The village was stirring with unease as dawn broke, the golden light doing little to dispel the tension from the previous night. Villagers spoke in hushed tones, casting wary glances toward the forest. Jax stood near the edge of the clearing, his pistols secured in their holsters—Whisper resting lightly under his dominant hand, Bang on his left. He flexed his fingers absentmindedly, the weight of the weapons a small comfort.
Kyra approached, her spear resting against her shoulder. Her steps were purposeful, though her expression was laced with concern.
"You ready?" she asked, stopping a few feet away.
Jax glanced at her, his smirk faint but present. "Yea Ofcourse."
Kyra rolled her eyes . Instead, she gestured toward Elder Yun, who was waiting at the edge of the village. His sharp gaze met Jax's as the two walked over.
The elder's expression was grim as he addressed them. "The roar you heard last night wasn't an ordinary creature. It might've been a Qi Beast."
Jax raised an eyebrow. "Qi Beast? You mean some overgrown predator with a glow-up?"
Elder Yun's lips twitched slightly, though his tone remained serious. "Not exactly. Qi Beasts are creatures infused with natural energy. They're as much a part of the Murim world as practitioners, and they can be far more dangerous."
Kyra tightened her grip on her spear. "Have you seen one before?"
Elder Yun shook his head. "Not for years. But I've heard stories. Their power varies—some are territorial and only attack when provoked. Others… others hunt anything that enters their domain."
Jax nodded, though his fingers brushed against Whisper's grip. "Don't worry. I'm not planning to waste bullets."
Elder Yun handed Kyra a small scroll. "This is a basic Qi reinforcement technique. Use it if you need to. It won't be much, but it could save your life."
Kyra took the scroll with a slight bow. "Thank you, Elder."
Jax glanced between them, his smirk returning. "So what's the plan? We just wander in and hope the thing shows itself?"
Elder Yun's voice was measured, each word deliberate.
"A beast like this doesn't hide for long. You won't need to find it—it already knows you're here."
The forest beyond the village was dense and shadowy, the canopy above filtering the sunlight into fragmented beams. The air was thick and still, carrying a faint, metallic tang that set Jax's nerves on edge.
Kyra moved ahead, her spear in hand and her eyes scanning the underbrush. Jax followed closely, his steps silent despite his heavy boots. The tension between them was palpable, though neither spoke.
As they ventured deeper, signs of the beast's presence began to appear. Trees with claw marks gouged deep into their bark. Massive tracks pressed into the earth, their shape strange and unfamiliar. A fallen tree lay across their path, its trunk splintered as though it had been struck by a force far beyond human strength.
Jax crouched beside one of the tracks, studying it. The imprint was huge, with three distinct claws and a deep center depression, almost as if the creature's feet were designed for digging or gripping.
"Big guy," Jax muttered, crouching to examine the claw marks gouged into a tree trunk. "What do you think it eats?"
Kyra glanced at him, her expression grim. "Anything it wants."
They didn't wait long to find out.
A sudden, blood-curdling squeal tore through the stillness of the forest, echoing off the trees like a dying scream. Jax and Kyra froze, their eyes snapping toward the sound. It came from deeper in the woods, a sickening crunch following moments later—a wet, visceral sound that left no room for doubt.
Jax straightened, his hand instinctively brushing against Whisper. "Guess that answers that."
Kyra's grip on her spear tightened. "It's close. Too close."
The smell hit them next—a pungent mix of iron and decay, carried on the faint breeze. As they crept forward, the trees gave way to a small clearing, illuminated only by the faint glow of Qi energy.
In the center lay the shredded remains of a boar, its massive body nearly unrecognizable. Thick, jagged gashes crisscrossed its hide, exposing muscle and bone. Blood pooled beneath it, soaking into the ground in dark, sticky patches.
Jax's gaze locked onto the claw marks carved into the boar's flesh, each wound deep . "Whatever did this… it's not just hunting."
