The roar shook the ground.
Snow dislodged from the trees above, drifting down like pale ash. The air itself seemed to shiver, each breath Arin took coming with the taste of metal and frost.
From deep within the fog, something moved.
Branches snapped like brittle bones. The ground trembled with each step.
Arin rose slowly from his crouch in the cave, eyes narrowing. His instincts screamed at him to run—but something colder, darker, and far more dangerous stirred inside him.
That hunger.
The same hunger that had pulled the shadow from the Moonshadow Beast.
The same hunger that had whispered to him in the darkness.
The voice from before returned—this time, smoother, almost amused:
> [High-level shadow detected.]
[Recommended: Retreat.]
Arin smirked faintly. "Retreat? Not happening."
He stepped from the cave, melting into the nearest patch of darkness. The world blurred. His body reformed atop a twisted tree branch overlooking the ravine.
The mist parted.
And it stepped into view.
The beast was enormous—easily the height of three men, its body plated with jagged black armor like shards of obsidian. Four curling horns framed its wolf-like skull, and its eyes glowed with an unholy crimson light. Each exhale sent steam pouring from its jagged maw.
The Ravine's King.
He had heard whispers of it from servants in the sect. An apex predator born from the fusion of Yin Qi and shadow essence, capable of tearing apart entire hunting parties. Even elders had avoided this part of the ravine.
Perfect.
Arin dropped from the branch, landing in the snow with barely a sound. The beast's head snapped toward him instantly, its nostrils flaring.
It lowered its head. Growled.
And charged.
---
The ground shattered under its weight as it thundered forward.
Arin stepped sideways into the beast's shadow—but the moment he reappeared behind it, the creature's tail whipped around like a spiked chain.
Fast!
The blow caught him midair, hurling him into a tree. Bark exploded, pain blooming in his ribs.
He coughed blood, rolling aside just as the beast's claws slammed into the spot where he'd landed, splintering the trunk.
His mind raced. Shadow Devour could weaken it—but he had to touch its shadow. And the damn thing was constantly moving.
The beast lunged again. Arin dodged left, snow spraying around him as the claws tore through the ground. He melted into the shadow of a nearby boulder, reappearing behind the beast's hind leg.
He reached for the shadow.
His hand brushed it—
> [Shadow Points: +2]
The King roared, staggering for a moment, but it wasn't enough. It spun, jaws snapping inches from Arin's throat.
Arin Shadow Stepped backward, reappearing several meters away. His lungs burned from the effort.
Too big to take in one go… then I'll bleed it dry.
---
The fight became a blur of movement.
Arin vanished and reappeared, always in the creature's blind spots, clawing at its shadow bit by bit. Each touch bled away a fraction of its strength—and added to his own.
> [Shadow Points: +4]
[Shadow Points: +5]
[Shadow Points: +3]
The King's movements slowed, its growls growing hoarse. Its armor cracked in places, leaking black mist.
But Arin was tiring too. His vision swam. Every Shadow Step tore at his still-mortal body. He couldn't keep this pace forever.
The King suddenly stopped moving. Its head lowered, horns glowing faintly with crimson runes.
Arin's instincts screamed.
The ground split open beneath the beast as a wave of shadow energy erupted outward in a jagged shockwave. The air seemed to collapse inward, dragging everything toward the King.
Arin dug his fingers into the snow, resisting the pull. The cold cut into his skin, but his mind sharpened.
If it could control shadows like that… then maybe…
Arin let go.
The pull yanked him toward the beast. At the last second, he Shadow Stepped directly into the King's own shadow—emerging on its armored back.
Before it could react, his hand slammed into the largest patch of shadow between its horns.
He pulled. Hard.
The King screamed. Black smoke exploded from its body, flooding into Arin like molten ice.
> [Shadow Points: +20]
[Warning: Overconsumption detected.]
Pain lanced through his veins, threatening to tear him apart from the inside. But he didn't stop.
He couldn't stop.
---
The King bucked wildly, slamming against trees and rocks in a desperate attempt to throw him off. Arin's grip tightened. His vision blurred at the edges, but his lips curled into a grin.
Then—
A massive claw raked across his side. Flesh tore, blood poured, but Arin's hand didn't release the shadow.
One final pull—
The King collapsed.
Its armored body slammed into the snow with enough force to send a shockwave through the ground. Steam poured from its maw, the crimson glow in its eyes flickering and dying.
The voice returned, colder now, almost reverent:
> [High-level shadow consumed.]
[Ability Upgraded: Shadow Step → Lv.2]
[New Ability: Shadow Bind (Lv.1) – Paralyze a target by locking its shadow.]
---
Arin stumbled away from the corpse, clutching his bleeding side. His breath came in ragged gasps, but the pain was dulled—muted beneath the raw, intoxicating rush of power.
He stared at his hands. The black markings had crept up past his elbows now, pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat.
This… this was just the beginning.
---
Then he froze.
The mist parted.
Figures emerged from the treeline—three of them, all wearing the golden-lined robes of Radiant Sword Sect inner disciples. Their auras burned with bright Qi that felt like sunlight pressing against his skin.
At their head was Elder Zhen himself.
His eyes swept over the dead King… then fixed on Arin.
"Interesting," the elder said slowly. "So the cripple has claws after all."
Arin straightened, despite the blood soaking his side.
This time… he didn't feel like kneeling.
---
Elder Zhen's lips curl into a cold smile. "Seize him."
The disciples draw their swords—unaware that the shadows at their feet have already begun to move.