[The ridge narrowed into a blade of stone.]
[One misstep meant a fall into endless white fog below.]
[Abaksa kept moving.]
[His footing was steadier now.]
[His breathing controlled.]
[His body—no longer on the verge of breaking.]
[Physical Threshold: Stabilized][Plot Armour Compatibility: 10% → Stabilizing]
"…Good."
[The peak came into view.]
[A flat expanse of black rock.]
[Scorched.]
[Cracked.]
[Empty.]
[Too empty.]
[Abaksa stopped.]
[His eyes narrowed.]
"…Not empty."
[The wind shifted.]
[Carrying a scent.]
[Rot.]
[Heat.]
[Warning: Hostile Entity Detected]
[The ground trembled.]
[Then—]
CRACK.
[The rock split.]
[Something moved beneath.]
[It emerged.]
[A massive serpent.]
[Scaled in obsidian and ash.]
[Its body coiled like a living fissure in the earth.]
[Eyes glowing molten gold.]
Fissarn — "Intruder…"
[Its voice wasn't spoken.]
[It pressed into his mind.]
[Abaksa didn't flinch.]
Abaksa Einsro— "…So this is your territory."
[The serpent rose higher.]
[Massive.]
[Dominant.]
Fissarn— "You smell… altered."
[Its tongue flicked.]
Fissarn— "Not prey… not predator…"
[Its eyes narrowed.]
Fissarn— "…anomaly."
[The word lingered.]
[Abaksa exhaled slowly.]
"…Seems like everyone's calling me that now."
[He drew his sword.]
[The metal caught the sunlight.]
[The serpent watched.]
[Then—]
[It struck.]
[Fast.]
[Too fast for its size.]
[Abaksa moved.]
[Outcome Awareness Active]
[He saw it.]
[The angle.]
[The bite.]
[The follow-up coil.]
[He stepped aside.]
[The serpent's jaws slammed into stone.]
CRASH.
[Rock shattered.]
[Abaksa countered.]
[Blade down—]
[SPARK.]
[No effect.]
"…Too hard."
[The serpent recoiled.]
Fissarn— "Weak."
[It lunged again.]
[This time—]
[From below.]
[The ground exploded upward.]
[Abaksa jumped.]
[Mid-air.]
[The serpent's body coiled.]
[It tried to trap him.]
[He twisted.]
[Barely escaped.]
[He landed.]
[Rolled.]
[Got up.]
[Breathing heavier.]
"…This isn't like the trials…"
[This was real.]
[No system scaling.]
[No controlled environment.]
[This creature would kill him.]
[Without hesitation.]
[The serpent circled.]
[Its body cutting across the ground.]
Fissarn— "You should leave."
[Abaksa smirked slightly.]
Abaksa Einsro— "Can't."
Fissarn— "Then die."
[It attacked again.]
[Abaksa didn't block.]
[He moved.]
[Closer.]
[Inside its range.]
[Dangerous.]
[But necessary.]
[The serpent snapped.]
[He ducked.]
[Its fangs passed inches from his head.]
[He drove his blade—]
[Into the softer scale beneath its jaw.]
[This time—]
[Blood.]
[Dark.]
Fissarn— "—!"
[The serpent recoiled violently.]
[The ground shook.]
[Abaksa staggered back.]
"…That's it…"
[Weak point.]
[But—]
[Not enough.]
[The wound closed partially.]
[Regeneration.]
"…Of course you have that."
[The serpent rose higher.]
[Angrier now.]
Fissarn— "You… learn."
Abaksa Einsro— "I have to."
[It lunged again.]
[Relentless.]
[Abaksa moved.]
[Again.]
[Again.]
[Each movement tighter.]
[More precise.]
[Less wasted.]
[Outcome Awareness Improving…]
[He began to read it.]
[Patterns.]
[Rhythm.]
[The serpent was strong.]
[But predictable.]
[Eventually.]
[Abaksa stepped in.]
[Closer.]
[Closer.]
[The serpent struck.]
[He didn't dodge.]
[He committed.]
[The fangs pierced his shoulder.]
[Blood.]
[Pain exploded.]
Abaksa Einsro— "—!"
[But he didn't stop.]
[He grabbed the serpent's head.]
[Forced it down.]
[And drove his blade—]
[Deep.]
[Through the weak point.]
[Into its skull.]
[Silence.]
[The serpent froze.]
[Its body trembled.]
[Then—]
[Collapsed.]
[The mountain fell quiet.]
[Abaksa staggered back.]
[Blood dripping.]
[Breathing uneven.]
"…That… hurt…"
[He dropped to one knee.]
[His body shook.]
[But—]
[He was alive.]
[Combat Success][Physical Growth Achieved]
[He looked at the serpent.]
[Then at his hands.]
"…This is different."
[Not like before.]
[Not overwhelming strength.]
[Not blind survival.]
[Controlled risk.]
[Calculated damage.]
[Winning by choice.]
[He stood.]
[Slow.]
[The wind hit him again.]
[But this time—]
[It didn't push him back.]
[He stood firm.]
[At the peak.]
[And for the first time—]
[He felt like he belonged here.]
[Far away—]
[A voice whispered.]
"He's learning faster than expected…"
"That's… dangerous."
[Because this time—]
[He wasn't just surviving.]
[He was evolving.]