With a guttural roar, the mutated bear charged. Lin Kai met it head-on, his movements a blur of focused intent. He leaped from his spot in the bushes, not as a panicked flight but as a fluid, aggressive pounce.
The cold steel of his twin blades glinted in the morning light as he channeled Aether, his every muscle coiled for the kill.
He was aiming for the vital spots, the neck and the heart, believing that a quick, powerful strike was the only way to end this before his own strength failed. His plan was simple: get in close, unleash his power, and get out.
But the bear was not a mindless corrupted. Its intelligence shone in its eyes as it moved, its massive form surprisingly agile. It met his charge with a counter of its own.
Lin Kai's left blade, aimed at the bear's heart, was caught in the last moment by a thick, furry paw. The strike, filled with all his strength, still managed to draw blood.
The clawed paw, surprisingly resilient, was not severed, but deep gashes opened along it, sending a small spray of crimson blood into the air.
At the same time, the bear's other paw was raised and moved to block his second katana, which was aimed at its neck. The razor-sharp edge clanged against the thick, armored hide of its forearm, a high-pitched metallic whine echoing in the quiet air.
Lin Kai, sensing the power behind the beast's defense, immediately leaped back, creating a safe distance. He landed lightly on his feet, his mind racing.
This beast is not overly strong, he thought, his violet eyes narrowing. The fact that his blades had wounded it, that he had made it bleed, was all the motivation he needed.
It was not an impenetrable wall of flesh and fur. It was a First Order beast, yes, but it could be killed. The fresh blood still gushing from its paw was a testament to that.
Lin Kai could feel the exhilaration rising in him, a primal joy he hadn't felt after that previous fight with Shen Feng's group. He was facing a powerful opponent, and he was not afraid.
He charged again, his form a series of quick, weaving dashes. The bear responded, lifting one of its massive legs high and thumping it onto the ground with a force that shook the earth.
Suddenly, the ground directly in front of Lin Kai erupted. A jagged wall of rock and dirt, as if born from a miniature earthquake, rose from the ground, blocking his path and forcing him to halt his charge.
He stared at it, his mind racing. How can this beast manipulate the ground? he thought, his heart thumping in his chest.
His past-life memories flashed through his mind, and he could only conclude that this was not a matter of sheer physical strength, but an ability.
Is it an elemental skill, a form of earth manipulation? Or is it something else, something unique to evolved beasts?
This was a major issue. He was used to fighting with his blades and use of aether, but a beast with an elemental ability was a whole new level of problem.
He quickly decided not to engage in a direct confrontation. He would act like an assassin and using the strategy for, a master of stealth and precision, not a brawler.
He began to circle the bear, his speed increasing with every step, his movements becoming more phantom-like. The ground was still shaking slightly, and he knew he had to end this quickly.
He needed to find a weakness, a chink in its armor. He began to lash out with his blades, a flurry of rapid slashes aimed at every part of its body.
The bear, confused by his speed, tried to swipe at him with its paws, but every time, Lin Kai dodged with a graceful, practiced ease.
His slash attacks were connecting, and he could see the bear's movements getting slower, its roars becoming more strained. The cuts were not deep, but they were many.
Each one was a small, precise wound that bled and sapped the beast of its strength. The fight continued for a few more minutes, and Lin Kai could see that the bear was now helpless, reduced to a desperate defense.
The ground-shaking had also stopped, which meant that its aether, or whatever force it was using, was depleting.
Lin Kai could feel his own strength leaving him, his arms aching from the constant movement. He was tired, but the bear was tired, too. Its resilience was impressive, but its energy was not limitless. He knew he had to end this now.
Now, it's time, he thought, his mind crystal clear despite his exhaustion. He channeled the last of his aether into his blades.
The familiar energy surged through the steel, causing them to hum with a low, powerful sound. He drew his arms back and silently commanded,
"Phantom Echo Slash"
With a single, explosive movement, he sent a phantom-like image of himself forward. The image of Lin Kai, a blur of motion, slashed his blades through the air.
A concentrated arc of pure blade force, a razor-thin wave of invisible energy, shot towards the bear. It struck the beast's whole body at once.
The bear, already weakened, shook violently, its muscles convulsing. It let out one last, pained roar before it fell to the ground with a wet, heavy thud.
Lin Kai, panting, felt a wave of triumph wash over him. His technique had improved. The sheer force of that slash, the power he had put into it, had been more than he had expected.
He checked his condition, his body screaming at him to rest. Then focus on what his mental interference showing,
Vitality: 250/700
Aether: 150/400
Order: Zero Order (Peak)
Rune: Locked
He was tired, but he had won. He looked at the bear. It lay on the ground, its massive body riddled with small, deep gashes. He was surprised. The beast had survived his best attack.
As expected, this beast is resilient, he thought, a sense of admiration mixing with his relief. But it was heavily injured, and it was at his mercy.
The bear, sensing its situation, didn't cower. It showed a ferocious expression, its eyes still glowing with a strange, fierce light, as if trying to scare him even now.
"Haah, even at death, it still wants to fight," Lin Kai murmured to himself. He felt a pang of admiration for the creature's unyielding nature. He knew what he had to do.
Letting it live would only allow it to heal and come back for revenge. This was a world where survival was the only rule. He raised his blade, ready to deliver the final strike. He was curious.
Will I advance to first order and evolve for this kill?
he wondered, the thought of more power pushing away his hesitation. He took a step closer, his blade poised to deliver a final, decisive slash to the bear's neck.
But then, a small shadow, a creature no larger than a house cat, blurred past him and lunged towards the fallen beast.
Lin Kai immediately acted on pure instinct. He leaped back, creating a safe distance. His tired body screamed in protest, but he ignored it. He needed to know what this creature was.
Is it another corrupted? A new kind of enemy? Several thoughts are gushing in his mind for this unexpected situation.
He remained in a battle stance, his blades held high, ready to fight or run. When the dust settled, and he could see clearly, he was stunned.
The small creature was a cub, a miniature version of the bear he had just fought. It was identical to the larger bear, with the same strange, dark fur and glowing eyes.
The cub was crying loudly, its tiny body shaking. It was nuzzling its face against the massive head of the dying bear, its little paws patting the fur. It was a horrifying yet heartbreaking sight, the child of a monster crying over its parent's body.
Lin Kai was stunned and rooted on his spot. His blades lowered, a strange sense of empathy rising within him. He knew he could kill both of them with a single slash. The cub was too weak to even pose a threat. But he couldn't. Something was stopping him from inside.
His past-life memories told him to be ruthless, to kill any potential threat, but his heart, the heart of Lin Kai, the boy who was taught to value every life, was telling him to stop.
He stood frozen, his mind and his emotions in a quiet, terrifying war with each other. The cub cried, and Lin Kai's soul ached.
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Author's Note:
Dear Reader, tell me how is this battle scene? Did it make u thrill on your mind? It has taken some time on deciding the pacing of fighting scene and also about next scenarios. Hope you are enjoying reading it.