Chapter 5: The Beast Within

Jin's breath came in ragged gasps as he crouched low, gripping his weapon tightly. The massive beast loomed before him, its glowing eyes locked onto him with hunger. Its breath was a deep, guttural snarl, steaming in the cold night air.

Then, it lunged.

Jin barely had time to react. His body moved on instinct, rolling aside as the creature's claws ripped through the dirt where he had been standing. His heart pounded, his grip tightening around the rough handle of his makeshift weapon. But even as he prepared to counterattack, he felt it again.

That burning sensation.

The energy within him surged, crackling beneath his skin like a caged storm. And then—it awakened.

A deep blue aura burst from his body, swirling like liquid fire. Streaks of silver wove through it, shifting and twisting, like veins of light running through darkness. The power wasn't just light—it had weight, form. It rippled around him, almost alive, shifting between smoke and something more tangible, more solid.

The beast hesitated for the first time. Its eyes flickered, sensing something unnatural. Something dangerous.

Jin could feel the energy coursing through his veins, filling his muscles with power. But it wasn't controlled—it was wild, unpredictable.

The creature roared and charged. This time, Jin didn't dodge.

His instincts took over. His power surged, and without thinking, his arm moved. The blue-silver energy lashed out like a living entity, forming a jagged, shifting blade along his weapon. When he swung, the force of the strike didn't just cut—the energy erupted outward, sending a shockwave that tore through the ground beneath them.

The beast howled in pain as the force slammed into its side, deep gashes appearing where the energy had touched it. The blue aura pulsed violently, as if eager to be unleashed further, as if it wanted to consume everything in its path.

Jin staggered, gasping. His hands trembled—not from fear, but from the sheer intensity of the power. His vision blurred for a moment, and he felt the whisper again.

Let it go, Jin.

The voice was neither his nor anything he recognized. It came from the depths of his mind, chilling yet familiar.

Let it consume you.

He gritted his teeth. No. Not yet. He couldn't lose control.

The beast, though wounded, was not finished. It snarled, lunging once more, its claws raised to tear him apart.

Jin's body moved on its own. His energy reacted, forming jagged tendrils that lashed out at the beast, piercing through its flesh before dissipating like mist. The momentary hesitation was all he needed.

With a roar, Jin leapt forward, his weapon now an extension of his very being. He swung with all his strength, and this time, the energy did not just lash out—it imploded inward upon contact, like a collapsing star.

The impact sent shockwaves tearing through the forest.

Then—silence.

Jin stood there, his chest rising and falling in heavy breaths, his body aching from the force he had just unleashed. The creature lay motionless at his feet, its body marked with deep, unnatural wounds that still pulsed faintly with dark blue energy.

His hands were still trembling, his body still humming with the aftershocks of the power. He looked down at them, watching the aura flicker and shift before finally fading away.

What was this power? Was it even his?

The night was quiet again, the forest holding its breath.

Jin exhaled slowly, the weight of the battle settling in his bones. The beast was dead, but his real fight had just begun.