Chapter 12
Location: Fractured Vale – Southern Ravine Border
The earth was trembling.
Faint at first, then stronger — enough to shake the broken crystal shards in the walls of the underground cave where Aeren had collapsed.
He rose slowly, his body aching, his eyes dim. The mysterious pulse from his chest had faded, but the symbol still glowed faintly.
Then came the roar.
A sound not meant for human ears. A howling, screeching, gurgling roar that split the very fog above the fractured vale.
BOOOOMMM!!
The surface erupted.
Trees snapped like twigs. Stones melted into ash. A dark aura consumed the sky.
And through the crimson mist of the Bloodshade Forest… it came.
The Monster – Varnyx the Crimson Fang
Level: 6
Species: Void-Fanged Dire Wyrm
Region Title:Most Wanted Boss of Bloodshade Forest
Classification: Ultra-High Risk
Known Survivors: 0
Bounty: 14 Million Silver Crowns
Abilities: Venom Pulse Breath, Phase Shift, Sound Shredder, Shadow Blink, Aura Suppression
A twisted serpent-like beast with armor made of fused bones and molten crystal.
Fangs the size of war swords.
Eyes that radiated fear, not light.
And behind it — a path of destruction, torn trees, and silent corpses of lesser monsters who had the misfortune to cross its trail.
Aeren crawled to the cave edge. He looked up.
Above him, the fractured forest was ablaze.
And then — through the swirling fog — he saw it.
Varnyx.
Crawling down a ruined cliff like a shadow made flesh.
Chasing something… no — someone.
"Wait—Is that…?"
It was a Seeker squad — maybe from Class 4 — desperately trying to escape. He recognized one of them by their glowing green spear — it was Ravan, a known silver-rank student.
But even a silver-ranked Seeker squad was no match.
In a blink, Varnyx blurred through the air, ignoring all weapons. Its massive tail shattered the rock behind them, throwing one student into a tree — lifeless.
Ravan screamed, "Fall back! Retreat! Retreat!!"
But it was too late.
Aeren watched.
He should've run.He should've hid.He should've prayed.
But instead — his legs moved.
Something ancient, raw, and buried inside him dragged him toward the battlefield.
He burst from the cave, breathless, scared, but strangely drawn.
The moment Varnyx sensed him — the beast froze.
It turned its enormous head slowly. Those glowing red eyes locked onto Aeren.
Not fear.
Recognition.
As if it had seen his bloodline before. Long ago.
The monster growled… and then lowered its head, almost bowing — but not out of respect.
Out of hunger.
"You again…?"
It hissed. Not in words, but in thought. Aeren heard it inside his mind.
Then Varnyx opened its mouth.
A roar built. A venom pulse charging.
Aeren braced, frozen.
The world slowed again.
Just like in his visions.
But this time… he felt it.
The blood in his veins began to burn. His hands shimmered faintly.
His vision blurred.
And the mark on his chest exploded with light.
Just as Varnyx fired its breath attack — an enormous surge of green-black venom energy — something awoke in Aeren again.
He raised his hand without thinking.
BOOM!!!
The two forces collided.
The entire valley shook.
Dust. Fire. Wind.
The world went silent.
The cliff edge where Aeren stood was cracked — but he still stood. Alive.
And Varnyx… staggered.
A small cut — on its unbreakable armor.
Just one.
But enough to make the monster pause.
"…He hurt it…" one of the silver-ranked students whispered, barely believing.
"That… boy?"
Varnyx's eyes narrowed.
It hissed again.
"Your blood... your scent… the prophecy was true."
It launched toward him again, fury unleashed.
And Aeren—
Didn't run.
🩸 End of Chapter 12