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Chapter 4 - predator

Chapter 4: The Apex Predator

The waterfall's roar was a constant, deafening sound that masked all others. Near its base, a colossal gorilla, five meters tall with shimmering silver fur, was deep in slumber. This was the Silver Gorilla Lord, a famous beast known for its immense, destructive strength. Despite being an advanced-level lord beast, it was a puppet, its will bent to the power of the Five-Tailed Fox. This was the terrifying reality of spirit masters—they could fight and dominate beings far stronger than themselves. The Five-Tailed Fox, a mere intermediate-level lord, was a testament to this, controlling a creature that was a walking fortress.

Ron found the gorilla group with ease, his shadow-like speed and silence a perfect cloak in the darkness. He moved like a ghost, a hunter among prey that had no idea they were being stalked. His first target was a large black gorilla, a powerful intermediate-level beast. The gorilla's senses were sharp; it stirred just as Ron's shadow fell over it. But before it could even utter a sound, Ron's claws were at its throat. A quick, practiced slice, and the beast's life was extinguished in a look of stunned surprise. The rest of the group fell in the same silent, brutal manner, each one meeting a swift end under Ron's razor-sharp fingers.

Finally, he stood before the Silver Gorilla Lord. The massive beast was a mountain of muscle, its breathing a deep, rhythmic rumble that shook the ground. Ron crept forward, every step calibrated for absolute silence. He was just ten centimeters from the gorilla's neck when its eyes, the color of molten silver, snapped open.

The gorilla moved with a shocking speed for its size, dodging Ron's claws. It let out a thunderous roar and pounded its chest, a sound that seemed to tear the very air. With a massive fist, it struck the ground where Ron had been standing a moment before. A three-meter crater appeared instantly, the earth cracking for several meters around it. The force was immense, the kind that could crush a junior God of War. Its thick, muscular body was a living armor, impervious to all but the most powerful attacks.

But Ron's speed was his greatest weapon. He dodged every subsequent blow, a black blur darting around the furious beast. After a few minutes of this frantic dance, the gorilla's movements began to slow, its strikes losing their explosive power. The poison from a small pin Ron had discreetly used at the beginning of the fight was taking effect. Lord-level beasts had some immunity to poisons, but it was enough to dull the gorilla's reflexes.

With the beast's movements now sluggish, Ron saw his chance. Its neck, the one place not covered by its dense muscle armor, was exposed. He thrust his claws forward, not with a slash, but with a precise, stabbing motion. He ripped through the flesh, severing the head instantly. The massive body crashed to the ground, shaking the forest.

Ron stood over the corpse, breathing heavily. He was exhausted, but a triumphant smile spread across his face. He extended his hand, and the familiar pink liquid surged out, devouring the entire gorilla. The immense power of the beast was absorbed into Ron's body. His physique instantly became more robust, his muscles hardening and condensing, especially in his hands. He could feel the power of a junior God of War in his new, concentrated strength. His warrior level had also jumped to an advanced battle general. In just a few weeks, his growth had been nothing short of astonishing.

With the Silver Gorilla Lord down, he set his sights on the Five-Tailed Fox. He made his way to the small valley where the fox was rumored to reside. He found the valley swarming with beasts—a terrifying army of high-level soldiers and other lords, all under the fox's control.

Under the cover of night, Ron moved through the ranks of the beasts, a phantom among giants. He didn't stop until he reached the cave at the center of the valley. He could see the fox inside, curled up and sleeping soundly. He crept within five meters, but as he moved closer, the fox's eyes snapped open. They were a brilliant, menacing gold. It attacked instantly, but not with claws or fire, but with a spiritual assault—a needle of pure psychic energy aimed at Ron's soul.

A blue light shimmered around Ron, and a system notification appeared in his mind. "Ding. Soul security activated. Attack deflected."

The psychic needle, instead of piercing his mind, rebounded with a force ten times its original strength, striking the Five-Tailed Fox's own mind. The fox's eyes went blank, its body spasming as its own attack tore through its consciousness. The moment of vulnerability was all Ron needed. He didn't hesitate. He thrust his hand forward, his claws extended, and pierced the fox's neck. The beast died instantly.

Ron stood over the body, filled with a newfound respect for the system. Not only did it grant him power, but it also protected him from attacks he could not have foreseen. He activated his absorption power, and the pink liquid devoured the fox. He felt a different kind of power surge through him—the power of a spirit master. His combat level instantly rose to that of a junior God of War due to his new spiritual abilities, even though his physical strength was still at the advanced battle general level.

Ron felt invincible. His speed was unmatched, his physical strength was on par with a God of War, and now he had the deadly abilities of a spirit master. There was no beast he couldn't defeat, no challenge he couldn't face.

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