Kalyan dragged his pinned leg free just as the last C-Tier Wolf snapped at the air where he had been a second ago. The radiant blade in his hand hummed with energy, as if alive, guiding his movements. He could feel the system's pulse in his veins, cold logic mingling with instinct.
"Temporary skill active: 4 minutes 32 seconds remaining."
He didn't waste time. Using the scaffolding debris, he vaulted to higher ground. Floating weapons circled him—a dagger, a short sword, and an ethereal bow—each a skill he had never wielded before, yet somehow instinctively understood.
The wolves hesitated, snarling at the strange energy. Kalyan focused, summoning a wave of aura into the dagger. It glowed bright and sharp as lightning, slicing through the nearest wolf effortlessly. Others recoiled, sensing the unnatural power radiating from him.
He remembered everything he had studied about monster weak points. Eyes, joints, and sinew—strike precisely, and even a C-Tier could be outmaneuvered. But this wasn't training. Mistakes meant death.
Above the chaos, the Raft pulsed violently. The swirling portal threatened to expand, pouring more creatures into the city. Kalyan realized survival wasn't just about him. Civilians would be caught in the storm if he didn't act fast.
A small plan formed in his mind. Divide, distract, and escape. Using the floating weapons, he created barriers of light, forcing the wolves to scatter. Each strike, each summon, grew more intuitive—his connection with the system deepening.
Then, he saw it—a massive silhouette looming near the portal: the tip of a dragon-like creature, eyes glowing, scales shimmering. Caught between awe and fear, Kalyan's heart raced. The system's UI blinked again:
"New Skill Slot Unlocked. Permanent Weapon Integration Available."
Pain and adrenaline mixed, but a grin broke across his face. Survival wasn't just about running anymore. It was about fighting, mastering, and claiming power.
Kalyan took a deep breath. The Raft would close soon, but this was only the beginning. And for the first time, he felt it: the world wasn't ready for him.