Leon's mind raced as he dodged yet another fireball, the heat searing his skin even as he barely managed to avoid the blast. Four seconds. That was the time between each attack.
His golden eyes sharpened. Four seconds was enough.
His gaze flicked to the ground. Scattered among the dirt and ash were small stones—rough, jagged, dense. He quickly scooped up three of them, testing their weight in his hands. They weren't perfect, but they'd have to do.
"If I can stop the fireballs from reaching me, I can close the distance."
The monster reared back, its molten chest expanding as another glowing orb of fire began to form in its throat.
Leon tightened his grip on the first stone.
The instant the fireball launched, he hurled the rock forward with all his strength.
The impact was immediate. The stone met the fireball mid-air, shattering it into a violent explosion of embers and smoke. The force of the blast sent a wave of heat rippling through the air, but Leon was already moving.
Three seconds left.
The monster roared in frustration, already beginning to gather its next attack.
Leon hurled the second rock. Another detonation, another fiery collision in the sky.
Two seconds.
His feet pounded against the scorched earth, muscles coiled with adrenaline.
One second.
The monster launched its third fireball. Leon threw his final stone, intercepting the attack just before it reached him. A deafening explosion shook the ground, filling the air with burning cinders.
And then—he was there.
Leon slammed his fist into the monster's chest.
Nothing.
The impact barely made the beast flinch. Its molten armor was too thick, too solid.
The creature let out a guttural snarl, the veins of lava across its body pulsing dangerously. Then, with terrifying speed, it reared its head back, its throat glowing bright like a furnace preparing to ignite.
Leon's instincts screamed.
It was charging another fireball—but this time, at close range.
Without a second thought, Leon jumped.
He launched himself high, past the monster's snapping jaws, and drove his fist straight into the fireball itself—just as it was forming.
For an instant, time seemed to freeze.
Then—BOOM.
The explosion tore through the monster's skull from the inside, a violent eruption of fire and molten rock. The beast's head shattered, sending chunks of smoldering stone flying in every direction.
A blast of heat engulfed Leon, searing his flesh, his right arm vanishing into the explosion. He barely felt the pain. He barely felt anything at all.
And then—silence.
The monster collapsed. The ground trembled beneath its enormous weight.
Leon stood still, breathing hard, his arm now a ruined mess of charred flesh and exposed bone. But despite the agony tearing through his nerves, he smiled.
He had won.
The Cocoon Calls
The pain came in waves, but Leon ignored it. His gaze dropped to the monster's still-burning corpse. The scent of cooked meat filled the air, thick and rich with the essence of power.
Without hesitation, he tore into it.
The flesh of the beast was like fire itself—burning his tongue, scorching his throat. But he didn't stop. He ate until his stomach was full, until the familiar drowsiness crept into his limbs.
The last thing he saw before his vision blurred was the world wrapping around him in silk, his cocoon forming once again.
When Leon awoke, he was different.
Heat pulsed beneath his skin, a living fire burning within him. He flexed his fingers, and flames danced along his knuckles, licking at the air without consuming him.
A thought. A flicker of will.
Fire erupted from his palm, forming a small, controlled ball of burning energy.
He grinned.
Not only could he set his body ablaze, but he could unleash fire from anywhere on his body.
"Now, this is useful."
The Road to the Capital
With his newfound power, the rest of his journey through the forest was… peaceful.
No monster dared to challenge him. They could sense the predator he had become.
Days passed, and finally, the trees thinned. For the first time in over a month, Leon stepped into the open.
The forest was behind him.
Before him stretched a long dirt road, winding over rolling hills and leading toward the distant silhouette of civilization.
As he walked, the sound of creaking wood caught his attention. Further down the road, a lone traveler guided a small wooden cart, its wheels groaning under the weight of whatever cargo it carried.
Leon approached. "Where's the nearest city?"
The man, startled, turned to face him. His eyes widened slightly—perhaps at Leon's unnatural features, or the lingering scent of smoke that clung to him. But after a moment, the traveler lifted a hand and pointed down the road.
"Keep going straight. You'll see it soon."
Leon gave a small nod and continued walking.
The journey was nearly