Amik surged forward at full speed, determined to reach the location first, leaving his teammates trailing behind.
He was no fool who would recklessly jump into danger and risk his life, which was why he kept them a few centimeters behind—just in case something unexpected happened.
"We're almost there," Lulu, one of the females in the group, informed the others.
In a way, they were indirectly competing with Amik for the prize of completing this mission. Knowing how greedy he was, they had already decided to exclude him from the group on their next mission.
Unbeknownst to them, Amik's true intention was to kill them all.
---
. . .
"Hm… Calculating the force behind each punch in my draconic state… This skill could be useful for gaining the upper hand in a battle of strength. However, it lacks speed and agility."
Victor contemplated, slowly familiarizing himself with the skills the system provided.
It was crucial to understand them before venturing further into the wilderness—his survival depended on it. If he had no idea how to use these skills properly in a decisive manner, an unexpected encounter with danger could be fatal.
Mistakes were a factor he had to eliminate as much as possible. It may not be entirely perfect, but it had to seem so.
[Time out]
[Draconic Overdrive deactivated]
[Full health has been restored]
[Health: 100/100]
"Hmm… The other skill clearly enhances speed. I should try that too..."
He had more things to test—like his other skills and the chaotic energy within his body.
However, that had to be put on hold as his perceptive hearing picked up light footsteps from a distance.
'It's coming from the north.'
Each step sent out a subtle vibration through the earth's surface. Their heartbeats pulsed in synchronized rhythms, and the speed at which they beat meant they were running.
From their heartbeats alone, Victor determined how many there were.
'Five… and they clearly don't seem normal.'
He could tell they were human, but there was something off about them—something out of place.
Surveying his surroundings, he took in the devastation he had caused. It was a complete disaster—a horrifying display of destruction.
The sheer level of ruin was almost unnatural. Smoke polluted the air from an unexplainably charred tree, and a calculated 564 trees had been obliterated—half of the western forest had ceased to exist.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a fireball hurtled toward him and exploded on impact.
BOOM!!
The force was strong enough to send him flying several meters before he regained his composure, landing perfectly on all fours.
Before he could fully process what had happened, another attack came. He had let his guard down slightly, thinking they were human and wouldn't attack him outright—at least not without reason.
That assumption had been a mistake.
A blue slash cut through the smoke, racing toward him at an extraordinary speed.
"Damn!!"
Draconic Overdrive!!
Once again, his body expanded, his skin transforming into red scales. This time, a tail emerged, and sharp spikes grew along his back, running from his shoulders to the tip of his tail.
Maybe it was his survival instinct—or perhaps the system assisting him in some way. He wasn't sure, and it didn't matter.
The only thing that mattered was neutralizing that slash.
As the glowing blue attack came into range, Victor raised his hands and caught it.
To his surprise, it was solid. His claws dug into it, and with a simple squeeze, he shattered it into fragments of light that disappeared with the wind.
'That was surprisingly weak,' he thought. 'I knew something was off about them… They're specially designed humans—Champions. Sigh.'
"Who dares destroy nature!!!"
As the dust settled, the scene shifted drastically.
Five individuals stood before him, their expressions filled with disgust.
"Hmm… A humanoid beast," Amik smirked, running his tongue over his lips as if he had just discovered a rare delicacy. "And it's a no-blade…"
"Alright, guys! The one who delivers the finishing blow gets the core!!"
"Ahh!!"
They all charged forward, ready to claim their prize. It was every man for himself now.
"Seriously?! You think of me as some trophy?!!" Victor shouted in rage.
His pride was wounded. He knew that, at the moment, anyone could mistake him for a Drak with his active skill. However, the fact that they were already counting his life as theirs to take was downright insulting.
"Heh… On the bright side, I have moving targets to practice with..."
With a swift movement, he leaped into the air, curling into a ball before crashing down with immense force, amplified by gravity.
Amik's eyes widened as he realized what the beast was about to do. He quickly twisted his foot and kicked off the ground, retreating in the opposite direction.
The others hesitated, unsure of what he was doing—until it was too late.
BOOM!!
WAAA!!
A powerful shockwave, mixed with sand and debris, forcefully sent them flying, their bodies crashing painfully onto the ground.
"Ugh… My head…" Lulu, the spearwoman of the group, groaned as she clutched her throbbing skull.
She slowly opened her eyes and looked around. Her companions had also been thrown by the shockwave—but something was wrong.
"Ashen? What's wrong?"
Ashen, at that moment, looked pale—petrified beyond recognition. His eyes were glued to something behind her, his entire body trembling uncontrollably.
A yellowish liquid trickled down his leg.
The expression on his face told her everything—whatever he was staring at radiated such overwhelming dread that even fear itself paled in comparison.
"Ashen…?" Lulu whispered, turning her head slowly—
And froze.
Standing behind her was the beast, grinning so widely that his sharp, triangular teeth gleamed in the dim light, his expression reaching his piercing red eyes.
His gaze locked onto hers, cutting through her very soul.
He was massive—at least three times her size. Before this monster, she looked no different from a child.
HAA...
He exhaled, a hot breath escaping from his nostrils, visible as a white mist.
"Begone."
POW!!!
With a simple wave of his arm, Lulu's head—along with the top half of her torso—was completely erased from existence. Mangled flesh and blood splattered across the ground, her remains tossed aside like discarded waste.
"Oh… I think I applied a little too much strength. Humans are surprisingly fragile."
****