David’s breath was steady as he crouched low, hidden within the thick foliage of the forest. His Beast Tracker pulsed in his mind, indicating the nearby presence of a Low Platinum-tier beast. His heart raced with a mixture of anticipation and tension. He knew what he was up against—a Cragback Mauler, a beast that seemed to specialize in brute strength and resilience, its body covered in jagged stone-like scales that made it nearly impervious to conventional attacks.

The Cragback Mauler lumbered through the forest ahead of him, its hulking form crashing through the underbrush with little care for the trees it tore down in its path. Its back was a mountain of thick, rocky plates, and its claws, each as long as a short sword, gleamed in the pale light filtering through the canopy.

David exhaled, trying to calm his nerves. He had faced Low Platinum-tier beasts before, but this one felt different. His current forms and abilities had served him well in past battles, but as the first pure defensive type beast, the Cragback would put them to the test in a way no creature had yet.

He activated his Storm Raptor form, feeling the familiar surge of speed and agility flow through his body as lightning crackled along his limbs. His muscles coiled with energy, his reflexes heightened. He would start with what he knew best: speed and precision.

With a burst of motion, David darted out from his hiding place, his form a blur of lightning as he rushed toward the beast. The Cragback turned its head slowly, its dull yellow eyes locking onto him just before he struck. David’s first attack was a well-aimed Thunderstrike, a bolt of electricity arcing and slamming into the beast’s side with a resounding crack.

The effect was immediate but underwhelming. The lightning danced across the Cragback’s stony hide, but it barely flinched. The creature’s thick, rock-like plates absorbed most of the impact, dispersing the energy like water off a boulder.

David cursed under his breath and sprang back, narrowly avoiding the beast’s massive tail as it swung in retaliation. The air around him buzzed with residual static, but the attack had done little more than irritate the creature.

His mind raced. Speed and electricity weren’t enough. He needed a different approach. Shifting forms quickly, David transitioned into Thunderhowl, feeling his body grow larger and more powerful as his muscles rippled with electric energy. His claws crackled with lightning, and he circled the beast, looking for an opening. The Cragback snarled, turning to face him, its claws sinking into the earth as it braced itself.

David lunged forward, aiming for the beast’s legs, hoping to slow it down by targeting its joints. His claws raked against the Cragback’s knee, but once again, the attack barely penetrated the thick hide. The lightning-infused strike glanced off the rocky plates, leaving only faint scorch marks behind.

The Cragback retaliated with a powerful swipe of its claw, faster than David expected. He dodged, but not quickly enough. The beast’s claws grazed his side, sending him sprawling across the ground. Pain flared in his ribs as he rolled to his feet, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

“This thing’s a tank…” David muttered to himself, wincing as he shifted forms again, this time into the Duskhorn Wyrm.

Shadow energy flowed through him, his body elongating into a sleek, serpentine form. The Cragback turned to face him, its glowing eyes tracking his movements. David unleashed a wave of shadow magic, a Shadow Surge meant to entangle the beast’s limbs and destabilize it. Dark tendrils of energy wrapped around the Cragback’s legs, tightening like ropes, but the creature barely slowed. It growled low in its throat and stomped its massive foot, shattering the shadowy bindings with sheer force.

David’s frustration grew. The Duskhorn Wyrm form wasn't much stronger than his other forms in terms of speed and it's power was not enough to injure it much. He wasn’t going to make any progress before some other beasts come running hearing the sounds of battle.

Shifting into his Shadowbane Wolf form, he darted back into the shadows, blending with the darkness. The Cragback Mauler paused, scanning its surroundings with slow, deliberate movements. The beast’s senses were dull; it couldn’t track him now. But David knew this was only a temporary reprieve. He needed to find a way to crack through that armor.

From his hidden vantage point, David leaped from the shadows, aiming for the beast’s underbelly, which was thinnest part of it's armor. His claws, infused with dark energy, slashed at the soft flesh beneath the Cragback’s torso. He felt a significant resistance, his claws biting into the beast’s skin—but it wasn’t deep enough.

The Cragback roared in anger and spun, its massive tail crashing toward David with deadly force. He barely had time to react, shifting into his Darkscale Stalker form just as the tail struck. His scales absorbed some of the impact, but the sheer force of the blow sent him flying across the clearing, slamming into a tree.

