Something approached.
Low. Fast.
It didn't stop. Didn't hesitate.
It lunged.
Yuto waited.
Watched.
Then moved.
His limb struck.
Too far.
The tip scraped past the target instead of piercing.
The creature's body slammed into him.
Impact.
His limbs shifted to recover.
Not clean. Too slow.
Claws dragged across his side.
Not deep.
But enough.
Yuto pulled back.
The creature came again.
Faster.
This time—
he adjusted.
Shorter reach.
Less force.
The strike landed.
Pierced.
Held.
The body beneath him struggled.
Then slowed.
Then stopped.
He consumed it.
The pressure inside him settled.
Yuto didn't move.
He replayed the moment in his head.
Too far.
Too slow.
Not the creature.
Him.
He lifted one limb.
Slowly.
Held it in the air.
It wavered.
Just slightly.
He pushed.
It steadied.
Then—
it jerked.
Dropped lower than intended.
Not controlled.
He held it again.
Longer this time.
The limb trembled.
Then stabilized.
For a moment.
Then slipped.
Yuto lowered it.
Another presence approached.
He didn't rush.
It came.
He waited again.
Watched.
This time—
he moved earlier.
The strike landed clean.
No overextension.
No delay.
The creature didn't touch him.
It went still quickly.
Consumed.
Yuto stayed where he was.
He lifted the same limb again.
Held it.
No tremor.
Then—
a slight shift.
Too much pressure.
The shape tightened.
Then loosened.
Not stable.
He stopped.
Lowered it.
Moved again.
Another cycle.
Find.
Wait.
Strike.
Consume.
Each time—
he adjusted something small.
Less reach.
More control.
Slower movement.
Not stronger.
Cleaner.
The crack in the ground appeared ahead.
Familiar.
He entered.
The space pressed around him.
Still.
Safe.
Yuto didn't move.
Inside—
he lifted a limb again.
Slower this time.
Careful.
He tried to hold it exactly where he wanted.
It held.
A moment longer than before.
Then—
shifted.
Still not enough.
Yuto didn't force it.
He lowered it.
Stayed still.
The pressure inside him remained quiet.
No surge.
No reaction.
Just waiting.
Yuto remained there.
Not hunting.
Not moving.
Just learning.
The body wasn't failing anymore.
But it wasn't his yet.
Not completely.
And that—
was the problem.