The roar of the dragon reverberated through the trees. Haruto could feel the vibrations in his bones as he pressed himself further into the bark, hoping it would shield him from the monster circling above. His breath was shallow, his pulse quick. The dragon's golden eyes were like burning suns in the darkness, scanning for any movement below.
Think, Haruto. Think.
The flames had missed him by mere inches, scorching the ground where he had stood just moments before. He needed to get away. He needed to survive. But how?
He glanced around, assessing his surroundings. The forest was dense, but the dragon's size and strength made it clear: hiding wouldn't be enough.
He closed his eyes for a moment, remembering what Azara had told him.
"I am here to assist you, Haruto. My data reserves are vast. If you require guidance, I am ready."
That's right. There were skills he could use. But what exactly?
"Azara," he whispered, his voice tight with urgency. "What abilities do I have that can help me right now?"
Azara's voice was calm and measured, as always.
"Response: My user possesses [Unique Skill: Absolute Cutting]."
Haruto's mind raced, trying to digest the information. Absolute Cutting?
Azara continued:
"Effect: Grants the ability to cut through anything, ignoring all defenses, regeneration, and magical resistance. Can sever physical, magical, and even conceptual entities."
Haruto felt a shiver run down his spine. This was… beyond anything he had imagined. But it wasn't over yet. Azara kept explaining.
"Additional Features: Allows precision control over cutting depth and intensity. Capable of nullifying regeneration and severing energy-based attacks. However, there are limitations."
Haruto leaned against the tree, his eyes scanning the darkened sky as the dragon circled above. Limitations. He needed to know.
"Limitations: High energy consumption at peak usage. Requires mastery for optimal effectiveness. Direct contact with the target is necessary."
Haruto clenched his fists. Contact. He could deal with that. The dragon was a large target, and it had already launched an attack. But would the skill even be enough?
Before he could gather his thoughts, Azara's voice broke through his focus.
"Warning: The dragon is preparing a powerful attack. Estimated impact range: imminent. My suggestion: activating [Unique Skill: Absolute Cutting] may yield optimal results in this scenario. Does my user wish to proceed?"
The air grew tense as Haruto could hear the deep rumble of energy gathering above. The dragon's wings beat faster, the golden eyes narrowing with a malicious intent. It was about to unleash something catastrophic.
He didn't have a choice.
"Yes."
His voice was steady, even as panic roiled inside. He clenched his fists and stood tall. "Absolute Cutting!"
His right arm shot forward. His hand glowed faintly, the air around it warping as a white beam shot from his palm, cutting through the very air with an almost deafening whine. The dragon's enormous form twisted in mid-air, attempting to shield itself with an arc of brilliant white energy—its own defensive magic.
But Haruto's attack didn't falter. The beam sliced through the dragon's magical shield as if it were nothing more than paper, continuing its path directly toward the dragon's chest.
BOOOOM!
The explosion of energy sent shockwaves through the forest, the sheer force knocking Haruto back a few steps, but he grit his teeth and planted his feet, refusing to fall. The dragon's form twisted mid-air, and in an instant, it crashed to the ground with a deafening thud.
For a moment, everything was silent. Haruto stood there, breathless, a smile playing across his face. He had done it.
But before he could process the weight of his victory, his vision began to blur. His body was drained from the sheer intensity of the skill. He staggered, his legs barely holding him up, and then—
His head spun.
"Haruto?"
Azara's voice echoed faintly, but he was already losing consciousness.
As his body gave out, he heard Azara's voice one last time, though it sounded distant now.
"Acquisition complete. New abilities obtained:
[Divine Rejuvenation]
[Lightblade Arsenal]
[Heaven's Wrath]"
The world around him dimmed, the darkness taking him under. He smiled weakly as his vision faded.
And then, everything went black.