The battlefield lay in ruins, the scorched earth still smoldering from the Elder's flames. Ash drifted in the air like the remnants of a forgotten war. Ryuji's breaths were ragged, his limbs heavy. The wound on his shoulder burned, blood seeping into his tattered clothing.
But his gaze wasn't on his injuries.
It was on the massive beast that had crashed into the battlefield.
The creature towered over them, its black fur shimmering under the moonlight, its golden eyes burning with something ancient—something primal. Its muscular form was coiled like a predator ready to strike.
Akari, still recovering from the Elder's attack, staggered to her feet. "What… what the hell is that?"
Daigo's usual sarcasm was gone. "A problem. A big one."
Ryuji felt the weight of the beast's stare. It wasn't just looking at him. It was measuring him. Judging him.
And then, it moved.
A blur of black fur and raw power surged forward. The ground trembled under its monstrous strength. In a heartbeat, it was upon them.
BOOM!
Ryuji barely managed to leap aside as a massive claw slammed into the spot where he had stood, leaving a crater in the earth.
Daigo rolled across the ground, cursing. "I think it wants us dead!"
Akari gritted her teeth, gripping her katana. "We fight or we die."
Ryuji didn't hesitate. He tightened his grip on his blade, wind surging around him. His instincts screamed—this wasn't an opponent he could take lightly.
The beast turned, its golden gaze locking onto him again. Then, it spoke.
"You are unworthy."
The voice wasn't human. It wasn't even truly sound—it was something deeper, something that echoed in the mind rather than the ears.
Ryuji's body tensed. "What…?"
The creature's eyes glowed brighter.
"You wield power you do not understand. You resist the truth of what you are. That is why you will fall."
And then, it lunged.
Clash of Titans
Ryuji's sword met the beast's claws in an explosion of force. Wind and darkness collided, sending shockwaves outward. The sheer impact sent him skidding back, his feet digging into the scorched earth.
The beast wasn't just strong—it was relentless. It came again, each strike faster, heavier, more devastating. Ryuji parried as best he could, but his arms trembled with the effort.
He wasn't winning this.
Daigo threw a dagger at the beast's flank, but it barely flinched. Akari dashed in, her blade glowing with energy as she slashed at its leg.
The creature finally reacted, twisting and slamming its tail into her side.
CRACK!
Akari flew back, crashing into a broken pillar. She let out a strangled gasp, her body slumping.
Ryuji's heart clenched. "Akari!"
But he had no time to check on her. The beast was already in front of him again.
"Too slow."
A clawed hand slammed into Ryuji's chest.
Pain exploded through his ribs as he was sent soaring through the air. He crashed into the ground, rolling until he came to a stop.
His vision blurred. His body refused to move.
Too strong. Too fast.
He couldn't win.
The Breaking Point
The beast loomed over him.
"This is your limit."
No.
Ryuji clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms.
This wasn't his limit.
He had spent his whole life being told he wasn't strong enough. That he wasn't worthy. That he wasn't enough.
He refused to believe it.
The air around him began to shift. A deep, guttural energy surged through his veins. The storm inside him—wild, untamed—finally roared to life.
The beast's eyes narrowed. "Now you understand."
Ryuji's lips curled into a grin. "Yeah."
He exhaled.
And then—
The world exploded with wind and power.
To be continued…