The moon hung low, casting silver light across the forest. Fang Tian stood before Leo, his arms crossed.
"You've hunted beasts. Now, you will face prey that fights back."
Leo's brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"
Fang Tian tossed him a wooden practice sword. "Bandits lurk near the eastern ridge. They've killed travelers… and children. If you hesitate against men like that, they will cut you down without mercy."
Leo's stomach churned. Fighting a beast was one thing. But men? Human blood?
Still, he nodded. "I… I'll try."
They stalked the ridge until voices carried through the night — coarse laughter, the crackle of fire. Three men sat around a camp, blades glinting in the flames.
Leo froze. His heart thundered.
"Go," Fang Tian ordered softly.
Leo stepped forward, gripping the wooden blade tight. One of the bandits noticed, smirking.
"Well, look what we have here. A little brat lost in the woods."
The others chuckled darkly, drawing their knives. "We'll gut him quick."
The first man lunged. Instinct surged through Leo — he dodged, swinging his wooden blade with all his strength. Crack! The weapon smashed against the man's jaw, sending him sprawling.
The others snarled, charging together. Leo's fear turned to fire. He ducked under a strike, slamming his shoulder into one bandit's gut. Pain shot through his arm as another knife grazed his side. He yelped, stumbling back.
"Focus!" Fang Tian's voice thundered.
Leo clenched his teeth, ignoring the sting of blood. His eyes burned — faintly blue again. With a scream, he struck, the wooden blade splintering against a bandit's skull. The man collapsed. The last bandit faltered, seeing the boy's glowing gaze.
"W-what is he…?"
Leo advanced, rage and terror mixing into one. He struck again and again until the man stopped moving.
Silence. The fire crackled.
Leo's chest heaved, his small hands trembling, the broken blade still clutched tight. His first fight against men… and he had killed.
Fang Tian stepped forward, his expression grim but proud. "Good. You lived. That is all that matters."
"But… they were human," Leo whispered, staring at his bloodstained hands.
"They were predators," Fang Tian corrected, kneeling before him. "And you, Leo… you are the blade that cuts down predators. Never forget — the world will show you no mercy. You must decide whether to be its prey… or its god."
The boy's breath caught. That word — god. It echoed in his mind, like a seed taking root.
Above them, the blood moon drifted out from behind a cloud, and Fang Tian wondered if destiny had already begun to sharpen its fangs.
End of chapter 4