The Ice Hound's massive form crashed through the snow, jaws wide open. Darwin swung his knife instinctively—
But the blade barely scratched the beast's hide.
The impact sent him sprawling across the ground.
"Gah—!"
Pain exploded across his reopened wound. Warm blood spread under his cloak.
The rabbit slipped from his grasp.
He scrambled backward, breath trembling, knife held pathetically in one hand.
"I don't want to die!"
"I won't die!"
"Not here… not like trash…!"
The Ice Hound snarled and advanced.
Darwin staggered to his feet—
but his legs buckled.
The beast leaped.
Time slowed.
Darwin's mind screamed.
His chest burned.
His anger—
his fear—
his desperation—
everything ignited at once.
"I want to live!!"
The pendant exploded with purple light.
A shockwave burst outward, pushing snow aside.
The gem on Darwin's chest glowed, brighter and brighter, its transparency shattering into swirling violet fire.
Particles gathered—
forming a long, sleek blade—
black as night, veins glowing purple.
A katana.
pendant—manifested.
Darwin felt power rush through his arm.
The Ice Hound was inches away.
Darwin slashed.
*SHHHHING—!*
The blade cleaved through the beast's chest in a single, breathtaking arc.
Blood sprayed across the snow.
The beast howled, collapsing into the ground.
Darwin stared at the sword—
Black metal.
Purple light.
A weight that felt… right.
His breath trembled.
"I… killed it."
For the first time in his life, he wasn't the weakest.
He wasn't a mistake.
He wasn't useless.
He was—
Chosen.
But as quickly as the strength came—
it vanished.
The blade flickered.
"Wait—!"
Darwin reached out—
but the sword dissolved into particles and returned to the pendant, which fell silent once more.
His vision blurred.
His strength drained.
His body collapsed into the snow.
Darkness swallowed him