Beast Invasion (Part Two)

The Predator-class beast let out a guttural snarl, its razor-sharp claws gleaming under the city's burning sky. Its blood-red eyes locked onto Aamir, a primal hunger lurking within.

Then—it lunged.

Aamir barely had time to react.

The monster's massive claws came down like a hammer, aiming straight for his skull.

CLANG!

A powerful clash of steel rang out as a Purushottampuri guard intercepted the attack. The man's blade met the beast's claws head-on—but the difference in strength was too great.

A sickening CRACK split the air.

The guard's sword shattered into two pieces.

The sheer force of the blow sent the guard flying backward, his body crashing against the cobblestone street. Blood seeped from a deep gash across his chest.

The beast snarled, advancing.

Aamir moved without thinking.

He focused his Adrenaline Energy into his legs, his muscles tightening like coiled springs.

In a burst of speed, he dashed forward, snatching the injured guard away from the monster's claws just as they slammed into the ground, leaving deep craters in the stone.

They landed a few meters away.

"Are you okay?" Aamir asked, his breath ragged.

The guard winced, pressing a hand against his bleeding chest. "The wound isn't deep."

Aamir exhaled in relief.

"But why did you intervene?" the guard asked, shaking his head. "I could've handled that attack."

Aamir smirked. "You thought I was just a kid who needed protection, huh?"

The guard let out a weak chuckle despite his pain. "Didn't expect you to be this fast."

Aamir turned to a nearby soldier, who was battling a smaller Feral-class beast. "You! Get him to safety and keep an eye out for more of these monsters!"

The soldier nodded, quickly helping the wounded man to his feet.

Aamir turned back toward the battlefield, scanning the chaos.

The beast invasion had thrown everything into disarray. The Purushottampuri guards were falling one by one, their weapons barely able to slow the stronger creatures.

Even magic users, who had always been considered humanity's trump card, were struggling.

For decades, humanity had relied on magic to fight the beasts. It was effective—against the weaker classes.

But the stronger creatures, like Specter-class and above, had evolved to resist it.

Then, humanity discovered something new.

It started as a simple observation—in moments of extreme danger, the human body could exceed its normal limits. Strength, speed, reaction time—all of it increased dramatically when survival was on the line.

This wasn't just a temporary rush. It was an innate human potential, one that, with proper training, could be controlled and amplified.

Scientists named it "Adrenaline Energy."

Warriors refined it, developing unique combat techniques designed to synchronize with its flow. These techniques became known as "Adreno Arts."

Thus, the Twelve Nations of Eridoria rose from the ashes of war, each developing its own Adreno Art style to counter the beasts.

The great nations stood as humanity's final defense:

1. Aryavarta

2. Valtania

3. Kyokai

4. Zhonghua

5. Aurora

6. Calonia

7. Galvia

8. Maravalia

9. Valkoria

10. Carnelia

11. Navarra

12. Danovia

Every nation had its own warriors, its own legends.

And Aamir was determined to carve his name among them.

He wasn't a master of Adreno Arts—not yet.

His movements were still rough, still unpolished.

But he had one thing that mattered.

The will to survive.

The Predator-class beast was still there, glaring at him with its one remaining eye, the other still oozing blood from his previous attack.

It let out a furious roar and charged.

Aamir tensed, gripping his blade tighter.

Before he could react, a familiar voice called out—

"Aamir! Catch!"

A streak of flaming red shot toward him.

Aamir instinctively reached out—his fingers wrapping around the hilt of his sword.

But something was different.

The moment his hand touched the blade, heat surged through his veins. The weapon glowed with a fiery light, crackling with power.

He turned to see Riya standing behind him, her eyes glowing with magic.

She had enchanted his sword with fire.

"Use this," she whispered.

Aamir locked eyes with her.

For the first time, he felt something deeper inside himself—a power he didn't yet understand.

But he didn't have time to think.

The beast was already upon him.

Aamir moved like lightning.

The beast swung its tail.

Aamir dodged, spinning low, using the momentum to slide under its massive body.

His flaming sword flashed through the air.

And then—something unexpected happened.

The fire intensified, spiraling around the blade, forming an unstable, whirling inferno.

Without even thinking, Aamir slashed upward.

The world erupted in flames.

A crescent arc of fire tore through the beast's armored hide like paper.

For a moment, the creature froze.

Then—

SHRRAAAKKK!

A clean cut ran straight through its midsection.

The Predator-class beast let out one last horrifying screech before its massive body split in two, crashing to the ground with a thunderous impact.

Silence.

Aamir stood there, his body shaking.

I… I killed it.

His mind struggled to process what had just happened.

That wasn't a normal attack. That was something else.

Something dangerous.

Something powerful.

The name Arya Agni Jvala echoed in his mind—a move he had never learned, yet somehow, had just performed.

What… am I?

The sound of cheering guards snapped him back to reality.

Aamir exhaled, his grip on his sword tightening.

He didn't have answers yet.

But one thing was certain—

This was only the beginning.