FACE OFF

Roar!!!

Roar!!!

 Outside the cave Kaelen is in, there are apparently two ferocious beasts facing each other with a dominant looks on their faces. One of the ferocious beast is none other the Shadowclaw who chased Kaelen up to this place.

 As for the other ferocious beast, it is apparently called the Dire Komodo in this world. It is a fearsome beast that bore a striking resemblance to the Komodo dragon, but with an aura of terror and power that set it apart from any ordinary predator. Its massive, muscular body was covered in thick, dark scales that shimmered with a metallic sheen, offering formidable protection against both physical attacks and magical assaults.

 The Dire Komodo's head was broad and menacing, with a long, powerful snout and jaws lined with rows of razor-sharp teeth. Its eyes, a piercing shade of crimson, glowed with a malevolent intelligence, capable of tracking prey with unerring precision. These eyes could see clearly in the dark, making the beast a relentless hunter both day and night.From its mouth dripped a viscous, toxic saliva that hissed upon contact with the ground, capable of paralyzing its prey with just a single bite.

 The beast's forked tongue flicked in and out, tasting the air and sensing the slightest vibrations, allowing it to detect even the most hidden of creatures.The Dire Komodo's legs were powerful and sturdy, ending in clawed feet that could tear through flesh and bone with ease. Each step it took was deliberate and silent, its movements surprisingly agile for its size. The beast's tail was long and whip-like, capable of delivering bone-crushing blows or sweeping foes off their feet.

 Spines ran down the length of its back, each one sharp and barbed, adding to its formidable appearance. These spines were not merely for show; they could be used in defense, making it perilous for any attacker to engage the beast from behind.

 Overall, the Dire Komodo was a creature of pure ferocity and dread, an apex predator that inspired fear and respect. Its combination of brute strength, toxic bite, and cunning intelligence made it one of the most dangerous creatures in the land, a true embodiment of the primal and untamed forces of nature.

 But the Shadowclaw wasn't one who will cower in front of a formidable foe as he kept on roaring at the Dire Komodo with an intimidating aura. But obviously, all these things made Kaelen panic even more as he thought.

'Well this is just great, there is actually two ferocious beast outside waiting for me'

 But he quickly shaked that thought of his mind as he put his gaze on the floating otherworldly sword right in front of him. And with a helpless smile on his face, he thought while he walked towards the altar the sword is floating right on top.

'It seems like I have no choice but to try and take this sword'

 But the moment Kaelen placed his hands on the hilt of the sword, something unexpected happened. The blue light of the sword intensified, filling the chamber with a blinding brilliance. The ground beneath Kaelen's feet began to tremble violently, and a deafening roar echoed through the cave as the ancient runes carved into the walls and ceiling flared to life, emitting streams of raw magical energy.

'What in the world' Kaelen thought as he tried to pull back, but his hands seemed glued to the hilt. The air around him crackled with power, and gusts of wind whipped through the cave, howling like a storm trapped within the stone confines. Loose rocks and debris were lifted into the air, swirling around him in a chaotic vortex.The pulsing light from the sword grew erratic, its rhythm accelerating to a frantic pace.

Kaelen felt his heart race in time with it, his vision blurring as waves of dizziness washed over him. The cave's magic seemed to be reacting to his presence, the energy spiraling out of control.A loud crack echoed through the chamber as the altar split open, releasing a torrent of magical force that knocked Kaelen off his feet.

 He struggled to maintain his grip on the sword, but the overwhelming power coursing through it was too much. His surroundings became a blur of light and sound, the chaos engulfing him completely.With a final, desperate cry, Kaelen felt his strength give out. The brilliant blue light of the sword flared one last time, then everything went dark. The last thing he heard before losing consciousness was the eerie silence that settled over the cave, as if the very air had been sucked out, leaving only the faint hum of residual magic.

Roar!!!

 The moment the chaos ensued in the cave, the Dire Komodo who was having a face off with the Shadowclaw suddenly diverted his attention towards the cave. Finally having a golden opportunity right in front of him, the Shadowclaw didn't hesitate as he pounced on the Dire Komodo.

 The tiger's claws, sharp as razors, raked across the Komodos thick scales, finding purchase and tearing through flesh, the Dire Komodo roared in pain and fury, twisting it's body to shake off the attacker, but Shadowclaw grip was unyielding.

 The two ferocious beasts clashed in a violent struggle, the forest floor trembling beneath their weight. The Dire Komodo lashed out with it's powerful tail, striking Shadow claws flank with a bone-crushing force. The tiger snarled, it's grip momentarily loosened, but if quickly regained it's hold, sinking it's fangs deeper into the Komodo's neck.

 The Dire Komodo thrashed wildly, it's claws slashing at the air in desperate attempts to dislodge the tiger. Blood poured from its wounds, staining the ground red. 

 Shadowclaws jaws tightened, it's bite unrelenting as it aimed for the vulnerable spot beneath the Komodo's armored scales.

 With a final, savage twist, Shadowclaw tore into the Komodo's throat, severing vital arteries. The Dire Komodo let out a gurgling roar, it's massive body convulsing before collapsing to the ground. Shadowclaw stood over its fallen prey, it's chest heaving, fur matted with blood. The forest fell silent one more, the only sound the ragged breathing of the victorious predator.

 But all these things didn't attract Kaelen's attention as he slowly began to regain consciousness while he thought in a confused state

'What just happened?' 

But what happened next threw him totally off balance.

"Welcome Kaelen Reyes to the blade of eternity system" A voice suddenly rang out in Kaelen's that instantly stunned Kaelen.

'Huh? Who said that?' Kaelen thought with a strange look on his face as he looked at his surroundings. But It didn't stay long before the voice came back while a screen suddenly popped up on his screen depicted a line of words.

Online: Blades of Eternity

 Kaelen's heart skipped a beat when he saw this screen as he muttered while stretching out his hands to try and touch the screen.

"What is this?" 

 But upon the point of contact between him and the screen, his fingers passed through it, but the interface remained steady and clear.

 The text on the screen began to change, lines of information scrolling down as if responding to his presence. Kaelen could keep up with the flood of data, but certain phrases stood out which are "Mana Level" "Skill Tree" and the most noticeable one which is "Primary weapon"

"This system... It must have activated when I touched that sword" Kaelen realized, feeling a mixed of awe and shock. He knew that this discovery would change everything.

Roar!!!

"Emergency quest!! Kill the Level 1 tiger" But while Kaelen was still trying to soak in the information that he was getting from his screen, a roar suddenly came into his ears from a rather close distance which made the text in the screen to suddenly change in a text colored in red.

 Along with that, the blue sword which Kaelen previously touched suddenly flew towards Kaelen and staying right in front of him.

'Huh?' But Kaelen response to all this was to have a dazed look on his face as he muttered in a strange tone.

"Kill a level 1 tiger?"