As the Shadowclaw vanished into thin air, a shroud of uncertainty descended upon the world surrounding Erik. A lurking predator, invisible to the naked eye, haunted the forest's depths, its presence lingering in the air. With muscles taut and senses honed, the young hunter remained alert, attuned to the slightest disturbance in the surrounding area.
Erik maintained his composure despite his racing heart, which he managed to control. Realizing the Shadowclaw's ability to vanish from sight, he understood that depending solely on his eyesight would prove detrimental. He refrained from any movement and focused his senses on the slightest signals, intently listening for the rustling of leaves and shifts in the air.
"Keep your focus, Erik. Utilize your intuition. You can succeed," he said to himself.
However, at that moment, the young man's back suddenly ached. The beast had launched a surprise attack, leaving behind a vicious wound crossing Erik's back from one end to another. Erik's body reacted on its own, pulling back just in time to prevent any additional harm.
He clenched his teeth, fighting the overwhelming desire to let out a piercing scream. He slowly pivoted on his heel, only to witness the creature disappear into thin air right before his very eyes once again.
"You want to play games, huh?" Erik said despite his back aching.
The awakener remained motionless, his awareness heightened, as he meticulously surveyed his surroundings. He scanned the surrounding trees with a watchful gaze; his ears perked up, alert to any possible disturbance. Each rustle of leaves and faint whisper of movement held the potential to reveal the invisible adversary lurking in the shadows.
He scoured the environment for any anomalies that might indicate the thaid's presence, hoping to uncover subtle clues that might reveal the beast's position.
Once again, the beast emerged from the shadows. With deceptive grace, it launched a surprise assault, its movements swift and lethal. Yet Erik quickly reacted this time, his reflexes as sharp as lightning. Anticipating the trajectory of the strike, he raised his weapon just in time to intercept the blow.
The resounding clash of metal against bones reverberated through the air as the young man deft parry nimbly deflected the attack, leaving him unscathed. The impact's force rippled through his arm, yet he stood his ground, unwavering in his stance. A wave of contentment washed over him as he triumphantly thwarted the unseen monster's attack. However, his elation was fleeting as the creature vanished once more, leaving him momentarily bewildered.
The forest was engulfed in an eerie silence, with only the sound of his rapid breaths breaking the stillness. He was acutely aware that being caught off guard again was not an option. His mind raced, desperately seeking any clue or sign that would betray the creature's presence.
"C'mon, you stupid beast... get out!"
With a sudden burst of movement, the Shadowclaw appeared before him, its sharp claws ready to attack. Erik's instincts overtook him as his body twisted and turned frantically to avoid the impending strike. He managed to evade the full impact of the blow narrowly, but not without feeling the sharpness of claws grazing his flesh. The sensation left a stinging reminder of his vulnerability.
In a fleeting moment, Erik grasped the chance that presented itself. With a deft and precise movement, he swiftly brought his weapon down upon the fleeting Shadowclaw, slicing through its tough skin and drawing crimson blood. A piercing howl of agony and rage escaped the creature as Erik's strike shattered its veil of invisibility. Retreating, the injured creature relinquished its upper hand, and Erik took his chance.
Without wasting a moment, the young man sprang into action. With adrenaline coursing through his veins and an unwavering determination, he pushed forward, unleashing a barrage of unrelenting swings. His blade repeatedly found its mark, carving deep wounds into the Shadowclaw's unstable form. The creature tried to escape but in vain.
The conflict persisted, a mesmerizing display of opposing forces engaged in a delicate choreography. As time elapsed, Erik became accustomed to the creature's attack patterns and became able to at least partially decipher its movements.
In an instant, the Shadowclaw's desperation reached its peak, and with a surge of energy, the beast launched itself forward with a vicious and ferocious attack. The creature's jaws snapped shut with lightning speed, aiming to sink its razor-sharp teeth into Erik's flesh.
Erik lifted his arm to confront the impending attack. He channeled mana through his neural links; his metalization and mana exoskeleton brain crystal powers reinforced his limbs, increasing his defenses.
The awakener's reinforced limb met the Shadowclaw's powerful bite with a sickening thud. The impact reverberated through his arm, and a surge of pain coursed through his body despite using his powers, but the defensive reinforcement held strong.
Erik gritted his teeth and refused to yield. With a determined spirit, he wielded his Flyssa with precision, using his other arm to strike back and wound the creature more.
The beast roared in pain and left Erik's arm. Only for it to start running away, the beast got too many wounds already from the previous fight, and the ones Erik made were too nasty.
Erik darted forward in pursuit of the beast. The young man pressed on and followed the trail of blood left behind by the creature through the thick and tangled undergrowth, his heart racing with anticipation.
