Raven walked through the dense forest, the sound of leaves crunching beneath his boots echoing softly in the quiet surroundings. The towering trees above blocked out most of the sunlight, casting dark shadows across the forest floor. His crimson eyes scanned the area, sharp and unwavering, as he searched for the source of the strange noises that had been terrifying the villagers.
The silence was broken by a faint rustling in the bushes nearby. Raven stopped immediately, his body tense as he prepared for what was about to come out. His cold stare fixed on the spot, his hand ready to summon his weapons if necessary.
Suddenly, three children burst out of the bushes, laughing and chasing each other without a care in the world.
Raven relaxed slightly, though his expression remained cold and emotionless. He watched as the kids ran around, completely oblivious to his presence at first.
"Hah! I'm gonna catch you this time!" one of the kids shouted, giggling.
"No way! You're too slow!" another replied, their voice filled with excitement.
Raven's gaze narrowed as he observed them. What are kids doing out here?
"Hey," Raven said suddenly, his voice calm but firm. "What are you doing out here?"
The kids stopped abruptly, turning to face him. Their smiles vanished as they froze in place, their wide eyes locking on Raven's cold stare. For a moment, the forest fell silent again.
"W-who are you?" one of the kids stammered nervously.
"Why does he look so scary?" another whispered to their friend.
The bravest of the group stepped forward, puffing out his chest to hide his fear. "We're looking for those growls in the forest!" he declared proudly. "We want to capture the monster! That way, we'll be heroes!"
The other two kids chimed in, laughing and nodding.
"Yeah! We're not scared of any monster!"
"It's probably just a big animal anyway."
Raven's gaze darkened, and his voice turned colder. "Go home. It might be a monster you can't defeat."
The kids stared at him for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"You sound like my mom!" one said, giggling.
"We're fine! You don't need to worry about us!" the brave kid added, spinning around and running further ahead with his friends close behind.
Raven watched them carefully, his expression unchanging, but inside, unease stirred.
"Go home," he said again, more to himself this time. He stood there, unmoving, as the kids ran in circles, still playing and laughing. A faint aura began to radiate off Raven's body—a swirling pressure of his mana that thickened the air around him. The kids didn't notice at first, but Raven's patience ran out.
"GO HOME. NOW."
His voice boomed through the forest, carried by a powerful wave of force. His aura exploded outward, shaking the trees and sending a powerful wind blasting through the area. The children froze in their tracks, their eyes wide with terror. The playful laughter vanished, replaced by the sound of heavy breathing and rustling leaves.
"M-monster! He's a monster!" one of the kids shouted as they turned and bolted back toward the village, their feet pounding against the forest floor.
The other two followed close behind, their screams echoing through the trees. They didn't stop running, glancing over their shoulders to make sure Raven wasn't following them.
Raven stood still, his crimson eyes watching as they disappeared into the distance. The wind settled, and the forest returned to its quiet state.
"Sorry," Raven muttered under his breath, his gaze shifting to the path ahead. "But I can't let you get hurt on my mission."
He turned and continued walking deeper into the forest, his focus returning to the task at hand. Whatever was causing the growls, he would find it—and deal with it.
A couple of hours passed, and Raven heard nothing but the faint sounds of the forest. He kept his senses sharp, but no growls or strange noises disturbed the peace. As the sun began to dip below the horizon, Raven jumped up onto the branches of a large tree. Settling himself on the sturdy limb, he rested his back against the trunk and waited for the night to arrive.
"I'll hear it at night," he murmured to himself. His crimson eyes stared at the horizon as the forest gradually darkened, the bright moon rising high into the sky and illuminating the trees below with silver light.
Six hours passed. The forest was shrouded in shadows, and the silence was so deep it was almost unnerving. The calm and steady rustling of leaves under the night breeze lulled Raven into a light sleep.
Then, a sudden scream pierced the quiet, jolting him awake.
"HELP! GET AWAY! HELP!"
Raven's eyes shot open as he immediately dropped from the branch, landing soundlessly on the ground. He knelt low, his head tilted as he focused on the direction of the scream. The sharp sound of something massive stomping through the forest followed, echoing through the darkness.
