The "cat" in this chase was far superior in capability, as the shadow beast was the apex predator of this island. However, what irritated the beast was the timing. It preferred to hunt during the night, and dawn was approaching. Yet, here it was, roused and aggravated by some audacious prey.
The shadow beast appeared to exert too little effort as it closed in on its target. With swiftness, it launched its sharp claws to pin down its prey. In retaliation, the prey swung a hand at the creature. Though there was no physical contact, a cut began to manifest on the beast's paw. It struggled to penetrate further, but the thick muscles of the shadow beast proved too resilient.
Reacting to the sudden pain, the shadow beast instinctively leaped backward. However, before it could launch another attack, Liora swiftly swung the hand –adorned with the green glowing ring– in a horizontal motion. Almost instantly, a gash began to form on the beast's thick neck, causing it to retreat once more.
In a moment of uncertainty, the shadow beast began to sniff the air, its eyes darting around its surroundings. Its confusion was palpable; how had it been wounded without witnessing the strike? Failing to discern any immediate threat, its gaze settled back on Liora, now tinged with a wary suspicion.
Liora, having failed to deliver a fatal blow to the shadow beast's throat, let out a frustrated huff. She reached into her belt pouch, retrieving what appeared to be a diminutive branch—so tiny it scarcely deserved the name. Hesitating for a split second, she tossed it before her. The minute branch seemed to meld into the ground, vanishing from sight.
The shadow beast watched Liora intently, its growls deepening as it bared its enormous fangs. Yet, seeing no immediate threat, it lunged at her with even greater speed than before, its massive paws targeting her head.
Anticipating the beast's move, Liora flashed a confident smile. Just as the shadow beast closed the distance to a mere four meters from her, a thick, root-like tendril burst forth from the ground. It grew at a staggering rate, coiling tightly around the beast's hind leg and anchoring it in place.
The moment it was immobilized, Liora made another swipe with her right hand. The gash on the beast's neck deepened further. "You overgrown bitch," she spat, "did you think I fled out of fear? I simply didn't want to waste my artifacts on the likes of you."
The gash continued to widen, even as the beast gnawed at the root and tugged at its ensnared limb, to no avail.
Just when Liora believed she had the upper hand against the shadow beast, she observed its muscles swell and steam emanating from its form. With a fierce bite, the creature shattered the restraining root and promptly leaped to the side, fixing Liora with a menacing glare.
Feeling the sudden shift in momentum, a bead of sweat trickled down Liora's face. 'Not merely a shadow beast, but a mutated variant,' she reflected. Her fingers grazed a bracelet on her left hand, causing it to illuminate with a gentle brown pattern. 'To expend so many artifacts on a mission of this nature, it's such a waste,' she lamented internally.
The beast hesitated no longer, lunging forward with such force that it kicked up a trail of dust. In mere moments, its menacing fangs bore down on Liora. Reacting swiftly, she extended her left hand, summoning a barrier of shimmering brown energy. The shadow beast's horn crashed against it, its teeth gnashing, seeking to penetrate the shield, but it held firm.
Without a moment's hesitation, Liora swung her right hand once more, intent on a thought, 'First, its eyes.' A gash began to form on the left side of the beast's face. Undeterred, the shadow beast continued to bite ferociously at the shield, causing it to flicker. But before it could shatter, the pain drove the creature to recoil once again, blood streaming from its damaged left eye.
The shadow beast's bulged muscles began to relax, returning to their normal state. It frantically scratched at its injured eye while maintaining a cautious distance from Liora, circling her but always wary of the tendril.
Liora was slightly irritated that she hadn't completely blinded the creature, but seeing it disoriented and fearful was a satisfactory outcome for now. 'Why isn't it attacking?' she wondered though, keeping her brown shield active.
The moment Liora lowered her left hand, causing the shield to fade, the shadow beast, which had been cautiously circling her, lunged forward, its claws targeting her shoulders. With practiced ease, Liora swiftly reactivated her shield. The beast collided with it once more, but this time, it withdrew as quickly as it had advanced.
Moments later, the scene repeated itself. Even as Liora attempted to use the branch to restrain it, the beast anticipated the move, leaping out of the way and resuming its wary circling, maintaining a respectful distance while the shield remained active.
'Damn this creature. Is it searching for an opening, or simply biding its time until I wear out?' Liora pondered, trying to discern the shadow beast's strategy.
The pattern became agonizingly predictable. The shadow beast only struck when the shield was down, and even as Liora attempted to retreat with her shield activated, the creature persistently shadowed her, ever circling.
After what felt like an eternity, spanning dozens of minutes, Liora sensed the weakening energy from her shield artifact. Casting a glance at the shadow beast, and then to her green ring, she gritted her teeth, resolving herself. 'To end this, I might have to sacrifice the rift blade.'
Taking a deep breath and ensuring her focus was at its peak, Liora lowered her left hand, causing the faltering shield to dissipate. As anticipated, the shadow beast lunged immediately. But this time, she didn't attempt to summon the shield back. She allowed the creature to pin her to the ground with its massive paw.
Just as the shadow beast was about to deliver a fatal bite, Liora clenched her right fist, causing the green ring to vanish. Immediately, the beast released her and began to frantically claw at its own head. Blood streamed from its eyes and ears as it continued to inflict deep, agonizing wounds upon its face with its sharp talons.
"How does that feel, you oversized beast? A blade rampaging through your mind must be an exhilarating experience that you even started to dance," she mused to herself. 'Yet it should have been instantaneous... just how tiny is its brain for the blade to have trouble finding it?'
Suddenly, the shadow beast halted its self-assault and fixed Liora with its blood-soaked red gaze. Without any forewarning, its muscles flushed a deep red, and a renewed wave of steam enveloped it. Then, with a level of force it had never before displayed, the beast lunged at Liora. She responded swiftly, summoning her brown shield once more.
The beast's horn shattered the shield upon contact, then, with unrelenting force, aimed straight for Liora's face. Just as it was about to strike, an unseen barrier manifested, triggered by another shattered gem from her robe.
The impact sent Liora tumbling back several feet. Meanwhile, the shadow beast, blood seeping from every orifice in its head, wavered momentarily before collapsing to the ground.
Liora, having narrowly escaped death twice today, glanced down at the robes that had protected her. "I've been too reliant," she murmured, "Depending on these artifacts will be my undoing one day. Training is what I need if I'm to survive the next encounter without these life-saving gems." She lifted her gaze to the horizon, where the first light of dawn was breaking. "I will become the strongest and—" Suddenly, her words were cut short. A sudden, brutal stab from behind silenced her, piercing her throat and extinguishing her life in an instant.
Clada, standing behind her, slowly withdrew his dagger from her neck, wiping it on her robes. This action wasn't intended as a sign of disrespect, but rather a habit ingrained from a lifetime of hunting on this island. "Apologies," he remarked coldly, "I didn't understand your final words. But even if I had, no one would've heard them from my lips.