Life Beyond End

Flynn froze, staring up at the massive door in front of him. It stretched all the way to the ceiling, looking like something out of a dream—or a nightmare. Strange glowing lines ran across its surface, pulsing faintly like they were alive.

He scratched his head. What the hell is this thing? It looks straight out of a boss fight.

Curiosity got the better of him, and he stepped closer. His hand brushed against the door, and he frowned. It wasn't exactly metal—too smooth for that—but it wasn't soft like rubber either. It felt cold and tough, like something that shouldn't exist.

This world is so weird. Nothing here makes sense, he thought, backing up a few steps.

He stretched out his right hand, feeling the familiar pull of energy building in his chest. "Alvron!"

A burst of heat exploded in the air, and his sword appeared in his hand. The crimson flames along its edge flickered to life, lighting up the dark cave. At the same time, the red marks on his body flared, glowing like molten lava.

Flynn flexed his fingers around the hilt of the sword. Alright, time to stop being scared. You're a grown man. A man trapped in a five-year-old body, sure, but still a man.

He took a deep breath and stepped forward, ready to kick the door open, but something stopped him. A bright, glowing text appeared out of nowhere, floating right in front of him.

[Alvron Lvl. 3]

"What—?" Flynn blinked, staring at the text.

Before he could think too hard about it, the flames on Alvron roared brighter, almost blinding him for a second. The sword felt lighter in his grip, like it was perfectly balanced now. The constant ache he usually felt from using it was gone, replaced by a warm, steady pulse of energy.

"Yes!" Flynn couldn't help but grin. "Finally! Took you long enough to level up!"

With his confidence boosted, he turned back to the door. Without hesitating, he kicked it open.

The door groaned loudly, swinging inward to reveal a massive chamber beyond. A wave of cold air hit him, and darkness seemed to spill out, thick and suffocating. Flynn stepped inside carefully, holding Alvron up to light the way. The glow from the sword pushed back the darkness just enough for him to see a few feet ahead.

This place is huge, Flynn thought, his eyes darting around. It's as big as the castle back in Foroaline. Maybe bigger.

The silence was heavy, broken only by the soft crackling of Alvron's flames. Flynn's footsteps echoed as he walked deeper into the room, each step making him feel smaller. The walls were covered in strange carvings, lines and symbols that seemed to shimmer faintly.

FSHK!

Flynn jumped as the torches along the walls burst into flames, their light flaring red like Alvron's. The sudden brightness made him squint, and he instinctively raised his sword in defense.

"Great," he muttered. "Now the room's trying to scare me. Perfect."

The red flames from the torches flickered wildly, casting long, twisting shadows across the chamber. The carvings on the walls glowed brighter now, their patterns shifting and moving like they were alive.

Flynn's grip on Alvron tightened as he took another step forward. He could feel something watching him, though he couldn't see where it was coming from.

The door behind him slammed shut with a deafening bang, making him spin around. His heart raced as he stared at the now-sealed exit.

"Of course," Flynn said through gritted teeth. "Why wouldn't the door lock? That's exactly what I needed right now."

A deep growl rumbled through the room, low and menacing. It wasn't loud, but Flynn felt it vibrate through the floor and up into his legs. He froze, his eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement.

What was that? His breath caught in his throat as the growl came again, louder this time.

Ahead of him, a raised platform came into view, its edges lit faintly by the red light. Something stood in the center of it, but it was hard to make out in the gloom.

Flynn's blood ran cold. Don't be a monster. Don't be a monster. Please don't be a monster.

The figure on the platform moved, stepping forward into the light. Flynn's stomach dropped. It was huge, at least twice his height, with black skin that gleamed like polished stone. Its eyes glowed a fierce gold, and its body rippled with muscles.

The creature let out a roar so loud it shook the entire room. Flynn stumbled back, raising Alvron instinctively as the heat of the beast's breath washed over him.

"Okay," Flynn muttered, his voice trembling just a little. "Definitely a monster."

The creature roared again, lowering itself into a crouch. Flynn's heart pounded in his chest as he braced himself for the fight.

"Alright, big guy," he said, trying to sound more confident than he felt. "Let's dance."

The beast charged, its heavy footsteps shaking the ground as it barreled toward him. Flynn gripped Alvron tightly, his marks flaring brighter as he prepared to face whatever was coming.

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CLANG!

Sparks flew as Flynn's sword clashed against the beast's massive claws. His arms shook from the force of the blow, and he stumbled back a step, barely keeping his grip on Alvron.

Oh, for the love of—this thing hits like a truck!

The beast didn't let up. It lunged again, its claws slicing through the air with deadly precision. Flynn ducked, sidestepped, and swung Alvron to parry, but the relentless barrage pushed him to his limits. Every strike he deflected sent a jolt through his body, the effort draining his energy fast.

It wasn't just brute strength. The beast was smart, too. It moved with purpose, keeping Flynn on the defensive, as if it knew the sword drained his stamina.

This bastard's trying to wear me down...

