Chereads / Master of Zero / Chapter 3 - Chapter 3 - Baptism by Fire

Chapter 3 - Chapter 3 - Baptism by Fire

The beast's roar shook the air, its massive frame twisting toward Zane with a speed that seemed impossible for something so large. Crimson eyes locked on him, and Zane froze, his grip on the dagger tightening as if it were his only lifeline.

"Move, idiot!" the rogue's voice snapped through the chaos.

Zane didn't move fast enough.

The monster lunged, claws tearing through the cobblestones where he'd stood a moment before. He stumbled backward, falling hard onto the ground, the impact jarring his senses.

A blur of movement shot past him—a streak of black leather and silver steel. The rogue was on the beast in an instant, her twin daggers gleaming as she slashed at its legs.

"Stay out of the way if you don't want to die!" she barked, narrowly dodging the beast's counterattack.

Zane scrambled to his feet, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst from his chest. The adrenaline coursing through him made his thoughts scatter, but one thing was clear: this wasn't over.

The adventurers had regrouped, their shouts cutting through the chaos. The swordsman, bloodied but resolute, charged at the beast again, his broadsword glowing faintly with magical energy. The glacial mage, her face pale but determined, conjured another spell, her voice steady despite her visible exhaustion.

"Chain Freeze!" she called out.

Frosty tendrils snaked out from her staff, wrapping around the beast's limbs and slowing its movements. The air turned colder with each passing second, a light layer of frost coating the cobblestones beneath their feet.

"Now's your chance!" the swordsman shouted, his blade crashing against the beast's scales in a spray of sparks.

The rogue darted in again, her strikes precise and relentless.

Zane stood there, dagger in hand, watching the battle unfold. The adventurers fought like seasoned warriors, their movements calculated and efficient. They worked together in a way that felt almost instinctive, each action complementing the other.

And yet, despite their efforts, the beast seemed to be learning.

Its movements became sharper, more deliberate. It twisted its body to deflect the swordsman's strikes, its tail whipping around to keep the rogue at bay. Even the frost that bound its limbs began to crack as it flexed its muscles.

"Damn it, it's adapting!" the rogue growled, leaping back to avoid the beast's tail. "We need more firepower!"

Zane's hands trembled. He wanted to move, to do something—anything—but the fear held him in place.

A new prompt appeared in his vision, the glowing text cutting through the chaos like a beacon:

System Notification: Adaptive Combat Recognized. Skill Acquired: Quick Step (Basic).

Zane blinked at the words, his mind struggling to process what he was seeing. Quick Step? The skill name hovered in his peripheral vision, and beneath it, a small icon pulsed faintly.

"What are you waiting for?" the rogue snapped, her voice snapping him back to reality. "Use that thing in your hand or get out of the way!"

Zane swallowed hard, his throat dry. He glanced at the dagger, then back at the beast. The system had given him something—anything—and he couldn't just stand there.

Zane's pulse was still hammering in his ears, but his legs moved with a newfound determination. The Quick Step had been a fluke the first time, but now, he could feel the rhythm of it. He wasn't fast enough to dodge the monster's attacks, but he could outmaneuver it, use its size and anger against it.

The rogue was a blur around him, her daggers flashing as she struck with precision, her every move calculated. Zane watched her, her fluidity giving him some idea of what he should do next.

The swordsman—wounded but still standing—was trying to flank the beast from one side. He swung his sword with all his might, though his movements were slower now, more labored. Blood soaked his armor, and his face was drawn with exhaustion. But he wasn't giving up.

Zane's grip tightened on his dagger.

We can do this.

The beast's attention had shifted momentarily to the rogue, its massive head snapping toward her. It had learned to anticipate the adventurers' tactics, but the rogue was quick. She darted in and out of range, evading every swipe.

It left an opening.

Zane saw it, the gap in the monster's defenses.

With a deep breath, he sprinted forward. His feet pounded against the cobblestones, faster than they had ever moved before.

Just as the beast's claws struck the ground with a resounding crash, Zane was there, his dagger raised high. His focus was sharp, the world fading into a blur once again as his body reacted on instinct.