David grunted in pain as he struggled to rise. His body ached, his breath coming in sharp, ragged gasps. The Darkscale Stalker form had saved him from worse injury, but the hit had left him dazed. He shifted back into his human form, knowing that despite the power of his beast forms, his own body was what he knew best. It was what he used in his hunting spree for almost than half a year.

He drew his daggers, the familiar weight of the blades in his hands giving him a brief moment of confidence. He charged forward, ducking low as he approached the Cragback Mauler. His strikes were precise, aiming for the gaps between the creature’s armored plates. His daggers found purchase, but barely—each hit felt like chipping away at a mountain. The beast’s thick hide beneath the rocky armor was relentless.

With a loud snap, David’s daggers shattered, the blades splintering against the Cragback’s armor. He froze for a second, staring at the broken hilts in his hands.

Panic set in.

Without his weapons, he was nearly defenseless. The Cragback sensed his hesitation and lunged at him, its massive claws tearing through the air. David barely had time to react, diving to the side just as the beast’s claws slammed into the ground where he had been standing.

Pain flared through his body as one of the Cragback’s claws raked across his back, leaving a deep gash. He hit the ground hard, gasping for breath as blood soaked his tunic. His vision blurred, and for a moment, he thought the fight was over.

But he couldn’t give up. Not yet.

With sheer force of will, David scrambled to his feet, his body screaming in protest. He stumbled into the shadows, using the Shadowbane Wolf’s stealth with the help of to blend into the darkness once more. The Cragback growled in frustration, its slow, methodical movements scanning the area for any sign of him.

David’s breath came in shallow, ragged bursts as he crouched behind log that had fallen due to the battle, clutching his side where the beast had injured him. He needed to heal, but more importantly, he needed to think. His beast forms weren’t working—none of his attacks were strong enough to break through the Cragback’s armor. He had relied on them too much, without fully mastering their potential and adapting.

As he hid, his mind raced through his options. He couldn’t keep this up forever—the Cragback might not be able to sense him easily, but if he didn’t come up with a plan soon, it would find him eventually and he would have to leave emptyhanded.

David peeked over the log, watching as the beast lumbered through the clearing, its massive body smashing through trees and brush as it searched for him. He gritted his teeth, feeling the weight of the fight pressing down on him. He needed a way to finish this.

His eyes flicked to his broken daggers lying on the ground, shattered and useless. His beast forms were strong, but he had been using them without understanding their full potential. The Cragback Mauler wasn’t like the other creatures he had fought. It was slow, sure, but its defenses were unmatched, and brute force wasn’t going to win this fight.

David took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment to steady his racing heart. He needed to calm down, to think clearly. Panic wouldn’t help him now. He had survived worse, but this time, the beast was stronger than him, and every move he made had to count.

David crouched low, his back pressed against the rough bark of a tree. His breath was shallow, every intake of air a deliberate, controlled effort to stay quiet. The Cragback Mauler was slow and methodical, its massive feet thudding against the earth as it searched for him. He could hear the crunch of broken branches under its heavy steps as it scanned the area, the faint glow of its amber eyes piercing the darkened woods.

David’s mind raced, his body trembling slightly from both exhaustion and the adrenaline still pumping through his veins. He had tried speed, strength, magic—everything at his disposal—but none of it had critically wounded the beast. The Cragback Mauler’s stone-like hide was simply too strong, too impervious to his usual tactics. If he didn’t come up with something soon, it would find him, and this time, it would finish the job.

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The beast paused again, its head lowering to sniff the air. David’s window of opportunity was closing fast.

He needed to approach this differently.

“Time to get creative,” he whispered to himself, narrowing his eyes in thought. He couldn’t rely on brute force anymore. His beast forms were powerful, yes, but they hadn’t been used to their full potential. He had been so focused on their raw abilities that he hadn’t thought about combining them strategically. Each form had unique strengths—speed, stealth, durability, and dark magic. He needed to blend those abilities, use them in tandem, and target the beast's weaknesses rather than trying to overwhelm it head-on.

David exhaled slowly, his mind sharpening as the plan began to form. He glanced up, catching sight of the Cragback Mauler as it lumbered away from his position, its back bristling with jagged rock-like armor. That armor was its greatest strength—but it was also its greatest weakness. Beneath those thick plates, there had to be vulnerabilities. Joints, soft underbelly areas, places where the armor didn’t protect. That’s where he would strike.

