My Muscles Adapt 10,000 Times Faster

The water around Tron surged with the force of the beast's thrashing as the purplish Horned-Serpent writhed in agony. Massive waves splashed over the lake's surface, the surrounding forest shuddering from the powerful reverberations.

Still caught in its massive jaws, Tron remained unnervingly calm, his eyes narrowing as he watched the serpent squirm beneath him.

"How are you going to swallow me now, huh?" Tron muttered under his breath, a slight smirk curling on his lips.

The serpent hissed again, its long body coiling violently, desperate to shake him off. The sheer size of the creature was terrifying—its purple, glistening scales shimmered under the weak sunlight as if imbued with a strange, arcane energy. Its head, crowned by two massive, curved horns, thrashed from side to side, sending shockwaves through the remaining water in the lake.

But Tron didn't flinch.

With a grunt of effort, Tron pulled the sharp fang he had ripped from the serpent's mouth closer to him, the curved ivory blade gleaming dangerously in his hand. His muscles flexed as he adjusted his grip, and with a single, decisive movement, he drove the fang deep into the serpent's palate. The sound of the bone breaking echoed through the air, a sickening crunch as the makeshift weapon punctured through the serpent's skull.

"Hissssss!" The creature's final hiss was high-pitched and pained, its massive eyes rolling back as it convulsed, its once fearsome power reduced to mere spasms.

Tron's face twisted into a look of grim satisfaction as he watched the life drain from the beast's glowing eyes. He released his hold on the serpent's jaw, leaping out just as the enormous body fell limp, the waves of its collapse sending a final cascade of water over the lakeside.

Landing on the wet ground with a soft thud, Tron wiped the splashes of water from his face, glancing down at the now still lake. He tossed the bloodied fang aside with a casual flick of his wrist, breathing heavily as he straightened up.

"That's what you get for swallowing filth," he muttered, glancing back at the carcass of the once mighty serpent.

The air grew still, the violent chaos of moments ago quickly fading into an eerie quiet. For a brief moment, Tron stood there, the weight of the battle sinking in, before a faint chuckle escaped his lips.

"I swear, the wild never fails to make bath time interesting."

...

The serpent's body convulsed violently beneath Tron, and just as he raised the sharp fang to strike, a sudden surge of energy crackled along the length of the creature's body. Starting from its tail, a deep purple glow coursed upward, pulsing like lightning under its scales, growing brighter and more intense with every second.

Tron's eyes widened.

"Oh, no you don't—" he began, but before he could finish the thought, a deafening roar tore through the air.

The purplish Horned-Serpent unleashed an explosive wave of arcane energy. It burst from its body like a shockwave, sending ripples of force through the air and water. The blast hit Tron square in the chest, sending him flying backward with bone-rattling force. His vision blurred, the world around him spinning as he was hurled across the lakeside like a rag doll.

"Ugh!" Tron grunted as he slammed into the ground, skidding through the mud and leaving a deep trench in his wake. His body ached, and a sharp pain stabbed through his ribs—he knew something was broken.

Smoke and sparks danced off his skin as he forced himself to his feet, his breath ragged. The serpent's roar echoed again, its massive body now glowing with a terrifying energy, arcs of magic crackling along its enormous length. It coiled up, ready to strike again, but Tron's eyes narrowed, and a sudden, fierce determination set in. Discover more stories at empire

"I'm not done yet."

With a burst of sheer willpower, Tron crouched low, pressing his hands into the wet earth. His muscles tensed, and in one swift, explosive movement, he kicked off the ground with earth-shattering speed. The ground cracked beneath him as he launched himself forward, his body becoming a blur as he shot toward the serpent's head.

The beast barely had time to react. Tron closed the distance in a heartbeat, appearing at the serpent's skull just as the creature began to charge up another arcane blast. Its eyes flared with a bright, dangerous light—but this time, Tron was faster.

"Not so fast."

Using all his strength, he drove the sharp fang straight through the serpent's glowing eye. The makeshift blade sank deep, tearing through flesh and bone. A sickening crunch filled the air as the fang penetrated the serpent's skull, and the arcane energy the creature had been charging fizzled out with a final, pitiful hiss.

The serpent convulsed once, its massive body going rigid, before collapsing lifelessly onto the ground. Tron stood atop its head, breathing heavily, his hand still gripping the bloodied fang. He watched as the purple glow faded from the beast's body, leaving only the still, massive form of the once-mighty creature.

Tron wiped the blood and sweat from his brow, taking a moment to catch his breath before muttering with a wry grin, "I guess it didn't like being throated either."

He hopped down from the serpent's head, wincing slightly as he felt the pain of his injuries. But despite the throbbing ache in his ribs and the bruises forming all over his body, Tron felt a strange satisfaction.

The beast was dead.

"I'm not done yet."

With a burst of sheer willpower, Tron crouched low, pressing his hands into the wet earth. His muscles tensed, and in one swift, explosive movement, he kicked off the ground with earth-shattering speed. The ground cracked beneath him as he launched himself forward, his body becoming a blur as he shot toward the serpent's head.

The beast barely had time to react. Tron closed the distance in a heartbeat, appearing at the serpent's skull just as the creature began to charge up another arcane blast. Its eyes flared with a bright, dangerous light—but this time, Tron was faster.

"Not so fast."

Using all his strength, he drove the sharp fang straight through the serpent's glowing eye. The makeshift blade sank deep, tearing through flesh and bone. A sickening crunch filled the air as the fang penetrated the serpent's skull, and the arcane energy the creature had been charging fizzled out with a final, pitiful hiss.

The serpent convulsed once, its massive body going rigid, before collapsing lifelessly onto the ground. Tron stood atop its head, breathing heavily, his hand still gripping the bloodied fang. He watched as the purple glow faded from the beast's body, leaving only the still, massive form of the once-mighty creature.

Tron wiped the blood and sweat from his brow, taking a moment to catch his breath before muttering with a wry grin, "I guess it didn't like being throated either."

He hopped down from the serpent's head, wincing slightly as he felt the pain of his injuries. But despite the throbbing ache in his ribs and the bruises forming all over his body, Tron felt a strange satisfaction.

The beast was dead.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om