Astral Devourer: Rise of the Forbidden King

Chapter 5: The Road Before the Duel

Theo walked away without looking back.

The noise behind him faded, but his mind refused to quiet. Every step felt heavier than it should, like something unseen was pressing down on his shoulders.

Did I make the right decision… or did I just rush into it?

His jaw tightened, the question lingering longer than he liked.

Zero’s voice surfaced, calm and steady as always.

“No, Master. Even if it appeared reckless, you made the correct choice.”

Theo let out a slow breath, longer this time. The tension in his chest loosened, just a little, enough for him to think clearly again.

Doubt wasn’t going to help him now. It never had.

“I’ll focus on growing stronger,” he muttered under his breath, voice low but firm. “Daily quests. Training. No distractions.”

He paused mid-step, a thought sparking suddenly in his mind.

“The final exams…” he whispered, eyes narrowing. “Two weeks.”

Reality crept back in, sharp and unavoidable. Strength alone wouldn’t carry him through everything. Not here. Not in this world.

If he wanted to survive, he needed control. Discipline. Balance.

“I’ll prepare for the exams,” he said quietly, more to himself than anyone else. “But I won’t stop training.”

That was the line he drew.

And once he made it, he didn’t hesitate again.

His days settled into a rhythm faster than he expected. During school hours, Theo buried himself in books, pushing his mind harder than he ever had before.

Formulas that once felt distant started to make sense. Concepts he used to avoid, he now chased down until they clicked.

He didn’t enjoy it, not fully.

But he didn’t hate it either. There was a rhythm to it now, something steady beneath the effort.

Evenings were different, quieter, sharper. The world felt slower, and he could feel himself changing in ways he hadn’t before.

The moment he stepped into the gym, everything else disappeared. The noise in his head faded, replaced by focus, by movement, by effort.

He trained until his muscles burned, until each breath came ragged and heavy, until his body screamed for release.

But he didn’t stop. Not once. Not for weakness, not for comfort.

Each night ended the same way, the familiar notification chime marking the progress he refused to ignore.

Ding!

Daily Quest Completed

+10 EXP Gained

The notification appeared without fail, quiet but consistent. It wasn’t flashy, but it was enough.

Proof that he was moving forward.

Days blurred together, each one melting into the next without pause.

Weeks passed, the rhythm of effort and growth carving a new version of himself.

Time slipped past him like dry leaves carried by the wind, unnoticed until they were already gone.

Before he realized it, the exams arrived.

The atmosphere at school shifted overnight. Conversations dropped. Laughter faded. Even the loudest students seemed restrained.

Thanks to Miss Jessica, Theo was placed in a different examination hall, far from Billy and the others.

For that alone, he felt a quiet sense of relief.

The silence inside the hall was almost suffocating, but it worked in his favor. No distractions. No interruptions.

Just questions and answers.

When the final paper ended, chairs scraped softly against the floor as students began to leave. Some looked relieved. Others… defeated.

Theo stepped outside, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly.

Then someone called out to him.

A staff member approached, stopping just a step away.

“Miss Jessica wants to see you.”

Theo gave a small nod, calm and measured. “I understand.”

The walk to her office felt longer than usual. Not because of the distance, but because he already knew what this was about.

When he stepped inside, he didn’t need to guess.

The look on her face said everything.

“What was the meaning of what you did?” she asked, voice tight, restrained.

Theo didn’t bother pretending. “The duel with Billy.”

She exhaled sharply, rubbing her temples as if trying to push away a headache that refused to fade. “You made a bet with him,” she said, softer now but still serious. “A duel in six months. The day before the Military Academy entrance begins.”

Theo stayed still, calm but not indifferent. “Don’t worry, Miss Jessica,” he said steadily. “I’m not the same person I used to be.”

Her eyes searched his face, looking for something deeper behind his words. Concern didn’t leave her. “Please… don’t get yourself killed,” she said quietly. “Billy has been training for years. His family has influence.” She hesitated, then added, “I will try to stop the duel before it becomes something worse.”

Theo lowered his head slightly. “Thank you.” There wasn’t much else to say.

He stepped out of the office, closing the door gently behind him. The soft click echoed faintly in the hallway. Six months. The number settled in his mind, heavy this time. Not distant. Not abstract. Real. If he wanted to survive that duel, effort alone wouldn’t be enough. He needed results.

Theo returned home and walked straight into his room. The familiar space felt smaller than usual, pressing him to move. After a brief pause, he spoke.

“Status Window.”

A translucent blue screen appeared before him, glowing softly in the dim room.

STATUS WINDOW

Name: Theo Taylor

Level: 2

EXP: 15 / 150

Race: Werewolf

Rank: Young Wolf

Class: None

Ability: None

HP: 35 / 35

Stats

Stamina: 11

Strength: 11

Agility: 11

Defense: 11

Attack: 11

Theo stared at the screen longer than necessary, letting the silence stretch around him. Two weeks. That was all the time he had.

“Only one level…” he muttered, fingers curling slightly at his sides. His chest tightened with the weight of it. “This isn’t enough.”

“Zero,” he called, quieter now.

“Yes, Master,” came the instant reply.

His gaze didn’t leave the glowing panel. “Are there other ways to grow stronger?”

“There are,” Zero said calmly. “You may gain experience through quests, defeating opponents, or hunting and devouring demonic beasts.”

Theo blinked, letting the words settle slowly. “…Why didn’t you tell me that before?”

“You were previously incapable of completing such tasks,” Zero answered evenly. “However, your current condition allows for engagement within a limited range.”

