]
Kenzai roared, the sound echoing through the battlefield. His howl reverberated in the air, and for a moment, the Chimera hesitated. It was disoriented, caught off guard by the force of Kenzai's primal outburst.
This was his chance.
He surged forward again, claws slashing, Genesis Fang flashing. This time, he wasn't just fighting the beast. He was fighting for his fallen comrades—for the life they had lost. With a final, mighty swing, he drove Genesis Fang deep into the Chimera's throat. The creature let out one last, defiant roar before collapsing to the ground in a heap.
The battlefield fell silent, save for the sound of Kenzai's labored breathing. He stood over the beast's carcass, his body still trembling, his heart pounding in his chest.
[Level Up!]
[Level 10 → Level 12]
Stat Points Available: 10
Strength +4
Agility +3
Vitality +3
New Skills Unlocked:
Beastial Resurgence: Regenerate health based on the amount of damage dealt in combat.
Primal Strike: Deliver a devastating blow with enhanced strength and force.
Adaptive Flesh: Kenzai's body adapts to damage types, reducing the effects of harmful attacks.
Kenzai's transformation settled, his body returning to something closer to human, though his features remained wild, untamed. His eyes burned with a golden light as he looked down at the guild badges of his fallen comrades. Gareth, Sylra, Kael, and Lyra—their sacrifice would not be in vain.
He knelt down, taking their badges in his hand, a heavy weight pressing against his chest. He had failed them in so many ways, but he would carry their legacy forward. He had to.
With the Chimera's body lying dead at his feet, Kenzai turned away, leaving the battlefield behind. His next steps would take him back to the Main City, to the guilds, to the academies. He would honor their memory by becoming stronger, by pushing himself further than he had ever gone before.
And in the shadows, the Primordial Reaver would grow.
---
This version of Chapter 21 maintains the emotional weight of Kenzai's loss while also introducing his transformation and new powers in a way that feels earned and not overpowered. He's tested in battle, and the new abilities are framed as something he's gradually learning to control, rather than immediately being overpowering.