The Hunt For Greater Shadows

Chapter 116 — The Hunt for Greater Shadows

The eastern wilderness had become quieter.

Not peaceful—Aether had learned that the wilderness was never truly peaceful—but quiet in the way a place became quiet after something powerful had disturbed it. Broken trees covered the ground, enormous claw marks scarred the earth, and the lingering traces of Origin Energy drifted through the air like invisible smoke.

Aether walked through the middle of it without hurry.

Blackfang moved several meters ahead, its black body blending naturally with the shadows between the trees. Ironhide followed farther behind, its enormous frame making little sound despite its size.

Both shadows had become considerably stronger after Aether reached Origin Awakening Stage 8.

Their manifestations were denser now. Blackfang's crimson eyes were brighter, while Ironhide's body possessed a solidity that made it almost indistinguishable from a living beast at first glance.

Yet Aether could still feel the truth.

They were not independent lifeforms.

They were extensions of him.

Every movement they made carried a faint connection to his Origin Energy, and if either shadow was destroyed, that connection would pull its scattered energy back into his shadow.

Aether had already tested the limit several times.

Blackfang could fight recklessly because death was no longer something it needed to fear.

Ironhide could stand directly in front of attacks that would have forced an ordinary Stage 8 beast to retreat.

And Aether himself could fight without worrying about protecting them.

That combination made the three of them far more dangerous than their individual cultivation suggested.

Aether stopped suddenly.

Blackfang also stopped.

Ironhide raised its head.

A faint pressure had entered Aether's Origin Sense.

Something powerful was nearby.

He closed his eyes and expanded his perception.

Forty meters.

Then fifty.

Sixty.

The sensation became clearer.

It was an enormous concentration of Origin Energy.

Aether opened his eyes.

"Stage 8."

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Blackfang's ears immediately moved.

Ironhide lowered its body.

Aether looked toward the distant forest.

The pressure was moving.

Fast.

"Let's see what we've found."

The three figures disappeared into the wilderness.

Several minutes later, the trees ahead suddenly exploded outward.

A massive beast charged through them.

It resembled a six-legged panther covered in dark metallic scales. Two long horns curved backward from its skull, while pale Origin Energy burned around its claws.

Its speed was astonishing.

Aether stepped sideways.

The beast's claw swept past his chest, tearing through the tree behind him.

Aether countered with a punch.

The impact sent the beast sliding backward several meters.

It recovered almost instantly.

Aether's eyes narrowed.

Its physical strength was considerable.

"Blackfang."

The black wolf shot forward.

The beast reacted immediately, swinging one of its front legs toward Blackfang.

Blackfang did not dodge.

Its body dissolved into black mist just before the attack connected.

The claw passed through empty darkness.

The mist gathered behind the beast and reformed.

Blackfang bit down on its rear leg.

The beast roared and violently threw itself backward.

Ironhide arrived at the same moment.

The enormous shadow bear slammed both paws into its side.

The beast crashed into the ground.

Aether moved.

Origin Energy surged through his body as he appeared above the beast.

His fist descended.

BOOM!

The ground collapsed beneath the impact.

The metallic panther struggled to rise, but Blackfang had already reached its throat.

Ironhide pinned its torso.

Aether landed in front of it.

The beast's eyes still contained murderous hostility.

It attempted one final attack.

Aether caught its claw.

"No."

His fingers tightened.

The claw shattered.

A moment later, his other hand pierced through the beast's chest.

The massive body stopped moving.

[Stage 8 Origin Beast defeated.]

[Origin Points +100.]

[Origin Points: 1,030 / 1,200.]

Aether withdrew his hand.

The corpse collapsed.

He looked at it for a moment before his attention shifted to the System notification only he could see.

[Origin Imprint detected.]

[Compatibility with Origin Shadow Authority: 87%.]

[Imprint stored.]

Aether nodded.

Another useful imprint.

But something else had changed.

The moment the beast died, the resonance within his shadow became noticeably stronger.

The sensation was faint, but unmistakable.

Aether focused inward.

[Origin Shadow Authority: Initial Stage]

[Shadow Resonance: 48% → 51%.]

He raised an eyebrow.

"So killing stronger creatures is increasing the resonance."

That made sense.

His shadows were born from defeated lifeforms.

The stronger the enemies he overcame, the more powerful the foundation of his shadow authority became.

Aether looked toward Blackfang and Ironhide.

The two shadows stood silently beside him.

"Then I'll keep hunting."

He turned away from the corpse.

There were still 170 Origin Points remaining before his next cultivation breakthrough.

And now he had another reason to continue.

His army had only begun.

By sunset, Aether had traveled dozens of kilometers.

He didn't search randomly anymore.

His Origin Sense had become considerably sharper after reaching Stage 8, allowing him to distinguish the general strength of creatures within his range.

He ignored weaker beasts.

They offered little benefit.

He wanted powerful opponents.

Creatures whose imprints could eventually become powerful shadows.

As darkness descended, Aether stood on a cliff overlooking a massive valley.

Several powerful Origin Energy signatures moved below.

His lips curved slightly.

"Interesting."

Three Stage 8 beasts.

One Stage 8 peak.

And something else.

Something much stronger.

Aether couldn't clearly determine its cultivation.

The pressure was too distant.

He didn't rush toward it.

Instead, he sat down.

Blackfang disappeared into his shadow.

Ironhide did the same.

For the first time since entering the wilderness, Aether decided to wait.

If there was a stronger creature nearby, there was no reason to blindly charge into its territory.

He would observe first.

Understand the terrain.

Study its movements.

Then kill it.

That was how he preferred to fight.

Not through reckless strength.

Through certainty.

As night covered the wilderness, Aether opened his eyes.

Tomorrow's hunt would be different.

He could feel it.

Something in this territory was strong enough to change the balance of his growing shadow army.

And Aether intended to claim it.