The beast screamed.
Its cry ripped through the forest like thunder.
Trees trembled violently as hundreds of birds burst into the sky.
SKRREEEEEEEEE!
Ashen’s entire body froze.
He couldn’t breathe.
The pressure alone was suffocating.
Every instinct screamed at him to run.
To hide.
To survive.
Yet his legs refused to move.
His crimson eyes remained locked on the creature perched above them.
It wasn’t merely large.
It was majestic.
Terrifying.
Its feathers were darker than midnight, each one traced with faint streaks of violet mana that shimmered whenever the light caught them.
Its golden eyes burned with unnatural intelligence.
This wasn’t a predator acting on instinct.
It was watching them.
Studying them.
Judging them.
⸻
Lyric stepped forward.
One step.
Then another.
She never looked away from the beast.
“Ashen.”
Her voice remained calm.
“Stay behind me.”
Ashen swallowed.
“O-Okay…”
He wanted to sound brave.
Instead…
His voice trembled.
⸻
The massive bird slowly spread its wings.
FWOOOOSH!
A violent gust exploded outward.
Trees bent beneath the force.
Leaves and dust filled the clearing.
Ashen threw an arm over his face as the wind threatened to knock him off his feet.
Lyric never moved.
She stood like a mountain against the storm.
⸻
The bird launched itself from the branch.
BOOM!
The limb shattered beneath its talons.
It descended like a falling star.
Its razor-sharp beak aimed directly at Lyric.
She moved.
Or rather…
Ashen thought she moved.
One heartbeat she stood before him.
The next—
CLANG!
Steel met beak.
A deafening shockwave erupted through the clearing.
Ashen stumbled backward.
His ears rang violently.
“…She blocked it…”
The words barely escaped his lips.
⸻
The bird recoiled with astonishing speed.
Its wings beat once.
Hundreds of razor-sharp feathers shot toward Lyric.
Each feather sliced through towering trees as though they were paper.
Ashen’s eyes widened.
“There are too many—!”
Lyric vanished.
The feathers struck nothing but empty air.
THOOM! THOOM! THOOM!
Tree after tree exploded apart behind her.
Ashen spun around frantically.
“…Where—”
CLANG!
High above.
Lyric stood atop one of the bird’s massive wings.
Her sword flashed.
SHING!
The creature shrieked as blood scattered across the sky.
But…
The wound was shallow.
Lyric landed gracefully several yards away.
Her expression never changed.
Its feathers…
They’re harder than steel.
⸻
The bird retaliated instantly.
It folded one wing inward before swinging it like a blade.
WHOOOOOM!
The attack carved a deep trench through the earth.
Lyric ducked beneath it effortlessly.
The wind pressure alone shattered nearby boulders.
CRACK!
BOOM!
Ashen could barely follow the exchange anymore.
All he heard was—
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
Steel.
Wind.
Explosions.
Silence.
Then another collision.
It was like watching two storms wage war.
⸻
Ashen clenched his fists.
She’s incredible…
I can’t even see her…
His heart sank.
If he had faced this creature alone…
He would’ve died before he could even draw his dagger.
⸻
Lyric slid backward across the ground before coming to a stop.
She exhaled quietly.
The bird hadn’t suffered any meaningful damage.
Its violet feathers shimmered once more.
The cuts she’d inflicted…
Were already closing.
“…Regeneration.”
She frowned.
“So that’s your trick.”
The bird released another triumphant screech.
Almost…
Mocking her.
⸻
Lyric closed her eyes.
Her sword lowered toward the earth.
Ashen blinked.
“…What is she doing?”
The forest became unnaturally still.
Even the wind stopped.
Then…
Dark mana flowed from Lyric’s body.
Not violent.
Not chaotic.
Smooth.
Like black water spilling across polished stone.
The aura wrapped around her legs.
Her arms.
Her blade.
It coiled through the air like a living serpent.
Ashen stared in awe.
“…Mana…”
“No…”
“This feels different…”
⸻
Deep within Lyric’s soul…
A pair of ancient golden eyes slowly opened.
An enormous black serpent coiled around her spirit.
Its obsidian scales gleamed beneath an endless darkness.
Its voice echoed through her consciousness.
“Shall we?”
Lyric smiled faintly.
“…Just enough.”
The serpent lowered its head.
“As you wish.”
⸻
Lyric opened her eyes.
They shone with brilliant golden light.
Sharp.
Steady.
Unwavering.
She raised her sword.
The black aura wrapped around the blade, layer upon layer, until the steel disappeared beneath pure darkness.
For the first time…
The bird hesitated.
It had sensed it.
Danger.
⸻
Lyric took one step.
Then…
She vanished.
Ashen lost sight of her completely.
A heartbeat later—
The forest exploded with countless impacts.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
Again.
Again.
Again.
Dark shadows streaked between the trees faster than lightning.
The bird screamed as invisible slashes tore across its body from every direction.
One.
Ten.
Twenty.
Fifty.
Ashen stopped trying to count.
It looked as though darkness itself had begun carving the creature apart.
⸻
The bird beat its wings desperately.
Trying to escape.
Trying to create distance.
Too late.
Lyric appeared directly above it.
Her sword raised high overhead.
The black aura condensed into a single point along the blade’s edge.
She spoke softly.
“Secrets of the Black Serpent…”
The entire forest seemed to hold its breath.
“First Fang.”
One slash.
Silent.
Beautiful.
Effortless.
SHHHHK.
Lyric landed lightly behind the creature.
Her sword slid back into its sheath in one smooth motion.
Click.
Nothing happened.
Ashen frowned.
“…Did she miss?”
Then…
The bird froze.
A thin black line appeared across its neck.
Then another.
And another.
Within seconds…
Hundreds of razor-thin cuts spread across its entire body.
The creature came apart piece by piece.
Feathers.
Wings.
Talons.
Everything.
Reduced to countless fragments drifting gently through the forest like black snow.
Silence returned.
The crushing pressure disappeared.
Only the wind remained.
⸻
Ashen stood frozen.
His mouth hung open.
He couldn’t speak.
He couldn’t think.
He had just witnessed something beyond anything he believed possible.
Lyric walked past him as though nothing extraordinary had happened.
She rested one hand atop his head.
“Come.”
Ashen looked up at her.
“…Was…”
His voice barely worked.
“…Was that… your full strength?”
A small smile crossed Lyric’s face.
“…Not even close.”
Ashen stared at her.
Then slowly looked back at the place where the bird had stood.
At that moment…
He understood.
The path ahead of him wasn’t measured in days.
Or months.
It was a mountain.
And he had only just taken his first step.
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