“A mere beast dares to create a territory…..I can’t wait to trample on its neck once I kill it.”
As Lucavion continued his ascent, his smirk only widened, a sharp contrast to the serious demeanor he had just displayed moments ago.
His eyes, usually filled with determination, now gleamed with a fierce, almost predatory light. His hand rested confidently on the hilt of his estoc, the weapon that had become an extension of himself, a symbol of his growing power and relentless ambition.
Vitaliara, perched on his shoulder, observed the transformation with a mix of concern and understanding.
She had seen this change in him before—this shift in his demeanor, this surge of arrogance that seemed to take hold whenever he prepared for battle. It was as if the act of facing an enemy, the thrill of combat, awakened something primal within him.
[You’ve changed again,] she noted, her voice tinged with a resigned sigh. [It’s as if you become a different person the moment you grab your sword.]
Lucavion’s smirk deepened, his eyes narrowing with a sharp, confident edge. “When I face an opponent, I don’t just fight to win,” he replied, his voice low and intense. “I fight to dominate.”
His steps were deliberate, each one resonating with the confidence of a man who knew his own strength and relished in the thought of proving it.
The carcasses and bones that littered the path were no longer just signs of danger; to Lucavion, they were the trophies of his soon-to-be-victory, the evidence of his impending conquest.
[You really do change when you’re like this,] Vitaliara mused her tone, a mix of exasperation and a hint of admiration. [You become… arrogant.]
Lucavion’s eyes flashed with fierce pride. “Arrogance is only a flaw if you can’t back it up,” he said, his grip tightening on the hilt of his estoc. “And considering I am alive till this point….Things do seem like they are not working against me.”
Vitaliara couldn’t deny that there was truth in his words. She had witnessed his growth, seen the way he had honed his skills and refined his techniques.
Lucavion was no longer the uncertain young man she had first met; he had become a warrior, one who embraced the challenges before him with a boldness that bordered on recklessness.
[Just be careful,] she advised, her voice softening slightly. [The Abyssal Wyrm is not like the other monsters you’ve faced. It’s a creature of pure abyssal energy, and its strength is formidable. Don’t let your confidence blind you to the danger.]
Lucavion’s smirk softened into a determined smile, a flicker of his more familiar self shining through. “I’m not blind to the danger.”
[So, you feel fear.]
“Those who don’t feel fear when facing an enemy are the ones who die first. That is what I had learned from the battlefield.”
Vitaliara couldn’t help but shake her head, her tail flicking slightly in exasperation. [You talk as if you’ve seen it all, Lucavion.]
Lucavion’s smile remained, but there was a hint of something deeper in his eyes, something that spoke of past battles and hard-won experiences. “I may not have seen it all, but I’ve seen enough.”
RUMBLE!
Before Vitaliara could respond, the ground beneath them trembled violently.
SCREECH!
The air was suddenly filled with a screech that echoed through the mountains, a sound that sent a chill down even Lucavion’s spine. The atmosphere grew tense, the foreboding presence of something powerful drawing closer.
SCHLINK!
Without hesitation, Lucavion’s hand moved to his estoc, the blade flashing in the dim light as he drew it from its sheath. His senses sharpened, every muscle in his body tensing in preparation for the inevitable confrontation.
SWOSOH!
From one of the carcasses scattered along the path, something dark and swift launched itself toward him with a feral snarl—a [Shadow Stalker], its eyes gleaming with predatory intent.
“Tsk.”
Lucavion’s response was instantaneous. His estoc moved in a blur, the blade slicing through the air with precision honed by countless battles.
SLASH!
There was a brief moment of resistance as the steel met flesh, and then the Shadow Stalker’s momentum faltered.
THUD!
The beast landed heavily on the ground; its body split cleanly in two by the force of Lucavion’s strike.
It twitched once, then lay still, its blood pooling around it.
“As expected….There are always some parasites wandering around like this.”
[You indeed got stronger.]
