Kael barely had time to think as the Apex Beast lunged, its claws slicing through the air with terrifying speed. His body moved on instinct, diving to the side just as the beast's massive paw smashed into the ground, sending chunks of stone flying.
The sheer force of the impact left his ears ringing, but he couldn't stop. The golden warmth of the system's memory guided him, the echo of a warrior's skill burning in his mind.
He scrambled to his feet, gripping the rusted pipe like it was the only thing keeping him tethered to life. It wasn't just a weapon now—it was his lifeline.
The beast roared, its glowing yellow eyes locking onto him as it shifted its stance. Its body crouched low, muscles rippling beneath its sleek black fur. It was studying him, testing him.
Kael's chest heaved as he tried to steady his breathing. "You're not just a dumb animal, are you?" he muttered, sweat dripping down his face.
The beast answered with another snarl, the sound vibrating through the air.
Kael tightened his grip on the pipe. He knew what the rankings meant. A C-Rank (Low) beast wasn't just physically stronger—it was smarter, faster, and deadlier than anything he'd ever faced. And no matter how much the system helped him, he was still just F-Rank (Low).
The odds were against him.
The beast lunged again, its claws tearing through the air. Kael ducked, his body twisting as he swung the pipe in a wide arc. The rusted metal connected with the beast's leg, but the creature barely flinched.
"Damn it," Kael hissed.
The beast retaliated, swiping at him with its other paw. Kael threw himself backward, barely avoiding the razor-sharp claws. His foot caught on a jagged piece of stone, and he stumbled, falling hard onto the ground.
Pain shot through his shoulder, but he didn't have time to dwell on it. The beast loomed over him, its massive form casting a shadow that swallowed him whole.
Kael's mind raced. He couldn't outmatch it in strength or speed. He needed to think.
[System Analysis Active.]
[Weakness Detected: Joint Vulnerability in Limbs.]
The glowing text appeared just as the beast raised a paw, ready to strike. Kael's eyes darted to the creature's legs, where he'd struck earlier. The joint. That was his opening.
The beast's claws came down, and Kael rolled to the side, the ground cracking beneath the force of the attack. He scrambled to his feet, gripping the pipe with both hands as he steadied himself.
"You've got a weakness," he said, his voice low. "Let's see how you like this."
The beast snarled and lunged again. Kael sidestepped, swinging the pipe at its front leg. The rusted metal slammed into the joint with a resounding crack, and this time, the beast roared in pain.
It staggered, its balance faltering for a moment. Kael didn't wait. He surged forward, aiming for the same spot.
The beast twisted, its claws swiping at him. Kael barely ducked in time, the claws grazing his shoulder and tearing through his shirt. Blood seeped from the shallow wound, but he didn't stop.
He struck again, the pipe connecting with the joint a second time. The beast howled, its front leg buckling under its weight.
Kael's chest burned, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. His arms ached from the repeated swings, and his vision blurred from the sweat dripping into his eyes.
But the beast wasn't done.
With a guttural roar, it lashed out with its uninjured paw, catching Kael off guard. The claws slammed into his side, and he was sent flying.
Kael hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the wind out of him. Pain exploded in his ribs as he rolled onto his back, gasping for air.
His vision swam, but he could see the beast limping toward him, its glowing eyes burning with rage.
"This… isn't over," Kael rasped, forcing himself to sit up. The pipe lay a few feet away, bent and covered in blood—his and the beast's. He crawled toward it, every movement sending waves of pain through his body.
The beast closed the distance, its breaths heavy and labored. It was hurt, but it was still standing.
Kael's fingers closed around the pipe just as the beast lunged. He rolled onto his back, raising the pipe in desperation.
The beast's claws came down, and the pipe caught them with a deafening clang. The force nearly drove the metal into Kael's chest, but he held on, his arms trembling under the weight.
"Not yet," Kael growled through gritted teeth. "Not like this."
Summoning every ounce of strength he had left, Kael twisted the pipe free and surged forward. The beast, caught off guard, reared back, exposing its chest.
Kael didn't hesitate. With a guttural yell, he drove the jagged end of the pipe into the beast's heart.
The metal sank deep, breaking through fur, muscle, and bone. The beast let out a deafening roar, its body convulsing as golden blood sprayed from the wound.
Kael clung to the pipe, his hands slick with blood, as the beast thrashed. Its claws scraped the ground, its glowing eyes flickering, before it finally collapsed.
Kael fell with it, landing hard on the stone. His body was spent, every muscle screaming in protest.
For a long moment, there was only silence.
Then the system's voice echoed in his mind.
[Quest Complete.]
[Reward: Essence Core (Rank F) acquired.]
Kael let out a shaky laugh, his chest heaving as he stared at the lifeless body of the beast. His vision blurred, exhaustion pulling at him like a tide.
But even as his head slumped back against the cold stone, a small smile tugged at his lips.
He'd done it.
Against all odds, he'd done it.