The Three-Eyed Howler roared and charged, its long arms swinging with terrifying speed and power. Arakh's golden eyes locked onto the beast as it barreled toward him, its shadow swallowing the ground between them.
Arakh exhaled, his grip tightening on the dull sword. "Alright, let's see what you've got."
The first blow came like a hammer, one massive fist smashing into the ground where Arakh had been standing. The impact sent dirt and rocks flying, creating a shockwave that rippled through the trees.
Arakh darted to the side, the beast's follow-up swipe grazing his ribs. The force of the glancing blow made him stumble, and a sharp sting radiated through his side. He gritted his teeth, rolling to avoid another strike.
This thing is faster than I thought, he realized, clutching the dull sword as he quickly regained his footing.
The beast didn't give him a moment to recover. It swung again, this time with both arms in a wide arc. Arakh raised the sword instinctively to block, the metal screeching against the sheer force of the blow. The impact jolted through his arms, and the weapon vibrated dangerously in his grip.
"Ugh!" Arakh hissed, his feet skidding backward across the dirt. His arms trembled from the force, the dull sword barely holding together.
The beast roared triumphantly, slamming its fists into the ground and sending another wave of debris flying. Arakh shielded his face, his mind racing.
This isn't working. It's too strong, and this sword won't last.
As if on cue, a crack formed along the blade's edge. The dull metal was starting to warp under the strain.
Arakh's lips curled into a small smile despite the situation. "Guess I don't have a choice, huh?"
He steadied his breathing, his golden eyes narrowing as he focused. The dull sword began to hum faintly in his hands, a soft resonance building within its core. The cracks along its surface shimmered with faint light as the structure of the weapon started to shift.
The beast charged again, its glowing third eye fixed on him.
Arakh didn't retreat.
The Three-Eyed Howler brought both fists down in a devastating smash. Arakh raised the enhanced sword, bracing himself as the blade met the beast's attack.
CRACK!
The ground beneath Arakh's feet gave way, splintering under the force of the impact. But the enhanced sword held—barely. The resonance coursing through it absorbed the shock, redirecting the force outward.
Arakh grinned, sweat dripping down his brow. "Now we're talking."
He twisted the blade, deflecting the beast's arms to the side. Using the momentum, he dashed forward, slashing at the creature's exposed torso.
The enhanced sword cut deeper this time, carving through the beast's thick hide with ease. Blackened blood sprayed from the wound, and the Three-Eyed Howler howled in pain.
It retaliated with a wild swing, its massive arm slamming into Arakh's side. The blow sent him flying, his body crashing into a tree. Pain exploded through his ribs, and he gasped for air.
"Damn... that hurt," he muttered, staggering to his feet. He wiped the blood from his mouth, his eyes never leaving the beast.
The Three-Eyed Howler was furious now, its third eye glowing brighter than ever. It pounded its chest, the sound reverberating through the forest like a war drum.
Arakh took a deep breath, raising the enhanced sword. The resonance was pushing the weapon to its limit, the glow along its surface flickering.
One last push, he whispered internally.
The beast lunged, its long arms reaching out to crush him. Arakh charged to meet it, his golden eyes sharp and focused.
The moment they clashed, Arakh ducked low, slipping beneath the beast's reach. He drove the enhanced sword upward, aiming for the glowing third eye.
The blade struck true.
A deafening roar tore through the forest as the sword pierced the beast's third eye. Blackened blood erupted from the wound, and the creature thrashed wildly, its massive frame collapsing to the ground.
Arakh stood over the fallen beast, breathing heavily. The enhanced sword in his hand began to vibrate violently, the resonance destabilizing.
"Here it comes," he muttered.
With a final crack, the blade shattered into pieces, fragments scattering across the ground. Arakh stared at the broken hilt in his hand, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Not bad for a dull sword," he said, tossing the hilt aside.
The forest fell silent, the Three-Eyed Howler's body lying motionless at his feet. Arakh glanced at his torn uniform, the blood on his side, and the faint shimmer of resonance still lingering in his hands.
"Guess I'll need to find a better weapon," he said with a smirk, turning away from the beast's corpse before sitting down on it.
