Chapter 31: I'm Not Really Useless

The battlefield stilled for a moment, the oppressive silence broken only by the ragged breaths of the villagers. All eyes were on Li Wei, or rather, the fusion of him and the Alpha Beast. His golden armor shimmered in the pale moonlight, a breathtaking display of strength that sent ripples of hope through the crowd.

The Cursed One snarled, its grotesque form heaving as it prepared to attack. Its crimson eyes bore into Li Wei, recognizing a challenge unlike any it had faced before.

Li Wei grinned, his voice carrying an unnatural resonance. "You've been hunting us long enough. Let's see how you handle being hunted."

The Cursed One charged, its massive limbs tearing through the earth as it barreled forward. Li Wei didn't flinch. Instead, he lunged, his movements a blur of speed and precision. The ground shook as the two forces collided, their impacts sending shockwaves through the village.

Li Wei struck first, his clawed gauntlet slashing across the creature's chest. The blow landed with a deafening crack, and black ichor sprayed from the wound. The Cursed One howled, its voice a mix of fury and pain, and lashed out with its spiked limb.

But Li Wei was faster. He ducked under the swing and retaliated with a devastating uppercut, his fist glowing with golden energy. The blow sent the Cursed One staggering backward, its balance faltering.

"Unbelievable," Diana muttered, her voice filled with awe. "He's actually holding his own."

Rina nodded, her eyes wide. "He's not just holding his own. He's winning."

The villagers, who had been paralyzed with fear moments before, began to stir. Seeing Li Wei an impossibly rare male, stand against the monstrous threat filled them with newfound determination.

"We can't just stand here!" one of them shouted.

Another nodded. "If he can fight, so can we!"

Diana transformed again, her injured wing tucked protectively against her side. "Rina, Serathis, coordinate the villagers. Keep them out of the Cursed One's range, but don't let it retreat. We're ending this tonight."

The women sprang into action, rallying the villagers to form a loose perimeter. Armed with spears, slings, and anything they could find, the group prepared to assist in any way they could.

Li Wei's fusion with the Alpha Beast had heightened all his senses. He could feel the creature's instincts merging with his own, guiding his movements with precision. But it came at a cost, his body was straining under the immense power.

"System," he thought desperately, dodging another swipe from the Cursed One. "How long can I hold this form?"

> Warning: Fusion stability at 75%. Duration limited to 10 minutes. Overexertion may lead to permanent damage.

"Great," he muttered. "No pressure."

The Cursed One roared, its body contorting unnaturally. Spikes jutted from its limbs, and its movements became faster, more erratic. It was adapting, growing stronger with every passing second.

Li Wei gritted his teeth. "If I'm going to end this, I need to hit it where it hurts."

The Alpha Beast's instincts surged, directing his attention to the glowing red core embedded in the Cursed One's chest. The core pulsed like a heartbeat, emanating a dark energy that seemed to fuel the creature's movements.

"The core," he realized. "That's its weak spot."

Li Wei dodged another attack, his body moving with inhuman grace. He leaped onto the Cursed One's back, his claws digging into its grotesque flesh for leverage. The beast thrashed wildly, trying to shake him off, but he held on with relentless determination.

"Everyone, focus your attacks on its legs!" Diana shouted. "We need to keep it still!"

The villagers responded immediately, pelting the creature with stones and spears. Rina coiled around its hind legs in her serpent form, tightening her grip as the Cursed One roared in frustration.

"This is it," Li Wei thought, his eyes locked on the pulsing core. Summoning every ounce of strength, he raised his clawed hand, golden energy gathering at the tips of his fingers.

The Cursed One let out a deafening screech, sensing the imminent danger. It bucked violently, throwing Rina off and scattering the villagers. But it was too late.

Li Wei drove his claws into the core, the impact sending a shockwave that rippled through the battlefield. The core shattered with a brilliant explosion of light, and the Cursed One let out one final, anguished roar before collapsing to the ground.

The silence that followed was deafening.

Li Wei stumbled back, the golden light fading from his armor as the fusion dissolved. He fell to his knees, gasping for breath, his body trembling from exhaustion.

"Li Wei!" Diana rushed to his side, helping him up.

"I'm fine," he said weakly, though his pale face told a different story.

The Alpha Beast approached him, its golden eyes filled with approval. It lowered its head, nuzzling his shoulder in a rare display of affection.

"You… did good," Rina said, her voice shaky.

Li Wei managed a small smile. "Told you I wasn't useless."

Serathis crossed her arms, smirking despite herself. "Don't let it go to your head."

The villagers cheered, their voices ringing out in celebration. They had survived the unthinkable, and for the first time in weeks, the shadow of fear lifted from their hearts.

But as the adrenaline faded, the group couldn't ignore the weight of their victory.

"The Cursed One wasn't acting alone," Diana said quietly. "Something drove it here."

Rina nodded, her expression grim. "And it won't be the last."

Li Wei frowned, the system pinging softly in his mind.

> New Quest Unlocked: Uncover the Truth Behind the Beasts.

He sighed. "Of course. Because saving the village wasn't hard enough."

The Alpha Beast growled softly, its gaze turning toward the dark forest.

"Looks like we're just getting started," Li Wei muttered, his exhaustion forgotten as a new resolve took hold.