With renewed focus, David activated his Shadowbane Wolf form, melting into the darkness once more. The shadows curled around him as he darted silently between the trees, his enhanced senses guiding him to the creature’s side. The Cragback was massive, slow, and ponderous. It couldn’t detect him when he was in the shadows.

This time, he was patient.

He stalked the beast, waiting for it to lower its head or shift its weight in such a way that would reveal a weakness. When the Cragback finally leaned forward, exposing the softer underside near its ribs, David sprang into action. He unleashed Shadow Lunge, his form propelling forward like a bolt of darkness. His claws, now infused with shadow energy, struck at the exposed flesh beneath the stone armor. He felt them sink in slightly, dark tendrils of magic seeping into the wound.

The Cragback roared in anger, stumbling back from the blow, but it wasn’t critically injured. David’s strike had been precise, but it hadn’t penetrated deep enough. The beast swung its massive tail in retaliation, forcing David to retreat once more into the shadows.

“Not enough,” he muttered, frustration gnawing at him. The shadows weren’t enough on their own, but they had shown him something important—the Cragback could be hurt.

He shifted into his Duskhorn Wyrm form next, his body elongating as dark magic surged through his veins. The Cragback stomped forward, enraged by the earlier strike, but David was ready. He unleashed a Shadow Surge, sending dark tendrils of energy snaking along the forest floor. The magic wrapped around the Cragback’s legs, pulling it down slightly and binding it in place. The beast growled and thrashed, its stone armor clinking together as it struggled to break free.

David moved quickly, darting in with the Thunderhowl form next. He needed to layer attacks, blend speed with power. Lightning crackled along his fur as he dashed forward, his claws slicing at the beast’s legs, where the armor was thinner. He struck again and again, lightning sparking with each hit, but the Cragback’s defenses still held strong.

The beast roared, shaking off the shadow bindings, and swung its massive claws at him. David barely avoided the blow, the shockwave from the strike sending him skidding backward.

“This thing won’t go down easily...” he whispered, panting. His body was growing weaker, the constant shifting and magical exertion draining him fast. He could feel the burn in his muscles, the dull ache of fatigue creeping into his bones. But he couldn’t stop now.

As the Cragback Mauler rose to its full height, its jagged stone back towering over the trees, David knew his next move would have to be decisive. He glanced down at his hands, still trembling from the strain, and shifted back into his human form.

It wasn’t that his beast forms were weak—he was simply trying to do too much at once. Each form had its strengths, but his own body was what he knew best. His movements, his instincts—they were sharpest when he was in his own skin. But he was out of weapons. His daggers had shattered earlier in the fight, and now, he was empty-handed.

The Cragback Mauler snorted, its amber eyes glowing as it began to charge at him once more. David's heart raced. He needed something fast, something that could hit harder than anything he had used so far.

He didn’t have time to think. He ducked behind another tree as the Cragback’s claws slammed into the ground where he had just been standing. He could feel the tremors through his feet as the beast continued to thrash about. His mind raced—he needed a way to end this now.

That’s when the idea hit him.

David slid down against the tree, opening his System Interface in a rush. His fingers trembled as he navigated through the options, scanning desperately for something that would give him the edge he so desperately needed. There had to be something in the system—a skill, a weapon, something that could help him end this once and for all.

His body trembled with exhaustion, the searing pain in his shoulder a constant reminder of just how close he had come to losing this fight. His limbs were sluggish, his mind a haze, but there was no time to rest. He knew the creature wouldn’t stay down for long if he didn’t finish it off soon.

He quickly opened his System Interface, his fingers trembling as he navigated through the options. His mind raced, searching for a solution. There had to be something in the system—some skill, some weapon, something that could give him the edge he desperately needed.

Then he found it.

System Message: Skill Available – Arcane Convergence. Allows the layering of multiple spells and skills onto a single weapon for an amplified, devastating strike. Warning: high energy output may cause the weapon to explode.

David’s eyes widened. It was risky, a hit or miss, but it might be his only shot. With a deep breath, he confirmed the purchase, feeling a surge of energy rush through him as the skill settled into his mind.

