[Studying…]
[Enemy Fighting Pattern has been studied]
[Analyzing….]
[Five Weaknesses Detected]
[Reprogramming…]
[Counterattack Strategy Created]
A string of crystalline notifications echoed in Dain's mind, each more urgent than the last. His breathing steadied.
His mind, sharpened like a blade, absorbed the flood of information: movement analysis, striking patterns, tail rotation rhythm, posture shift before an attack—nothing escaped his Soul Construct's observation.
It was like time had slowed, and in that fraction of a moment, he understood—he didn't need to overpower the monster… he needed to outmaneuver it.
A massive shadow loomed before him.
The Feral Monster towered like a massive moving mountain, its eight serrated tails twitching with predatory hunger.
Its blood-red eyes burned like molten coals in its skull. The ground rumbled with each breath it took, exuding primal hatred.
This was it.
No room for fear. No room for doubt.
A mere few feet away, Dain's muscles coiled like springs.
Without warning, he veered left and leapt—just as one of the monster's tails sliced through the space he had occupied a heartbeat ago.
Whoosh!
BOOM!
The tail slammed into the ancient tiles, pulverizing stone and blasting debris into the air.
Dust swallowed the surroundings in a suffocating cloud. But the ancient throne behind them remained unmoved, an eternal witness to bloodshed.
The monster growled lowly, sensing its prey had escaped. Its eight fiery eyes locked onto Dain's new position.
In response, two tails lashed out like lightning—one from the right, the other from the left—closing in with terrifying speed.
Dain's heart slammed against his ribcage.
The tension was maddening.
His instincts roared louder than his thoughts.
He didn't wait.
He dove forward, just as the left tail swept beneath him—missing him by inches.
His body twisted midair, muscles straining.
Whoosh!
The second tail came crashing down. He performed a perfect forward roll and, in one fluid motion, swung his sword backward.
Bang!
Steel collided with muscle and bone.
A shockwave surged through his arm.
"Ugh—!" Dain groaned, his hand trembling from the impact. It felt like he had struck a mountain.
He gritted his teeth and sprang to his feet.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
More tails came.
One. Two. Three. Four.
Relentless.
Merciless.
Coordinated.
Each tail hissed through the air with murderous intent. They weren't just whipping—they were hunting.
Each movement calculated to trap, pin, or maim.
But Dain was moving faster than thought, dancing between death itself. Sweat streamed down his face as he twisted, ducked, and leapt.
His breath came in rapid bursts, but his mind was calm—cold, mechanical, guided by the flow of battle.
His Soul Construct fed him real-time predictions. It felt almost unfair… almost.
But the monster wasn't done.
Its rage flared. Every miss was an insult, a challenge to its supremacy.
Howl!
It let out a screech that split the air and charged forward, its massive form tearing through the battlefield like a juggernaut.
Its claws gleamed like obsidian blades, cutting through the air with a deathly whistle.
Dain didn't need to see the claws to sense the danger.
He ducked low, skidding across broken tiles as a claw passed inches above his head. Behind him, three tails crashed down.
Bang! Bang!
An explosion of stone.
Shards flew in all directions, and dust billowed high into the vaulted ceiling like smoke from a volcano.
For a second, everything disappeared in white and gray. But Dain didn't stop. He kept moving.
He had to move.
Inside the maelstrom, clarity dawned—he lacked powerful attacking skills.
His movement, reflexes, and prediction were perfect—but he had no powerful attack skill to end it.
He was dodging death with grace, but not delivering it.
He mentally etched it into his memory: I need to get attacking skills. Urgently.
Another tail swept toward him.
Whoosh!
He ducked again, this time closing the gap. With a battle cry, he swung his sword.
Slice!
A bright silver arc flashed.
His blade bit into the monster's thigh.
Ahhhhhh!
The monster shrieked, its voice a guttural storm of agony and rage. Soul energy burst out of the wound, flickering violently.
In retaliation, four of its tails whipped toward him.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Dain was already moving. His body bent, twisted, and flipped like a shadow in motion. He rolled across the ground, leapt backward, and spun midair to land with precision.
Bang!
Another tail struck. He deflected it with his sword, absorbing the bone-jarring impact, gritting his teeth through the pain that seared up his arm.
Still, he pressed on.
He slashed across the monster's side—blood exploded in violent arcs, spraying across the stone tiles like paint.
The monster howled again.
But Dain didn't let his guard down. He dove right, spun, then slid underneath three simultaneous tail strikes—a symphony of violence and movement.
He landed behind the monster.
His eyes locked on the base of one tail.
This was the moment.
He raised his sword.
Bang!
With a clean strike, he severed the tail. It writhed on the ground like a snake, spewing corrupted blood.
Howl!
The monster roared in agony. Its entire body trembled from the pain. For the first time, fear flashed in its blazing eyes.
Dain saw it.
And the monster knew he saw it.
Its predator's pride flared, refusing to submit. It turned violently and slashed with its claws, unleashing its fury.
Bang! Bang!
The floor cracked. Tiles flew like shrapnel. The entire hall trembled beneath the fury of the Feral Monster.
But Dain… he was untouchable.
Evading with grace, speed, and terrifying composure, he weaved through the storm.
And then—
Bang!
Howl!
A final howl echoed through the hall as Dain severed a second tail.
Blood rained like mist. The monster staggered, now visibly weakening, its movements erratic.
Dain stood tall, sword in hand, breath ragged but his eyes were calm.
*******