Evans stood frozen, his eyes wide with astonishment as the last traces of lightning faded into the air.
"So... that's the power of an A-Rank Sacred warrior..."
His heart pounded violently.
The gap between them was so overwhelming that it almost felt unreal.
Not far away, Raff stood with one foot planted firmly atop the corpse of a slain beast. Folding his arms, he clicked his tongue in irritation as he glared at Arthur.
"Show-off."
The word dripped with envy.
Arthur didn't even bother acknowledging him.
Elisabeth merely smiled to herself.
"He certainly has a talent for stealing the spotlight".
Her voice remained calm, carrying neither jealousy nor admiration.
It was simply observation.
Suddenly...
Raff's expression changed.
The grin vanished from his face.
Every instinct in his body screamed at him.
His grip on his battle axes tightened.
"Something's coming..."
His voice turned unusually serious.
He narrowed his eyes towards the dark ruins ahead.
"...And it's dangerous."
The atmosphere shifted.
An oppressive pressure spread across the battlefield.
Even Arthur slowly raised his gaze.
The shadows between the collapsed buildings began to stir.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the ruined streets.
BOOM...
BOOM...
BOOM...
Two enormous bear-like beasts emerged from the darkness, each standing well over four meters tall. Their massive muscles ripped beneath dark crimson fur, while rows of razor-sharp fangs protruded from their snarling jaws.
Every step they took shook the ground.
Yet...
Neither of them was the true threat.
Between the two colossal beasts walked a magnificent Griffin.
Unlike it's escort, the Griffin moved with graceful elegance.
Its golden feathers shimmered beneath the fading sunlight, while its piercing emeral eyes calmly surveyed the battlefield.
There was no rage.
No panic.
Only absolute confidence.
The instant its gaze settled upon the group...
An invisible wave of killing intent swept across the ruined city.
For the first time since entering the battlefield...
Not even Arthur looked relaxed.
Arthur's expression finally grew serious.
His eyes remained fixed on the three beasts as he tighten his grip around his twin daggers.
"Those two are Crimson Bears, " he said in a calm but cautious voice."They're among the most dangerous B-Rank beasts".
His gaze slowly shifted towards the Griffin standing silently between them.
For the first time since entering the battlefield...
A hint of tension appeared on his face.
"... And that is a Sky Tyrant Griffin".
Silence fell.
Arthur's voice became even heavier.
"Judging by the pressure it's releasing... It's a deadly A-Rank threat".
Evans heart skipped a beat.
"An... A-Rank?"
His mouth went dry.
"This is bad..."
He quickly analyzed the situation.
"Even though we have two B-Ranks and and Arthur, an A-Rank..."
His eyes narrowed.
"They've only just awakened their powers. These beasts have spent their lives fighting and killing."
"Arthur and the rest should know this too"
"We'll need strategy..."
Before he could finish his thought-
BOOM!!
A blur shot out from the shadows.
One of the crimson Bears slammed into Evans before he even realized what had happened.
CRASH!!
His body was sent flying like a ragdoll, smashing through chunks of broken concrete before disappearing beneath a mountain of rubble.
A cloud of dust exploded into the air.
"EVANS!" Elisabeth shouted.
Raff's eyes widened.
Without hesitation, he kicked off the ground and charged toward the collapsed rubble.
But before he could take more than a few steps-
ROOOOAAARRR!!
One of the Crimson Bears suddenly appeared before him.
It's enormous claws sliced through the air with terrifying speed.
Raff's instincts screamed.
He crossed both battle axes in front of his body just as the Beast's claw crashed into them.
CLANG!!
The impact echoed across the ruined city, forcing, Raff several meters backwards as the ground beneath his feet cracked from the sheer force.
"Get the hell out of my way, you oversized mutt!".
Raff roared as he hurled one of his double-headed battle axes straight at the crimson Bear's head.
The axe tore through the air like a spinning guillotine.
WHOOSH!
The crimson bear didn't dodge.
Instead, it swung one of it's massive forearms.
CLANG!
With overwhelming strength, it batted the axe aside, sending it spinning into a ruined building.
But that was exactly what Raff had been waiting for.
BOOM!
Using the distraction,he exploded forward, closing the distance in an instant.
His fist shot towards the Beast's face like a cannonball.
BANG!!
The impact unleashed a violent shockwave that blasted dust and rubble in every direction.
The Crimson Bear staggered backward, it's massive body swaying as blood sprayed from its snout.
But before it could fall...
SLASH!
It's enormous claws lashed out with terrifying speed.
Raff barely had time to react.
The blow struck him squarely in the chest, launching him through the air.
CRASH!!
He smashed through the wall of a ruined building before disappearing beneath a shower of rubble.
The Crimson Bear snorted heavily before slowly regaining it's balance.
It's burning eyes now fixed on Elisabeth.
Meanwhile...
Arthur never took his eyes off the Sky Tyrant Griffin.
Neither of them made a move.
It was a silent battle of patience.
Then...
The moment the Griffin's emerald eyes met Arthur's.
The world around him suddenly seemed to freeze.
An overwhelming pressure crashed down upon his mind.
His breathing became heavier.
His muscles refused to respond.
Arthur gritted his teeth.
"...Damn it".
His voice barely audible.
"I forgot about the predator's Gaze..."
Predator's Gaze
One of the Sky Tyrant Griffin's most feared abilities.
Rather than attacking the body, it preyed upon the mind.
The moment eye contact was established, it amplified every trace of fear, doubt, and hesitation hidden within it's victim's heart.
The stronger the fear...
The stronger the paralysis.
The griffin spread it's enormous wings.
Golden feathers shimmered brilliantly.
