The beast lunged.
Its claws tore through the soil as it bounded forward, fangs glinting under the moonlight. Kofi barely had time to raise his sword before the creature slammed into him with crushing force. The impact knocked the wind from his lungs and sent him sprawling onto the dirt.
His blade skittered from his grip.
"Kofi!" Lyra shouted. Her staff flashed with faint green light, but she hesitated, waiting for an opening.
The beast turned, growling, its eyes fixed on Kofi as it prowled closer.
Move.
His mind screamed it, but his body trembled with fear.
Then a voice cut through the haze—Darius's roar. "Get up! If you lie there, you die!"
Kofi's hand snapped to the sword, his fingers wrapping around the hilt. He rolled to the side just as the beast's claw slashed down, gouging a deep furrow in the earth where his chest had been.
His heart hammered in his ears. His breathing was ragged. But he forced himself onto his feet.
The beast lunged again. Kofi swung wildly, the blade grazing its shoulder. The monster howled, blood spraying in the moonlight. His arms shook from the impact, but he gritted his teeth and held his ground.
Lyra thrust her staff forward, chanting. A burst of green light wrapped around Kofi, and suddenly his aching arms steadied. His wounds burned, then eased.
"Don't waste it!" she called. "Fight!"
Kofi tightened his grip. "Right!"
The beast slashed, but this time, Kofi stepped aside just enough. He brought his blade down with all the strength he had, cutting deep into its flank. The monster screeched, staggering, its movements faltering.
Darius leapt in, his sword cleaving across its chest in a flash of steel. The beast collapsed with a final gurgling snarl, blood staining the grass.
Silence.
Kofi stood there, chest heaving, sweat dripping down his face. His arms trembled from exhaustion, but he hadn't let go of the sword.
The villagers, watching from a distance, erupted in cheers.
"You… actually did it," Lyra said softly, lowering her staff. She studied him for a moment, her expression less harsh than before. "For a human, you're not as weak as I thought."
Kofi gave a tired grin. "That's… the nicest thing you've said so far."
Darius clapped him on the shoulder, nearly knocking him over. "Not bad, boy. You didn't die. That's the first step."
Kofi laughed weakly. For the first time since he arrived in this world, he felt it—
Not just fear, not just confusion, but the faint spark of hope.
Maybe he really could become a hero.
But deep in the woods beyond the fields, a bird with feathers black as night watched silently. Its red eyes gleamed before it took flight, vanishing into the darkness.