Zen's ragged, panicked breaths tore at his throat as he crashed through the dark forest. Behind him, the earth shook with every thunderous step of the Drakonis.
Its roars shattered the night – deep, guttural bellows of rage that vibrated in Zen's bones and sent birds shrieking from the trees. Fear was a cold, tight fist squeezing his heart.
Suddenly, a glowing window flashed right in front of his eyes, forcing him to skid to a halt, almost tripping over roots.
[Quest Alert!]
Objective: Defeat the Drakonis
Reward: Absorb Skill Upgrade (5% → 20%)
Zen blinked, stunned. He glanced back at the monstrous shadow crashing through the trees. "You've got to be kidding me!" he yelled, frustration warring with terror.
His first instinct screamed RUN! But something stopped him. The Drakonis… it wasn't moving like before. Its charge was sluggish, heavy. Its breathing sounded wet and labored, like a broken bellows.
Through the gloom, its huge reptilian eyes looked hazy, unfocused.
Curiosity fought fear. Zen focused, activating Appraise. His gaze zeroed in on the beast's thick neck. There! A deep, festering bite mark, swollen and angry.
Black, spiderweb-like veins pulsed outwards from it, stark against the dark scales. Poison.
The status window confirmed it:
[Drakonis]
- Strength: 70 (-50)
- Speed: 30 (-20)
- Stamina: 55 (-40)
- Defense: 40 (-30)
- Mana: 20 (-50)
- Condition: Poisoned
A fierce, almost feral grin spread across Zen's face. "So you're not invincible after all."
The Drakonis snarled weakly, its head swinging towards him. Zen snapped back to the moment. He didn't run blindly now. He danced.
He darted left, weaving between thick trunks, then cut sharply right, vanishing into a thicket.
He led the poisoned giant on a desperate chase, always staying just out of reach, forcing it to expend its dwindling energy.
Every step cost the beast. Its movements grew heavier, clumsier. Frustrated growls turned into wet, choking rasps. Minutes stretched into an agonizing hour.
The Drakonis began to rampage blindly in its fury, smashing its massive body into trees.
CRUNCH!
Huge trunks toppled like twigs.
SNAP!
Splinters rained down like deadly rain. Zen scrambled, leaping aside as a massive branch crashed where he'd stood seconds before.
Above, a flock of large, crow-like birds appeared, circling silently in the moonlight. Their dark shapes against the stars felt like an omen.
Zen wiped sweat and grime from his face. "Even the scavengers know," he panted. "Your time's almost up."
The Drakonis was failing fast. Dark, almost black blood began to ooze from its mouth, nostrils, and even the corners of its eyes. It dripped onto the forest floor, steaming slightly in the cool air.
Its mighty roars became pathetic, gurgling whimpers. Its terrifying presence shrank, replaced by the pitiful struggle of a dying animal.
With one final, shuddering cry that echoed with despair, the colossal beast collapsed. The impact sent a tremor through the ground, throwing Zen off his feet. He scrambled up, staring at the fallen monster.
Its massive chest heaved weakly. Its bloodshot eyes, clouded with pain, met Zen's. He saw defiance flicker, then fade into a strange, weary resignation.
Zen took a deep, shaky breath. The boar-tusk knife felt cold and slick in his sweaty hand. "It's you or me," he muttered, the words tasting like ash.
He approached cautiously, every nerve screaming danger. The Drakonis didn't move. Its body seemed to slacken, the fight draining away with its lifeblood. Its eyes held a final, soft glimmer – acceptance.
Zen seized the moment. He sprinted the last few yards, leaping towards the beast's exposed neck, right beside the poisoned bite.
With a raw cry ripped from his throat, he drove the sharpened tusk down with all his strength.
THUNK-SCHLICK!
Hot, dark blood sprayed, soaking Zen's arm. The blade sank deep into the thick hide. The Drakonis's body convulsed once, a weak tremor.
Zen didn't stop. He gripped the tusk handle, twisted it cruelly, then yanked it free. Before the beast could react, he plunged his hand into the gaping wound, fingers scrabbling past muscle and tendon.
He found the thick, rubbery tube of its throat pipe. Gritting his teeth against the hot, slick horror of it, he sawed frantically with the tusk blade.
The Drakonis shuddered violently, a final, wet gasp escaping its jaws. Then, its massive body went utterly still. The fierce light in its eyes dimmed and went out.
[Quest Complete!]
