LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 4: The Choice
Frank's hand trembled slightly as the notification flashed before him, stark and unyielding.
[Engage Abyss Wyrm: Yes/No?]
He stared at the options, his breath catching in his chest. The roar of the monstrous creature reverberated through the valley, and the young woman's terrified cries tugged at something deep within him. Despite every instinct screaming at him to flee, his finger moved toward the glowing Yes.
[Engagement confirmed.]
The system's calm tone contrasted sharply with the chaos below. Frank tightened his grip on the Shadow Blade and prepared to charge when a thought stopped him cold. His reflection in the system's translucent interface—crimson eyes, horned helm, and shadow-clad armor—was as terrifying as the creature he was about to face.
"She's going to think I'm just another monster," he muttered, cursing under his breath. His demonic visage might save him in battle, but it would do little to reassure a panicked victim. A notification appeared, as if on cue.
[Spells available: Prestidigitation, Disguise Self.]
Frank's eyes widened. "Disguise Self? That'll work." He selected the spell, feeling a faint warmth ripple through him as the shadows around his form shifted and coalesced. His armor softened into gleaming silver plate adorned with celestial insignias, his horns vanished, and his crimson eyes faded to a soft blue. A holy glow radiated from him, completing the illusion of a saintly paladin.
Frank glanced at his reflection in the system interface and allowed himself a small smirk. "Not bad. Let's hope this works."
With his disguise in place, Frank charged toward the commotion, the Shadow Blade humming with latent energy. The Abyss Wyrm towered over the young woman, its massive coils crushing the terrain beneath it. Its crimson eyes narrowed on her as its jaws snapped closer.
"Hey, ugly!" Frank shouted, his voice ringing with a newfound authority. The creature paused, its head snapping toward him with a guttural growl. The young woman's tear-streaked face turned to him, her expression shifting from terror to confusion.
[Warning: Abyss Wyrm engaged. Threat level: Severe.]
The creature lunged with surprising speed, its massive form blotting out the sky. Frank dove to the side, narrowly avoiding its crushing jaws. The ground shook as the wyrm's head slammed into the earth, leaving a crater in its wake. Frank rolled to his feet, raising the Shadow Blade defensively.
The young woman screamed as the wyrm turned its attention back to her, its tail lashing dangerously close. "Stay behind me!" Frank shouted, stepping between her and the beast. His stance was steady, but his heart raced.
[Combat Assistance: Defensive options available.]
A new spell interface appeared, listing options that would complement his situation. Frank scanned them quickly, settling on Prestidigitation. With a flick of his free hand, he conjured a burst of blinding light directly into the wyrm's face. The creature recoiled, roaring in anger as it thrashed its head.
"Got your attention now, don't I?" Frank muttered, gripping his weapon tighter.
The wyrm lunged again, its jaws snapping dangerously close. Frank sidestepped and swung his blade in a wide arc. The enhanced edge of the Shadow Blade connected with the wyrm's scales, leaving a deep gash that oozed a dark, viscous liquid. The beast howled, pulling back momentarily.
Behind him, the young woman clutched her broken staff, her wide eyes fixed on Frank. "Who... who are you?" she stammered, her voice trembling with fear and uncertainty. Her wide eyes darted between the towering monster and Frank's glowing form, lingering on the holy radiance of his armor. "Are you here to save me... or something worse?"
Frank hesitated, glancing at his shimmering, illusory armor. "I'm a friend," he said firmly, his voice calm but urgent. "You're safe with me, I promise."
The young woman bit her lip, clutching her broken staff tighter. "Safe? Against that?" she asked, nodding toward the wyrm. Despite the doubt in her tone, she took a tentative step back, placing herself behind Frank. "Just... don't let it eat me, okay?"
Frank hesitated for a heartbeat. "A friend," he said simply, keeping his focus on the wyrm. "Stay back, and let me handle this."
The wyrm's eyes glowed brighter, its anger palpable. The ground beneath Frank trembled as the creature coiled, preparing to strike again. Frank's mind raced. The beast was far stronger than anything he had faced so far, and while the Shadow Blade and his newly unlocked spells gave him an edge, the wyrm's sheer size and power were overwhelming.
"Think, Frank. Strategy, not brute force," he muttered under his breath. His eyes darted around the battlefield, searching for an advantage. The jagged rocks surrounding the valley caught his attention. If he could lure the wyrm into crashing into one of them, it might buy him the time he needed.
He glanced back at the woman, her trembling form clutching a broken staff. His eyes narrowed. "Are you a mage or a healer?" he called out.
The woman blinked, startled by the question. "A priestess," she replied shakily.
Frank's eyes lit up with realization. "Do you have divine miracle spells? Holy Shield? Heroism? Anything that can help?"
Her grip tightened on the staff as she nodded. "I... I know Holy Shield and Heroism," she stammered.
"Good. Cast them," Frank instructed, his tone firm but encouraging. "I'll need every bit of help to take this thing down."
The priestess nodded, her hands trembling as she raised the broken staff. A faint golden light began to emanate from her palms, growing brighter with each second. "Holy Shield," she whispered, her voice steadying as the light coalesced into a shimmering barrier that encased Frank. The warmth of the magic washed over him, and he felt his body grow lighter, his movements more fluid.
"Heroism!" she cried next, her voice filled with resolve. A second wave of divine energy surged toward Frank, filling him with an intense surge of confidence and strength. His heartbeat steadied, and the oppressive fear that had gnawed at the edges of his mind dissipated.
Frank glanced back at her, offering a quick nod. "Perfect. Stay ready—this isn't over yet."
He raised the blade, pointing it at the creature. "Come on, you overgrown snake. Let's dance."
The wyrm lunged, its massive body tearing through the terrain as it charged. Frank sprinted toward the largest rock formation, skidding to a stop just as the beast struck. The force of the impact sent debris flying, and the wyrm roared in frustration as it pulled back, dazed.
"Now's my chance!" Frank surged forward, the Shadow Blade glowing with shadow energy. He aimed for the exposed wound, driving the blade deep into the wyrm's flesh. The creature writhed in agony, its tail whipping violently and forcing Frank to retreat.
"It's not enough," he realized, watching the beast recover far too quickly. Sweat dripped down his brow as he turned back to the young woman. "Can you fight?" he called out.
She flinched but straightened, gripping her broken staff tightly. "I... I can try."
"Frank shouted, "Then get ready! We're not done yet!"
The priestess hesitated, her grip on her broken staff tightening. "I... I'm scared," she admitted, her voice trembling as the wyrm's roar seemed to shake the very air around them.
Frank glanced at her over his shoulder, his tone softening. "Hey, you've already done more than most would. Those spells? They're already keeping me alive. I can't do this without you."
Her eyes widened at his words, the fear in her expression giving way to a flicker of resolve. She straightened her back and nodded, though her hands still shook. "I'll do my best," she said, stepping closer and readying herself to assist.
"Good," Frank said, turning his focus back to the wyrm. "Because this thing doesn't stand a chance against both of us." The air grew heavy with tension, and Frank steadied his breathing, preparing for the next assault. Whatever happened next, he knew there was no turning back.