Chapter 6 - Awakened

Nex's eyes snapped open, his breath caught in his throat. For a moment, he couldn't tell if he was awake or still trapped in some horrific dream.

Above him, the jagged ceiling of the hollow cave loomed, rough edges casting faint shadows.

His mind spun, disjointed memories rushing in, the monstrous beast, the vicious battle, and his death.

"I... should be dead,"

His chest rose and fell erratically as he struggled to orient himself.

A strange weight pressed against his side, drawing his gaze.

Turning his head, he froze.

Inches away lay the massive body of the Fenrir. Its once-piercing eyes stared lifelessly at nothing, its gaping jaws exposing fangs large enough to tear through steel.

Even in death, the creature radiated an aura of pure, unrelenting power.

Nex's body tensed involuntarily, his breath slowing as if the beast might suddenly come back to life.

"Did the venom work?" he murmured under his breath, his voice barely audible.

Long before the fight had even begun, Nex had prepared the venom, smearing a single drop on the blade of his knife.

It was a gamble, a desperate plan against an opponent far stronger than he could handle in direct combat.

The venom wasn't designed for creatures of Fenrir's rank, and Nex hadn't trusted it to work against such an advanced beast. Because of this uncertainty, he had hesitated to use his knife in close combat.

The risk was too great, and he knew he couldn't match the monster's overwhelming strength or speed in a head-on fight.

He hadn't even known if the blade had struck deep enough to deliver the venom, but now, staring at the unmoving beast, the answer seemed clear.

Summoning every ounce of strength, Nex pushed himself up.

He rolled off the dead Fenrir, landing on one knee with a muted thud. His hand brushed against the creature's matted fur, still damp with blood, his blood, and the beast's.

A strange realization hit him, cutting through the haze of his thoughts.

His right hand. It was there.

He stared at it in disbelief. The last thing he remembered was the gush of blood, the horrifying sight of the Fenrir's jaws clamping down and tearing through flesh and bone.

Yet now, his fingers flexed and curled without hesitation, as if the severance had been nothing more than a bad dream.

The movement felt disturbingly normal, with every joint and tendon responding effortlessly. His gaze drifted down to his chest.

He tore open the remains of his shredded ether suit, exposing patches of pale skin where gashes from the Fenrir's claws should have been.

There was no blood, no scars, just smooth, unbroken skin. The fabric of his suit was in tatters, but his body looked as though nothing had ever happened.

"This... this can't be real," Nex said aloud.

Shaking hands, he fumbled to activate the device on his wrist. The translucent interface flickered to life, glowing faintly in the gloom.

He scanned the data displayed, each line throwing his world further off balance.

[Name: Nex]

[Race: Human]

[Age: 21 Years Old]

[Current Wilderness: Mutated Forest]

[Awakened Talent: Fenrir]

[Current Points: 1550]

[Ether Energy Reserve: 0 PT]

[Current Body Condition: Healthy]

His eyes stopped on the words he didn't recognize:

[Awakened Talent: Fenrir]

"When did I...?" he muttered, his brow furrowing. He couldn't recall anything about this.

"Mod," he said. "Check the encyclopedia. Search for details on this talent."

The screen responded with a faint chime, and a new notification popped up:

[Wild Talent: Fenrir (Upgradable)]

[Description: Derived from the wildness of a beast, this talent is most suitable for melee fighters. Upon activation, the user undergoes massive bodily changes, including increased muscle density, enhanced speed, and temporary resilience. Note: This talent can evolve upon meeting certain conditions.]

"This... this is incredible,"

The talent wasn't just strong, it was adaptable. The idea of evolving it sent a thrill coursing through him. Evolving talents like this were rare, and known to shift the balance of survival.

Nex couldn't resist testing his new talent. His heart raced with anticipation, and he didn't want to waste the rush of excitement that filled him.

He closed his eyes, recalling the basic teachings about awakening talents.

The process was both simple and profound: look inward and connect with the core of your energy.

Taking a deep breath, he focused, turning his attention to the depths of his being.

At first, it was faint, a flicker of light buried deep within him, barely noticeable.

But as he reached for it, the faint glimmer grew, erupting suddenly like a burst of fire.

Energy surged through him, electrifying every nerve, every muscle, every cell in his body.

His body trembled as the transformation began. He could feel his muscles tightening and expanding beneath his torn suit. Veins bulged along his forearms, thick and pulsing with raw power.

His chest and shoulders broadened, every inch of his body humming with strength.

"This is unreal," Nex muttered, staring in awe as his arms rippled with muscle.

He couldn't just stand there; he needed to move.

Testing his speed, Nex lunged forward.

With a single step, he crossed the entire cave in the blink of an eye.

His back hit the far wall with a soft thud, the impact sending a faint tremor through the stone.