The wind stilled, and the forest seemed to hold its breath. Zero's senses were on high alert as he faced the monstrous Aberration. It emerged from the darkness, a twisted creature that defied all natural laws. Its body pulsed unnaturally, a grotesque mesh of decaying flesh and shadowy tendrils, its face a horrific distortion, half-human, half-beast, with eyes that flickered with hollow, soulless light.
"It's an Aberration," the masked figure said, its voice calm despite the imminent danger. "A creature forged in the breach between life and death, existing as a fragment of the past. A cursed being drawn to the echoes of souls—those trapped in the cycle of reincarnation."
Zero's grip tightened around his blade, his thoughts racing. He had seen many monsters before, but this… this was unlike anything he had ever faced. The Aberration's movements were erratic, unpredictable, driven by a mindless hunger.
"How do we stop it?" Zero asked, his voice steady, though his instincts told him this wouldn't be an easy fight.
"You don't kill it the way you'd kill a regular monster," the figure replied, its tone dark. "This creature is tied to the Monster System in ways you don't fully understand. It's not just a predator—it's a remnant, an echo of an ancient force. And those who fall victim to it are dragged into the cycle, to feed the cursed loop."
The Aberration's hollow eyes locked onto Zero, its mouth opening in a grotesque scream as it lunged toward him, its claws slashing through the air with terrifying speed. The trees trembled with each step it took.
Zero reacted instinctively, leaping out of the way just in time. The creature's claws tore through the ground where he had been standing, sending shards of earth flying into the air. Zero didn't waste time, charging forward, his blade aimed at the Aberration's exposed flank. He struck with precision, but the creature's flesh was impossibly thick—his sword barely left a mark.
"It's not about physical damage," the masked figure said, observing the battle with an almost detached focus. "This creature's true nature lies in the corruption it carries. It cannot be killed by conventional means. You need to sever the connection it has to the cycle."
Zero barely registered the figure's words as the Aberration turned its grotesque form toward him again. It reared back, and a sickening black mist began to emanate from its body, distorting the air around it. The creature charged with terrifying speed, its claws cutting through the air as it attempted to shred him to pieces.
Zero barely managed to dodge, the mist of corruption clouding his vision for a moment. He could feel the weight of the world pressing in on him. "The cycle... what cycle?" he asked, his voice tight as he scrambled to regain his footing.
The figure's voice cut through the chaos. "The Monster System, Zero. It's not just a classification of beasts. It's a structure of reincarnation. The creatures ranked in the system, like Tyrants, Calamites, and Demigods, are not mere beasts. They are fragments of the past—beings that were once part of a greater struggle. Aberrations, like this one, are born from the broken pieces of that cycle."
Zero took a deep breath, the reality of what the figure said sinking in. The battle wasn't just physical; it was a battle against the very essence of the world's twisted system, one that tied monsters like this Aberration to a never-ending loop.
The Aberration screeched again, its body swelling as if to explode with energy. Zero's mind raced. "What am I supposed to do?"
The figure's eyes gleamed. "Sever the Aberration's link to the cycle. It's drawn from the memories of those it has consumed. To stop it, you must disrupt that flow."
Zero could feel the weight of the figure's words in his chest, and an overwhelming sense of clarity washed over him. He wasn't just fighting to survive—he was fighting to break the chains that bound this creature, and perhaps others like it, to the cycle of reincarnation. The Aberration wasn't just a mindless beast; it was a living echo of the souls that had been consumed by the system, unable to break free.
As the Aberration closed in again, Zero's thoughts crystallized. He knew what he had to do.
With a roar, the Aberration lunged, its claws slashing toward Zero. In a fluid motion, he parried the blow, using the creature's momentum to spin around and strike directly at the heart of the Aberration. As his blade connected, the air around them crackled with energy, a pulse of light that seemed to ripple through the very fabric of the forest.
The Aberration let out a guttural cry, its form momentarily freezing, and Zero felt the weight of the cycle shift. He could sense the connection—the ebb and flow of memories, the tragic, unbreakable bond between the creature and the past. With every ounce of strength, Zero pushed the blade deeper, severing that connection.
A wave of energy surged through him, and the Aberration's body began to unravel, its form dissolving into shadow and mist. The dark energy that had surrounded it faltered and dissipated, leaving nothing but silence in its wake.
Zero stood, breathing heavily, as the last remnants of the Aberration faded into nothingness. The battle was over, but the understanding of what he had just faced weighed heavily on him.
The masked figure stepped forward, its gaze intense. "Well done. But this victory is not without its cost. The Aberration was a mere fragment. There are many more like it, each tied to the broken cycle. You will face them again, and next time, they may not be so easily defeated."
Zero lowered his sword, his mind reeling from the battle and the new revelations. "So, this Monster System... it's all connected to reincarnation? These monsters... they're fragments of souls, stuck in a cycle of death and rebirth?"
The figure nodded slowly. "Yes. The Aberration is a lesser manifestation of that cycle. But the higher-ranked monsters, like Tyrants and Calamites, are more powerful. They are the true guardians of the cycle's boundaries. And you, Zero, are a key figure in this struggle. Your soul is fragmented, caught between your past lives and this current existence. If you wish to understand your purpose, you must confront this system head-on."
Zero looked out into the forest, the weight of his journey settling in. "I still don't understand. Why me? Why am I the one who has to face all of this?"
The figure's voice was quiet but resolute. "Because you are the only one who can. You are the echo that calls through the cycle. And you will be the one to either break it or be consumed by it."