Theo’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Opponents…” The word hung in the air, heavy with possibility. Then an idea surfaced. “The VR pods.” A faint smile tugged at his lips.

“I don’t even know proper fighting techniques,” he admitted, more honestly this time.

“Incorrect,” Zero replied without hesitation. “You have already unlocked Basic Werewolf Martial Arts upon reaching the rank of Young Wolf.”

Theo straightened, resolve sharpening in his gaze. “…Show me everything.”

The screen shifted, cascading new options and data before him, each one a path forward.

STATUS WINDOW

Name: Theo Taylor

Level: 2

Race: Werewolf

Rank: Young Wolf

Skills

Claw Strike

A swift diagonal slash capable of striking targets up to five meters away. Designed for precise attacks on vulnerable points.

Iron Hide Guard

A defensive stance that tightens muscle fibers and hardens the skin, reducing incoming blunt damage.

Martial Art: Lupine Combat Art

First Form: Predator’s Entry

Fang Drive

A sudden burst forward followed by a crushing shoulder tackle that breaks the opponent’s guard.

Claw Rend

Two rapid diagonal slashes executed in one fluid motion. Effective at 5–10 meters, designed to hit multiple weak points simultaneously.

Second Form: Moon Hunter Style

Moonstep

A short-distance acceleration technique that allows instant repositioning within ten meters. Leaves a faint afterimage to confuse enemies.

Wolf Fang Counter

Absorb an incoming attack by shifting your weight through your hips, then retaliate immediately with a precise combination of elbow and claw strikes.

Throat Sever Strike

A precise upward claw attack aimed at the throat. Requires 2 meters of space for full effect. High risk, high reward.

Final Form: Sovereign of the Crimson Hunt

The ultimate expression of the Lupine Combat Art. A state of predatory fluidity. Combines all previous forms into a continuous, ruthless attack flow.

Requirements

Master all previous forms

Control partial transformation

Awaken Beast Instinct

Maintain emotional control

Drawback

Extremely high stamina consumption, severe muscular strain and a risk of feral loss of control if fueled by rage

Theo swallowed, the weight of it sinking in. He hadn’t expected this.

“…I have all of this?” he whispered, disbelief and excitement warring in his chest. Raw energy prickled through him, uncontrolled, untamed. Then it settled, sharpened by resolve. “…Then I’ll master it.”

“Each skill contains a tutorial module,” Zero said calmly. Theo didn’t hesitate this time. He reached out and selected one.

The world shattered. One moment he stood in his room. The next, everything dissolved into fragments of light. When his vision returned, he was somewhere else entirely. A vast training chamber stretched endlessly around him, silent and imposing. The air felt different, heavy, focused, alive.

Then a figure appeared. A man in his mid-thirties, clad in dragon-patterned armor, a white cloak lined with crimson fur flowing behind him. Two massive greatswords rested across his back. His presence alone was overwhelming.

“Observe carefully.”

The instructor moved.

Claw Strike.

His arm cut through the air in a perfect diagonal. No wasted motion. A crimson arc tore forward, splitting the target five meters away. “Do not swing blindly,” he said. “Precision creates power.”

Repeated slower, Theo noticed it, every movement had purpose. Nothing extra. Nothing wasted.

Iron Hide Guard.

The instructor planted his feet, shoulders steady, bracing against a massive strike. He didn’t flinch. “Defense is preparation,” he said. “Not fear.” Theo felt it, not just saw it.

First Form: Predator’s Entry

Fang Drive.

The instructor exploded forward. Distance vanished. Shoulder slammed into the target, breaking its guard completely. “Commit,” he said. “Half effort breaks nothing.”

Claw Rend.

Two slashes followed fast, clean, connected. “Flow,” he added. “Or you lose control.”

Second Form: Moon Hunter Style

The lighting dimmed. Something shifted.

Moonstep.

The instructor vanished. Not completely, just enough. He reappeared behind the opponent, fingers brushing its spine. It shattered instantly. “Position decides victory,” he said.

Wolf Fang Counter.

A larger opponent charged. He didn’t dodge. He absorbed, shifted, returned. The counter struck ribs, throat, weak points. “Wait for them,” he said. “Then end it.”

Third Form: Crimson Execution

Throat Sever Strike.

The instructor coiled, then struck upward. Fast. Sharp. Final. The target didn’t stand a chance. “Accuracy over strength,” he said.

Final Form: Sovereign of the Crimson Hunt.

Everything darkened. A blood-red moon rose overhead. Multiple enemies appeared. He didn’t rush. He moved smooth, controlled, deadly. Every strike connected. Every movement flowed into the next. No pauses. No wasted effort.

An enemy reached for him. Failed. The counter was immediate, brutal, efficient. The final strike detonated. Everything ended. Silence returned.

“Power without control leads to madness,” the instructor said. Calm. Too calm. “This… is dominance.”

Then he was gone. The world collapsed again.

Theo opened his eyes. He was back in his room. Heart pounding, breath uneven, like he had just fought himself. “…That felt real.”

“Zero…” he called quietly.

“Yes, Master.”

He looked down at his hands, slowly clenching them. For the first time, they didn’t feel weak just unrefined. “I still have a long way to go.”

Outside, the sun dipped below the horizon, dragging the last light of the day with it. Shadows stretched across the room. Theo’s gaze lifted toward the darkening sky, steady now.

Tonight… the Young Wolf would step into the VR training pods. Tonight… his ascent would truly begin.