The forest blurred around Kael as he ran.
Fast. Silent. Precise.
This wasn't retreat.
This was a trap.
The Shadow Wolf wanted to hunt?
Then Kael would make it believe it had already won.
He was no longer the prey.
Now… he was the predator.
The Strategy
Kael's mind raced as he pieced together everything he had observed.
The wolf attacked with blinding speed, always from a blind spot. It gave him only a fraction of a second to react before impact.
It was smart—too smart for a direct counterattack.
Kael's conclusion was clear.
He couldn't meet it head-on.
Instead, he would make it overcommit. He would force it to make a mistake.
Kael scanned the forest as he moved, his sharp eyes searching for an advantage.
Then he saw it.
An uneven slope. Thick roots jutting out from the earth. A moss-covered stone, its surface slick and treacherous.
The perfect battlefield.
Kael slid to a stop between two tall trees, the moonlight barely reaching the ground beneath him.
He crouched low and waited.
Come on, you bastard.
The shadows pulsed.
Kael's heart quickened as he felt it.
Movement.
He didn't flinch.
The beast lunged, its massive body slicing through the air like a silent shadow.
Kael heard it before he saw it.
He clenched his fists.
Counted the seconds.
One... Two...
Now.
At the last possible moment, Kael threw himself to the ground.
The wolf soared overhead, caught completely off guard.
It had anticipated a sidestep, just like before.
But it hadn't expected him to drop.
Fatal mistake.
Kael's foot struck the moss-covered stone, launching it into the wolf's path.
The timing was perfect.
CRACK!
The wolf collided with the rock at full speed, the impact echoing through the forest. It tumbled to the ground in a daze, its movements erratic and uncoordinated.
Kael didn't waste the opportunity.
Activated Technique: Abyssal Claws.
Black energy erupted around his hands as he surged forward.
The wolf snarled, trying to recover—
But Kael was already there.
His claws tore into the creature's flesh, dark energy slicing through its thick hide.
The wolf howled in pain, thrashing wildly, its jaws snapping at Kael—
But it was too late.
Kael twisted his arm, driving the claws deeper.
RIP!
A clean slash to the throat.
Blood spilled like a river as the wolf collapsed, the light fading from its glowing blue eyes.
Kael stood over the body, his chest heaving, his hands slick with blood.
He had won.
He was no longer the prey.
Now... he was the predator.
The Predator's Reward
You have killed a High-Tier Spiritual Beast.
The Dark Spiritual Lotus has absorbed a fragment of the creature's essence.
Kael felt the changes almost immediately.
His vision sharpened, piercing the darkness with ease. His hearing grew more acute, catching even the faintest rustle of leaves.
New Skill Unlocked: Shadow Mantle.
Partially conceal your presence in dark environments.
His body felt stronger, his connection to the chaotic energy of the world more resilient.
He had evolved.
And yet, something else prickled at the edge of his awareness.
Kael's head turned slowly.
He wasn't alone.
Leaning against a tree, Shen watched him with an amused smirk.
"I wanted to see if you'd survive," Shen said, his tone light but his gaze calculating. "And look at that... not only did you survive, but you became something far worse."
Kael wiped the blood from his mouth, his cold eyes locking onto Shen's.
"I was never the prey, Shen."
Shen laughed, the sound low and sharp.
"Good. Then it's time for the next phase of your training."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "This wasn't enough?"
Shen shook his head, his grin widening.
"Kid... this was just the beginning."
And he wasn't joking.
Kael didn't know it yet, but now, he was ready to face true hell.