The tension in the air was palpable, fueled by old grievances that added to the volatile situation. Cyan and his comrades found themselves face to face with the Tiger mercenary.
How did this situation happen? Let's go back to a few days ago.
After a training session, Ethan called everyone's attention and announced that they must commemorate their training by proving their power in the wild. They needed practical experience to test their skills and everything they had learned.
It happened that there was a secret realm managed by the military that was about to open to the public. They were allowed to enter and participate. It was only open for three days and they would be facing tremendous dangers from both the inhabitants of the secret realm and fellow people who entered, especially the unscrupulous mercenaries.
Ethan provided them with combat wear, weapons, and low healing potions. He also gave them military bags to store their belongings. However, he could not provide them with a map since the secret realm changed position every time it opened.
Cyan knew Ethan had done his best by providing all this, but he felt the need to prepare more items for them secretly.
Cyan made preparations to give them additional items once they entered the secret realm.
In his tower, Cyan had a large stash of healing potions. He provided each of them with two top-grade potions, which could stop bleeding and heal wounds faster than the ones provided by Ethan.
Cyan also gave them high-grade weapons that could easily accept elemental essence.
As soon as they were teleported into the secret realm, they felt the rich elements in the air. They found themselves in a forest and decided to split up into pairs to search for treasures. Cyan was with Niall, Kenny with Kelly, Law with Sammie, and Mattie with Shane. Spencer and Gibson formed the last pair.
They all had a flare for signaling in case they found themselves in a precarious situation and needed help.
"There are opportunities in this secret realm, but it's also highly dangerous. You guys need to be careful," Cyan warned his comrades.
Using his soul power, Cyan scanned his surroundings but didn't notice any obvious dangers. He then pointed in different directions for everyone to choose from.
Cyan and Niall decided to start their journey from the south and were fortunate enough to not encounter any serious threats. They only came across low-level monsters that they easily dispatched, with Niall taking the lead in most of the battles. Cyan would only join in when they were outnumbered. Along the way, they collected beast blood, which Cyan stored in the tower along with other valuable materials that could be exchanged for points. Though they grew tired, the benefits of constant fighting made the two of them work more smoothly together.
However, their smooth journey took a turn when they encountered a late-stage Adept level gale leopard guarding a high-level tree. Gale leopards were known for their air elemental abilities, capable of producing wind slashes when attacking. They also had a pair of wings on their back, aiding in flight.
Cyan made the decision to test his combat skills against a monster at the late-stage Adept level. Moreover, the fruit tree the gale leopard was guarding provided an added incentive. It was one of the key ingredients in making a potion that could help a practitioner restore essence quickly once consumed.
Cyan had always wanted to test his step movements, and what better opponent to do so than the gale leopard. Using the Phantom Step, a heavenly-grade step technique, Cyan could move with incredible speed and agility, leaving only fleeting afterimages in his wake. This advanced technique allowed him to traverse vast distances in the blink of an eye, providing an unparalleled advantage in combat and evading opponents.
The first step of the Phantom Step was Flickering Afterimages, a technique that strategically left ethereal afterimages behind as one moved. These afterimages would confuse opponents, making it difficult to discern the one's true location or anticipate their next move. The afterimages mimicked the individual's actions, enhancing their elusive nature. The higher the proficiency, the more realistic the afterimages the practitioner could weave.
Additionally, the Blinking Traverse was an advanced technique within the Phantom Step that allowed practitioners to instantly transport themselves to a desired location within visual range. By effectively "blinking" across short distances, practitioners could achieve swift and unexpected movements in combat.
At the pinnacle of cultivation, practitioners of the Phantom Step unlocked the ability to perform the Shadow Dance. This technique elevated their speed and agility to an even higher level, enabling them to effortlessly navigate through attacks and strike with precision. Practitioners seamlessly flowed between shadows, leaving opponents awestruck and unable to react in time.
Meanwhile, Niall quickly found a hiding place to scout the area and remain wary of outside interference. The gale leopard looked at the human condescendingly and grew annoyed by the disturbance. For years, it had guarded the fruit tree in its territory, which attracted other beasts. The energy contained within the stardew fruit would aid the gale leopard in breaking through to the Expert level. It fiercely protected the fruit, knowing that it would soon ripen.
As the beast and the man faced each other, preparing for combat, the gale leopard unleashed wind blades from its wings, aiming towards Cyan. However, Cyan utilized the Phantom Step to swiftly evade the attack. Undeterred, the gale leopard continued to release wind blades continuously. Rather than launching an attack, Cyan chose to focus on defense, utilizing the gale leopard's attacks to practice his footwork.
Moving with incredible speed and agility, Cyan skillfully employed the afterimages of the Phantom Step to evade each wind blade. The incessant afterimages began to infuriate the gale leopard, as none of its attacks were able to land on Cyan.
Cyan noticed a shift in the elements in the air, indicating that the gale leopard was preparing for a powerful attack. Intuition told Cyan that he could no longer remain passive, as his life was now at stake. Pushing the Phantom Step to its limits, Cyan evaded a large-scale wind slash released by the gale leopard. The aura of death seemed to envelop him as he narrowly escaped the attack.
Taking advantage of the momentary respite, Cyan drew a sword adorned with intricate runes and infused it with his essence, using his soul power to momentarily lock down the gale leopard. This brief window of opportunity was all Cyan needed.
Releasing a sword skill known as Thunder Strike, Cyan unleashed an advanced technique called Lightning Whirlwind. Swiftly rotating his blade, he emitted a series of rapid, spinning slashes that generated arcs of lightning. This created a vortex of electrified energy, striking the gale leopard simultaneously and inflicting severe electrical damage.
As the gale leopard desperately struggled against the electrical damage it had sustained, Cyan knew he couldn't afford to let his guard down. Recognizing the need for a stronger attack, he channeled the last remnants of his essence into releasing Thunderbolt Thrust. Focusing lightning energy into a concentrated point, he thrust his blade forward, discharging a powerful burst of lightning that could pierce through defenses and deliver a shockwave of electrical force upon impact.
The gale leopard, unable to withstand the onslaught, made a final desperate attack before succumbing to its injuries. Unfortunately, Cyan was already weakened, having depleted his essence through the use of Thunderbolt Thrust. Realizing the dire situation, Cyan prepared to summon the tower to protect himself. However, to his surprise, a shield of light appeared in front of him, courtesy of Niall. Though the shield couldn't completely withstand the attack due to Niall's level, its purpose was to divert the trajectory of the strike. Upon landing, the attack caused a deep slash on the ground.
Cyan took a deep breath, a smile forming on his face. He found happiness in the fact that he wasn't the only one improving; his friends were also working hard alongside him. Concerned, Niall asked if Cyan was okay, to which Cyan praised his younger companion for his quick thinking and resourcefulness.
"You've always told us not to limit our imagination, so I thought of ways to use it," Niall replied.
Interrupting their conversation, the shift of energy in the air signaled the ripening of the stardew fruit. Recognizing the importance of seizing the opportunity, Cyan swiftly stored the gale leopard's body in the tower and harvested the fruits from the tree. Once the last fruit was harvested, the tree turned to ashes.
Sensing the changing atmosphere, Cyan made the decision to leave the area, predicting that both people and beasts would be attracted to the energy shift. With Niall by his side, they quickly departed from the scene, heading towards safer grounds.