Chapter 30: The shadow leopard

Chapter Thirty: The Shadow Leopard

The wind moved slowly through the trees, carrying whispers from hunter to hunter. Kael pressed his palm flat against the wall of a crumbling building, his breathing low and controlled. He was hidden in the shadows, exactly where Percy had told him to be — the exact spot, the exact time.

Everyone here was a Mutated Class hunter. Specialists in assassination. One wrong move and he'd be dead before he could blink.

Then the words reached him.

Mythic rank elemental beast. Lowest of all elemental beasts. Shadow Leopard. Location: Silt Mountain.

Kael's eyes narrowed.

This isn't the first time. The portal to the elemental realm is thinning. First that thing — now even minor elemental beasts are breaking through.

Night had fully settled over the landscape.

The operation was set.

Kael turned, ready to move and bumped into someone.

Their eyes met in the darkness. Even with the shadows, Kael recognized her instantly.

Gina.

She recognized him too.

"You?" she whispered, her face masked in black. Her voice was sharp with annoyance.

Kael didn't have time for this. "There's no time," he said, moving past her.

Gina grabbed his arm. "Guess you must be really strong to come alone for this hunt."

Kael paused.

"Let me tell you something," she said, her voice dropping. "You're walking into your grave. And one word of advice — don't follow the crowd."

She dove into the darkness before he could respond.

Why did she tell me that? What does she know?

Kael shook the thought away and boosted upward, landing on a high branch.

He activated his Field Owl's Vision — the world opened above him, giving him a clear 50-meter radius. He navigated through the trees, avoiding other hunters as much as possible.

His bone ape hammer manifested in his hand. Black scales crawled across his body — his Sacred armor — hardening into plates.

"Wow, look at my handsome boy," Crucify's voice echoed in his skull, high and joyful. "Dressed like a real knight of the night."

"Shut up," Kael muttered.

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He moved, his boots finding every branch with precision. Hours passed. The mountain grew closer. The sounds of battle echoed ahead.

A head flew into the air. Hunters paused mid-flight as a black shape—fluid, impossible—dove upward, spinning through the air. It vanished one second, reappeared elsewhere. Striking. Killing. Vanishing.

The Shadow Leopard.

Kael stopped, hiding behind a thick tree trunk. Hunters swarmed past him, surrounding the beast, striking aimlessly at its shifting form. The leopard maneuvered through them like water — phasing, slashing, disappearing, reappearing. But it was being overwhelmed. Some hunters had blocked the northern route, hoping to trap it.

Kael watched, his chin resting on his hand.

I don't think it wants to escape north. Something must have chased it here. It wouldn't come to a Mutated portal for nothing.

The leopard spun, fighting its way south. But the assassins were skilled — daggers found its limbs, slowing it down. The once-fluid creature was beginning to struggle.

Kael smiled.

Now I wait.

His field view adjusted, giving him a clearer picture of the leopard's wounds. It was bleeding out.

Its movements were growing sluggish.

"Let me count," Crucify chirped. "They've had over fifty kills by that awesome creature. Oh gee, I love you, sweetheart."

Kael sighed. He desummoned his hammer. His bow and arrow appeared in his hands.

He drew the string, perfectly aimed at the leopard's exposed neck.

He released.

Phew!

The arrow spun through the air like a rocket. The leopard turned with enhanced awareness — but it was too late. The arrow struck its neck. Blood splattered.

The leopard's eyes found Kael.

It growled — a sound of pure rage — and with all its remaining strength, it boosted toward him.

"What the hell—"

Kael tried to move. Too late.

The leopard phased behind him and swiped him off the branch. They tumbled together, rolling down the mountain toward a cliff. Blood gushed as the leopard's bones snapped. They fell from a seventy-meter drop — hitting the ground with a brutal crash.

Kael's vision went black.

Hours Later

Kael's eyes opened.

He was lying in a forest. Ancient trees loomed above him, their bark glowing faintly with energy. The mountain was far above, its blackness veiling the sky.

"Finally, you're awake," Crucify said.

Kael groaned, sitting up. He looked down at his armor — not a single scratch.

"Yeah," he said, his voice low. "What could I have done without it?"

Clank!

A root shot from a nearby tree, shattering against his armor.

"What the—"

Two more roots shot from above, aiming for his head.

Kael spun, dodging, landing on the ground. He staggered.

"Woohoo! So unexpected!" Crucify laughed.

Silence.

I didn't know plants attacked too, Kael thought. Isn't that only for beasts?

A crack appeared beneath his feet. The ground trembled.

A massive root shot up from behind him, swinging with brutal force.

BOOM!

Kael flew backward, slamming into a tree. His armor absorbed the impact — but the tree shattered behind him.

He rolled, panting. His Field Owl's Vision activated. Roots shot toward his legs — he dodged. His bone ape hammer manifested, crushing one.

Then — a roar.

He turned.

Hundreds of man-eating plants were chasing him. Monstrous. Hungry.

His eyes flickered.

His screen appeared.

[Mythic Rank Elemental Class Shadow Beast Soul — Successfully Absorbed][Soul Type: Partial Transformation]

Kael paused. He took a deep breath.

"It's time," he muttered.

He boosted. His body elongated slightly. Claws of shadow manifested on his hands — dark, fluid, hungry.

He moved like water, dodging roots, shattering them with his claws. He was desperate to survive — but he was also pushing his limits.

Then he saw it. A dark, shadowed area. He boosted into it.

A second passed.

Kael emerged on the other side of the mountain — black smoke pouring from his body. His vision blurred. He coughed — blood spilling from his mouth.

He collapsed to his knees.

His armor receded. He had overused the Shadow Teleportation. His body was broken.

"Careful, darling," Crucify whispered, its voice soft and amused. "That power has a cost."

Kael ignored it. He summoned his screen, grabbed stored beast meat, and began eating it raw. Energy surged — but it wasn't enough. His body needed rest.

He summoned his armor one last time.

Then his eyes closed.

He slept.

End of Chapter Thirty.