As the sun streamed through the window, Ron's eyes fluttered open, greeted by the sight of a slightly larger Drakoros. A grin spread across Ron's face; he was thrilled at the prospect of embarking on adventures with his ever-growing companion. Drakoros, now navigating with near-ease, seemed ready to dash into the wild. Ron's mind sparked with an idea—no more reliance on mana; perhaps feeding Drakoros with monsters might spur his growth, a notion born from the observation that Drakoros seemed to flourish faster when feasting on these creatures.
Amidst the excitement, Ron followed his daily ritual, reminiscing about the collection of crystals from powerful monsters months ago. Time was a relentless companion, pressing Ron to complete his routine exercises. Once the drills concluded, he readied himself for a hunt, a quest for a few elusive monsters.
While traversing the landscape, a rustling in the underbrush snagged Ron's attention. Cautiously, he veered away, unwilling to confront a potentially formidable entity lurking within. Having distanced himself, Ron resumed his quest, seeking the company of weaker monsters. Yet, the persistent recurrence of the noise startled him; it seemed an ominous reminder that a dangerous force was tailing him, relentlessly.
Refusing to play the game of evasion any longer, Ron resolved to confront the hidden menace. However, the challenge lay in pinpointing its exact location. Thanks to his innate mana sense, Ron swiftly homed in on the creature's presence.
Spotting the monster a mere 20 meters away, realization dawned on Ron—he had missed it earlier. It exuded strength; a formidable adversary awaited him. With unwavering determination, Ron strategized a surprise assault. He bolted, masking his presence, suppressing his mana to evade detection.
As the creature drew closer, Ron identified it—an imposing Shadowclaw. These creatures were to be avoided in combat at all costs. Swift, cunning, masters of mana manipulation, and wielders of the reversal technique—an eerie power to revive the fallen as long as their core remained intact.
A mere glance at the Shadowclaw revealed the stark truth to Ron; he stood no chance in a direct confrontation. Hastily discarding the element of surprise, Ron resorted to reducing his mana presence to its bare minimum. Despite the Shadowclaw's relentless pursuit, Ron remained concealed, the creature meticulously scouring the area to uncover his hiding place.
Realization struck hard—Ron knew the inevitable; the Shadowclaw would ferret him out eventually. A ray of hope pierced the gloom when a sudden clamor echoed nearby, diverting the Shadowclaw's attention away from Ron's hiding spot. This unexpected reprieve offered Ron a window of escape.
He waited a couple of tense minutes, seizing the moment to stealthily make his way back to safety. In his homeward journey, thoughts swirled in Ron's mind—how did such a potent monster stray into a weaker territory? Usually, these creatures lurked at the heart of the death zone, not on its outskirts. Yet, for now, Ron's paramount concern was reaching home, his refuge from the dangerous unknown.