Kieran carefully observed the monster lurking a few meters away. Its scales glimmered faintly in the dim light filtering through the dense forest canopy. The Beastwalker resembled a larger version of the creature he had slain earlier, but its movements were more fluid, and its gaze brimmed with intelligence.
The monster shifted, its clawed feet scraping against the damp ground. Its tail, long and tipped with razor-sharp spikes, sliced through the air with a faint whistle. Kieran realized the beast was testing him, probing his reactions.
"So, you want to play," Kieran muttered, gripping his sword tightly. "Fine by me."
The monster struck first. In an instant, it lunged forward, its powerful limbs digging deep into the soil, leaving deep marks behind. Kieran sidestepped just in time, narrowly avoiding the attack. As the creature passed, its tail whipped through the air.
The tail's blade-like edge slashed across Kieran's left forearm, leaving a shallow but long wound. Blood began trickling down his arm, staining the hilt of his sword.
"Faster than you look," Kieran remarked, ignoring the stinging pain.
The beast didn't give him a chance to recover. It spun around with shocking agility, charging at him again. Kieran entered his dimension, the world around him freezing in grayscale.
From his still vantage point, he saw the beast's claws strike the spot where he had just been standing. Emerging from the dimension behind the creature, Kieran slashed at its side with a swift, calculated stroke.
The blade tore through the scaled hide, leaving a bleeding wound, but it wasn't deep enough to stop the beast.
The Beastwalker roared in pain and fury, spinning around with alarming speed. Kieran jumped back, narrowly dodging a swipe from its claws. Every move the monster made was precise and deadly—there was no room for error.
Kieran could feel fatigue creeping into his body. Each use of his dimensional ability drained his stamina, and the prolonged fight was taking its toll. He knew he needed to end the battle quickly before he lost his edge.
The beast attacked again, snapping its jaws at Kieran's legs. Dropping to one knee, he avoided the bite and thrust his sword upward, slicing into the creature's throat.
The blade struck deep, and the Beastwalker let out a final, agonized screech before stumbling backward and collapsing. Its body convulsed briefly before going still.
Kieran leaned on his sword, breathing heavily. Blood dripped steadily from his left arm, the wound throbbing with each beat of his heart, but he pushed the pain aside. He had survived.
From the lifeless corpse, a soft glow began to emerge—a telltale sign that the creature had left behind a magic crystal. Moments later, a green crystal materialized on the ground, its light cutting through the forest's shadows.
Kieran picked up the crystal, feeling the energy pulsing faintly in his hand.
"Green," he said softly. "Worth it."
He slipped the crystal into his pouch, glancing briefly at the cut on his arm. Though not deep, it would need to be treated before infection set in.
Kieran cast a final look at the dead Beastwalker and the dark forest surrounding him. He knew this place likely held more threats, but he had no intention of lingering longer than necessary.
With a clenched jaw, he turned toward the forest's edge, determined to return to Albrath before nightfall fully descended.