--
The silver glow of the twin moons illuminated the Wilds beyond Draegorth, the dense forest brimming with an oppressive silence. Noah strode confidently into the darkness, his form shrouded in the faint wisps of shadow that clung to him like a living cloak. Behind him, Kalis followed, his movements quiet but purposeful.
"Kalis," Noah began, his tone calm yet firm. "You're here for the killing blow. Let me handle the rest. Focus on precision, not haste."
"Yes, master," Kalis replied, his crimson eyes gleaming.
Noah's senses extended outward, his **Vampiric Sight** piercing the shadows as he scanned for threats. The Wilds were infamous for harboring beasts far above the capabilities of most hunters. For Noah, this was merely an opportunity to test the full extent of his **Night Conqueror** class.
--
The air shifted as the sound of heavy footfalls broke the silence. Emerging from the treeline were three **Razorhide Wolves**, their black fur bristling with needle-like spines. Each beast exuded a predatory malice, their levels ranging from 26 to 28.
"Stay behind me," Noah instructed, stepping forward.
The first wolf lunged without hesitation, its jaws snapping toward Noah's throat. With a flick of his wrist, shadows erupted around him, forming a barrier that deflected the attack. Noah retaliated with **Dominion of Darkness**, tendrils of shadow wrapping around the wolf's limbs and slamming it into the ground.
The second wolf circled, aiming to flank him, but Noah's **Vampiric Sight** tracked its every movement. He extended his hand, activating **Blood Dominion**, and the beast froze mid-step, its blood surging chaotically under Noah's control. It howled in agony as its movements faltered.
"Kalis," Noah called, his voice steady. "Now."
Kalis darted forward, his blade gleaming in the moonlight. With a single, precise strike, he ended the first wolf.
Noah turned his attention to the third wolf, which growled low, its spines bristling in aggression. Shadows coalesced at Noah's feet, surging upward to form a spear. With a swift motion, he hurled it at the beast, impaling it through the shoulder.
"Kalis, finish this one too."
Kalis nodded, moving with supernatural speed to deliver the final blow.
--
As the night wore on, the duo encountered a series of increasingly powerful foes. Each battle showcased Noah's dominance as he dismantled the beasts with calculated precision.
A **Gorehorn Charger**, a hulking beast with a level of 29, roared as it barreled toward them. Noah met its charge head-on, his **Primordial Strength** enabling him to deflect its massive horns with ease. With a counterstrike, he sent the creature reeling, blood pouring from wounds inflicted by his **Blood Dominion**.
"Kalis," Noah said, stepping aside to allow his subordinate the killing strike.
Kalis drove his blade into the Charger's exposed neck, his hands steady despite the beast's dying thrashes.
Later, a swarm of **Obsidian Raptors** attacked in coordinated waves. Noah's **Aura of the Conqueror** froze the weaker ones in their tracks, while his **Dominion of Darkness** formed barriers that disrupted their movements. He weakened each one systematically, ensuring they were ripe for Kalis to deliver the final blows.
By the time they reached a clearing surrounded by jagged cliffs, Kalis's level had risen to 18, the rapid progression evident in the growing confidence of his strikes.
---
The night's climax came with the appearance of a **Shadowfang Leviathan**, a massive, serpentine beast that radiated dark energy. At level 30, it was a true apex predator of the Wilds.
Noah assessed the creature as it coiled around the clearing, its glowing eyes fixated on him. "This one's no pushover," he remarked. "Watch and learn."
The Leviathan lunged, its maw wide enough to swallow him whole. Noah sidestepped with ease, shadows swirling around him as he retaliated. His **Blood Dominion** forced the creature's movements to falter, its muscles spasming under his control.
Using **Dominion of Darkness**, Noah summoned massive chains of shadow that wrapped around the Leviathan's body, pinning it in place. The beast roared, its thrashing sending tremors through the ground, but Noah held firm.
"Kalis, this is your moment."
Kalis hesitated, awestruck by the sheer size of the creature, but Noah's calm voice cut through his doubt. "You've trained for this. Now strike."
Summoning his courage, Kalis darted forward, his blades flashing as he leapt onto the Leviathan's back. With a powerful thrust, he drove his weapon deep into its skull. The beast's struggles ceased, its massive form collapsing with a thunderous crash.
--
As the Leviathan's body disintegrated, Kalis was engulfed in a surge of energy. His level rose to 20, the culmination of their night's effort. Noah watched with satisfaction as his subordinate's Crimson Stalker class began its evolution.
"You've done well," Noah said, his voice calm but firm. "Your journey is just beginning."
Kalis knelt as the glow of his transformation subsided, his new power evident in the crimson aura that now surrounded him.
"I feel… stronger," Kalis said, his tone awed.
Noah nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Good. You'll need that strength for what lies ahead."
With the Wilds behind them and Kalis's evolution complete, the pair began their journey back to Draegorth, the night's trials marking only the first step in their shared ascent.
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