Reward: Absorb Skill Upgraded (20% Absorption)
Zen collapsed to his knees beside the giant corpse, trembling uncontrollably. Relief washed over him, so intense it felt like weakness. With shaking hands, he placed both palms on the still-warm scales. Absorb.
A brilliant, cool white light erupted from the Drakonis, flowing into Zen like a river. Power surged through him – raw, immense, intoxicating.
It washed away the bone-deep exhaustion, numbed the ache of his bruises, and filled him with a strength he'd never dreamed possible.
+14 Strength
+6 Speed
+11 Stamina
+8 Defense
+4 Mana
He clenched his fists. His muscles felt like coiled steel. He felt faster, tougher, more. He pulled up his status, a disbelieving laugh escaping him.
[PLAYER]
Name: Zen Nullis
Title: None
Core: Basic
Strength: 26.8
Speed: 18.3
Stamina: 26.1
Defense: 20.5
Mana: 19
[SKILL]
Empower (Basic)
Appraise (Unique)
Absorb (20%)
Regeneration (Basic)
Mana Harvest (Basic)
Zen stood, looking down at the fallen titan. The scavenger birds circled lower. "You were tough," he said, his voice firm now, filled with hard-won confidence. "But I made it to the top."
He knelt again, scooping up handfuls of the thick, dark Drakonis blood. It was warm and sticky, with a sharp, coppery-metallic smell. He untied his shorts, turning them into a crude sack.
Carefully, he filled the fabric with as much blood as he could carry, tying the legs securely shut. The weight was significant, but his new strength handled it easily.
He began the trek back towards his abandoned campfire. As he walked, an idea struck. He focused, activating Regeneration. A warm tingling spread through his battered body, soothing cuts and bruises.
But the moment his focus wavered – watching his footing, adjusting the heavy sack – the skill flickered and died.
"Damn," he muttered. "Hard to walk and heal." He tried Mana Harvest next.
It was slightly easier to maintain the gentle pull of energy from the air while moving, but it still demanded constant attention, draining his focus.
Finally, he reached the clearing. His small campfire was just cold embers. Ignoring his exhaustion, he got to work.
He dipped his hands into the sack and began spreading the potent Drakonis blood around the perimeter of his camp – on tree trunks, bushes, rocks.
The strong, predatory scent filled the air, overpowering his own. Let other beasts think a Drakonis lives here, he thought grimly.
Satisfied with his smelly barrier, he turned to the fire. Carefully, he coaxed the embers back to life with dry leaves and twigs. Soon, a small, warm flame danced again.
Night had fully fallen. The rhythmic buzzing of night insects (crickets? Something else?) filled the air. Zen sat by the fire, the bloody sack beside him.
He tilted his head back, gazing up at the impossibly vast, star-strewn sky. It wasn't Earth's sky, but its sheer scale triggered a memory, sharp and sweet.
He was maybe ten. His dad, Dominic, had been adamant. "Camping trip is ON! Guide canceled? Pfft! We don't need a guide!"
Mom had just smiled and packed extra snacks. Zen, dragged along, felt only annoyance. They'd gotten hopelessly lost in woods much smaller than these.
Dad, ever the optimist, declared every clearing "perfect!" until they finally found one just as fat raindrops started falling.
Then came the horror: "The tent pegs! I forgot the tent pegs!" Dad tied the flapping tent to trees while rain poured. Mom pulled out a giant, slightly musty blanket inside their leaky shelter.
Dad finally squeezed in, soaked but grinning like an idiot. Later, huddled under the blanket, they ate sandwiches. The rain finally stopped.
Dad wrestled wet wood for the campfire, finally cheating with gasoline.
The whoosh of flame made Zen jump. Then came the marshmallows – sticky, charred perfection. Dad told ghost stories that made Mom shriek (half-fake, Zen suspected).
Then, under the stars, crammed together in the tiny tent, Mom and Dad told the story of how they met – fierce rivals in college who somehow fell in love.
Zen, sandwiched safe between them, felt the warmth of their bodies, heard the steady rhythm of their breathing, and stared up through the mesh roof at the infinite, comforting stars.
Back in the present, on Narza, Zen hugged his knees tightly to his chest. He stared up at the same vast, alien sky, feeling the same awe, but now mixed with a profound, aching loneliness. The fire crackled.
The insect chorus hummed. With a deep sigh, he doused the flames with dirt. Safety lay above. He climbed his chosen tree with his new strength, settling onto a thick branch.
He whispered into the darkness, a plea to whatever might be listening: "Please... let tomorrow be kinder." Then, exhaustion finally claimed him, pulling him into a deep, dreamless sleep.