The Abyssal Wyvern's roar echoed across the jagged landscape, reverberating through the ruins that once stood as monuments to a lost civilization. The creature staggered back, blood dripping from its wounded claw, but it wasn't retreating. No, it was only angrier, its glowing eyes narrowing with malevolent intent. The creature's wings twitched as if to prepare for another strike, but the man—if he could even be called that now—was ready.
His pulse raced in his ears, the thrum of his heart almost deafening. The air felt charged, heavy with the energy of the magical blade in his hand. Every inch of his skin tingled, as if his very being was infused with the raw power of the blade. A surge of adrenaline kicked in, and the last remnants of fear that had begun to creep up on him vanished like smoke in the wind.
I can do this.
The thought was simple, direct, and comforting, as though it had always been a part of him. There was no hesitation now, no panic, only purpose.
The system's voice cut through his thoughts, cold and mechanical, as though reminding him of his task. "Divine Blade: Activated. Eliminate target."
He had no idea how this power worked, no concept of the extent of his abilities, but the blade felt right. It felt like it belonged in his hand, like an extension of himself, and with it, he could destroy anything that dared stand in his way.
The wyvern lunged again, its massive jaws snapping shut with a terrifying force. He barely had time to react, but he didn't need to think. His body moved on its own, his legs propelling him forward faster than he had ever moved in his previous life. The world seemed to slow around him as his instincts took over. The wyvern's claws slashed toward him with lethal speed, but he danced around them, effortlessly sidestepping the attack.
With a battle cry that reverberated through his chest, he swung the glowing blade with all the strength his new body could muster. The blade collided with the wyvern's chest, and the shockwave of magic that followed sent a burst of radiant light across the battlefield. The beast screamed, a horrified screech that seemed to echo off the ruins, but it didn't stop there. It swung its tail, attempting to catch him off guard, but he was already in motion.
He spun on his heel, narrowly avoiding the tail swipe, and the blade was already in the air again. This time, he aimed for the wyvern's throat. The sword cleaved through the air, its magic-infused edge cutting through the creature's armored scales with ease, like a hot knife through butter.
The wyvern's howl of pain was deafening as it staggered back, its head lowered in an attempt to protect its most vulnerable spot. Blood poured from its wounds, sizzling as it hit the cracked earth. It was slowing. Injured. But it was far from defeated.
The beast's eyes flickered with desperation as it bared its teeth, venom dripping from its fangs. The air around them thickened with tension, and for a brief moment, the world seemed to freeze. The wyvern hissed, its body coiling, readying itself for a final assault.
"Target weakened. Divine Blade: 75% effectiveness. Proceed to eliminate."
The voice of the system cut through the silence, mechanical and emotionless, as though the creature before him was little more than a stepping stone in his journey.
His hand tightened around the hilt of the blade. It was time.
With a deep breath, he focused. The magical energy pulsed through him, flowing from the blade and into his very being. The power surged within him like a tidal wave, and with it came an instinct he could barely understand but had no choice but to trust.
He sprinted toward the wyvern, faster than before, his muscles burning with energy. His feet hardly touched the ground as he closed the distance between himself and the creature in the blink of an eye. The wyvern attempted to lunge, its fangs wide, but this time, he was prepared. His sword was already in motion.
The blade shimmered with ethereal light as he swung it upward, aiming for the beast's head. The blade made contact with the wyvern's jaw, slicing through its thick, scaly armor as if it was made of paper. The creature let out a final, blood-curdling roar as the blade continued its path, cutting deep into its skull.
With one last scream, the wyvern collapsed to the ground, its massive body hitting the earth with a deafening crash. The air was thick with the scent of blood and the crackle of dissipating magical energy.
The man stood there, panting, his chest heaving as the adrenaline slowly began to ebb. The blade was still glowing, its ethereal light slowly dimming as the last vestiges of the wyvern's energy drained away. He stared at the fallen beast, his heart still racing, trying to comprehend what had just happened.
"I... did it..." he murmured to himself, the words sounding strange on his tongue.
The system chimed again, its voice cold and detached, offering no praise, only information. "Target eliminated. Compatibility confirmed. Reward: 100 experience points. New skill unlocked: Wyvern's Fury."
Wyvern's Fury? The words seemed to linger in the air, but he had no time to think about them now. He was still processing everything that had just occurred. He had just killed a creature like nothing he had ever seen. The power he wielded, the weapon in his hand—it felt like he was playing a role in a story he had never asked to be a part of. Yet, somehow, he had risen to the challenge.
The Grimoire had given him this power, had thrust him into this chaotic, monstrous world. But what was he really meant to do now? Was this just the beginning?
He looked around, the ruins stretching out before him. It was a wasteland of broken stone and scattered debris, the remnants of a world long past. But the sky… the sky was still crimson, the storm clouds swirling as if the heavens themselves were alive, watching him.
A deep, instinctual voice whispered inside him, rising above the clamor of his confused thoughts. Survive.
It wasn't a command. It was a truth. A truth that seemed to define this world, this new life he had found himself in.
The beasts. The magic. The endless storm.
This was his reality now. And he had just begun.
As he took his first steps toward the unknown, he didn't know what challenges awaited him. But one thing was certain—he would face them. Whatever came, he would fight. Because in this world, survival was a battle, and he was no longer a mere man.
He was an Awakened.