Arakh sat on the still-warm corpse of the Three-Eyed Howler, leaning back against its massive frame. His golden eyes gazed up at the canopy, where slivers of sunlight filtered through the leaves. A proud smile curled his lips, satisfaction swelling in his chest.
But as the adrenaline ebbed away, a nagging thought emerged. His smile faltered slightly, and he frowned, looking back at the beast's lifeless form.
"Huh? How do I get my proof of kill?"
He tilted his head, examining the creature. Its third eye was now closed, and blackened blood seeped from its wounds. Arakh scratched his head, muttering to himself.
Do I... take the eye? Or maybe a fang? This thing's huge; I can't just lug the whole body back. He looked down at his torn uniform and sighed. I should've asked more questions before running off.
---
The youth stumbled into the quest board area, his battered appearance drawing the curious glances of other novices and staff. His uniform was in tatters, caked with dirt and dried blood. His trembling hands gripped his broken sword hilt tightly as he staggered toward the counter.
Ela, standing behind the quest board, glanced up from the scroll she was reviewing. Her sharp gaze landed on the novice, and she raised an eyebrow. "You're back," she said, her tone neutral but carrying an undertone of concern. "You look like you barely made it out alive."
The youth flinched under her scrutiny, averting his eyes. "Y-Yeah," he muttered, voice weak. "The mission didn't… go as planned."
Ela stepped closer, her arms crossing as she examined his state. "You don't say. Care to elaborate?"
The youth hesitated, his shoulders slumping. "The beast was too strong… way beyond what I could handle. It broke my sword, and…" He swallowed hard. "I-I had to retreat. I wasn't fit to handle it alone."
Ela frowned, her expression softening just slightly. "That's why novice Resonators aren't supposed to take solo quests above their level." She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "But wait… weren't you with someone? Arakh, wasn't it? What happened to him?"
At the mention of Arakh, the youth stiffened. His wide eyes darted nervously before he quickly looked away, shaking his head. "I-I don't know what you mean. I didn't see anyone else."
Ela's sharp gaze locked onto him, but before she could press further, the youth took a hurried step back. "I need to… report to the academy," he stammered. Without waiting for a reply, he turned and bolted out of the area, leaving Ela standing there with a lingering suspicion.
Her brows furrowed as she watched him disappear into the crowd. Something's not right…
---
At the stroke of six, Elabra's streets were alive with the hum of people returning from the day's work. Merchants packed up their stalls, Resonators filed back to the academy, and children played along the cobblestone roads.
But then, from the outskirts of the city, a small figure appeared on the horizon, trudging toward the academy gates. As the figure drew closer, the sound of something heavy scraping against the ground reached the ears of those nearby. People paused in their tracks, their eyes widening in shock as the figure became clearer.
A boy, no older than eleven, was dragging the corpse of a massive Three-Eyed Howler through the streets. Its blood left a dark, sticky trail in his wake, and the sheer size of the beast made it look impossible for someone so small to have defeated it.
Whispers erupted among the onlookers.
"Is that… the Three-Eyed Howler?"
"How did a kid manage to take that thing down?"
"Who is that?"
The crowd grew, following the boy as he made his way to the academy. His torn clothes were soaked with blood—both his own and the beast's—and his face was streaked with sweat and dirt. Despite his exhausted state, there was a triumphant grin on his face.
---
Inside the quest board, Ela was finishing up for the day. She rolled up the last of the scrolls and set them neatly on the counter.
"Sorry, we're closed—" she started as she turned around, but her words caught in her throat.
Her pupils shrank in disbelief as her eyes fell on the scene before her. "A-Arakh?!"
The boy staggered into the room, dragging the enormous corpse of the Three-Eyed Howler behind him. He let go of the beast with a heavy thud, and with a breathless laugh, he sat down on its massive body.
"Hehe…" he rasped, leaning back against the creature's fur. His chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath. "That… was something else."
Ela's mouth hung open, her sharp composure shattered. She approached him slowly, her eyes darting between the boy and the beast. "You… You actually killed it?"
Arakh grinned up at her, his exhaustion failing to mask his pride. "Told you I could handle it."
Ela crouched beside him, inspecting his wounds and the beast's lifeless body. "Arakh, you're bleeding all over the place! How are you even still standing?!"
He waved her concern away weakly, his grin widening. "Tis but a scratch."