Arthur had seen his fair share of monsters. He had ripped through serpents, boars, and even creatures of psychic power. But this place, this ruined village on the outskirts of the Volcanic Plains, was something entirely different. His gaze moved slowly, tracing the destruction around him—old fire-scorched stones, crumbling walls, and bones. A lot of bones.
But what intrigued him most was the story carved into the volcanic rock, ancient runes still glowing faintly in the dimming light.
He squinted, activating [Analyze], letting the system do its work.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Analyzing…
Society Identified: Ignis Acolytes
An ancient fire-worshipping society that made a pact with Volcranax, the Lord of the Island.
Purpose: To offer their strongest warriors in sacrifice in exchange for protection from external threats.
Result: Village abandoned, heavy signs of violence. Unclear if Volcranax kept his side of the bargain.
Arthur stared at the glowing runes, wondering how desperate people must’ve been to offer their strongest warriors to a volcanic dragon. He snorted, shaking his massive head. Did the dragon ever really protect them? Judging by the scattered bones, it didn’t seem like it. Arthur’s tail whipped through the air as he wandered further into the ruins, lost in thought.
The bones scattered at his feet told a different kind of story—one of betrayal and death. Small, brittle bones of humans, shattered by some massive force. He knelt down and stared at the skeletal remains, his massive form dwarfing the remnants of what once was.
If I had been born a human here, he mused, his claws scraping the volcanic ground, would this have been my fate? Crushed by forces so much bigger than me?
Before his mind could wander too far into that grim scenario, something else caught his eye. Scorch marks, faint but fresh, running along the blackened earth. And then—his eyes narrowed—a gash, easily ten feet long, as if something massive had carved through the ground with terrifying precision. Something had passed through here recently. Something dangerous.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Heat signatures detected. Fresh scorch marks indicate the presence of a recent predator. Caution advised.
Arthur’s pulse quickened. He rose to his full height, his wings tensing against his back as he scanned the area. And then he saw it.
Emerging from the twisted, molten trees, there stood a colossal creature—a towering dinosaur-like beast that made Arthur’s heart skip for a second. It was at least 100 feet tall, its dark, jagged skin glistening with volcanic residue. But what caught Arthur’s attention the most was the large crystal embedded in the monster’s forehead, pulsing with a faint, ominous glow.
The beast stopped in its tracks, its reptilian eyes narrowing as it noticed Arthur for the first time. And just like that, they were sizing each other up.
The monster’s nostrils flared, releasing a growling rumble from deep within its chest, and in its massive jaws was the head of a goat-like creature, blood dripping from its mouth. The goat’s eyes hung loosely from its sockets, and judging by the faint energy aura surrounding its severed neck, this wasn’t just some ordinary prey. No, this was a second-stage creature in its own right, and the thing had devoured it like a mere snack.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Danger Beast Identified: Crystallon Rex
Stage: Second Stage (Mid-Level)
Attributes: Fire and Crystal
Abilities:
Laser Pulse: Fires concentrated beams of energy from the crystal on its forehead.
Crystal Armor: Skin becomes encased in hardened crystal for defense.
Brute Strength: Extremely high physical power, capable of devastating attacks.
Recommended course of action: Run if possible.
Arthur’s maws pulled into a grim smile, his horns glowing faintly with psychic energy. Run? He didn’t need the system to tell him that. He could already feel the beast’s raw power radiating through the air. But running wasn’t an option. This creature had something he wanted. That crystal...
The Crystallon Rex tossed the goat’s head into its gaping maw, swallowing it in one slow, deliberate motion, never breaking eye contact with Arthur. A low gurgling growl echoed from its chest as it began to circle him, its massive feet shaking the ground with each step.
Arthur kept his distance, his muscles coiling with anticipation. The beast was dumb, that much was obvious from the mindless way it moved, but its size and raw power were something even Arthur had to respect. He could feel the heat of the volcanic plains rising around him, but he kept his cool.
As the Crystallon Rex circled him, Arthur noticed the pattern in its movements—deliberate, calculating, yet slow. Its thick arms, much larger than a typical T-Rex, flexed with each step. This thing wasn’t just a brute; it was a walking fortress, armored with that crystal on its forehead.
Suddenly, the beast let out a deafening shriek, its mouth opening wide as it prepared to unleash something. Arthur tensed, his tail thrashing behind him, ready for whatever came next.
But this wasn’t just a roar. The crystal on its forehead began to glow, a faint blue at first, then brighter, until the entire area was bathed in a menacing, glowing light.
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[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Warning: Laser Pulse charging. Evade immediate area. High probability of severe damage.
Arthur’s instincts flared. This was it. The Crystallon Rex wasn’t just sizing him up anymore—it was preparing to attack. He couldn’t let this thing gain the upper hand. Not now.
Arthur roared back, the deep, guttural sound reverberating through the molten trees around them. His claws dug into the ground as his muscles coiled with tension, eyes glowing with destructive energy. If this monster wanted a fight, it would get one.
The two titans stood motionless for a moment, the air between them charged with tension. Arthur’s wings flared slightly, casting a dark shadow over the ruined village as he met the monster’s glare head-on. He could feel the pulse of the Laser Pulse charging, the heat from the Crystallon Rex’s body radiating outwards like a furnace.
Arthur let out one last snarl. This was going to be a battle of power. Of dominance.
And Arthur wasn’t about to back down.
The Crystallon Rex shrieked again, and the crystal on its forehead flashed with blinding light. Arthur’s muscles tensed, every fiber of his being ready for the fight that was about to unfold.
Two monsters, face to face.
Two forces of destruction, ready to clash.
This would be the battle that determined which of them would walk away with the power—and which would be left in the ashes.