Chapter 7: First Monster Hunt
861 Words
The world seemed to stop.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Everyone stared at the creature emerging from the silver portal.
A single claw larger than a truck gripped the edge of the gateway.
Dark scales reflected the moonlight.
Ancient crimson eyes slowly opened.
And with that simple action alone�
The pressure in the area multiplied.
Several nearby Awakened collapsed instantly.
Kai dropped to one knee.
"What..."
His voice trembled.
"...is that thing?"
Even Marcus looked shaken.
And Marcus looked like the type of man who punched earthquakes for fun.
The creature forced more of its body through the portal.
Its massive wings unfolded.
Each one stretched nearly thirty meters.
Ancient runes burned across its scales.
Black mist poured from its mouth.
The dragon looked at them.
Not like prey.
Not like enemies.
Like insects.
The System exploded with warnings.
WARNING
WARNING
WARNING
Threat Identified
Name: Corrupted Void Drake
Rank: A-Rank
Host Survival Probability:
0.01%
Recommended Action:
RUN
RUN
RUN
"Okay."
Grayson swallowed.
"That seems bad."
"Bad?"
Kai looked horrified.
"BAD?"
The dragon roared.
The sound shattered windows for blocks.
The ground cracked.
Streetlights exploded.
The shockwave threw several Awakened backward.
Grayson dug his feet into the pavement.
Even then he slid several meters.
The dragon wasn't even attacking.
It was simply existing.
And that terrified him.
Suddenly a blur appeared beside him.
Lyra.
She stared at the dragon with narrowed eyes.
For the first time since meeting her...
She looked serious.
Actually serious.
"That's impossible."
Grayson glanced at her.
"You know what it is?"
"Unfortunately."
Her expression darkened.
"It shouldn't be here."
The dragon's gaze suddenly landed on Lyra.
A low growl escaped its throat.
Then something unexpected happened.
It spoke.
"Blood of the Moon."
Everyone froze.
The dragon slowly tilted its head.
"The Lost Child."
Lyra's eyes widened.
For the first time, genuine shock appeared on her face.
"You know me?"
The dragon laughed.
A deep, ancient laugh.
"Interesting."
Its gaze shifted toward Grayson.
Then everything changed.
The creature's eyes suddenly widened.
It stared directly at him.
Not with hatred.
Not with hunger.
Recognition.
Ancient recognition.
"Battle..."
The dragon whispered.
Silence.
Then:
"MONARCH."
The sky exploded.
A wave of dark energy erupted from the creature.
Every building nearby shook violently.
The System immediately reacted.
Hidden Title Detected
Battle Monarch Candidate
Status: Locked
Grayson's heart nearly stopped.
How did the dragon know?
The title wasn't even unlocked yet.
Yet somehow this creature recognized it immediately.
The dragon smiled.
A terrifying smile.
"So."
It stepped forward.
"The heir has finally appeared."
Before Grayson could respond�
The dragon attacked.
BOOM!
Its claw descended.
The street vanished.
An entire section of roadway exploded under the impact.
Grayson barely escaped.
The attack missed him by less than a meter.
The shockwave alone launched him through a nearby building.
Concrete shattered.
Glass exploded.
Dust filled the air.
Pain shot through his body.
"Definitely stronger than the wolves."
The System seemed unimpressed.
Observation Detected
Correct
"Very helpful."
Outside, chaos erupted.
Marcus charged first.
His fist connected with the dragon's leg.
BOOM!
The impact sounded incredible.
The result did not.
The dragon didn't move.
Not even slightly.
Marcus stared.
"...That's not normal."
The dragon casually kicked him.
Marcus disappeared through three buildings.
Kai attacked next.
Lightning filled the sky.
Thousands of volts slammed into the dragon.
Nothing happened.
The creature looked annoyed.
"That's unfair."
Kai complained.
Meanwhile, Grayson climbed from the rubble.
His mind raced.
Direct attacks weren't working.
The dragon was too powerful.
Too durable.
Too ancient.
They needed another plan.
Then Lyra moved.
Moonlight suddenly gathered around her body.
Crimson symbols appeared in the air.
Ancient magical circles rotated beneath her feet.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
The dragon's expression shifted.
Recognition.
Respect.
"Interesting."
Lyra raised one hand.
"Blood Magic."
The air vibrated.
Thousands of crimson threads erupted outward.
The threads wrapped around the dragon.
Its movements slowed.
Then moonlight exploded.
Silver energy crashed into the creature.
For the first time
The dragon staggered.
Everyone stared.
Kai pointed.
"IT WORKED!"
The dragon growled.
Apparently it didn't appreciate being injured.
Dark energy erupted from its body.
The crimson chains shattered instantly.
Lyra stumbled backward.
Blood appeared at the corner of her mouth.
The attack had hurt her.
Badly.
Something inside Grayson snapped.
He didn't know why.
They had barely spoken.
Barely met.
Yet seeing her injured made him angry.
Very angry.
The System reacted.
Emotion Detected
Protective Instinct Activated
Energy surged through Grayson's body.
His telekinesis expanded.
Far beyond anything he had previously achieved.
The surrounding city began shaking.
Cars floated.
Buildings trembled.
Streetlights bent.
Everyone looked toward him.
Even the dragon.
The creature's eyes widened.
"Ah."
Its smile returned.
"There it is."
Grayson floated several feet above the ground.
Silver energy surrounded him.
For a brief moment
He looked less human.
And more like something else entirely.
Something ancient.
Something dangerous.
The Battle Monarch's power had stirred.
Not fully awakened.
Not yet.
But enough.
The dragon recognized it immediately.
And for the first time since emerging from the portal...
The creature stopped smiling.
Because it finally realized something.
The young man standing before it wasn't prey.
He was a future threat.
And one day...
A very deadly one.
- Writer
