A week had passed since David's hard-won battle with the Storm Raptor, but there had been little time for rest. The forest remained hostile, growing darker and more twisted by the Abyssal Terror's creeping corruption. David could feel the unease in the air, the weight of the dark energy pressing down on him as the days stretched on. Every creature he encountered was more aggressive, more unpredictable than before. Even the forest itself seemed to groan under the pressure of the Abyssal Terror's presence.
But David wasn't backing down. He was stronger now, his abilities sharpened by the battles he had fought. The victory over the Storm Raptor had been a turning point, a sign that he could face the Platinum-tier creatures that prowled the deeper parts of the forest. Still, the fight had left him battered, and he knew that facing the Abyssal Terror was a different challenge entirely. For that, he needed to grow even stronger.In the days that followed, he had hunted tirelessly, targeting creatures whose abilities would be useful in his fight against the Abyssal Terror. His most recent quarry had been a Shadow Squid, a Platinum-tier beast that floated through the shadows like an eerie specter, its body rippling with dark energy. The creature had similar abilities to his Duskhorn Wyrm form, but with one grotesque difference—its only means of attack was the gaping maw of jagged teeth on its underside.David had stalked the creature through the dark forest, using his Nightmare Fang form to blend into the shadows, observing the squid's movements from a safe distance. The Shadow Squid drifted silently through the trees, its tentacles swaying in the air as it moved with unsettling grace. It didn't hunt like other predators. Instead, it waited, floating in place until some unfortunate creature wandered too close, at which point the maw would descend, swallowing its prey whole.When the time had come to strike, David had used his Duskhorn Wyrm form to unleash a barrage of shadow magic, catching the Shadow Squid off guard. The creature had thrashed wildly in the air, its tentacles flailing as it tried to escape, but David's relentless assault had worn it down. In the end, the fight had been easier than he had anticipated, and the Shadow Squid had fallen with a final, unsettling screech.But despite its power, David had not taken the Shadow Squid's form. Something about it felt wrong. The grotesque, floating body, the gaping maw of teeth—it wasn't a form he could see himself using effectively. And more importantly, it didn't align with his fighting style. The creature's abilities, though powerful, lacked the precision and versatility that David sought. It was an ugly, cumbersome thing, and while David wasn't picky, the Shadow Squid simply felt too… unnatural.He had moved on, determined to find a creature that suited him better.He had been stalking through the forest, when a cold shiver ran down his spine. The usual eerie silence of the woods had been the same as always with hardly any sound and David remained unaware that he was being hunted. His instincts honed from the countless battles screamed at him, too late to be of use. Then, out of the darkness, a wolf struck.A blur of inky black fur and glowing red eyes flashed from the shadows, slamming into David with enough force to send him sprawling across the forest floor. Pain shot through his side as sharp fangs dug deep into his flesh, blood spilling freely from the wound. He barely managed to react, activating his Darkscale Stalker form to shield himself from further damage, but the wolf was relentless. Its glowing eyes burned with hunger as it lashed out again, its claws raking across his armor with a sickening screech.David had faced many beasts in the twisted depths of the forest, but the Shadowbane Wolf was unlike anything he had encountered before. It was a low-Platinum-tier beast, and unlike his usual targets, this time it had found him first.David gasped in pain, struggling to roll away from the vicious assault. The wolf didn't give him a moment to recover. It vanished into the shadows, only to reappear a heartbeat later, striking from a different angle. Its fangs flashed in the dim light, tearing at his exposed flesh.Blood pooled on the ground, and David's vision blurred as the pain intensified. He stumbled backward, barely managing to avoid another bite, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He needed to escape. He wasn't ready for this fight, not like this.Desperation clawed at his mind as he activated Shadowstep, using the Nightmare Fang's shadow-stealth to melt into the darkness. He staggered away, his body trembling with pain, the wolf's snarls echoing through the forest as it prowled the area, searching for him. David pressed a hand to his bleeding side, his fingers slick with his own blood. He needed to heal—fast.With his heart pounding in his ears, he ducked behind a fallen tree, wincing as he collapsed against the rough bark. The Shadowbane Wolf was still close, its presence lurking in the shadows, waiting for him to make a move. He had only seconds. Pulling up his system interface, David frantically navigated it to buy a healing potion, his vision hazy from blood loss.System Store: Healing Potion(High) – Cost: 2,000 RP.Would you like to purchase?He didn't hesitate. His hand shook as he confirmed the purchase, watching the points drain from his reserve. The potion materialized in his hand, and he wasted no time, uncorking the vial and downing the contents in one go. A soothing warmth spread through his body, dulling the pain as the potion took effect. The bleeding slowed, his wounds beginning to stitch themselves back together, but it wasn't immediate. He needed time.The wolf's low growl sent a wave of dread through him. Time was something he didn't have.David gripped his dagger tightly, his heart racing as the Shadowbane Wolf closed in on his position. He could feel its presence in the air, the oppressive weight of the shadows shifting as it moved. The healing potion had helped, but his body was