Chapter 13 - From Prey to Predator

Each step sent deep tremors through the cavern floor, the sheer weight of its presence warping the air around it.

Lucian's mind raced.

"I can't fight this thing head-on. I have to be smart."

His grip on the Abyssal Fang Blade tightened.

Size. Agility. Instinct.

That was all he had. And it wasn't enough.

The Tyrant lunged again.

Lucian pushed off the ground, dashing left just as the monster's serpentine tail came swinging for him.

WHOOOOSH—

Air shrieked as it passed within inches of his face.

Then—BOOM!

A cluster of stalagmites exploded behind him, shattered into razor-sharp shards.

Lucian barely had time to register the dodge before claws raked through stone, sending jagged rocks flying.

He ducked, sliding behind a cluster of spiked formations. Breathing hard.

"It's strong—" he thought, sweat dripping down his brow. "But it's fast, too."

And worse… it wasn't fighting blindly.

It was watching. Calculating.

Each dodge. Each movement. The Abyssal Tyrant was adapting.

Lucian's stomach tightened.

This wasn't a battle.

It was a hunt.

And right now—he was the prey.

He exhaled sharply, forcing himself to focus. He needed a plan.

The cavern wasn't just an empty battlefield.

It was a deathtrap.

Jagged rock formations. Uneven ground. Deep fissures.

He could use them.

Lucian's gaze flicked to a section of weakened stone—cracked, unstable from past battles.

He darted forward.

The Abyssal Tyrant's gaze snapped to him immediately.

It charged.

The ground quaked, the monster's monstrous weight making the cavern tremble.

Lucian pushed his speed to the limit.

Ten steps.

Five.

"Come on… come on…"

Then—he leaped.

BOOM!

The Abyssal Tyrant's claws slammed down—right onto the fractured ground.

The cavern floor collapsed.

A massive sinkhole swallowed its foot. The beast stumbled, its balance momentarily broken.

Lucian didn't hesitate.

He twisted mid-air, bringing his blade down toward its exposed side.

The Abyssal Fang Blade sank deep.

Armor cracked. Dark ichor splattered.

The Tyrant roared.

But—

It didn't flinch.

It simply twisted—far too fast.

Lucian's eyes widened.

The tail came first.

Then—impact.

Pain.

His body whipped through the air like a ragdoll before slamming into the cavern wall.

Everything blurred.

His ribs screamed. His lungs refused to work.

He barely clung to consciousness.

Lucian lay there for a moment, his entire body throbbing.

"Dammit—"

Even half-wounded, he was still outmatched.

The Abyssal Tyrant was injured now.

But that didn't seem to matter.

It was still just as fast.

Just as dangerous.

And worst of all…

It was angry.

Lucian gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stand.

"I need more power…"

The Tyrant began moving toward him again, its red eyes glowing with renewed fury.

Lucian staggered, tightening his grip on his sword.

He wasn't done yet.

But if he wanted to survive this fight—

He needed something more.

—————————————

Lucian gritted his teeth, every inch of his body screaming in pain.

The Abyssal Tyrant stalked forward, a walking calamity wrapped in obsidian armor.

Lucian had tried everything—

His agility. His strategy. His instincts.

And still—it wasn't enough.

A deep, rumbling chuckle echoed through the cavern.

Lucian's head snapped toward it.

Ignis Aureum watched from the shadows, golden eyes gleaming with quiet amusement.

His massive form loomed, lazily coiled as if he were watching an insect struggle.

"You are fighting like a child."

Lucian's frustration boiled over.

"What the hell am I supposed to do?!"

Ignis smirked.

"Use your magic, fool."

Lucian froze.

Magic?

He didn't have offensive spells. No fireballs, no lightning strikes.

Just a sword, his skills, and his instincts.

"I don't have any magic!"

Ignis let out a booming laugh, deep and thunderous.

"You do." His voice was absolute. "You simply don't know how to use it yet."

Lucian's ribs throbbed with each breath, his body on the verge of collapse.

"Then—tell me how."

Ignis's golden eyes narrowed.

"Feel it."

His tone shifted—no longer mocking, but commanding.

"The flow of energy within you. It is there. Tap into it."

Lucian's breath hitched. He closed his eyes, forcing himself to focus.

At first, he felt nothing.

Just the dull ache of exhaustion, the burning strain of his battered muscles.

But then—

Something stirred.

A warmth. Deep. Unfamiliar.

It wasn't like stamina or strength.

It was something else.

Like a silent current flowing through his veins.

Lucian's eyes snapped open.

"This… is mana?"

And the moment he reached for it—

[Ding!]

Skill Growth Acceleration (EX) has amplified proficiency gain.

[Ding!]

Mana Control (Lv.1) Activated.

A pulse of raw power erupted inside him.

His muscles burned—then steadied.

His vision sharpened.

His blade hummed, vibrating with unseen energy.

Then—

[Ding!]

New Skill Acquired – Body Enhancement (Lv.1)

Temporarily enhances physical attributes using mana, improving speed, strength, and reflexes.

Lucian's breath was ragged. But he could feel it.

This wasn't just raw power.

It was control.

"This is like Limit Break… but not as extreme."

"More stable. More refined."

Lucian's fist clenched.

This—this was his.

The Abyssal Tyrant roared.

Its claws came down, aiming to crush him in a single blow.

But this time—

Lucian moved first.

[Ding!]

Shadow Step (Lv.1) Activated.

His body twisted, his movements unnaturally smooth.

The attack missed. Claws slammed into the stone, shattering the cavern floor—

But Lucian was already moving.

He dashed forward. Faster than before.

The wind roared past his ears.

"I'm—faster?!"

He wasn't just keeping up.

He was in control.

Lucian's blade arced through the air—

His target: The gap between the Tyrant's armor.

The Abyssal Fang Blade sank deep.

Dark ichor splattered across the stone.

The Abyssal Tyrant shrieked. It stumbled back.

For the first time—

Lucian had injured it.

He landed smoothly, absorbing the force with ease.

His enhanced body hummed with power.

Lucian smirked.

"Alright… let's see just how far I can push this."

The Abyssal Tyrant's red eyes flickered.

It felt it.

The shift in power.

The hunted—had become the hunter.

Lucian grinned.

He vanished into motion.

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