He rummaged through his inventory, scanning the items until his gaze landed on a familiar weapon—the Dragon’s Might. The sword had been with him since the beginning of his journey, a hybrid between a broadsword and longsword, worn but dependable. He hesitated for a moment, knowing that the blade wasn’t in the best shape, but this was no time to be cautious. He drew it from his inventory, the weight of it familiar in his hands.

The Cragback Mauler stirred, letting out a low, rumbling growl as it advanced. David’s time was running out.

With a swift motion, he activated Skill Manifestation, layering his most powerful abilities onto the Dragon’s Might. First came Thunderstrike, lightning crackling along the blade’s edge, followed by Shadow Lunge, dark energy wrapping around the sword like tendrils of night. Next, he drew upon Venomous Bite from his Darkscale Stalker form, infusing the blade with a deadly poison. Finally, he used his long-neglected Earth Affinity, coating the handle with a layer of stone to protect himself from the volatile forces coursing through the sword.

The blade hummed with raw power, the energy building to a fever pitch as David infused it with both his Darkness Affinity and the power of the earth. It trembled in his hands, the air around it warping with the sheer weight of the layered spells. The weapon was on the verge of breaking, its edges chipped and worn, but there was no turning back now.

The Cragback Mauler approached, its amber eyes glowing with fury as it charged toward him.

David gritted his teeth and sprinted forward, his body screaming in protest from the exertion. He met the beast head-on, his heart pounding in his chest as he swung the Dragon’s Might with everything he had.

The blade collided with the Cragback’s thick hide, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze. Then, all at once, the energy trapped within the sword exploded outward, a violent surge of lightning, shadow, poison, and earth crashing into the beast. The Cragback howled in pain, its rock-like armor cracking and splintering as the magic tore through it.

But even in its final moments, the Cragback fought back.

With a guttural roar, it lashed out, its massive claw striking David’s shoulder with bone-shattering force. He cried out as pain shot through his entire body, his shoulder bones shattering into fragments. His vision blurred, but his instinct kicked in, and he activated Earth Shield—a desperate attempt to block the attack.

The shield materialized, a dome of stone forming between him and the beast. It held for only a second before the Cragback’s strength overwhelmed it, but that brief moment was enough. David managed to roll to the side, narrowly avoiding a lethal strike, but his shoulder was still a mess—his arm hung limp and useless, the bones completely shattered.

At the same time, his sword pierced through the beast’s chest, driving deep into its core. The Dragon’s Might glowed brightly, the energy within it reaching critical mass. The magic contained in the blade burst forth in a cataclysmic explosion, sending both David and the Cragback Mauler flying in opposite directions.

David hit the ground hard, skidding across the forest floor until he slammed into a tree. His body screamed in pain, but through the haze, he heard the final sound—the Cragback Mauler’s body exploding into shards of rock and dust, its once-impenetrable armor shattered by the release of energy.

It was over.

For a long moment, David lay on the ground, panting, his vision swimming as he tried to process what had just happened. The forest was eerily silent now, the oppressive weight of the Cragback’s presence gone.

As he forced himself to sit up, wincing in pain, David’s gaze fell on the remains of the Dragon’s Might. The sword was broken, the blade cracked and splintered from the sheer force of the magic it had unleashed.

David’s hands shook as he examined the remnants of the weapon. He had pushed it too far, just like he had pushed himself too far. The battle had been won, but it had come at a cost—a cost he could have avoided if he had used his skills and affinities more wisely.

As he leaned back against the tree, trying to catch his breath, David’s mind raced. He had been neglecting his affinities for too long, relying too much on his forms and brute force. His Earth Affinity, his Darkness Affinity—they were part of his power, but he had ignored them in favor of raw strength. And that had almost cost him everything.

“I need to change,” David muttered to himself, wiping the blood from his face. “I need to study my abilities more.”

He opened his system interface again, scanning through the skills and abilities he had been neglecting. There was so much potential here, so many options he hadn’t explored because he had been saving his resources for larger purchases. But after this fight, he realized that waiting for the perfect moment wasn’t enough. He needed to be prepared for any situation, to understand and master every skill at his disposal.

David's hand hovered over several new skills and upgrades. His future battles were only going to get harder, and the Abyssal Terror was still out there. If he was going to survive—and win—he would need to be more than just strong. He would need to be smart.

With a determined look, David began making the purchases. He couldn’t afford to ignore his weaknesses any longer.