Kyren didn't have time to process what he had just heard.
Like magic, power surged through his body. His muscles swelled with raw energy, his pain fading enough for him to move freely. It felt unnatural, unnerving even—but at the same time, exhilarating.
He took a step. Then another.
With each stride, he moved faster and faster, the wind whipping past him—but the panther kept up, matching his speed effortlessly.
Kyren only needed a moment. A single opening. Just long enough to grab his mother's dagger from his bag.
He tried everything—sharp turns, sudden stops, unpredictable movements—but the panther stayed locked onto him, relentless. Damn it! In a final act of desperation, he lunged for his bag, snatching it up and frantically digging through it.
The panther was closing in.
His fingers brushed against cold steel. There!
Just as his hand wrapped around the dagger's hilt, the beast pounced. Kyren turned, using all his speed to slide beneath the panther, thrusting the blade upward. The dagger sliced through its flesh, carving a long gash down its belly.
Not deep enough.
The panther barely reacted, its massive frame twisting midair, landing with a thud. Kyren rolled away just in time, heart hammering in his chest.
I can't stop moving. If I stop, I die.
He dashed left, narrowly avoiding another swipe, then dove under the panther again. This time, he moved slower, testing his newfound strength, controlling it. He slashed upward—another cut across its belly, not as deep but deliberate.
Not just the belly. The leg.
Kyren was too close. The panther lashed out, its powerful hind leg slamming into him. The force sent him sprawling, pain flaring through his ribs.
He gritted his teeth. I can win this. But not with brute force alone. He needed speed. He needed cunning.
Kyren pushed himself up, dagger tight in his grip. The panther stalked toward him, eyes locked, muscles coiled.
It lunged.
Kyren sprinted toward it at full speed. Wait… wait… now!
The panther raised its right paw to strike—Kyren dodged left, the attack slicing through empty air. In that split second, he swung his dagger with all his strength, using his momentum to drive the blade deep into the panther's left front leg.
The steel cut to the bone.
A furious roar ripped through the air.
Kyren didn't stop. He kept running, regrouping, preparing for the next strike. This fight wasn't over yet.