The faint hum of Qi energy began to rise, the air growing heavier with every passing second. Both of them turned toward the treeline, where a pair of glowing golden eyes emerged from the shadows.
They didn't notice at first
The clearing they entered was eerily quiet, the usual forest sounds replaced by a heavy, oppressive silence. The air seemed to hum faintly, a subtle vibration that made Jax's skin prickle.
Kyra froze, her grip on her spear tightening. "Do you feel that?"
Jax nodded, his hand hovering over Whisper. "Yeah. It's close."
The ground trembled slightly, a faint rumble growing louder with each second. Then, from the edge of the clearing, it emerged.
The Qi Beast stood at least twelve feet tall on all fours, its jagged, black fur shimmering faintly as if streaked with liquid silver. Its elongated snout resembled a twisted cross between a wolf and a dragon, lined with jagged teeth that glinted like blades. A faint, greenish mist seeped from its mouth, curling into the air as it exhaled.
Its glowing, molten-gold eyes locked onto them with a sharp, predatory intelligence that sent a chill down Jax's spine. Massive claws extended from its paws, curved like scythes and long enough to carve through stone. A ridged spine ran along its back, tapering into a thick, spiked tail that flicked menacingly behind it.
A faint aura of Qi surrounded it, distorting the air with each step it took. The hum of its energy filled the clearing, vibrating through the ground as it let out a deep, guttural growl that seemed to challenge everything in its presence.
Massive claws extended from its paws, each one easily the length of a dagger. A faint, ethereal mist surrounded it, swirling lazily around its muscular frame. When it moved, the air seemed to ripple, and the hum of Qi grew louder, almost deafening.
Jax exhaled sharply, his smirk fading. "Looks like an overgrown mutt, That's… not what I was expecting."
Kyra's voice was steady, though her knuckles whitened around her spear. "Stay focused. It's watching us."
The beast's golden eyes locked onto them, unblinking and filled with a predatory intelligence. It lowered its massive head, a deep growl rumbling from its chest as it took a slow step forward.
The Qi Beast's golden eyes locked onto Jax, narrowing as it crouched low, its coiled muscles vibrating with raw power. Jax could feel its predatory focus on him, like a tangible weight pressing down on his chest.
"Let's see how fast you really are," Jax muttered, raising Whisper.
The creature lunged, a blur of black and silver fur. Jax fired, the shot cracking through the air and striking its shoulder. The impact sent a shockwave of silver energy rippling across its body, the beast letting out a guttural snarl as it stumbled.
But it didn't stop.
Before Jax could line up another shot, the beast darted to the side, its movements almost too fast to track. Jax spun, his eyes narrowing as he fired again. The bullet grazed its flank, but the beast was already gone, circling him like a shadow.
"Damn it, it's too fast," he growled under his breath.
Kyra charged in, her spear glowing faintly as she channeled Qi into the weapon. She aimed for the beast's exposed side, thrusting with precision. The creature twisted at the last second, its tail whipping around like a whip.
"Kyra, move!" Jax shouted, but it was too late.
The tail struck her, sending her sprawling to the ground. Her spear clattered out of reach as she struggled to get up, her breath coming in sharp gasps. The beast turned toward her, its golden eyes blazing with feral intent.
"No, you don't," Jax snarled, raising both guns and firing in quick succession.
The bullets struck the ground near the beast as it darted forward, its speed making it impossible to land a clean hit. It loomed over Kyra, its claws raised to strike.
Jax's heart pounded in his chest. He had to act—now.
Time seemed to slow as Jax watched the beast poised to tear Kyra apart. His mind raced, desperation clawing at him. He gripped Whisper tightly, his body tense, his instincts screaming for a solution.
And then… he felt it.
A faint pulse, like a distant heartbeat, thrummed through his body. It wasn't his own—it was something else. Something primal, connected to the beast, the forest, and the very air around him.
The world sharpened. The beast's movements became clearer, the subtle shifts in its muscles telegraphing its intent. Jax could feel its Qi—an erratic, predatory energy radiating from its core.
