The Minotaur roared as it activated its skill, Axe Tornado, spinning its massive weapon with terrifying speed. The force of the swirling wind tore through the forest, uprooting trees and sending debris flying in all directions. Raven, lying weakened on the ground, barely managed to materialize his special sword in time. The glowing blade appeared in his trembling hand, its presence giving him a faint glimmer of hope.
When the Minotaur charged at him, Raven braced himself, gripping the hilt tightly. The two clashed in a deafening impact, the force of the blow resonating through the area. To Raven's shock, his sword absorbed the brunt of the attack, its energy resonating with his own.
A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "You… won't take me down so easily."
But the Minotaur wasn't done. It snarled and stomped its massive hooves into the ground, activating Groundquake Stomp. The earth beneath Raven's feet shattered and shook violently, throwing him off balance. He collapsed, struggling to stand as the tremors intensified.
The monster leapt into the air, its hulking frame soaring over 100 feet high. With a guttural roar, it activated a deadly combo skill: Roaring Intimidation + Earth Slam. The sky seemed to darken as the Minotaur descended, its massive axe poised to crush everything beneath it.
Raven's eyes widened in terror. He tried to move, but his body refused to respond. Fear gripped him as the ground quaked beneath the force of the incoming attack. He felt utterly powerless.
"No… I can't…" he muttered weakly. His mind was a whirlwind of despair and regret.
Then, like a tide washing over him, memories of his family flooded his thoughts. Moments of laughter, joy, and warmth played in his mind—his mother's gentle smile, his father's encouraging words. But those happy memories were quickly overshadowed by the image of the accident: the twisted wreckage, the lifeless bodies of his parents, and the overwhelming guilt that had haunted him ever since.
Tears streamed down his face as he whispered weakly, "I'm sorry… I'm sorry…" The words became a mantra, repeated over and over as the Minotaur drew closer, its deadly attack imminent.
Through his tears, he smiled bitterly, his hand trembling as it reached for the bracelet on his wrist—a keepsake from his mother. He clutched it tightly, his voice breaking. "I tried, Mom. I'm sorry I let you down."
Raven closed his eyes, resigned to his fate. He waited for the end.
But then… a voice pierced through the darkness. Familiar, warm, and filled with love.
"Raven… don't give up."
His eyes shot open, his heart pounding. Another voice joined in, firm and resolute.
"The accident was not your fault. You survived for a reason."
Images of his parents appeared before him, their faces radiant with encouragement. His mother's gentle eyes met his own as she smiled. "Stay alive, Raven. Show the world who you are."
His father's voice rang clear, powerful. "You are strong. You are our son. Wake up, Raven Cross, and fight!"
Something inside Raven snapped, a surge of energy coursing through his body. A familiar ding echoed in his mind, followed by another.
Two glowing blue status screens appeared before him, their text shimmering with light. His eyes widened as he read the words:
Ultimate Skill: Phoenix Ascension
Ultimate Form: Abyssal Rebirth
Ultimate Skill: Phoenix Ascension
Description: An unparalleled skill that channels the power of rebirth and destruction. When activated, it engulfs the user in fiery energy, healing all wounds instantly and enhancing combat capabilities exponentially for a limited time.
Effects: Restores 100% of health upon activation. Multiplies attack power, speed, and endurance by 5x. Grants immunity to debuffs and status ailments. Creates a fiery aura that deals continuous damage to nearby enemies.
Duration: 10 minutes. Cooldown: 24 hours.
Ultimate Form: Abyssal Rebirth
Description: The pinnacle of transformation, this form embodies the balance between light and darkness. It enhances all abilities to their maximum potential and grants access to unique, devastating techniques.
Effects: Boosts all attributes by 300%. Unlocks exclusive skills:
Abyssal Wings: Grants flight and enhanced agility.
Void Slash: A blade attack that tears through dimensions, bypassing all defenses.
Eternal Resilience: Regenerates health and stamina rapidly during combat. Strengthens all active and passive skills. Generates a protective barrier that absorbs a portion of incoming damage.
Duration: 15 minutes. Cooldown: 48 hours.
Descriptions and details flooded his vision, the power they promised unlike anything he had ever imagined. His grip on his sword tightened as his crimson eyes blazed with renewed determination.
"Let's see what I'm truly capable of," he muttered, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Then Raven smiled, his crimson eyes glowing with fierce determination. Taking a deep breath, he roared, "Skill: Phoenix Ascension!"
Suddenly, fiery energy erupted around him, illuminating the battlefield with blinding brilliance. The intense flames blinded the Minotaur, causing it to shift its weight and stumble to the side, narrowly missing a collision with a massive boulder. It shook its head and quickly regained its footing, turning its glowing red eyes toward Raven.
The Minotaur watched in awe and fury as Raven stood tall amidst the blazing inferno. Raven's voice boomed across the clearing, "Ultimate Form: Abyssal Rebirth!"
Dark and fiery energy radiated from Raven's body, swirling and intertwining as his form began to change. His aura grew darker yet more radiant, an intimidating combination of shadow and fire. After a few moments, the light receded, revealing Raven's transformed appearance. His new form exuded raw power and majesty, his crimson eyes burning brighter than ever.
Stretching out his hand, he commanded, "Come to me… Eclipsing Fang!"
A magnificent sword materialized in his grasp, its blade pulsating with dark and fiery energy. In his other hand, he held his secondary blade, equally lethal and brimming with shadowy power. Raven's smile widened as he turned his gaze toward the Minotaur.
