If Arthur remembered correctly, Cursed creatures do have an ability but only the higher class can use them which falls on the elites class.
Although some uncommon do have extraordinary unique traits to themselves regardless of their ranks and so are the Commons.
However he didn't know any of them because it wasn't prioritized by the awakened maybe because it wasn't dangerous. But when Arthur first sees the uncommon beast eat the common soul stone, he couldn't help but wonder if that was part of their unique traits known only to the uncommon, but another shock to him was the Beast using ability traits belonging only to the elite class.
The boy couldn't help but doubt the knowledge he had spent years learning at the academy.
Although he was a weak awakened, he never fails to read and immerse himself in their world knowledge e.g the Cursed.
And a thought that more of truth than a lie passed through his head. 'Maybe they just didn't study them enough'
Well that couldn't be said either way now that he is starring at his own death.
In the last second before the beast devoured him whole, something mysteriously had happened to him that left Arthur gazing in absolute shock.
In the mid air, the beast had changed courses and landed in front of Arthur but instead of attacking him, it was having the battle of its own, like a spiritual force was fighting with it.
It did a mid swing and hit itself on the ground.
The stunned man could only watch with a surprising eye at the display of the nightmare creature struggling with itself.
Then after some minutes of crazy stunt the beast raises its head which was what Arthur had to gaze at to know something was wrong.
The beast that was three feet tall when it eat the stone was no longer than a feet tall, but only a slight bigger, the four eyes reduced to one, it big claw of death as long as a dagger was now no more than a normal fangs and when it tried to attack Arthur —- It was slower.
Arthur had registered all these changes and could only do a quick sidestepping to evade its claw.
'what in the name of God happened?'
In his view the beast now looked like a lost dog from its home rather than a beast. Its aura that had shaken the room atmosphere was now gone and much lighter.
Arthur didn't know what happened to the big beast that had the room under its control, but he just couldn't be luckier.
'or did it reduce in rank?' Arthur theory could only be pointed at any random possibilities either way it was his chance.
He looked at the door, ready to lunge towards it the moment the beast attacked again. Just as he had predicted it attacked Arthur much slower, he ducked and it collided with the dragon statue.
'Now!' Arthur carried himself, even though he was supported by the adrenaline, he bolted to the door and now that the beast had lost its posture, the ability of the illusion is also gone so he reached the door in no time, but stopped before opening it.
Slowly he turned his gaze back towards the beast.
A mixed expression on his eyes. ' Am I just going to leave like this without ending it?'
His mind was in different directions yet his gaze didn't wave from the beast figure that was struggling to get up.
'Am I just going to keep running?'
He looked at the door then at the beast, then he cursed loudly.
"Not anymore!"
He declared getting into a stance, but this time it wasn't defense like he used to, it was offense.
He has been pushed around all his life, mocked and humiliated all because he is weak, and now when he sees an opening, he just wants to run away, not claiming his win.
Who does that?
"You have been given this body for a reason." He clenched his fist, and activated the technique and seconds later he could feel his body hardening back, his drooling blood stopping.
"And you have to use it to your advantage, even if you will have to be the slave to it" with a concentrated motion he bolted back to the beast, using the adrenaline that is yet to kick off to his course, he might not be strong or smart.
It might be from sheer luck but one thing stayed seated deep within him, he isn't running away anymore.
Become strong or be ruled. That motto rang, but he changed it. 'ruled once not twice'
Just as Arthur closed in on the beast it also lunged, but Arthur jumped a few higher than normal leap, in mid air he changed course and twisted until he landed atop the beast.
He wasn't an athlete type but his new body helped him maneuver his bones.
He hardened his fist once more and struck the beast head.
Bamm!!
The beast crashed, throwing him from its back. Arthur rolled.
Then he stood up again, and the beast didn't stay down either.
Just as the beast stood up his eyes landed on the sword that was broken a minute ago due to the beast ramming into it.
'the last resort'
He raced towards it, and glided under the beast, slipping to the broken sword, it was now broken into two but the edge was still sharp as new.
He picked it up in a swift motion, and without giving the beast the time to act he went towards where he could deal real damage aiming for once–and–for–all kill.
Subtly as the beast turned, Arthur closed in but down a little as he drove the sharp edge of the sword into the beast chest towards the stone.
crack!!!
He could hear it break, splatter or whatever. He just delivered his blow.
The beast growled in pain, and a guilt passed down Arthur's chest, that they were once animals, once a kindly animal.
But he pushes it away further down..
He couldn't think like that and survive in this world..
Then after it last resisted, it laid still.
'Dead'
After securing his lucky victory, Arthur could only exhale loudly.
He felt mostly all of his body aching clearly not from the adrenaline but something else, maybe the technique.
But he didn't have time to register as he fell on his knees, exhausted.
[You killed two common class, dormant rank]
[You defeated a uncommon class, forbidden rank]
[You used an undeveloped technique to your advantage]
[You didn't falter even when you were overpowered]
[You defy the system expectation of death]
Arthur read all this, but his eyes were just fixed on the corpse of the Cursed that had started fading into the air, until it remained its head.
'i really killed it'