Inside the cavern illuminated by ceiling crystals, a heavy atmosphere lingered. The sounds of joy and sorrow had ceased, replaced by an ashen dread prowling the stone walls.
"You all stepped into the Killing Cycle; I'm going to hunt you down one by one!"
The only sounds breaking the silence were the rushing waters and the murmurs of the boy; as the wounds on his body slowly sealed, Mel growled in fury. He didn't step outside that day; he clawed at the metal dummies until the bones in both his hands fractured, then submerged himself in the stream.
Upon emerging, he absorbed the energy of the plants and headed back to the training chamber; this cycle lasted exactly one week. When he put on his dark green clothes and stepped outside, the sun was rising for the eighth time. Mel walked, his gaze sweeping the surroundings.
He took short, measured steps, his brow furrowed against the sunlight hitting his tense face. A moment later, he stopped, his eyes falling on the remnants of the tree scattered across the clearing. The soil was gouged, its roots torn apart and dragged to the surface.
"You were just a small sapling; you could have grown in peace, but I brought this disaster down on you. Just like I ruined my village; if I had stayed there that night, Grandpa would have protected everyone, and he wouldn't have died."
Mel, who hadn't shed a tear for a whole week, began to cry, his tears falling into the dirt.
"I got greedy; with just a little success, I forgot my place. Stupid Mel, weak Mel, cowardly Mel—that's what I am!"
Fists clenched, the boy cried until he felt an emerald shoot pierce the soil and wrap around his leg. His hands slowly opened; he looked down, and his eyes widened in surprise.
"You aren't dead; you're still alive!"
Mel's internal season shifted instantly; bleak autumn surrendered to spring.
"You smart little thing; as a last resort, you cut this shoot off from your main body. I owe you my life, and I swear on Grandpa's name I'll pay you back. No more being stubborn; you're coming with me to the cave!"
This time, the fragile plant didn't resist; clinging to his leg, it went with him back to the cave. Far from the botanical garden, Mel planted the shoot by the edge of the stream, letting it drink directly from the source.
"Wait right here; I'm going to make sure you grow stronger than ever!"
Washing his face to clear the tear tracks, he walked toward the main chamber bearing the colossal claw mark.
Days chased days, and seasons chased seasons; the outside of the cavern was sometimes buried under snow as tall as a man, and other times bathed in scorching sunlight. More than two and a half years had passed since the frail boy was carried inside on his grandfather's back. Now, he stood tall in bright green clothes, deep within a valley enclosed by ferocious beasts.
"Today's the day we settle our debts, but I'll give you one last chance. I'm leaving this place soon; if you back off now, I'll let you live!"
Surrounded by hundreds of beasts, his voice rippled outward, rustling the fur of his enemies. With his broad shoulders, radiant skin, and a height matching a grown adult, Mel looked nothing like the day he first arrived.
For anyone who hadn't seen him during this time, the only remaining mark of recognition was the claw scar beside his right eye.
"Crimson Coat, the mark you left is right here. If you don't back down, we're settling the score today!"
In response, a long howl pierced the air; immediately after, the beasts charging from all directions signaled the start of the battle.
"Buddy, just be patient a little longer; the moment we've been waiting for is finally here!"
Taking a powerful step forward, Mel broke into a sprint, leaving deep footprints in the dirt. While his forged physique commanded attention, the most striking detail was the pale green radiance shimmering around his hands.
When his hands, morphed into three-taloned claws, swept forward, distortions rippled through the air; right after, clouds of crimson rose. In a single breath, dozens of beasts were eliminated, yet Mel, now nearing his fourteenth year, didn't slow down.
The muscles bulging beneath his short sleeves flexed; he grabbed a leaping beast straight by the jaw. The sickening sound of fracturing bone, followed by muffled grunts, and finally silence—this was the cycle unfolding wherever Mel passed.
After half an hour, nothing was left breathing except the Crimson Coat—three times the size of its kin—and the ten beasts waiting by its side. With a short howl, the remaining ten launched their assault; advancing in a single file, they sought to deliver a lethal strike.
Mel drew a deep breath, crouching slightly as he pulled his right hand back. As the claw-morphed hand darkened in its emerald hue, the distance closed to twenty meters.
With their powerful bodies, the beasts possessed terrifying speed; coordinating their four limbs, they crossed the ten-meter gap in less than two seconds.
A smile graced Mel's face, followed instantly by a sweep of his right hand. The beasts, lined up one after another, collided with the incoming force before they could even stop.
"It's not even half as strong as Grandpa's strike, but it's more than enough for you!"
His gaze drifted to the mangled carcasses, while his mind wandered back to his grueling sessions in the training chamber. For a moment, he retreated into the past.
"It's not working; no matter what I do, it's just not working!"
Arms trembling, Mel shouted in frustration after striking a crystal dummy. Despite sweating here for three days, he hadn't been able to shatter his new target after moving past the metal dummies.
"Grandpa, what am I supposed to do? Tell me!"
Frustrated, he stared at the colossal claw mark on the wall and reread the instructions beneath it.
"The transformation originating in your hands shall slowly ascend to your arms, continuing until it reaches your shoulders. Once you have completed the shallow legacy, you shall begin channeling energy into your claws. This is the first stage of the Dragon Claw."
Mel, who had achieved this feat long ago, continued reading as his breath steadied.
"Once you master this, you may proceed to the crystal dummies; the proof of your advancement to the second stage shall be your ability to shatter one. It is not an easy transition; your claws and your body must endure the baptisms of energy!"
"If you found your experiences thus far to be arduous, know that days filled with torment await you!"
As that memory faded, the silhouette of the Crimson Coat materialized. Having transcended those days of torment, the ultimate challenge he had set for himself stood right before him.
The gazes of the two adversaries locked. The resulting tension summoned lightning across a cloudless sky. A crimson strike from one side, an emerald strike from the other—they took flight, clashing a mere two seconds later.
The colossal Crimson Coat and the human clashed violently. A tempest erupted within the valley, and it didn't cease for an hour.
When it finally ended, the heavens tore open, releasing a downpour. The rain fell upon the boy, his clothes torn to shreds, standing with the severed head of the Crimson Coat in his hand.