"What in the…" Raven muttered, narrowing his eyes. Suddenly, an earth-shaking ROAR erupted from the distance, so loud and powerful that Raven had to clap his hands over his ears.
"What is that?" he growled, gritting his teeth as the roar faded into deep growling noises.
Through the chaos, Raven heard faint voices again—the same children from earlier.
"Help! Somebody help us!"
"GET AWAY!"
Raven's eyes darkened with urgency. "Skill: Sonic Step," he said sharply.
In an instant, Raven vanished, streaking through the forest with incredible speed. Trees blurred past him as he followed the screams, his heart pounding in his chest. Moments later, he appeared at the edge of a large clearing and froze.
In front of a large cave, the three kids huddled together, their faces streaked with tears and dirt as they screamed for help. Towering over them, blocking any escape, was a massive horned beast.
Raven's eyes widened slightly as he stared at the creature.
"A Minotaur?" he muttered under his breath. The monster was enormous, standing at least ten feet tall with rippling muscles and two sharp, curved horns glowing faintly under the moonlight. Its deep, guttural growls echoed through the clearing as it slammed its massive axe into the ground, sparks flying.
Raven quickly muttered, "Skill: Appraisal."
A blue status screen appeared in front of him, displaying the creature's level and abilities. His expression darkened as he read it.
Name: Minotaur Level: 49 Strength: Extreme Skills:
Charge
Earth Slam
Roaring Intimidation
Axe Tornado
Groundquake Stomp
Unrelenting Fury
"It's… stronger than me," Raven said softly, his voice laced with disbelief.
The Minotaur let out another deafening roar, raising its axe high as the kids screamed again.
Raven clenched his fists, his crimson eyes glowing faintly in the dark.
Raven didn't know what to do. The Minotaur towering in front of him was stronger than anything he had faced before. For the first time since coming to this world, a chill of fear gripped his heart. His forehead was slick with sweat, beads of it rolling down as his eyes darted between the monster and the terrified children.
What do I do? he thought, his mind racing. It's stronger than me. I can't win. I can't fight this thing…
The Minotaur let out another earth-shaking growl, its glowing eyes fixed on the three children who had huddled together in the cave. The kids were crying, their terrified screams piercing through Raven's spiraling thoughts.
"Help us! Please!" one of them sobbed, reaching toward Raven.
"You said you'd help us!" another screamed.
Raven snapped his gaze to the kids, his chest tightening as he watched their tear-streaked faces. The monster raised its massive fist, claws flexing as it stomped forward. Raven's heart pounded in his ears.
Suddenly, a memory flooded his mind—a younger version of himself, trapped in the wreckage of the car. Tears streamed down his face as he reached out for his parents, his voice breaking from the desperation.
Please, someone help… Mom, Dad…
The vision burned into his mind like a scar, and something inside him snapped. His crimson eyes glowed fiercely, and a surge of energy pulsed through his body. His fear melted into raw determination.
"No," Raven growled under his breath, his voice growing louder with each word. "I won't let it happen again."
He raised his arms and shouted with all his might.
"Skill: Root Constrictor!"
The ground trembled violently. Cracks splintered across the forest floor as thick, gnarled roots burst upward, surging toward the Minotaur. The massive beast roared in surprise as the roots coiled around its limbs, pulling taut and anchoring it in place. It struggled, muscles bulging as it fought against its bindings, but the roots held firm—for now.
"RUN! NOW!" Raven bellowed at the children, his voice sharp and commanding.
The kids hesitated for a moment, but the urgency in his tone snapped them out of their shock. They scrambled out of the cave, running as fast as their legs could carry them toward Raven.
"Keep going!" Raven shouted, his focus still on the Minotaur.
The beast let out a furious roar as its raw strength began tearing the roots apart. Raven's eyes widened as he saw it break free, its massive body lunging forward with terrifying speed.
"No!" Raven yelled, his voice cracking with desperation.
The Minotaur's fist came crashing down toward one of the children. Without thinking, Raven activated his skill.
"Skill: Sonic Step!"
In an instant, Raven vanished and reappeared next to the child. With a surge of adrenaline, he grabbed the boy and threw him to the side, sending him tumbling safely toward the other children.
