The next night, Kael'tar returned to the forest, drawn by a mix of curiosity and determination.
The anomaly he had seen the previous night refused to leave his thoughts.
The villagers' warnings echoed in his mind: "The forest at night is no place for man or beast."
But he dismissed their fears as baseless superstition. After all, he wasn't just a man. He was the once-mighty Demon Emperor, even if his cultivation was now nonexistent.
As he ventured deeper into the forest, a strange unease began to creep over him. By day, the forest was alive with chirping birds and rustling animals. Now, it was deathly silent.
"Not even a squirrel," he muttered, glancing around. His footsteps were the only sound, crunching against the thick carpet of fallen leaves. "This place is starting to feel like one of those overly dramatic ghost stories."
The deeper he went, the heavier the air became.
It pressed down on him like an unseen weight, making each step harder than the last.
Just as he began to wonder if he'd lost his way, a voice broke the silence.
"Well, well. What do we have here?"
Kael'tar froze.
The voice was smooth, almost amused, but it carried an undercurrent of menace.
Slowly, he turned toward the source.
From the shadows emerged a creature unlike anything he'd seen before.
It had the body of a man but was covered in a layer of sleek, dark scales that shimmered faintly in the moonlight. Its elongated limbs ended in sharp claws, and its face was a twisted mix of human and reptilian features.
"Oh, good," Kael'tar said dryly, resting a hand on the hilt of his sword. "I was hoping to meet a nightmare tonight."
The creature tilted its head, its glowing yellow eyes narrowing. "You're bold, for someone so... fragile."
Kael'tar bristled at the insult. "Fragile? Do you have any idea who you're talking to?"
The creature chuckled, the sound low and mocking. "I see no powerful cultivator, no demon. Just a man with no power, swinging around a piece of dull metal. Am I supposed to be impressed?"
Kael'tar's grip tightened on his sword. "You should be. I've conquered realms and destroyed armies. What are you? A lizard in desperate need of a skincare routine?"
The creature's grin widened, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth. "Insults? Is that your weapon of choice now? How amusing."
Kael'tar lunged, his sword slicing through the air.
The creature didn't even flinch.
With a lazy swipe of its claw, it sent the blade flying from Kael'tar's grasp, embedding it into a nearby tree.
"First mistake," the creature said casually. "Bringing a toy to a real fight."
Kael'tar refused to back down.
He threw a punch, aiming for the creature's jaw. It caught his fist mid-swing, holding it effortlessly.
"Second mistake," It said, almost bored. "Thinking you're a threat."
Kael'tar growled, yanking his arm free and kicking at its leg.
The creature didn't budge.
"You done?" it asked, inspecting its claws as though Kael'tar weren't worth its attention.
"Don't you dare ignore me!" Kael'tar snapped, his voice rising.
The creature glanced at him, its expression a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Fine. You want my attention? Here it is."
Before Kael'tar could react, the creature moved.
One fluid motion—a flick of its claw—sent him flying backward. He hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the wind out of him.
He struggled to rise, his vision swimming.
The creature approached slowly, crouching down to meet his gaze.
"You're amusing," it said, tapping a claw against its chin. "Pathetic, but amusing. I almost feel bad for you. Almost."
Kael'tar glared up at it, defiance burning in his eyes. "This isn't over."
The creature smirked. "Oh, I think it is."
With a flick of its claw, it tapped Kael'tar lightly on the forehead. The world spun, and everything went black.
Kael'tar woke hours later, sprawled on the forest floor.
His head throbbed, and his body ached from the humiliating defeat.
As he sat up, groaning, he noticed a crude message scratched into the dirt nearby:
"Come back when you're less pathetic. Or don't. I enjoy the entertainment."
Kael'tar stared at the message, his jaw tightening. "Less pathetic? I'll show you less pathetic."
He staggered to his feet, his determination renewed.
If that creature thought it could mock him without consequence, it had another thing coming.
"Laugh while you can, lizard," he muttered, wiping the dirt from his face. "Next time, I'll be ready."