The wind roared around me, swirling like a storm waiting to be unleashed. My grip on the sword tightened as I steadied my breath, ready to face the injured yet still terrifying Black Panther.

  [System Alert!]

  New Ability Unlocked: Beast Mode – Wind God Fūjin

  A new screen popped up before me, the text glowing ominously against the crimson-lit battlefield.

  Do you wish to become a god of wind?

  I hesitated for only a moment. My heart pounded in my chest as I stared at the question. This power—was it even something a human could handle? But there was no time to second-guess. If I held back now, the village would be in danger.

  I clenched my fists and made my choice.

  "Yes."

  The instant I accepted, a violent storm exploded from my body.

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  WHOOSH!

  A monstrous gust of wind erupted from the ground beneath me, sending dust and debris flying in every direction. The air around me twisted into a tornado-like vortex, forcing Maito and Ryoji to shield their faces as they braced against the sudden pressure.

  “W-what the hell is this?!” Maito shouted over the deafening roar of the wind.

  The sky above trembled as my surroundings blurred into a chaotic storm. I could feel it—the power coursing through my veins. It wasn’t just ordinary wind magic anymore. This was something far greater.

  But then… I noticed something strange.

  My stats… hadn’t changed.

  Despite the overwhelming force surrounding me, my Strength, Agility, and Mana levels remained the same. The system hadn't boosted my abilities, nor had I suddenly gained monstrous power.

  Yet… why did I feel so different?

  The Black Panther, despite its injuries, stood tall. Its glowing eyes locked onto me, its instincts warning of the new force before it. It let out a low growl, tensing its muscles as if ready to counterattack.

  I took a step forward.

  The wind responded.

  A sharp whoosh followed my movement, and I realized—this wasn’t about raw power. This was control.

  I lifted my sword, and the wind wrapped around it like an extension of my own body. The weight of the weapon vanished, replaced by an almost unnatural lightness. My footing felt effortless, as if the very air beneath me carried my steps.

  This wasn’t strength. It was finesse.

  “Hiroshi… what did you just do?” Ryoji’s voice was wary. Even Maito, the elite soldier, seemed uneasy.

  I turned toward them, feeling the storm settle slightly around me. “I don’t know,” I admitted. “But it feels like…”

  I glanced down at my hands, watching the wind coil between my fingers like a living entity.

  “…like I’ve become the wind itself.”

  The Black Panther roared, snapping me out of my thoughts. It wasn’t going to wait for me to understand my power—it was going to kill me now.

  But this time, I was ready.

  "Let's finish this."