Hunt Race

The beast charged.

Kael met it.

Their bodies collided at close range, Kael's sword catching the beast's claws before he twisted away from a second strike and answered with a slash toward its side.

The beast turned with him, avoiding the blade by inches before driving its fist toward Kael's stomach.

Kael stepped back and brought his sword down between them.

CLANG!

The beast's claws struck the blade.

Kael pushed them away and immediately stepped forward, forcing the beast to give ground for the first time since it had taken its humanoid form.

The beast recovered quickly and swung again.

Kael ducked beneath the attack, turned, and brought his sword around toward its ribs.

The beast blocked with its forearm.

Kael changed the angle of the blade.

The beast moved its body.

Kael's sword missed.

The beast's fist came toward his face.

Kael leaned away, then stepped back into range and struck toward its chest.

The beast caught the blade between its claws.

Kael pulled it free.

They separated.

Both stood still for a moment.

Kael breathed heavily.

The pain in his ribs had not completely disappeared.

The beast rolled its jaw once, remembering the knee that had caught it earlier.

Its silver eyes remained fixed on Kael.

Kael tightened his grip.

He had already learned something.

The beast was faster in this form.

Its movements were more controlled.

And unlike before, it wasn't simply reacting to him.

It was beginning to anticipate him.

Kael shifted his stance.

The beast moved.

Kael moved with it.

He stepped to the side.

Mirage Step.

His body shifted sharply.

The beast's eyes followed him.

Kael appeared at its flank.

His sword came free.

But instead of attacking immediately, Kael changed his grip.

The blade seemed to disappear into the movement.

Kael's eyes narrowed.

Phantom Edge.

He committed.

The beast's expression changed.

It had noticed something.

Kael's sword began its path toward the beast.

But the beast suddenly moved.

Not away from the blade.

Toward him.

Kael's eyes widened.

He tried to adjust the attack.

Too late.

The beast slipped inside his range.

Its hand caught Kael's wrist.

Kael's sword stopped.

The beast pulled him forward.

Kael tried to break free.

The beast's other hand drove into his chest.

BOOM!

Kael was launched backward.

His body crashed through the air before slamming into the ground.

The impact tore the breath from his lungs.

He rolled several meters before stopping.

For a moment, Kael didn't move.

Then the mark on his palm pulsed.

The black crescent glowed.

The damage began closing.

The pain in his chest slowly faded.

Kael's fingers dug into the dirt.

He pushed himself up.

The beast was already approaching.

Kael looked down at his palm.

The Mark was healing him again.

But his eyes remained on the beast.

He had failed to land Phantom Edge.

Worse—

The beast had punished him the moment he committed to it.

Kael slowly stood.

His breathing steadied.

A faint smile appeared.

"Not yet."

He raised his sword.

The beast stopped.

Kael's eyes sharpened.

He wasn't giving up on Phantom Edge.

He simply hadn't figured it out yet.

And neither of them knew...

that every time Kael was pushed to the edge,

his ability was beginning to change.

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