A mysterious energy gathered around them.
Then...
FWOOOM!!
With a single flap of its wings, a colossal storm erupted.
Blades of compressed wind tore across the battlefield.
Buildings were sliced apart as though they were made of paper.
The streets exploded beneath the relentless assault.
Hundreds of razor-sharp wind blades carved deep scars into everything in their path.
When the storm finally subsided...
Slience returned.
The Sky Tyrant Griffin slowly scanned the devastated battlefield.
Arthur...
Had vanished.
Then-
A flicker of blue lightning flashed behind it.
Arthur had escaped and stood atop a building with his face and body bathed with blood and shot one of his sapphir daggers towards the griffin's neck with lightning-like speed.
SHING!!
Reacting on instinct, the griffin crossed its massive wings before it's body.
CLANG!!
The dagger slammed into the reinforced feathers, releasing a burst of sparks that echoed across the battlefield.
The tremendous force hurled the griffin backwards through the air.
When it finally steadied itself...
A thin line of crimson blood trickled down one wing.
Arthur's attack had failed to reach it's neck.
But...
He had done something no ordinary sacred Warrior could do.
Elsewhere...
Buried beneath a mountain of shattered concrete, Evans lay completely still.
Blood slowly pooled beneath his broken body.
His consciousness drifted deeper into darkness.
Then...
A familiar voice echoed through his mind.
"Big brother... You'll become the strongest Sacred warrior one day, right?"
Evans' eyes trembled.
Another voice followed.
A playful girls voice.
"I doubt it, little brother. Big Bro's way too skinny to become the strongest!"
Soft laughter echoed around him.
Then...
A warm, gentle voice filled the darkness.
His mother's voice.
"Now, now. Don't tease your big brother"
Her words were comforting.
"I'm sure he can accomplish anything he sets his heart on".
A single tear slides down Evans' cheek.
"Mom..."
His voice trembled.
"Your wrong... you were so wrong"
He bit his lip until it bled.
"I was too weak".
His fists tightened.
"I couldn't even come close to keeping my promise to my little brother..."
His breathing became uneven.
"And because of me..."
"... you, my little sister...and my little brother..."
His voice broke.
"...all died".
Silence.
Then he whispered...
"Even now... I'm dying like a helpless coward".
His empty eyes drifted towards the ground.
Lying beside him...
Was a crimson katana.
Its blade shimmered strangely in the darkness.
A bitter smile spread across his face.
"... I'll end this pain".
He reached out.
His trembling fingers wrapped around the sword's hilt.
Taking one final breath...
He drove the blade straight into his own heart.
SHLK!
Pain.
Then...
Nothing.
When Evans opened his eyes again...
He found himself standing within an endless void.
There was no sky.
No earth.
Only darkness.
Then a Crimson screen materialized before him.
[WELCOME TO THE FORBIDDEN DEMON SYSTEM.]
[Accept:Yes or No]
Evans stared blankly.
"What...?"
His voice echoed through the void.
"Shouldn't I already be dead?"
The system voice rang again
[Time remaining: 20 seconds]
[Warning: Declining will result in permanent Death]
Evans froze.
His thoughts raced.
"Is this..."
"A second chance?"
"Do I really want to go back."
Then...
His mother's voice echoed once again.
"You can accomplish anything."
"I believe in you."
His eyes slowly filled with determination.
Evans clenched his fists.
With every ounce of strength he had left, he shouted-
"YES!"
"I ACCEPT!"
[Congratulations]
[Host confirmed]
[First-Time user Bonus Activated.]
[Reward Obtained: Demonic Aura Release]
The moment the message disappeared...
Agony.
Unimaginable agony.
Every Bone in Evans' body shattered and reformed.
His muscles tore apart before stitching themselves back together.
His blood boiled.
His soul screamed.
"AAAAAGH!"
His agonized roar echoed endlessly through the void.
[The Forbidden Demon System has been successfully integrated.]
Outside...
The Crimson Bear slowly approached the motionless body lying beneath the rubble.
It raised one massive paw.
Then...
It stepped into a puddle of Evans' blood.
Instantly...
It's body froze.
Its pupils shrank.
An instinct older than reason screamed at it.
Run.
Its enormous body began trembling uncontrollably.
Slowly...
Very slowly...
It lifted its gaze.
Standing before it was Evans.
But...
He was no longer human.
His once-brown hair had become ash-gray.
His crimson eyes glowed like burning embers.
Dark markings stretched across his face-a horizontal line crossing the bridge of his nose and another running vertically from his forehead through his left eye.
A devilish smile slowly spread across his lips.
An overwhelming black-and-crimson aura poured from his body.
The air itself screamed.
The ground cracked.
The crimson Bear let out a terrified roar.
It's flesh began rotting before its eyes.
Its bones fractured one after another without a single blow leading.
Evans slowly tilted his head.
His smile widened.
"Tell me ..."
His voice was calm.
Almost gentle.
"...are you in pain?"
The beast collapsed, writhing in unimaginable agony.
Its flesh continued to decay as invisible pressure crushed every Bone in its body.
Evans chuckled.
A dark, delighted laugh.
"Good..."
He took a single step forward.
"I love that expression".
His crimson eyes gleamed with madness.
"You're suffering... aren't you?"
He laughed louder.
"Doesn't it feel wonderful, sadly our fun most end."
He reached forward.
RIP!
The Beast's head was torn clean from its body.
Blood rained across the ruined street.
Holding the severed head in one hand, Evans gazed into its fading eyes with a horrifying smile.
He leaned closer and whispered,
"Tell me one more time..."
His grin widened until it seemed almost in human.
"... are you in pain".