Darkness enveloped the cave, the silence heavy and unbearable.
The massive beast before him roared, its eyes glowing like red embers, its claws shaking the ground with every move.
Suddenly, the beast lunged, a wave of dark fire erupting from its mouth. he dodged with a swift movement, but he felt the heat scorch his skin. He cried out in pain, then remembered the glowing screen beside him:
"Your power has increased by two levels!"
[Level: 3]
[Status: -]
[Strength: 4]
[Mana: 1]
[Intelligence: 4]
He tried to comprehend what had happened, but he barely felt a difference in his body. Everything was still unknown, and every step was fraught with danger.
The beast attacked again, launching a dark fireball at him. This time, he couldn't dodge completely. One of his limbs was scorched by the heat, his fingers beginning to melt, yet he did not fall. He tried to move quickly despite the pain, his heart racing like madness.
Then he remembered the message:
"You have obtained a special skill! To activate it, you must say the word: Arcanum. Skill name: Ignis."
His body trembled from exhaustion and fear, but he steadied himself, whispering in a strained voice:
"Arcanum…"
The flame within him twisted, a fiery heat gathering around his hands and temples. Then he completed the command:
"Ignis!"
Fire erupted from his body like a torrent, engulfing the beast. The creature's roar echoed through the cave, its claw smashing into the scorched rocks, its eyes blazing fiercely. Every strike he sent the beast staggering backward, breaking rocks and clearing a path through the flames.
With every movement, the hero took waves of heat. One of the flames struck his arm, igniting his skin, but with each injury, he adapted, moved more efficiently, dodged near-death, and pressed the flames harder against the beast.
The beast was stunned; every strike from him melted a portion of its power, yet it remained massive and terrifying. The hero roared, Ignis flames shooting from his hands, striking the beast's chest and jaw, shaking it violently. Rocks scattered, the air burning from the force of the blaze.
Then came the fiercest attack. The beast lunged suddenly, trying to regain balance after the fiery strikes. The hero summoned all his strength. A massive wave of fire surged from his body, igniting the ground around him and striking the beast directly. It staggered, the wound on its skin visible, black blood oozing, yet it had not fallen.
he, exhausted, his body groaning from injuries, one of his limbs badly damaged, his arm dangling as if melting, screamed once more. The Ignis flames reignited, merging with his battered body.
The beast was wounded, but it charged again for one last assault. The hero couldn't fully evade it; the dark energy slammed into him, tossing him to the ground. Pain was excruciating, blood flowing, every muscle trembling. He tried to rise, but lacked the strength.
Before darkness could claim him, before life could slip away, he closed his eyes. Ignis flames flared within him like a final spark of hope, then… he collapsed, unconscious. The beast too was exhausted, shocked by the assault, struggling to catch its breath. The cave burned around them in colors of fire and destruction.