After flying for a while, Severoth reached his cave, landed at the entrance, and went inside. He decided to sleep to prepare for the next day, the day he would face the dark lion. He went to his usual spot and fell asleep.
...
[tomorrow]
"Ah, it's morning. I have a long day ahead," Sevaroth yawned as he woke up and rose from his nest made of stones and straw that he had crafted the previous day. He went to the pond and washed up to refresh himself. The cold water invigorated his senses and prepared him for a day full of challenges.
He emerged from the cave and decided to train a bit before facing the Dark Lion. He practiced his "Earth Manipulation" and "Dragon's Breath" skills, as they would be his main weapons in the upcoming confrontation.
As he pondered, he said, "I don't know much about the Dark Lion, but Black Claws said that the Dark Lion has a skill that allows him to dive into shadows. It's quite similar to my skill, and I know very well how deadly it can be if used correctly. According to what was said, he is one of the core leaders of the region, so he definitely masters it."
Reflecting a bit, he continued, "But there's a weakness: there must be a connected shadow, like Shikamaru from Naruto. It works on the same principle but is more powerful. The 'Shadowy Mystique' skill works with darkness, not just shadows. It might seem similar, but it's not. The 'Shadowy Mystique' can transition between shadows without needing a connection, but there is a limit."
"So, I've decided to use the 'Earth Manipulation' and 'Dragon's Breath' skills, where I fly high in the sky, hurl rocks at him, and unleash my dragon's breath. While it's not the best plan, it will suffice. If any changes occur, I'll adapt during the battle. Anything can happen in a fight."
"Alright, I think this warm-up is enough. Now, let's go meet my little kitty," Sevaroth said as he flew towards the eastern forest. As he flew, he thought about his upcoming confrontation and how it would unfold. Would it be epic? Or would he be an easily crushed opponent? He didn't know, but he was excited for the fight, as he had grown to love battle and it made his blood boil.
Sevaroth paused for a moment as he thought about his fight, spotting a purple bear chasing a small white deer. Sevaroth looked at the bear with a disapproving tone, "He's really a coward, bullying even the little ones." Sevaroth quickly flew towards the bear, forgetting what he was doing, and kicked it in the head.
"Ouch, that hurts! Who's the fool who dared to kick the head of this great mighty... Owww!" The bear cried out in pain before finishing his words.
"It's me, the fool who kicked this mighty head," Sevaroth interrupted and kicked him again.
"Ah, Sevaroth, what are you doing here? What do you want from me again?" the bear shouted.
"Nothing, I just saw you bullying the little ones, so I decided to kick your butt," Sevaroth replied nonchalantly.
"Who's bullying the little ones? I'm just trying to find something to eat," the bear retorted, denying the accusation.
"I say you're bullying the little ones, so you are. Unless you're calling me a liar," Sevaroth replied with a small smile.
"Tch," the bear responded in frustration.
"Alright, don't be upset, Black Claws. Your name is too long. From now on, I'll call you 'Bibiri.'"
"No, no, no, don't change my name on your whim," Black Claws shouted angrily.
"Why? It's beautiful. It means coward. It suits you, Bibiri," Sevaroth teased.
"Damn you," Bibiri shouted at Sevaroth.
"And you, don't call me Bibiri," Bibiri shouted at the sky, as if breaking the fourth wall. "Damn you all."
"Alright, alright, don't be mad. How about 'Blacky'?" Sevaroth suggested as an alternative.
The bear sighed and said, "Ahhh, it's better than the previous one. I'll accept it."
Sevaroth: "Good, I'm glad you like it. Now, let's get back to what I came here for."
Blacky interrupted, saying, "Didn't you just come to kick and hit me?"
"Yes, that's one of the reasons, but there's another," Sevaroth replied seriously, though if you looked closely, you'd see a small smile at the corner of his lips.
Blacky: "What is it?"
"Well, I came to tell you that I'm going to face your friend, the Dark Lion. Don't worry, as I promised, I won't kill him if he doesn't do anything to anger me," Sevaroth replied indifferently.
Blacky looked at Sevaroth deeply, as if trying to gauge his sincerity. When he found nothing, he sighed and said, "I hope so."
The two looked at each other in silence for a while before Sevaroth decided to break the silence first, saying, "Alright, I'm leaving now. Goodbye."
Blacky replied calmly, "Yes, goodbye."
Sevaroth flew high and continued his journey to the eastern part of the forest. After some time flying, Sevaroth finally reached the eastern region. He landed on the ground and decided to walk towards the Dark Lion.
Sevaroth reached a small hill and sensed a strong presence at the top through his "Dragon Sense." He stopped hiding his presence and walked up the hill with calm confidence.
At the same time, a dark black lion was resting under a large tree at the top of the hill. Three lionesses were playing with their cubs. Suddenly, the Dark Lion opened his eyes, stood up, and looked down the hill, saying, "This presence... it's strong." He shouted to the lionesses who also sensed Sevaroth's presence, "Take the cubs away. This beast is powerful."
Sevaroth watched the lion's movements and didn't care about them as he continued walking up the hill.
Sevaroth and the Dark Lion looked at each other. The atmosphere was charged with their auras, making the lionesses and cubs, who had barely moved away, feel intense pressure.
The Dark Lion stood firmly and looked at Sevaroth, speaking in a deep voice, "Who are you and what do you want here?"
Sevaroth smiled and said, "I am Sevaroth, and I've come to test my strength against you. I've heard a lot about you, and I think it's time to see if those stories are true."
The Dark Lion responded with a challenge, "You dare to challenge me? Very well, let's see what you've got. But don't think I'll be an easy opponent."
Sevaroth smiled confidently and said, "That's exactly what I'm hoping for."
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(Hey guys, I think I'll post a chapter every other day, because it's really hard to write a chapter every day. I know what I want in each chapter up to chapter 25, but it's hard to fill it.)
(So your support really encourages me, even if it's just a comment)
"This is the first story, so don't expect much. English is not my first language, so if there are any mistakes, please correct them for me."
"If you want an early access join my patreon:- patreon.com/BaDwYGaMeR"