The silence after the battle was short-lived.
A sudden shift in the air sent a shiver down his spine. The mist, which had begun to settle, now churned violently, as if something vast and ancient was stirring within. His breath came in slow, measured intervals as he steadied himself, his body still reeling from the trial he had just endured.
Then, the ground beneath him trembled.
A deep, guttural growl echoed through the air. From the swirling fog, a massive silhouette emerged. A beast, unlike anything he had ever seen, stood before him—its body wreathed in shadows, eyes burning with an unnatural blue flame. Its fangs glistened, its claws dug into the earth as if tasting the battlefield beneath its feet.
He felt it immediately.
This wasn't just another test. This was a predator. And he was its prey.
His fingers curled into fists, his muscles screaming in protest from the last fight. But there was no time for hesitation. The beast lunged, and he barely managed to leap aside before claws raked through the space where he had stood just a second before. The impact shattered the ground, sending fragments of stone flying in all directions.
Instinct took over. He rolled across the uneven terrain, dodging a second swipe, his mind working furiously. His body still held echoes of the techniques he had rediscovered—movements ingrained into his very being. But against something this powerful, simple reflexes would not be enough.
The beast turned, its glowing eyes locking onto him. Then, it opened its maw wide. A surge of energy crackled within its throat—a build-up of raw, unfiltered destruction.
He knew what was coming.
Summoning every ounce of strength, he propelled himself forward, running straight towards the monster. The beast roared, unleashing a torrent of blue flames. Heat seared his skin as he twisted his body mid-air, narrowly avoiding the blaze. He landed in a crouch, then sprang upwards, driving his knee into the beast's jaw with enough force to make its head snap backward.
A window. A chance.
He grasped the opportunity without hesitation, leaping onto the creature's back before it could recover. With a forceful pull, he wrapped his arms around its neck, locking his grip. The beast roared and thrashed, trying to shake him off, but he held on, teeth clenched, muscles burning.
And then—
A flash of memory.
Not his own.
A warrior, clad in traditional garb, standing atop a battlefield of fallen foes. His voice, deep and unwavering, whispered into the depths of his mind.
"When facing a beast, do not fight its strength. Fight its instincts."
Understanding dawned upon him like lightning splitting the sky. He adjusted his position, shifting his weight just as the beast twisted its body to throw him off. Instead of resisting, he let himself move with the momentum, using it to slide down towards its flank. In one fluid motion, he slammed his palm into its ribcage.
The mark on his arm pulsed, and energy exploded outward.
The beast howled, its form flickering as the blast sent it skidding across the ground. It scrambled to its feet, but something had changed. The fire in its eyes dimmed, its movements slower, uncertain. The beast took one hesitant step back.
And then, with a final snarl, it faded into the mist, its presence vanishing as if it had never been there at all.
Panting, he dropped to one knee, sweat dripping from his brow. He had won—but more than that, he had remembered something vital. This was not just about reclaiming his lost strength.
It was about reclaiming who he was.
From the darkness, the robed figure stepped forward once more, its voice unreadable.
"You learn quickly. But the path ahead remains long."
He pushed himself up, his gaze unwavering. His body ached, but his resolve had never been stronger.
"I'll walk it," he said. "No matter how far."
The mist swirled again, parting like a veil to reveal the unknown beyond.
And he took his first step forward.