The Razorkin charged with savage intensity, its powerful legs tearing through the soft earth as its glowing red eyes locked onto Adam. Its horned head lowered, aiming to gore him with jagged, bone-like protrusions. The ground trembled beneath its weight, and its guttural roar sent a chill down Adam's spine.
Adam gritted his teeth, adjusting his grip on the rusty longsword. The weapon felt clumsy and unwieldy in his hands compared to the ease and grace with which he'd once wielded his powers. But he had no time to dwell on the past—he had to survive the present.
The Razorkin lunged, and Adam sidestepped at the last second, narrowly avoiding being skewered. He swung the sword in a wide arc, the blade biting into the beast's side with a dull clang. Sparks flew as the edge scraped against its dense, armor-like hide, leaving a shallow gash but failing to penetrate deeply.
Damn it, Adam thought as he backed away. This thing's tougher than it looks.
The beast turned with unnatural speed, its glowing red eyes blazing with fury. It let out a snarl, charging again, this time faster and more aggressively. Adam raised the sword defensively, but the creature's massive clawed paw smashed into the blade, knocking it from his grip and sending him sprawling to the ground.
He hit the dirt hard, the air knocked from his lungs. His body screamed in protest as he scrambled to his feet, adrenaline driving him to move faster than his sluggish limbs wanted to.
The Razorkin didn't give him time to recover. It lunged again, its jaws snapping shut inches from Adam's face as he ducked. He rolled to the side, grabbing a nearby branch from the ground and swinging it at the beast's head with all his strength. The wood splintered on impact, but the blow was enough to stagger the creature briefly.
Adam used the moment to put some distance between them, his mind racing. The sword was out of reach, and his body wasn't strong enough to overpower the Razorkin in direct combat. He could feel the faint hum of energy within him, but it was like trying to grasp a dying ember—it wasn't enough.
He clenched his fists, frustration mounting. I'm stronger than this, he thought bitterly. I used to be stronger than this.
But this wasn't Earth, and he wasn't the Nuclear Sentinel anymore. If he wanted to survive, he had to adapt.
A Flicker of Power
The Razorkin snarled and circled him, its claws digging into the ground as it prepared for another strike. Adam's eyes darted around the clearing, searching for anything he could use to turn the tide. His gaze landed on one of the glowing white flowers scattered across the forest floor—the same type he'd used during his earlier fight in the clearing.
That might work, he thought, his mind latching onto the idea.
The creature lunged, and Adam sprinted toward the flower, narrowly dodging the beast's claws. He slid to his knees, his hand reaching out to grasp the glowing bloom. As his fingers brushed its delicate petals, he focused on the faint hum of energy within him, willing it to connect with the flower.
For a moment, nothing happened. The Razorkin snarled and lunged again, its jaws snapping shut dangerously close to Adam's leg.
"Come on," Adam growled, his voice filled with desperation. "Work, damn it!"
And then, it happened. A faint golden light flickered in his palm, flowing from the flower and merging with the energy in his core. It wasn't much—just a sliver of the power he once commanded—but it was enough.
As the Razorkin lunged for him again, Adam turned and thrust his glowing hand forward. A pulse of golden energy erupted from his palm, striking the beast in the chest and sending it flying backward. The creature let out a pained yelp as it crashed into a tree, splintering the trunk and collapsing into a heap.
Adam staggered to his feet, his breathing ragged. The glow in his hand faded quickly, leaving him feeling drained. The Razorkin stirred weakly, its body twitching as it tried to rise.
I can't let it recover, Adam thought. He forced his aching body into motion, grabbing the rusty longsword from where it had fallen earlier. With the weapon in hand, he approached the struggling creature.
It raised its head to glare at him, its red eyes dim and unfocused. Adam didn't hesitate. He drove the blade into the beast's exposed neck, using the last of his strength to push it through the tough hide. The Razorkin let out a final, guttural growl before collapsing, its body going still.
Adam pulled the sword free, its blade slick with dark, viscous blood. He staggered backward, his chest heaving as he stared at the fallen creature.
The Villagers' Reaction
For a moment, there was only silence in the clearing, broken only by Adam's labored breathing. Then, slowly, the villagers emerged from their homes, their faces a mix of awe and disbelief.
"You… killed it," the old man said, his voice filled with astonishment. He stepped closer, his eyes darting between Adam and the Razorkin's corpse. "You actually killed it."
Adam lowered the sword, his arms trembling from exhaustion. "Yeah," he said, his voice hoarse. "You're welcome."
The villagers gathered around the fallen beast, murmuring among themselves. Some looked at Adam with gratitude, while others eyed him warily, as if unsure whether to trust him.
One of the women stepped forward, her expression cautious but not unfriendly. "You said you were just a traveler," she said, her tone questioning. "But no ordinary traveler could do… that." She gestured to the Razorkin's corpse.
Adam hesitated. He couldn't exactly tell them the truth—that he was a reincarnated hero from another world with powers tied to a nuclear core. They wouldn't believe him, and even if they did, it might raise questions he wasn't ready to answer.
"I've fought my share of monsters," he said vaguely, shrugging as if it were no big deal. "This one just caught me off guard."
The woman frowned, clearly not satisfied with his answer, but she didn't press the issue. Instead, she turned to the old man. "What should we do, Elder Varus? The Razorkin won't be the last. There are always more."
Elder Varus stroked his beard thoughtfully, his gaze lingering on Adam. "We'll need to strengthen the defenses," he said. "Reinforce the barricades and post more sentries. But…" He looked at Adam, his eyes narrowing. "If this stranger can fight like that, perhaps he can help us."
Adam raised an eyebrow. "Help you? With what?"
"The Razorkin are only one of our problems," Varus said grimly. "The forest is crawling with monsters, and lately, they've been getting bolder. Something's stirring them up, driving them out of their usual territory."
Adam considered his words carefully. He didn't know much about this world yet, but if the village was under constant threat, it was as good a starting point as any.
"I'll help," Adam said, his voice firm. "But I'll need food, shelter, and information about what's going on in this world."
Varus nodded slowly. "Agreed. Come. We'll talk more inside."
A Step Forward
As Adam followed the villagers toward the center of the village, he felt a faint sense of purpose stirring within him. He was far from the hero he used to be, but this was a chance to start again. To protect the weak, even in a world that wasn't his own.
He glanced up at the night sky, where unfamiliar stars twinkled overhead. Vaeloria was a strange and dangerous place, but it was also full of possibilities.
I'll figure out how this world works, he thought. And when I do, I'll get my strength back. I'll be ready for whatever's coming.
And deep in the forest, unseen by the villagers, something stirred. A pair of crimson eyes blinked open in the darkness, and a low growl echoed through the trees.