"Bring it on, ugly!" he taunted.
The Minotaur let out an enraged roar and charged toward Raven, its massive axe swinging with deadly precision. But Raven stood his ground, unfazed by the monster's speed and strength. As the beast closed in, he calmly muttered, "Sword Combo Skill: Void Slash + Shadow Edge."
In an instant, Raven vanished, his speed so overwhelming that he seemed to disappear entirely. The next moment, he reappeared behind the Minotaur, his swords cutting through the air in synchronized precision. The Minotaur froze mid-charge, its body trembling as deep slashes appeared across its massive frame. Dark energy radiated from the wounds, consuming the creature from within.
The towering beast staggered, attempting to take another step forward, but its strength failed. It collapsed to the ground with a thunderous crash, defeated.
Raven approached the fallen monster, his expression calm and resolute. He raised one of his swords and swiftly severed the Minotaur's two horns, holding them up as proof of his victory. Then, extending his hand over the lifeless body, he invoked his next skill.
"Skill: Abyssal Devourer!"
A swirling vortex of greyish-black energy emerged from Raven's palm, engulfing the Minotaur's remains. Within moments, the beast was entirely consumed, leaving no trace behind. As the skill completed, a series of dings echoed in Raven's mind. A glowing blue screen appeared before him, displaying multiple notifications:
You have leveled up!
New skills acquired!
Skills evolving!
The rush of newfound power coursed through Raven's body as his ultimate form began to dissipate. Returning to his regular state, he felt the exhaustion from the intense battle catch up with him. He placed a hand over his chest, where the cancer had once threatened his life, and whispered, "I'm still here."
His vision blurred, and his body grew heavy. Unable to fight the fatigue any longer, Raven collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Raven looked around, surrounded by an endless black void. His voice echoed as he muttered, "Did I die again? I guess I wasn't strong enough…"
Suddenly, the black void shattered, replaced by a radiant and colorful white void. Raven's eyes widened in shock as he struggled to comprehend the change.
"What's happening?" he whispered.
Then, he heard voices—familiar voices that stopped him in his tracks.
"Hello, son."
Raven froze, his body stiff as stone. Slowly, he turned his head, and there they were: two familiar figures. His heart clenched as he stuttered weakly, "Mom… Dad?"
His parents smiled warmly. His mother spoke softly, her voice filled with love. His father chuckled, his laughter resonating through the void.
Tears welled up in Raven's eyes as he shouted, "Mom! Dad!" He dashed toward them with all his might. His parents opened their arms, laughing as he leapt into their embrace. They hugged him tightly, their warmth washing over him like a tidal wave of comfort.
His mother teased gently, "What is this hug for?"
His father laughed, ruffling Raven's hair. "You've grown, son. You've become strong."
Raven didn't respond with words but clung to them, tears streaming down his cheeks as he smiled. His mother looked at him with concern.
"Why are you crying?" she asked softly.
Raven pulled back slightly, wiping his tears with trembling hands. "I missed you… I missed you both so much."
They smiled warmly, pulling him back into their embrace. "We missed you too, Raven," they said in unison.
After a moment, they gently let him go. Raven's tears dried, but his heart still ached. He asked quietly, "Am I dead? Am I in heaven with you now?"
His parents exchanged a glance before shaking their heads.
"No, son," his mother said. "This is a vision. You're still alive."
Raven's shoulders slumped slightly. "Oh… okay," he said, his voice tinged with sadness.
His father wrapped an arm around him, laughing heartily. "Don't be sad, my boy. You won a fight! Be proud of yourself. Hahaha, you're just like your old man!"
Raven chuckled despite himself. "Yeah… I guess I'm like you, Pops."
His mother stepped forward, her gaze soft but commanding. "Raven, look at me."
He turned to her, his crimson eyes meeting hers. "Yes, Mother?"
She placed her hands gently on his face. "You are kind, sweet, and loving. You're our son. I'm so sorry you've carried so much pain for so long."
His father nodded, his voice filled with regret. "We weren't there for you, and for that, we're sorry."
Raven stuttered, his voice breaking. "It's not your fault… I shouldn't have survived…"
Before he could finish, his father's voice boomed. "Shut up about that, you punk!" He knocked Raven lightly on the head.
"Ouch! What was that for, you brute?" Raven said, rubbing his head.
His mother held his face again, forcing him to look at her. "It's not your fault, Raven Cross. It was never your fault."
His father crossed his arms, his expression firm but loving. "That's right, son. It was fate that you survived. You were meant to live."
Raven's eyes filled with tears again as he whispered, "Mom… Dad…"
His mother smiled. "Let your heart grow, Raven. Open it to others. Let someone care for you. Let someone love you."
His father grinned. "Become the person you were meant to be. Open your heart. Be happy, silly, selfless, and caring—the way you always were before."
Raven's tears spilled over as he looked at them both. His parents began to step back, their forms glowing faintly.
"Take care of yourself," they said together. "Show the world who Raven Cross from the Cross family truly is."
Raven smiled through his tears, his determination shining in his crimson eyes. "Yes, Mother. Yes, Father. I promise."
With that, the vision faded, and Raven opened his eyes to the real world. He found himself lying in a bed, staring at the ceiling. Sitting up, he placed a hand on his chest and smiled softly.
"Thank you, Mother. Thank you, Father," he said.
Let it be continued...