still weak, and the wolf was not giving him any space to recover. The beast had the advantage—speed, stealth, and the element of surprise. David was cornered, and every instinct screamed at him to run, but there was nowhere to go.The wolf lunged from the shadows again, its red eyes glowing with hunger. David barely had time to react, raising his dagger to block the attack. The wolf's fangs clamped down on the blade, twisting it from his hand with terrifying strength. David grunted in pain as the beast's claws raked across his chest, tearing through his armor. He staggered back, blood soaking his clothes, but he couldn't retreat any further.The Shadowbane Wolf was relentless. It vanished once more, disappearing into the surrounding gloom, leaving David bleeding and vulnerable. He spun around, trying to predict where it would strike next, but his senses were dulled by exhaustion and pain. His breaths came in ragged gasps, and his body trembled with the effort of staying upright."Where are you…" David muttered under his breath, his eyes darting through the darkness.Suddenly, the wolf reappeared—this time from behind. It tackled him to the ground, its weight crushing him into the dirt. The taste of blood filled his mouth as he hit the earth hard, the wolf's teeth sinking into his shoulder. David screamed in agony, his vision flashing white from the sheer intensity of the pain.In a desperate move, David activated his Storm Raptor form. Lightning crackled along his skin as he forced the wolf off of him, the sudden surge of electricity shocking the creature. The Shadowbane Wolf yelped in surprise, its body spasming as the lightning coursed through it, but it wasn't enough to drive it away.David scrambled to his feet, summoning a Thunderstrike from his Storm Raptor form. He raised his arm, channeling all of his remaining energy into the attack. A blinding bolt of lightning shot from his hand, arcing through the air and striking the wolf directly. The forest lit up with a brilliant flash, the ground trembling with the force of the impact.The wolf howled in pain, its body convulsing as the electricity tore through it, but even then, it didn't back down. The beast was tougher than anything David had faced before, and even in its weakened state, it was still dangerous. The shadows around them rippled as the wolf disappear again.Quickly coming up with a plan, David tried to remain alert and be on the lookout for the slightest movement of the beast. The wolf sprand forth from the left, this time noticably slower due to the lightning damage. Using his newly unlocked skill skill manifestation, awarded at level 5 of Shapeshifter class. He used the Shadow Surge skill of the Duskhorn Wyrm, restricting the movements of the wolf and slamming him downward towards the earth.With a burst of speed, David lunged forward, his dagger—still buzzing with residual lightning—clutched tightly in his hand. The wolf turned to face him, its red eyes blazing with fury, but David didn't falter. He drove the blade deep into the wolf's side, the sharp steel piercing through fur and flesh.The Shadowbane Wolf let out a final, agonized growl, its body shuddering violently as it stopped struggling. Dark blood pooled beneath it, and its red eyes slowly dimmed, fading to black as the life drained from its body. David stood over the fallen creature, his chest heaving with exhaustion, his own blood dripping onto the forest floor.He had won, but barely.David's knees buckled, and he collapsed beside the wolf's body, gasping for breath. His entire body ached, his muscles screaming in protest as he tried to move. The healing potion had helped, but his wounds were still raw, and the fight had taken everything out of him. The Shadowbane Wolf had been stronger than any of his previous foes—faster, smarter, and far more dangerous.For a long moment, David lay there, his heart pounding in his chest as the adrenaline slowly faded. The wolf's body lay motionless beside him, a grim reminder of how close he had come to death.He needed to get back to the mansion, to safety.First he stored the wolf's body in his storage space, then with great effort, David pushed himself to his feet, his body trembling with fatigue. He drank another potion after buying from the system. His vision blurred as he staggered through the forest, trying to remain stealthy, every step sending fresh waves of pain through his injured limbs. But he couldn't stay here.Finally, after what felt like hours of stumbling through the dark, David reached the mansion. He collapsed in the garden just as he entered walls of the mansion, his vision going black as the weight of his injuries dragged him into unconsciousness.When David awoke, he was back inside the mansion, the oppressive weight of the forest momentarily forgotten. He lay on the floor, his body stiff and aching, but alive. The battle with the Shadowbane Wolf had pushed him to his limit, but he had emerged victorious. Retrieving the corpse from the stoarge.Form limit reached. Would you like to replace an existing form with the Shadowbane Wolf?[Yes] [No]David selected [Yes], watching as the Nightmare Fang faded from his available forms. In its place, the Shadowbane Wolf appeared, its stats glowing brightly on the system interface. The transition was complete.Class: Shapeshifter (Level 7).Current Forms: Storm Raptor, Thunderhowl, Darkscale Stalker, Duskhorn Wyrm, Shadowbane Wolf.His system chimed again, indicating that he had leveled up.System Message:Shapeshifter Class has reached Level 7.
Overall Level: 13.
System Message:Shadowbane Wolf Life Essence absorbed: 500.New Form Available: Shadowbane Wolf.
Specializations: Shadow Manipulation, Stealth, Life Drain.
Skill gained: Shadowbind – Use shadows to immobilize and drain the life force of a target.
David stared at the message, feeling a mix of exhaustion and satisfaction. The fight had been brutal, but the rewards were immense. The Shadowbane Wolf's stealth abilities would give him an edge dealing with the beasts like the Abyssal Terror and Forest Colossus.