"So this is Qi," he murmured, his voice steady despite the chaos.
Closing his eyes for a fraction of a second, Jax let the sensation guide him. He raised Whisper again, his aim shifting not to where the beast was, but to where it would be.
"Kyra, get down!"
Kyra barely had time to roll to the side as Jax fired. The bullet struck true, hitting the beast in the neck just below its jaw. The impact sent it reeling, its roar turning into a guttural wheeze as it stumbled back.
The beast wasn't finished. Blood seeped from its wound, but its golden eyes burned brighter, its Qi surging in a desperate final stand. It charged at Jax, its claws tearing through the ground as it closed the distance in a blur.
Jax stood his ground, his grip tightening on Whisper. His newfound connection to Qi pulsed stronger now, guiding him as the beast bore down on him.
At the last second, Jax sidestepped, pivoting smoothly as he drew Bang with his left hand. In a single motion, he fired both guns—Whisper and Bang simultaneously hitting its exposed underbelly .
The Qi Beast froze, its body trembling as the combined impact of the shots disrupted its Qi flow. A low growl escaped its throat before it collapsed, its massive frame hitting the ground with a thunderous crash.
The clearing fell silent, save for the ragged breathing of Jax and Kyra.
As Jax stared at the fallen beast, a faint glow began to rise from its body. The Qi it had hoarded over a lifetime wasn't dissipating—it was gathering. A shimmering orb of golden light hovered above the corpse, pulsing faintly like a heartbeat.
Jax's brows knit together as an inexplicable pull gripped him. The air around him felt charged, electric, as if the clearing itself had turned its focus on him. He staggered slightly, his hand brushing against his chest, where the pull was strongest.
"Jax?" Kyra's voice cut through the haze, distant and sharp. She scanned the forest, her spear ready. "We need to move before more show up."
He didn't respond. He couldn't. The orb flared brighter, its glow intensifying as it drifted toward him. He tried to step back, but his body refused to obey.
And then, it struck.
The energy surged into him, a bolt of raw power slamming through his chest. His knees hit the ground as the force spread like wildfire through his veins. Jax gritted his teeth, pain and heat searing his senses. His vision blurred, the edges of the clearing twisting into a whirl of light and shadow.
Fingers clawing into the dirt, he fought against the chaos inside him. The energy was alive—wild, writhing, and intent on tearing him apart. His breaths came short and sharp, each one a battle to hold himself together.
"Jax?" Kyra turned at the sound of him collapsing. Her gaze flickered to him, wary but distracted by the forest around them. "What's wrong?"
He forced a hand up, words tumbling out through clenched teeth.
"Can't she see the energy?"
"I'm fine. Just—just a scratch."
Her eyes lingered on him, skeptical, before shifting back to the treeline. "Hurry up. We can't stay here."
Jax ground his fists into the earth, willing himself upright. Slowly, the energy within him began to settle, its once-violent surge aligning with the strange pulse he'd felt earlier in the fight. The searing heat ebbed, leaving behind a faint hum that thrummed in his chest like a second heartbeat.
He rose to his feet, unsteady but standing. His breathing slowed as the golden glow in his eyes dimmed, fading before Kyra could catch it.
He nodded, brushing dirt from his hands. "Yeah. Let's go."
As they moved through the forest, Kyra's sharp gaze swept the shadows, but Jax's thoughts stayed inward. The energy still lingered—quiet now, but unmistakable, like a smoldering ember beneath his skin.
He flexed his fingers, feeling the strange warmth pulsing through him. This wasn't normal. It wasn't natural. It was powerful and he liked it .
His eyes flicked to Kyra, her spear steady in hand as she led the way back to the village. She hadn't seen what happened. For now, he wasn't sure he wanted her to.
"One step at a time," he muttered under his breath, his gaze shifting back to the looming shadows of the forest.
End of Chapter 7: