Chapter 6:Flame Inside

Darkness surrounded Velric, stretching endlessly in every direction. He found himself on a vast, barren plain, his bare feet scraping against rough, cracked ground.

"Where... am I?" he muttered, squinting through the eerie, smoky haze.

A faint sound echoed in the distance a low, rumbling growl. Velric tensed, his ears perking up. He took a shaky step back when a figure emerged from the shadows.

His heart stopped.

It was him.

The figure looked just like Velric same black fur, same lanky frame but something was off. This version of him stood taller, muscles rippling beneath his fur, eyes blazing with a ruthless, unyielding fire. His lips curled into a cruel smirk, and his fists clenched with raw power.

"Who... are you?" Velric whispered, his voice shaky.

The copy didn’t answer. Instead, it cracked its neck, rolling its shoulders with a menacing grin.

"Pathetic," it growled. "Is this really all you are? A scared little rabbit that takes hits and does nothing but whimper?"

Velric swallowed, trying to keep his legs from trembling. "Shut up... you don’t know anything."

The other Velric laughed a harsh, mocking sound. "I know everything about you. You’re weak. A waste of fur and bones. A punching bag for everyone around you. You don’t even fight back because you think you deserve it."

"That’s not..."

The brutal copy moved faster than Velric could react, slamming a fist into his gut. Velric coughed, doubling over in pain as his ribs screamed.

"Pathetic," the copy sneered, delivering a ruthless kick to Velric’s side that sent him sprawling across the ground. "You’re nothing but prey. Always running, always hiding. I’m disgusted just looking at you."

Velric struggled to push himself up, blood dribbling from his mouth. "You... you’re not real."

"Aren’t I?" the copy snarled, grabbing Velric by the throat and lifting him off the ground. "Maybe I’m the real you. The part of you that’s tired of being useless. Tired of being trash."

Velric clawed at the vice grip, gasping for air. His mind raced, and fear clawed at his heart. "I... I’m not... useless..."

The brutal copy scoffed. "Prove it."

With a surge of desperation, Velric raised his knee, slamming it into the copy’s ribs. The grip loosened just enough for him to break free, stumbling backward and catching his breath.

"I’m not useless!" Velric yelled, more to convince himself than his doppelgänger.

The copy wiped a smear of blood from its lips, eyes glinting with wicked satisfaction. "Is that it? One lucky hit? Pathetic."

The brutal Velric lunged again, throwing a savage punch. Velric barely dodged, the air from the swing brushing past his face. Instinctively, he retaliated with a punch of his own, only for his counterpart to grab his arm and twist it behind his back.

Pain flared through his shoulder, and Velric bit down a scream. "Fight back!" the copy snarled, slamming his head into the ground.

Velric’s vision blurred, but something snapped inside him a stubborn, unyielding spark. He forced himself up, head pounding and vision spinning.

"I’m... done... running..." he growled.

The copy paused, a flicker of intrigue in its eyes. Velric pushed himself to his feet, blood streaking his face. "You’re right. I’ve always been scared. Always thought I wasn’t worth fighting for. But... I’m sick of it. Sick of feeling worthless."

He steadied his breath, squaring his shoulders. "I’m not going to let you or anyone decide who I am. I’ll fight... even if it kills me."

The copy’s expression darkened, and it charged again, its movements more savage and relentless. Velric gritted his teeth, dodging the blows with newfound resolve. He took a hit to the ribs but retaliated with a swift kick to the knee, causing the copy to stagger.

Velric didn’t let up. He drove his elbow into the copy’s jaw, followed by a headbutt that sent both reeling. Pain throbbed through his skull, but he refused to back down.

The brutal version of himself roared in frustration, swinging wildly. Velric ducked, driving his fist into its stomach. The copy doubled over, and Velric used the moment to slam his palm into its chin, sending it sprawling backward.

Panting and shaking, Velric approached the fallen figure. The copy struggled to rise, but its movements were sluggish weak. Velric knelt beside it, gripping its shoulder.

"You’re part of me," he whispered. "But I’m done letting fear control me. You’re not my enemy you’re my own doubt."

The copy gave a weak, bitter laugh. "About time... idiot..."

With that, the figure dissolved into shadows, melting into Velric’s own body. A surge of power erupted from within, scorching his veins and burning away the last remnants of hesitation.

Velric jolted awake, gasping for air. His body felt... different. Stronger. He glanced at his hands, flexing his fingers and feeling the coiled strength within them.

He summoned his status, heart pounding.

Name: Velric

Race: Lapinite

Stage: Initiate

Anima Core: Awakened

Attributes:

Iron Will - Increases resistance to pain and trauma, allowing the user to endure more damage without faltering.

Adaptive Resilience - The body and mind rapidly adjust to repeated or prolonged stress, enhancing resistance to similar future damage or challenges.

Stats:

Strength: 6

Agility: 22

Endurance: 8

Vitality: 10

Anima Force: 20

Velric’s eyes widened at the changes. His stats... had doubled. And his specializations had changed. A small, almost disbelieving grin spread across his face.

"I... did it."

The usual morning chaos sounded from downstairs, but this time, it didn’t bother him. He felt... alive. Energized. For the first time, he didn’t feel like just another beaten-down orphan.

He rose from his bed, rolling his shoulders and feeling the power humming through his muscles. His heart was still pounding, but not from fear from excitement.

"No more running. If they hit me today... they might just regret it."

With newfound confidence, Velric stepped out of his cramped room, ready to face whatever the world threw at him.

To be Continued

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