Lucavion sheathed his estoc, his gaze never leaving the direction of the Abyssal Wyrm’s lair. “Strength alone isn’t enough,” he replied. “It’s about knowing when to strike, how to use the opponent’s own momentum against them. That’s what keeps you alive.”
As the echoes of the screech faded, the mountain seemed to fall into an uneasy silence, as if the very land itself was holding its breath.
But then, as if triggered by some unseen force, the stillness of the mountain was shattered by a deafening roar that echoed through the craggy peaks.
The sound was deep and resonant, a powerful, guttural bellow that seemed to shake the very foundations of the earth.
It was the unmistakable cry of the Abyssal Wyrm.
–SCREECH!
Lucavion paused, his eyes narrowing as he listened to the beast’s roar.
“The beast….” There was a familiarity in that sound, something primal that stirred deep within him. “It is challenging me,” he said, a grim smile forming on his lips.
Vitaliara looked at him, her eyes wide with surprise. [How do you know that?]
Lucavion didn’t turn to face her; his gaze remained fixed on the direction from which the roar had come. “I can feel it,” he said quietly, his voice steady. “It’s something I’ve always felt when I’m about to face an opponent alone. It’s like a call—an invitation to a duel.”
Vitaliara could sense the intensity in Lucavion’s demeanor, the way his entire being seemed to resonate with the energy of the impending battle. [You’ve felt this before?] she asked, her tone curious but also concerned.
Lucavion nodded. “Every time I’ve faced a strong opponent, I’ve felt this… connection. It’s like the world narrows down to just me and them. There’s nothing else—no distractions, no doubts. Just the fight.”
[You really are something.]
“Master also scolded me a lot. But, then, he did not have any choice but to accept it.”
[Gerald did?]
“He did. But what can I do?” Lucavion smiled. “This is what makes me who I am.”
With that, he reached the top of the mountain, his steps steady and sure as he neared the summit. The wind howled around him, carrying with it the scent of blood and decay—a grim reminder of the countless lives that had been lost on this unforgiving peak.
As he took his final steps onto the plateau, the sight that greeted him was both awe-inspiring and terrifying.
Before him lay a massive crater, its edges jagged and rough, as if the earth itself had been torn apart by some colossal force.
The crater was filled with the remnants of past battles—countless skeletons and carcasses littered the ground, the remains of monsters that had once roamed this mountain.
The bones were bleached white by the elements, their hollow eyes staring up at the sky as if in eternal lament.
But it wasn’t just the sheer number of remains that caught Lucavion’s attention. Scattered throughout the crater were massive thorns, each one as thick as a man’s arm and as tall as a tree.
These thorns jutted out from the ground at odd angles, skewering the skulls of fallen beasts. The sight was both macabre and imposing, a clear indication that this place was not meant for the living.
Vitaliara’s eyes narrowed as she took in the scene. [This is the Wyrm’s lair,] she murmured, her voice tense. [Those thorns… they’re not natural. They’re the Wyrm’s doing, a manifestation of its abyssal energy. This creature doesn’t just kill—it revels in death, in the suffering of its prey.]
Lucavion’s expression remained calm as he surveyed the area. The abyssal energy here was palpable, a heavy presence that weighed down on him like a thick fog.
But rather than intimidating him, it made him feel like he was in his home.
This was the challenge he had been seeking, the ultimate test of his strength and his mastery of the [Flame of Equinox].
“This is it,” Lucavion said, his voice low but firm. “The Abyssal Wyrm is close. I can feel its presence… watching us.”
He stepped closer to the edge of the crater, his eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement.
“Are you angry that I stepped into your territory?”
The thorns, the bones, the aura of death that hung over this place—as if to remind him that he was now in the beast’s presence.
“Well….If there are no contestants like me, you will have no choice but to hunt down. So, please, don’t be angry.”
As Lucavion’s words faded into the wind, the silence of the mountain was shattered by a sudden, ear-piercing screech that reverberated through the air.
Before he could react, a massive shadow loomed over him, and the ground beneath his feet trembled violently.
SCREECH!
The beast made its appearance.
———————–
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