"RUN!" Raven screamed again.
The Minotaur's fist slammed into Raven instead, the impact sending a shockwave through the ground. Raven was hurled backward, skidding across the dirt and crashing hard into a tree. The air was forced from his lungs, and he gasped, spitting out saliva as pain wracked his body.
He slumped against the base of the tree, struggling to breathe. His vision blurred slightly as he tried to push himself up, his entire body aching.
"He's… strong," Raven stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. He coughed, forcing air back into his lungs, and clenched his fists.
I can't let it end here… he thought, his glowing crimson eyes lifting toward the hulking beast that loomed over him.
The Minotaur brought its massive fist up, muscles rippling, and slammed it down toward Raven with devastating force.
"Skill: Sonic Step!" Raven yelled, vanishing just before the attack landed. He reappeared a short distance away, but the force of his own skill left him tumbling to the ground, still reeling from the effects of the Minotaur's earlier blow. His breathing was ragged, and pain coursed through his body, but he gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand.
Before he could fully regain his composure, the Minotaur appeared in front of him again, its hulking frame charging with terrifying speed.
"Skill: Unrelenting Fury!" it roared, its movements blurring as it unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks.
Raven's mind raced. I need to counter this…
"Skill: Blazing Fury!" he shouted, his body igniting in fiery energy as he met the Minotaur's assault head-on. The two clashed in a violent exchange, their attacks colliding with explosive force, each strike shaking the ground beneath them. Raven blocked and parried with everything he had, but the Minotaur's sheer strength kept him on the defensive.
Desperate, Raven made his move.
"Three-Combo Skill: Root Constrictor + Quill Storm + Infernal Roar!" he yelled.
The ground erupted as massive roots shot up, coiling around the Minotaur. Simultaneously, a storm of razor-sharp quills rained down from above, piercing its hide, followed by a deafening roar that sent waves of fire surging toward the beast. The combined attack detonated with a massive explosion, sending dust and wind blasting through the forest.
Raven shielded his face from the shockwave, his heart pounding. As the dust began to settle, he stared into the cloud of debris, trying to see if his attack had worked.
"Did I do it?" he muttered, his voice shaky.
But then, out of the swirling dust, the Minotaur emerged, charging toward him at full speed, its glowing eyes locked onto him.
Raven's eyes widened in shock.
"No way…" he whispered, quickly yelling, "Skill: Iron Guard!"
A shimmering barrier formed around him just as the Minotaur rammed into him with unstoppable force. The impact shattered the barrier and sent Raven flying backward, crashing through trees like a ragdoll. He skidded across the ground, finally slamming into a stone wall with a sickening thud. Blood spurted from his mouth as he collapsed to the ground, embedded in the wall.
Pain wracked his entire body. He struggled to move, gasping for air as he coughed up blood. His regeneration ability kicked in, but it was slow—too slow.
"What… the hell was that?" Raven rasped, his voice weak. Summoning the last of his strength, he muttered, "Skill: Heal." A soft glow enveloped him, and his wounds began to close, but the healing was sluggish, barely keeping up with the damage.
Lying on his back, Raven stared up at the night sky, trying to catch his breath. His vision blurred, but he could make out something in the air. His eyes widened in horror as he realized what it was.
The Minotaur had leapt high into the air, its massive axe raised above its head, preparing to bring it down with devastating force.
"Skill: Earth Slam!" the beast roared, descending rapidly.
Raven's mind raced. He couldn't outrun this. He couldn't block it. But then an idea struck him. Summoning what little energy he had left, he shouted, "Skill: Root Constructor!"
Thick roots burst from the ground and coiled around Raven, yanking him backward just as the Minotaur's axe slammed into the earth. The impact created a massive shockwave, uprooting trees and sending debris flying in all directions. The force of the shockwave caught Raven as he was pulled to safety, hurling him into a nearby tree. He hit the trunk hard, pain flaring through his body.
"What the hell…" Raven groaned, slumping to the ground. His crimson eyes flickered as he looked at the towering figure of the Minotaur through the chaos. "This is… truly a monster."
Let it be continued...