---
Five metres distance between them. The cat beast sensed him, wheeled, hiss echoing canyon. It lunged with speed shocking for its bulk. Kai slid under a slash, spear raking belly but failing to penetrate its thick fur. He felt turbulence above as claws scored rock where his head had been.
He sprang, stabbed hind‑leg tendon. Cat roared, tail whipping him aside. His ribs rattled (Ding! HP‑120). He rolled, popped up, triggered Tiny Tank.
Cat charged again. Kai jammed spear butt into sand, vault‑poled over its skull, twisting mid‑air to land astride shoulders. He stabbed behind the ear seam repeatedly. Blood gushed out, the beast bucked like a storm. He clung, but the cat rolled, crushing him against sand (Ding! HP‑160). Armor held.
