Chapter 21: Awakening the Forgotten

The chamber was suffocatingly silent, heavy with the kind of anticipation that coils around the spine like a serpent. Arc stood in the middle of it, his eyes scanning the cryptic murals etched into the stone walls. Every instinct told him something was off—like he wasn't alone. The chamber wasn't just old; it felt ancient, untouched by human hands for centuries.

The mission had already gone sideways, with broken promises and betrayals snapping at Arc's heels. And now he stood before the core of a hidden project that should never have existed: a sleeping beast engineered centuries ago, forgotten by the world but waiting to awaken.

In front of him stood a reinforced glass chamber, cracked and barely holding its shape. A tangled mess of cables and pipes fed into the coffin-like structure, with fluid sloshing slowly inside, illuminated by dim, flickering lights.

Arc's breath caught in his throat. His status screen hovered over his vision, displaying a chilling notification:

System Warning: High-Level Abomination Detected. Status: Dormant. Strength Suppressed by 84%. Proceed with Caution.

He leaned in, trying to get a better view of the creature inside. A monstrous figure rested there—eight feet tall even in its fetal position, its flesh stitched with old scars and metallic tendrils. A beast created for war, then buried by time itself. Arc could feel his muscles tense instinctively, the animal inside him stirring.

"What the hell did they lock you away for?" he muttered under his breath.

Then, with a low hiss, the glass cracked.

The Shattering Moment

Before Arc could react, the chamber shattered. Thick shards rained down in slow motion, and the fluid inside burst free, spilling like a flood over the stone floor. The monster's limbs twitched—then moved with disturbing speed, as though it had never been asleep at all. Its glowing, reptilian eyes snapped open, locking onto Arc with a predatory intensity.

The system chimed again in Arc's mind:

Abomination Unsealed. Status: Suppressed at 50%. Strength Levels Stabilizing.

Arc's gaze flicked to the status screen floating before him, hoping to assess his enemy.

And what he saw sent a chill down his spine:

Strength: 197 | Agility: 202 | Mana: 850 | Dexterity: 185 | Perception: 81

The beast's stats were more than double his own.

"What the—?" Arc barely whispered. This wasn't a fight. This was a death sentence.

The creature's nostrils flared as it took in Arc's scent, and a guttural growl rumbled deep in its chest. Its limbs moved with terrifying grace, as though it was eager to test itself after 300 years of slumber. Even in its weakened state, it was already stronger than anything Arc had ever faced.

And it wasn't going to wait for him to catch his breath.

Thirty Minutes of Brutal Combat

The abomination leaped forward without warning, closing the gap between them faster than Arc could react. Its claws slashed toward his throat. Arc dodged instinctively, his body twisting into a defensive stance, and countered with a rapid jab to the creature's ribs. The impact barely phased it.

Arc ducked as a clawed hand swiped overhead, the wind from the strike whipping against his face. It was fast. Too fast. Faster than anything that size had a right to be.

Arc fought to keep up, cycling through everything he had—Muay Thai elbows, grappling throws from Jiu-Jitsu, bone-breaking kicks from Taekwondo. His movements were a blur of honed technique and survival instincts, but the beast adapted almost instantly. Each attack he landed only made it learn faster, as though it was evolving mid-fight.

His fists connected with its jaw—once, twice—but the monster retaliated with a powerful backhand that sent Arc crashing into the wall. Stone shattered under the impact, and Arc felt his ribs crack as he hit the ground.

He groaned but pushed himself up, wiping blood from his mouth. The abomination gave him no time to recover. It pounced again, slamming him into the floor with bone-jarring force. Arc barely managed to roll out of the way before claws pierced the ground where his skull had been.

The two warriors clashed again and again, a relentless dance of violence. For thirty minutes, the chamber echoed with the sound of fists colliding with flesh, claws ripping through stone, and bones creaking under immense pressure.

Arc's body was evolving mid-battle, adapting with every second. His strikes became faster, his footwork sharper, and his mind more in sync with his growing power. He could feel his muscles adjusting to the beast's patterns, each dodge becoming easier, every counter-attack more precise.

Yet, no matter how hard he fought, the monster just wouldn't stay down.

Arc's knuckles cracked as he landed a vicious cross to the abomination's face, sending it sprawling across the chamber. For a moment, it lay still, and Arc stood over it, panting, his body aching from the sheer exertion.

Then, the system's cold voice whispered in his mind:

Fatal Blow Delivered. Target Terminated.

Arc exhaled, relief washing over him as he watched the creature go limp.

Resurrection and Fury

But then, to Arc's horror, the beast's chest twitched.

The system chimed again, this time with a tone that sent a spike of dread through his heart:

Warning: Regeneration Protocol Activated. Abomination Reviving. Status Restored to 80%.

"No," Arc breathed, disbelief etched across his face. "You've got to be kidding me."

The creature's eyes snapped open again, burning with renewed fury. It rose to its feet, stronger than before, the wounds Arc inflicted already knitting together. The monster let out a deafening roar that reverberated through the chamber, shaking dust loose from the ceiling.

Arc clenched his fists, his knuckles white with frustration. His heart pounded against his ribs, a mixture of anger and adrenaline surging through him. This thing wasn't just an opponent—it was a nightmare that refused to end.

"You just don't quit, do you?" Arc growled, fury simmering beneath his breath.

The Evolutionary Drive

The monster lunged at him once more, but this time, something in Arc snapped. He wasn't just going to survive this fight—he was going to end it. For good.

The unknown flame that had been smoldering inside him ignited, rushing through his veins like wildfire. His fists shimmered with crimson heat, and every muscle in his body surged with newfound power.

The beast charged, but Arc was ready. He met it head-on, their collision sending shockwaves through the chamber. The walls groaned under the pressure of their fight, cracks spider-webbing across every surface.

Arc fought with renewed ferocity, his blows now burning with a fire that the creature couldn't adapt to. With every punch and kick, the beast howled in pain, its flesh sizzling under the heat.

But even as Arc pushed himself beyond his limits, the monster's regeneration worked tirelessly. Every wound Arc inflicted healed within moments, as though the creature was locked in an eternal loop of life and death.

The Final Gambit

Arc's mind raced. This thing couldn't be beaten by strength alone. He had to find a way to disrupt the cycle—to stop its regeneration for good.

He planted his feet firmly, letting the fire inside him swell to an uncontrollable blaze. With a roar, he slammed his palms against the creature's chest, channeling every ounce of heat into its core.

The abomination shrieked, its regeneration faltering as flames consumed it from within. It writhed in agony, clawing at Arc, but the fire held. The chamber filled with smoke and ash as the monster's body burned, crumbling into embers.

The system chimed one last time:

Target Annihilated. Regeneration Disrupted. Evolution Progress: 87%.

Arc stood over the smoldering remains, his chest heaving with exhaustion. For the first time, the chamber was silent once more.

He exhaled slowly, a grim smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.