As strange as it may seem, it's highly unusual—almost unheard of—for wild animals, let alone mutated monsters, to show concern for other creatures. These beasts, especially those enhanced by mutation, live by a strict hierarchy rooted in power. But strangely enough, this exception always seems to apply to monsters who have developed higher intelligence.
Monsters who attain sentience begin to think and reason like humans, though they still retain some of their primal instincts.
That said, much like humans, many of them become even more dangerous and aggressive, empowered by their intelligence and strength.
Aaron, still stunned, could only swallow hard. He didn't know whether to feel relieved or terrified. From the moment he prepared to enter the world of Arkais and face the Zenith Trial, his emotions had been in total disarray—a rollercoaster of sadness, joy, fear, and escalating paranoia. Calling it bipolar would be an understatement, especially when facing madness this intense in real life.
"Thank you, Patrick! And I'm sorry… I was so caught up in my fear and paranoia about the Zenith Trial that I forgot to think about your needs," Aaron said sincerely, recognizing his mistake.
"Woof…"
"I've never learned how to heal others... I don't think I can help this human."
The sudden response from the monster made it clear that the dog's barking wasn't meant for Aaron.
And then, a realization hit him—if the monster hadn't healed him, then what was it that had just happened?
Aaron's thoughts raced back to a memory from years ago when he was bullied by kids who had already awakened their powers. Since Aaron had never shown any signs of ability, both others and even he believed he had none.
During one such incident, when they attacked him with their awakened powers, something strange happened—not only did he remain unhurt, but for the first time, he heard a voice: the System.
Reflecting on how the winged tiger's lightning attack affected him, Aaron realized his power must have nullified the attack's destructive force. But more surprisingly, this time, it didn't just protect him—it seemed to heal his body and restore his energy.
"But... I can help you get this human to the nearest settlement. Maybe someone there can treat him," the large monster suggested.
Then the dog barked again, prompting the giant beast to gently grab Aaron's clothes with its teeth, like a mother cat carrying her kitten.
"Umm… Mister Monster, there's no need to carry me. With a bit of your help, I think I can recover on my own," Aaron said hesitantly, but with growing courage.
A curiosity had been gnawing at him ever since he first got struck by the monster's lightning. So, he focused his thoughts and successfully reopened his System.
"Progress: 650 / 1000"
"+300"
"Progress: 950 / 1000"
[Description: Complete progress to upgrade the system and unlock enhanced features]
Aaron remembered how the combined attacks from the bullies years ago had only contributed 650 points to his system, while the tiger monster's warning strike alone gave him 300. That meant a full-power attack could potentially fill the bar—and maybe even heal him completely.
"So… what do you think?" asked the monster in a surprisingly friendly tone.
"Could you hit me… with all your strength? Using your lightning?" Aaron asked, starting to understand how his ability worked.
He realized his power could absorb elemental attacks—or any form of energy-based assault—as long as it wasn't physical. If it could absorb physical damage, he reasoned, he wouldn't have been injured in the first place.
He'd figured this out by accident years ago. The problem was, his power could only absorb—it wasn't offensive in any way. So technically, his ability was deemed useless. He didn't know if that was a true limitation or if it had the potential to evolve into something greater.
"You hear that, rat? I'm now certain he didn't forget about you—he's just brain-damaged!" the monster said, clearly amused by Aaron's request.
Alright then! If I dropped him off at a human settlement, someone like him would just die slowly, neglected and alone. At least this way, I'll be granting him his final wish... I hope you find peace, the monster thought, oddly empathetic.
The beast prepared itself. Lightning surged around its body, no longer blue or yellow, but red, crackling with a thunderous roar that shook the entire cave.
All the red lightning gathered in the monster's mouth, condensing into a glowing sphere before launching at full speed toward Aaron, who had been gently laid on the ground.
"One last piece of advice: find yourself a new master, little rat," the tiger growled to the dog just before unleashing the blast.
BOOM!
The powerful attack lit up the dark cave with a blinding blood-red light as it struck Aaron directly.
The moment the blood-red lightning hit Aaron, the light grew even more intense. Thunder echoed continuously in the cave like a raging storm had broken out in the middle of the sea.
Nearby monsters fled in fear, mistaking it for a battle between high-tier beasts over territory or dominance.
Despite the tremendous power behind the monster's full-force attack, Aaron's body began to heal at an extraordinary rate.
He felt a faint tingling sensation across his entire body—nothing more. But if someone had seen him at that moment, they would've noticed how his form began to change dramatically, illuminated by the red lightning until it eventually faded away.
The strike lasted several moments before finally dissipating, leaving Aaron completely naked, his clothes reduced to ash.
The winged tiger, having poured every ounce of its strength into the attack, was left exhausted and immediately began attempting to recover.