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The forest was unnaturally still, as if the air itself was holding its breath, waiting for what would happen next.
Arthur and Elyara stood in the middle of the path leading to the exit… just a few more steps, and they would be safe.
Arthur whispered with tense confidence:
"We're close… two more meters and we'll—"
But his voice suddenly choked.
The ground shook violently… then the shadow in front of them split open, and a massive black lion emerged, its eyes like sparks of hellfire, its roar shaking the depths of the forest.
The system said with trembling sarcasm:
[Congratulations… you've met the creator of the spatial barrier. An Abyssal Lion, one-star rank.]
Elyara stepped back in shock:
"A star…?! Arthur, this level is only faced in official missions!"
Arthur raised his weak sword, fully aware he was facing something far beyond his abilities:
"We have no choice… but to fight."
The beast leaped with impossible speed for its size, sending Arthur flying several meters with the first clash, nearly knocking him unconscious.
Elyara instantly raised her hand:
"Blade Storm!!!"
Dozens of wind blades exploded around her like a lethal vortex, but they vanished the moment they touched the lion's skin, as if striking divine stone.
The monster roared, sending out a wave of black mana like a sword slicing the air.
Elyara shouted:
"Move—!!"
But Arthur rushed toward her and pushed her away with all his strength.
The attack wasn't aimed at his chest…
but directly at his lower body.
Time stopped.
Then—
The lower half of his body was completely destroyed.
A cry of agony escaped him despite trying to suppress it. He collapsed, tears from the pain blurring his sight.
Elyara screamed, trembling:
"Arthur!! Arthur!!"
But he couldn't answer… the pain was beyond what any human could endure.
For the first time, the system spoke in a low voice:
[…You survived only because you possess unusually high mental resistance. Anyone else would've died instantly.]
A notification appeared through the dark fog:
[An inhuman condition has been met.]
[New skill acquired: Iron Will — Level 1]
Description:
A will that defies pain, poison, and temptations… allowing the user to move even when the body is destroyed.
Arthur opened his eyes with difficulty.
The system continued:
[You can still survive… but there is only one way.]
— "Te… ll me."
— [Use your life force to heal your body.]
— "My… life force?"
— [Yes. But the cost depends on the severity of the injury…]
Then, with unusual seriousness:
[…You will need 60 years of your lifespan.]
Arthur froze.
— "Si… sixty?!"
— [If you don't… you die within a minute.]
Arthur, voice broken:
"Do it."
A red notification appeared:
[60 years deducted.]
[Remaining lifespan: 12 years.]
The system added:
[Your lifespan from your previous life transferred with you. The original owner of this body was already dead.]
But Arthur, exhausted, remained quiet until…
His body began to glow from within… bones reshaping, nerves fusing together by force, blood surging.
An impossible healing… but it happened.
Then a stats window appeared:
[Stats after the surge:]
• Strength: 5.67% → 11.77%
• Endurance: 7.00% → 13.00%
• Intelligence: 50.89% → 56.00%
• Luck: 10.04% → 16.04%
• Mana: 4.00% → 10.98%
• Charisma: 73.98%
The system said coldly:
[Congratulations… you're about three times stronger now. Still very weak, but no longer an ant.]
Arthur stood with difficulty… but he stood.
Then he infused mana into his hand and formed a full dagger for the first time thanks to his increased mana.
After that, he activated his skill:
• Insight Eye — Level 1
Analyzes abilities, weaknesses, and potential movement paths.
He extended its range to include Elyara and the monster.
Elyara felt strength flow back into her, her mana recovering faster.
They looked at each other with silent understanding, then nodded.
But the second part of the skill—weakness detection—revealed something troubling:
The monster had no weaknesses.
Arthur said coldly:
"Yeah… sounds like my luck."
The system said seriously:
[Try holding it off until help arrives.]
Arthur didn't ask.
He already knew Duke Alistar and Duchess Evelyn would arrive soon.
He tightened his grip on the dagger:
"Just hold on until help comes."
Arthur moved first. His speed was painfully slow in the eyes of the beast, but the lion liked him precisely because of that look—Arthur's eyes held a sharpness the creature enjoyed tormenting.
The lion imagined various ways to torture this intruder…
but when it looked back—
Arthur and Elyara were running away in a ridiculously pathetic manner.
The lion froze… comparing Arthur's deadly glare moments earlier to this fleeing boy now.
But within seconds, it leaped in front of them and landed with a thunderous crash.
It spoke in a cold, rough voice:
"Human girl… go to the Master or suffer greatly.
As for you, intruder… accept your fate and die in agony."
Arthur's gaze toward the lion was sharp… the beast admired it.
It felt like facing a worthy fighter—until it remembered the boy was weak.
So it decided to play with him before inflicting the pain of trespassing on the Master's plans.
It restricted its power to match Arthur's level.
The lion charged with all its (now weakened) force.
Arthur blocked the claw with a swift motion and began a series of desperate dodges.
After prolonged movement and exhaustion…
A notification appeared:
[New Skill: Sequential Movements — Level 1]
Description: A movement skill that evolves automatically and changes its name when the user awakens the element of wind, shadow, or light.
[Upgradeable]
Arthur smirked provocatively.
He activated the skill. He became lighter, faster, making the lion confused by the sudden surge in power.
Then the lion grew angry at Arthur continuously dodging instead of fighting.
It raised its body, shattered the ground beneath it, and forced Arthur to retreat.
Then it lunged again—Arthur couldn't block it. He dodged part of the attack, but part of his chest was torn.
He activated:
«Iron Will»
Then he saw it—
a red point on the lion's right shoulder.
The system nearly screamed:
[There!! The weak point!! Strike it!!]
Arthur activated "Sequential Movements " and burst forward.
He feinted toward the lion's left side.
The beast swung its right paw to block—
But Arthur stabbed the joint of its front right leg.
For the first time… the lion roared in pain and shock.
Not because it was weak.
But because this boy… should not have been able to pierce its skin.
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