A familiar glow flashed in Flynn's peripheral vision, and words appeared in front of him:

[Skill added under Alvron: Life Steal]

Flynn's eyes widened. "You've got to be kidding me!" he shouted, a mix of relief and disbelief in his voice. The timing couldn't have been better.

The beast, oblivious to Flynn's sudden advantage, coiled its massive claws back for a finishing strike.

FWOOSH!

The sound of rushing air filled Flynn's ears as the monster swiped horizontally, aiming to cleave him in two. He dropped low, crouching just in time, and swung Alvron upward in a sharp arc. The crimson blade sliced clean through the creature's arms, severing both limbs at the elbow.

The beast stumbled back, its severed arms falling to the floor with a sickening thud.

[+500 Life]

A rush of warmth coursed through Flynn's body as his energy surged back. He blinked in surprise, feeling the exhaustion in his muscles fade away.

What the—did I just... get stronger?

The monster's roar cut through the silence, shaking the very walls of the chamber.

"RAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!"

The beast clutched at the stumps where its arms used to be, its cries of pain echoing like thunder. Flynn grinned, finally feeling like he had the upper hand.

"Guess that makes things a little easier," he said, stepping forward with renewed confidence.

But his smirk didn't last long.

The beast stopped wailing, its body going unnaturally still. Then, it looked up at Flynn, its golden eyes now replaced by hollow, empty sockets. The skin around its wounds began to bubble and shift, turning a deep, blood-red color. Before Flynn's horrified gaze, its arms began to grow back, twisting and reshaping until they were even larger and deadlier than before.

What the hell am I fighting...?

Flynn's stomach churned as he took a step back. The beast's transformation wasn't over. Its entire body seemed to swell, its muscles bulging grotesquely as black veins spread across its crimson skin. It let out a guttural snarl, the sound more animalistic and primal than before.

Alvron pulsed in Flynn's hand, the blade's flames flaring brighter, as if sensing the danger. Flynn swallowed hard, gripping the hilt tighter.

"Alright," he muttered under his breath, trying to keep his voice steady. "Round two, huh? Let's see how you like this."

The beast didn't give him time to think. It charged, faster than before, the ground trembling beneath its weight. Flynn barely had time to raise Alvron before the creature was on him, its claws slamming down with enough force to crack the stone floor.

Flynn rolled to the side, feeling the air rush past him as the attack missed by inches. He swung Alvron in retaliation, the blade cutting deep into the beast's side. The flames hissed and burned, leaving a jagged scorch mark across its flesh.

[+200 Life]

The surge of energy gave Flynn a burst of speed, and he pressed the advantage, striking again and again. Each successful hit stole more life from the creature, making him stronger while it grew weaker.

For a moment, it seemed like he might win. But then the beast roared again, and its wounds began to heal just as quickly as he could inflict them.

You've got to be kidding me! Flynn thought, frustration bubbling to the surface.

The monster's attacks became wilder, more desperate, and Flynn found himself dodging more than striking. His marks flared with each movement, the red glow illuminating the room like a warning light.

Think, Flynn, think! There's got to be a way to beat this thing.

His eyes darted to the glowing carvings on the walls. They pulsed in time with the beast's movements, almost like they were feeding it energy.

Of course. The carvings!

An idea began to form in his mind, but it was risky. If he was wrong, he'd be dead in seconds.

Flynn took a deep breath. "Alright, big guy," he said, his voice steady despite the fear gripping his chest. "Let's end this."

He feinted to the left, drawing the beast's attention, then sprinted toward the nearest wall. Alvron's flames flared as he swung the blade, slashing through the glowing carvings with all his strength.

The effect was immediate. The light in the room flickered and dimmed, and the beast let out an earsplitting scream, its movements growing sluggish.

"Yes!" Flynn shouted, a spark of hope igniting in his chest.

But it wasn't over yet. The beast, now enraged, charged at him with reckless abandon, its claws tearing through the air. Flynn barely managed to dive out of the way, rolling to his feet just in time to block another swipe.

"Come on," he muttered, slashing at another set of carvings. The room grew darker still, and the beast staggered, its roars growing weaker.

Flynn could feel victory within his grasp, but he didn't let his guard down. With one final swing, he destroyed the last of the carvings, plunging the room into complete darkness.

The beast let out a final, echoing roar before collapsing to the ground. Flynn stood there, panting, as the room fell silent.

The glowing text appeared again, hovering in front of him:

[Victory Achieved: Alvron Lvl. 4]

Flynn let out a shaky laugh, leaning on his sword for support.

"Alright," he said, his voice echoing in the empty chamber. "That was way too close."

SHK!

Pain exploded through Flynn's side as the beast's claws pierced him.

Oh, for fuck's sake... Y-you're still not dead? Flynn's thoughts wavered, his knees buckling under the sudden surge of agony.

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[SKILL: LIFE STEAL

DRAINS THE LIFE ENERGY OF MOST LIVING BEINGS. TYPE OF ENERGY WILL VARY ON WHICH CREATURE THE SKILL IS USED.

HUMANS=MANA

DEMONS=LIFE

CELESTIALS=LIFE

GODS=IMMORTALITY

ANIMALS=STAMINA]