Chapter 7 – The Beast of the Whispering Forest
The mist hung thick between the trees, curling like living tendrils. Leon Jian and Mei Lin moved cautiously, their senses sharpened by the jade's energy and the forest's hidden dangers. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig, felt amplified—a warning of imminent danger.
Suddenly, the ground trembled. Leon froze, eyes narrowing as the golden glow of the Celestial Jade flared in warning.
From the shadows, a monstrous figure emerged—a forest beast, larger than any normal creature, with fur dark as night and eyes burning with feral intelligence. Its claws were like polished obsidian, and it radiated a terrifying aura of power.
"This is no ordinary beast," Mei Lin whispered, drawing her sword. "The forest tests all who enter. We must fight together… or die."
Leon's fists glowed with golden energy. "Let's end this quickly."
The beast lunged with blinding speed. Leon dodged, feeling the raw power behind each strike. Mei Lin struck from the side, her sword slicing through the air, leaving trails of shimmering energy. The beast howled, its roar echoing through the trees, shaking branches and scattering birds.
Leon's mind focused. The jade pulsed violently, guiding his movements. He struck with precision, a golden wave of energy slamming into the beast's flank. It stumbled but recovered instantly, snapping its jaws at Leon.
"Coordinate!" Mei Lin shouted. "I'll distract it—strike when it overcommits!"
Leon nodded, timing his attacks with Mei Lin's movements. Golden energy surged from the jade, forming a protective shield as the beast swiped at them. Each strike they delivered cut deeper, pushing the beast back step by step.
But the creature was cunning. It feigned weakness, luring Leon into a trap. A swipe of its claw sent him flying into a tree, pain shooting through his ribs. He gritted his teeth, summoning the jade's power, and launched himself back with a burst of golden energy.
Mei Lin leaped onto a branch above, slashing downward. Leon synchronized his strike—gold and steel collided, and the beast let out a final, ear-piercing roar before collapsing.
Silence returned to the forest, broken only by their heavy breaths. Leon's golden aura dimmed, and he stumbled to his knees, exhaustion pulling at his body.
Mei Lin landed beside him, sheathing her sword. "You've grown stronger," she said, eyes glinting. "But remember—power alone won't win the battles ahead. You need control, strategy, and allies."
Leon nodded, touching the jade. "I understand. This… was only the first real test outside the cavern. There will be more."
From the shadows, unseen eyes watched. A figure cloaked in black smiled, whispering, "So, the bearer of the Celestial Jade has finally stepped into the world… This will be fun."
The path ahead had grown darker, the enemies more dangerous—but Leon Jian felt something he hadn't in years: confidence. With the jade's power and allies like Mei Lin, he would face whatever came… and one day, return to confront those who had betrayed him.