The Thornfang Panther prowled between the trees.
Its emerald eyes never left Kael.
Unlike the Razor Fox...
This beast relied on explosive bursts of speed.
Without warning—
BOOM!
It shot toward him.
Its claws aimed straight for his throat.
Kael didn't retreat.
His right foot slid outward.
His shoulders turned with it.
To the panther...
It looked as though he intended to evade to the right.
The beast immediately adjusted its trajectory.
It committed completely.
At that instant...
Kael shifted his weight.
His left foot drove into the earth.
His body sharply cut across in the opposite direction.
Mirage Step.
The panther's claws tore through empty air.
It landed where Kael was supposed to be.
Kael was already beneath its center of gravity.
"Ripple Slash."
SHING!
The first slash ripped across the beast's lower flank.
Before the panther could gather itself—
SHING!
The second ripple carved across its hind leg.
Blood sprayed across the forest floor.
A crimson mark bloomed beneath the first wound.
First Blood.
The panther snarled as it landed awkwardly.
Its injured hind leg buckled for a brief moment before it recovered its footing.
Green mana surged around its limbs.
Its ability—
Predator's Pounce.
Mana exploded beneath its paws.
The beast shot forward again with terrifying force.
Instead of attacking directly, it kicked off a tree trunk and changed direction mid-air.
Its claws struck first.
Its tail swept low.
Its jaws snapped toward Kael's neck.
Three attacks.
One opening.
Kael's first step invited the claws.
The panther committed.
His weight shifted.
Mirage Step.
The claws missed.
The tail swept through empty air.
The jaws closed on nothing.
The panther landed and immediately sprang again.
It refused to give Kael room to breathe.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Every failed strike flowed into another.
Fresh tears appeared across Kael's clothes.
A shallow cut opened on his forearm.
Another across his ribs.
His breathing grew heavier.
"...Not enough."
His Mirage Step still lacked the Razor Fox's precision.
He could deceive once.
But chaining the movement together was another matter entirely.
The panther lunged again.
Kael didn't watch its claws.
He watched its legs.
The instant its hind legs compressed...
He already knew.
One false step.
The panther adjusted.
One real step.
Mirage Step.
The beast flew past him.
Its entire side opened for the briefest moment.
Kael didn't hesitate.
"Ripple Slash."
SHING!
The first strike ripped across the panther's abdomen.
Before it could recover—
SHING!
The second ripple carved diagonally across its chest.
Blood burst into the air.
The panther stumbled.
Its injured hind leg finally gave way.
Kael appeared beside it.
His sword flashed once.
SHING!
The Thornfang Panther froze.
A thin crimson line slowly spread across its neck.
Its emerald eyes lost their light.
The massive body collapsed with a heavy thud that echoed through the forest.
Silence returned.
Kael stood still for several seconds, calming his breathing.
"...Still not perfect."
His Mirage Step was smoother now.
But compared to the Razor Fox...
It still lacked finesse.
He crouched beside the corpse and removed the Bronze beast core.
Moments later, another core rested in his palm.
Without a word, he dropped it into the leather pouch hanging from his waist.
The added weight pulled the pouch lower against his side.
Kael adjusted the strap and turned to leave.
Clap.
A single clap echoed through the trees.
He stopped.
Another clap followed.
Clap... Clap...
"...Impressive."
Kael slowly turned toward the voice.
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