Each step brought him closer to his prey, the creature's gasps for air growing louder and more desperate.
The once formidable beast, now on its last legs, struggled to find refuge amidst the trees, its body weakened and ravaged by the combined effects of Erik's relentless attacks and the poison from the mana dart.
The awakener's heart raced with a blend of excitement and resolve as he approached the injured creature. He knew that this moment was his—the climax of their conflict.
With each labored breath, the Shadowclaw's strength waned, its movements slowing as it fought against the encroaching darkness. Its once-piercing gaze, filled with primal ferocity, now held a glimmer of desperation.
As Erik approached, he saw the creature's body trembling, its life force flickering like a dying flame. He felt a surge of mixed emotions—gratitude for his own survival, awe at the creature's resilience, and a tinge of sadness for the imminent end of the beast.
The young man stood before the Shadowclaw, observing the creature's gasps while his eyes witnessed the internal struggle it was going through. With a deft and graceful movement, he lifted his Flyssa, its sharp edge reflecting the scattered rays of sunlight that penetrated the dense foliage overhead. The gravity of his purpose weighed heavily upon the young man as he felt a solemn obligation to end the creature's agony swiftly.
With a calculated burst of energy, Erik deftly lowered his blade, honing in on the Shadowclaw's skull. The metal encountered a brief moment of resistance before finally breaking through the creature's defenses.
The Shadowclaw emitted a shuddering gasp as the blade found its mark, deeply piercing its skull. Erik maintained his stance, his weapon firmly lodged in the creature's brain, as if time had ceased to exist.
The surrounding forest grew still as though the very essence of nature paused in anticipation of the ultimate blow. Erik's fingers coiled around the hilt of his weapon, his gaze unflinching as he met the fading stare of the Shadowclaw.
[SHADOWCLAW KILLED: MANA ABSORBING PROCESS STARTING.]
[0%...1%....5%...30%...70%...100%]
[MANA SUCCESSFULLY ABSORBED, STARTING CONVERTING PROCEDURE.]
[3...2...1...0]
[MANA SUCCESSFULLY CONVERTED INTO EXPERIENCE. 1057 EXPERIENCE POINTS AWARDED TO THE HOST.]
[SHADOWCLAW'S DNA HAS BEEN FOUND COMPATIBLE WITH THE BRAIN CRYSTAL POWER "ANIMAL SHAPE SHIFTING" TO STRENGTHEN THE POWER, THE HOST IS REQUIRED TO DRINK AT LEAST 20 CC OF BLOOD.]
With caution, Erik approached the lifeless body of the fallen Shadowclaw. Its once fierce and intimidating presence now absent.
"Damn, that was one hell of a fight," Erik muttered to himself, his voice tinged with exhaustion. Knowing he had bested such a formidable opponent, he couldn't deny the satisfaction that coursed through his veins.
Erik paused to regulate his breathing before directing his concentration toward the Shadowclaw's blood. Cupping his hands, he drank the vital fluid until two notifications interrupted him.
[SHADOWCLAW'S DNA ACQUIRED. STARTING THE ANALYSIS.]
[ANALYSIS COMPLETE.]
[100 DNA POINTS ARE REQUIRED TO EXTRACT THE DNA. 500 TO GET IT WITHOUT INCURRING PAIN AND LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS.]
[2330 DNA POINTS DETECTED. COMMENCING EXTRACTION?]
"Not yet," Erik said. He limited himself to drinking the blood required to power up the Animal shape-shifting power.
[BLOOD ABSORBED. DNA STORING PROCEDURE STARTED. PLEASE WAIT.]
[PROCEDURE COMPLETE.]
But his eyes were not solely fixated on the blood. Erik's gaze shifted to the creature's head, its skull holding the prized brain crystal. He took his blade with steady hands and deftly sliced open the skull, revealing the gleaming jewel within. Carefully, he extracted the brain crystal.
Without hesitation, Erik swallowed the brain crystal whole, allowing the system to work its magic.
[SHADOWCLAW'S BRAIN CRYSTAL ACQUIRED. STARTING THE ANALYSIS.]
[ANALYSIS COMPLETE.]
[100 DNA POINTS ARE REQUIRED TO EXTRACT THE POWER. 500 TO GET IT WITHOUT INCURRING PAIN AND LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS.]
[2330 DNA POINTS DETECTED. EXTRACTION IS NOT ADVISED; THE HOST HAS INCOMPATIBLE DNA.]
[EXTRACTION ABORTED]
Erik stood up, his being filled with a sense of accomplishment as he surveyed his spoils. With a heavy heart, he cast his gaze upon the defeated Shadowclaw, a formidable foe who had tested his mettle to the utmost.
"That has been a good harvest. I just need to merge this power with the Whisperwind Hare's and see what comes out of it."
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