The abyss beasts charged.
The ground shook as dozens of massive bodies rushed toward Ren, claws tearing through stone, crystal fangs glinting with violent hunger.
For half a second, Ren considered calling Ignivar.
One word and everything here would be turned into ash.
But instinct screamed something else.
If I don't learn now, I'll always hide behind power.
Ren clenched his fists.
Mana surged inside his chest like boiling water.
The first beast leaped.
Ren ducked under its claws, felt wind tear past his head, and slammed his elbow into its ribs.
Crack.
The creature howled as bones shattered.
Blood sprayed across Ren's sleeve.
But pain shot up his arm instantly.
His muscles screamed.
Too much force.
Too fast.
He barely rolled aside as another beast slammed into him, sending him skidding across the cavern floor.
Stone scraped his back.
His lungs emptied violently.
"Damn…"
He coughed.
The beasts didn't pause.
Three rushed him at once.
Ren pushed himself up, heart pounding like a war drum.
He swung.
Missed.
A crystal horn tore across his side.
Warmth spilled down his ribs.
Blood.
His blood.
The pain was sharp and real.
Not like training.
Not like simulations.
This was survival.
Ren's mind snapped into full combat mode.
No panic.
Just calculation.
Their speed is high, but turning is slow. Their eyes track movement directly.
He feinted left.
Two beasts lunged.
He pivoted right and drove his knee upward into the jaw of the closest one.
Its head exploded in gore and crystal shards.
Another slammed into his shoulder.
Something cracked.
White pain flashed through his vision.
Ren roared.
Not in fear.
In fury.
He grabbed the creature's jaw and slammed its skull repeatedly into the stone until it went limp.
Blood coated his hands.
His breathing was ragged.
Sweat poured down his face.
More were coming.
Too many.
His chest burned hotter.
Mana surged violently.
He felt something shift inside.
Like a dam cracking.
"System," he gasped, "how much can I push?"
Warning: Mana output exceeding body adaptation. Risk of internal rupture.
"…How much?"
Estimated safe threshold: 60%. Current output: 87%.
Ren laughed breathlessly.
"Of course."
He stepped forward anyway.
Power exploded through his veins.
His speed doubled.
He tore through the next beast like paper.
Then another.
And another.
But pain followed every strike.
Muscles tore.
Bones strained.
Blood spilled.
He felt something rupture inside his chest.
A burning pressure surged up his throat.
Ren spat blood.
The world blurred.
Too much.
Way too much.
His legs trembled violently.
Another beast lunged toward his blind side.
He couldn't turn fast enough.
It would rip his throat out.
"Ignivar!" Ren shouted hoarsely.
Fire consumed the cavern.
A wave of searing heat erased everything in its path.
The beast vanished instantly.
Screams echoed briefly before silence returned.
The abyss went still.
Ren collapsed to one knee.
His vision spun.
Blood dripped onto glowing crystal.
Ignivar stood before him, wings spread wide, eyes blazing.
"My Sovereign, you were near death."
Ren coughed again.
"Noted."
The pain was unbearable.
Every muscle screamed.
His chest burned like molten metal.
Critical mana backlash detected.
Emergency adaptation stabilizing…
Heat surged through his body.
Not pleasant.
Not gentle.
Like being reforged in fire.
Bones popped.
Muscles tightened.
Skin burned.
Ren screamed despite himself.
The sensation lasted several seconds.
Then slowly faded.
He slumped forward, breathing heavily.
After a long moment, the system chimed softly.
Body Adaptation increased: 4% → 7%Mana tolerance improved.
Ren lay there, staring at the cavern ceiling.
So this was how growth worked.
Pain.
Near death.
Adjustment.
No shortcuts.
No free power.
"Figures," he muttered weakly.
Ignivar lowered his massive head close.
"You should not endanger yourself so recklessly."
Ren smiled faintly.
"If I don't… I'll never catch up to this world."
Ignivar was silent.
Then, "You carry the heart of kings."
Ren closed his eyes.
For the first time since arriving, exhaustion truly hit him.
But beneath it—
Excitement.
This world could break him.
Or forge him into something unstoppable.