Harry trembled as he faced the creature.
Days after the first encounter, the demonic dog had changed. It was larger — almost half a hand taller and about a meter and a half in length. Its body resembled a prehistoric wolf. The fur had fallen out, revealing dark, rotten skin covered in blisters. The fangs were longer and sharper, and its eyes exuded pure rage.
Before he could react, the creature caught his scent and charged.
Harry remembered the plan. When the monster lunged at him, he threw himself to the side, narrowly dodging the bite. The machete grazed the creature from head to torso, leaving a superficial mark — a pale white line.
The monster twisted its body, ready to strike again.
Frightened, Harry fell to the ground and began crawling backward, clutching the machete tightly. The demonic dog didn't hesitate: it lunged with its mouth open, fangs aimed straight at his neck.
In a final reflex, Harry held the machete with both hands in front of his body. The impact was brutal. The blade went into the creature's mouth, which bit down with fury. Black blood dripped from the monster's mouth, but it seemed to feel no pain.
Harry felt the brute force pressing against him. His arms trembled. Using all the energy he had at the first level of Qi Refinement, he held the machete with everything he had. It was a battle of endurance.
The monster roared. The metal creaked. Harry knew he couldn't hold out much longer.
Then his eyes fell on his uncle lying on the ground, while the dog seemed about to win.
With a tight heart, Harry raised his right hand and, gathering all his strength, Qi, and determination, launched a fireball the size of a finger straight into the monster's mouth.
— DIE! FIREBALLLL!
The flame exploded against the creature's face, forcing it back. The machete snapped in half from the impact. The monster fell onto its back, engulfed in black flames, writhing.
Slowly, it stopped moving. It died right there.
Harry collapsed to the ground. His shirt soaked with sweat, his body exhausted, without Qi. And he passed out.
(...)
Hours later, with the sky already darkening, Harry woke up. He sat up with a jolt, looking around.
The demonic dog was sprawled on the ground, completely charred. A dark liquid leaked from it. The creature's blood was polluting the environment: the surrounding grass began to change, turning dark and twisted — becoming demonic vegetation.
Beside it, his uncle began to stir.
Harry quickly approached.
His uncle coughed, spitting blood, while the bitten leg was already black, with clear signs of demonic mutation.
He looked into his nephew's eyes and spoke with a weak voice:
— I knew... I saw you growing with those strange magics... since that day you passed out...
Harry tried to speak, but his uncle interrupted:
— It's already too late for me... I'm dying... But, Harry, my nephew... don't be sad. You were blessed with this power and must protect people. Remember only the good things about me. This thing inside me... burn my body so it doesn't spread anymore.
After saying that, he took his last breath.
Harry, with tears in his eyes, sat beside his uncle. He thought about everything they had lived together since he had taken care of him after his parents died, and everything that had happened since. The weight of loss tightened in his chest.
Hours later, his uncle's body began to show signs of mutation, the skin darkening and deforming.
Remembering the monster and the mission ahead, a burning determination rose in his eyes.
With one last silent farewell, he gathered his strength, created an intense fireball, and consumed his uncle's body until only ashes remained — burning everything to prevent the contamination from spreading.
He turned to the demonic dog and saw the corruption spreading through the surrounding vegetation.
He gathered the little Qi he had left and, with fury, launched another fireball, completely consuming the monster and the corrupted ground.
He clenched his fists, took a deep breath, and returned home.
There, he collapsed on the bed, exhausted.
He slept for two days, missing the return to class.
When he woke up...