WIELDER OF THE PRIMORDIAL LIGHTNING OF THE ANCIENTS
Morning broke quietly over Twin Moon Village. Dew clung to the grass, glittering under soft light. Daniel rose before dawn, his muscles still aching from the storm of cultivation the night before. Every movement sent a tingle of energy flickering under his skin — faint, silver, alive.
He pulled on his cloak, tying it tight around his shoulders. "The Codex said the storm must be tested through trial," he murmured. "Then that's what I'll do."
He slipped out before the village stirred, the air still carrying the chill of night. The path ahead led to the Wildmist Woods, a place of whispers and danger. Hunters avoided it unless desperate. They said strange lights flickered between its trees at night — and beasts prowled that even seasoned warriors dared not provoke.
But Daniel wasn't going there to hunt. He was going to learn.
---
The forest greeted him with silence and mist. Shafts of gold filtered through the leaves as he stepped deeper, each footfall soft against the moss. Somewhere ahead, water trickled faintly — and then, a rustle.
A gray blur darted across his vision — a Wind-Tailed Hare, its fur rippling with faint blue light. Even Feral beasts, the lowest of the Spirit Beast hierarchy, carried traces of elemental energy. This one's essence was wind, sharp and elusive.
Daniel's pulse quickened. A Feral. Just strong enough for a test.
He lowered himself into a stance, recalling the Codex's first lesson:
> "Let your heart echo the storm. Each beat is thunder. Each breath, lightning."
The hare lunged — fast. Daniel struck too soon, his lightning bursting uncontrolled. The creature skimmed past, claws slicing his sleeve.
He grimaced. "Too wild. Again."
When it came at him the second time, Daniel steadied his breathing. The lightning in his veins responded — slower, focused, obedient. His palm crackled silver as he struck out.
A single flash. The hare collapsed mid-leap, stunned by the current.
Daniel stared at his trembling hand. "It worked…" He laughed softly, a mix of relief and disbelief. "I actually hit it."
For the first time, the storm inside him didn't feel like chaos — it felt like rhythm.
---
Hours slipped by as he roamed the forest, clashing with other small beasts — a scaled fox with ember-like fur, a snake coiled with faint sparks, even a crow that spat static. Each fight tested him, honed his reflexes, and left his body heavier but stronger.
But then — the forest changed.
The wind stilled. The birds vanished. Even the air itself felt thick, heavy, as if holding its breath.
Daniel straightened slowly. "...Something's wrong."
A low growl answered him.
From between the trees emerged a shadow — massive, broad-shouldered, its fur burning with dim red light. Two horns curled from its head, glowing like molten iron.
> A Crimson Horned Liger.
Daniel froze, his heart lurching. He didn't need anyone to tell him what it was — he could feel its strength pressing down like a mountain. This wasn't a Feral beast. This was a Greater-class creature, one that could crush men with a single blow.
The Liger's golden eyes locked onto him.
Daniel swallowed hard. "...Oh no."
Then he turned and ran.
Roots tore beneath his boots as he sprinted through the woods, lightning flaring under his feet. Behind him, the Liger's roar shattered the silence, shaking the trees. Fire burst from its breath, scorching the earth as it chased him down.
Daniel leapt over a fallen log, ducking under a branch — a second later, a blast of flame exploded where he'd just been. "This thing's insane!" he gasped, dodging left. "Why me?!"
The forest blurred into streaks of green and smoke. He burst into a clearing — and stopped dead.
A cliff. The ground dropped into a deep ravine below.
He spun around. The Liger was already there, molten breath spilling from its jaws, the ground trembling beneath its steps.
He could feel his fear clawing at him — the instinct to survive, to flee. But another feeling rose louder, steadier. The storm.
> "If I run from every storm…"
"...I'll never master it."
He exhaled slowly, lightning curling around his arms, crackling along his skin like living veins. His eyes glowed silver.
"Fine," he whispered. "Then let's see which of us the world favors."
The Liger roared and charged. Daniel moved — a streak of light and thunder. Flame met lightning in a blinding collision.
> "STORM BURST!"
The explosion tore through the clearing, shaking the very roots of the forest. Thunder roared, light consumed the air — and then all fell silent.
Only faint arcs of silver lightning lingered, dancing over the shattered ground.