Weak spot. Weak spot.

He saw the vulnerable spot just beneath its ribcage, a small sliver of flesh exposed as it raised its arm for another strike. The beast's side heaved with each breath, its scales gleaming darkly.

Zane didn't hesitate. He thrust the dagger forward, his heart in his throat, praying that the attack would land.

The blade sank deep.

The beast let out a deafening roar that shook the ground beneath him. It twisted violently, its tail slamming into the ground with such force that it nearly threw Zane off balance. He stumbled back, breathless, as the monster's attention snapped to him once again.

I did it. I did it.

He couldn't let himself get distracted. The beast was still alive, and it was angrier than ever. Its massive eyes locked onto him, its mouth opening wide as if preparing to swallow him whole.

Out of nowhere, the rogue appeared beside him again, her expression grim.

"Move, you idiot!" she snapped, grabbing his arm and yanking him out of the way just as the monster's maw lunged forward.

Zane barely managed to avoid the sharp fangs, the heat of the beast's breath washing over him as he fell backward.

"Focus!" the rogue barked. "If you want to survive, stop standing around and help! You're not a spectator anymore, kid."

The rogue was gone before he could even respond, back in the fray.

Zane swallowed hard, his chest tightening. This was it. This was where the real battle began. No more hesitation. He couldn't afford to be afraid.

A new system prompt flickered into his vision:

Combat Recognized

• New Objective: Work with the adventurers to defeat the monster

• Reward: +100 EXP, Skill: Tactical Awareness

Tactical Awareness? What the hell did that even mean?

But Zane didn't have the luxury to waste time questioning it.

His mind raced as he watched the battle unfold. The beast had shifted its attention to the swordsman, who was fighting with every ounce of strength he had left. The mage was already preparing another spell, her face drawn with exhaustion.

Then, Zane realized what he had to do.

Teamwork.

He wasn't alone in this fight. They had been working together all along, even if they hadn't spoken the words.

He ran to the mage's side, the dagger gripped tightly in his hand. She looked at him, surprise flickering across her face for a split second before she nodded, understanding what he meant.

"Take its attention," Zane said, his voice more confident now. "I'll go for the legs."

The mage didn't hesitate. She lifted her staff, her voice a calm whisper as she cast the spell:

"Frost Nova."

The air around the monster turned ice-cold, frost creeping up its limbs as its movements slowed. The beast roared in fury, the weight of the ice and magic pressing down on it.

Zane darted in, his heart pounding in his chest. He could see the beast's legs were thick with muscle, but there was still a vulnerable point. He aimed for the joint, where the armor-like scales were thinner.

The dagger sank into its flesh, the monster howling in pain. It tried to kick, but the ice had already slowed it enough that Zane was able to avoid its attack.

Another flash of magic erupted from the mage's staff, and the beast staggered, unbalanced by the combined assault.

Zane didn't let up. He attacked again, this time with more focus, his dagger striking true with each blow.

With a final, earth-shaking roar, the monster collapsed, its massive form crashing to the ground with a deafening thud.

Zane staggered back, his chest heaving with exertion. His legs were sore, his arms trembling, but there was something else now—something he hadn't felt before.

Triumph.

He had done it. He had helped bring it down.

The rogue clapped him on the back, hard enough to send him stumbling forward.

"Well, look at that. You're not completely useless after all," she said with a sly grin.

Zane couldn't help but grin back, his breath still ragged.

"Thanks for the help," he muttered, feeling his body finally begin to relax.

"Don't get used to it, kid," she shot back, her grin wide and teasing. "But you did good. Real good."

The swordsman walked over to them, wiping blood from his brow. "We've got a lot of work to do," he said, voice rough but proud. "But for now, we survived."

Zane looked at the fallen beast, his heart still racing. It had been a close call, but they had done it.

For the first time since arriving in this world, Zane felt a spark of confidence. Maybe he didn't have all the answers. Maybe he wasn't a hero yet.

But at least he was a fighter now.

And that was a start.