The forest trembled with each step the shadow took. The shadow stretched across the broken trees, swallowing the moonlight and drowning the forest in an unnatural gloom. The ground beneath it cracked softly, as if the earth itself was afraid to resist.
A loud, rumbling growl echoed through the Black Fog Forest. It was deep, as if the shadow itself were hungry. From the darkness stepped a towering figure.
It was a bear. But not an ordinary one.
Its body was enormous, its muscles swollen as iron wrapped in flesh, and a dark red aura seeped from its body, swirling like thick smoke around its limbs and fangs. Its eyes glowed with a savage crimson red light, filled with bloodlust and madness.
The moment it appeared...
Mei Ling's face drained of color.
"…Demonic beast," she whispered.
The words were soft, but the moment they heard them, they felt like death was in front of them.
Fear struck instantly.
Lee Kang's legs buckled.
Mo Yerin's breath caught in her throat.
Ryu Minseok felt his heart slam violently against his chest and said, "How could a demonic beast appear here. It should have stayed deep in the forest. In the core area."
It was something far worse than a spirit beast.
Unlike spirit beasts, demonic beasts were corrupted by malicious energy. They were unpredictable, brutal, and far stronger than ordinary beasts of the same realm.
For disciples at the Qi Gathering Realm, this meant absolute death.
Before panic could spread further, Kerus spoke. His voice was calm. Too calm.
"If you can still move," he said, eyes fixed on the beast, "help each other and run toward the forest entrance."
Everyone turned toward him with wide eyes.
"I'll keep it busy here while you guys bring the teachers," added Kerus.
The words struck Mei Ling like lightning.
Her eyes widened. "You can't!" She staggered forward, ignoring the pain tearing through her body.
"Rick… from your qi fluctuation, I know you've formed six stars," she said anxiously. "That's already amazing, but this beast...this thing is not something we can handle!"
Kerus didn't turn his head.
"If you stay here, all of you will die," he replied calmly. His face showed a calm expression, like a river's surface.
The blunt certainty in his voice left no room for argument.
"Go," he continued. "Call the teachers. I'll delay it as long as I can."
Mei Ling clenched her fists.
"No," she said, shaking her head. "I won't leave you here alone."
This time, Kerus paused. He looked at her.
Then he turned his gaze toward the others.
Minseok forced himself upright, coughing blood. His body screamed in pain, but his eyes were clear.
"Ling," he said, breathing heavily, "we should go."
She turned toward him.
"We've all seen Rick's power," Minseok continued. "If he says we have to bring the teachers… then we have to trust this is the best option he can bring."
He swallowed hard.
"Staying here won't help him. We will only be a burden on him. Calling the teachers is the best option."
Ling trembled in thought as she stood there, "he might die."
But looking at the current situation, she finally decided, and her lips parted. Then she finally nodded.
"…Alright."
With shaking hands, Ling, Minseok, and Yerin helped the injured to move. One by one, they staggered away, retreating through the forest.
In front of them, the beast kept looking at them like he was also waiting for something. The situation tells that the beast was letting its prey run so as to torment them further.
Before leaving, Mei Ling turned back and saw that Kerus stood alone.
Facing the demonic beast.
Her eyes filled with worry. "Be safe, Rick," she whispered. "I'll bring help. I promise."
Then all of them run toward the forest entrance to bring help.
Silence returned. Only the sound of the wind and rustling leaves could be heard.
Only Kerus remained alone to face a thing that should be handled by several Martial Warriors. A two-realm upper than Kerus's now.
The demonic bear exhaled. Its breath was hot, foul, and filled with killing intent.
Kerus slowly stepped forward.
His heartbeat was steady.
"…Until now," he murmured to himself, "I defeated others using agility."
His eyes narrowed. "The Dragon Tendon Art sharpened my reflexes. With enough speed, even simple force becomes lethal."
The bear growled, red aura surging violently.
"But against you…" Kerus continued calmly, "…my attacks won't even scratch your hide."
He exhaled.
Decades of battle experience guided his mind.
"If I can't harm you," he concluded, "then the only option is to dodge and run."
"Keep you busy so others can run."
The moment he finished thinking....
He moved to his left side. Kerus shot through the forest, leaping from tree to tree, pushing his body to its limit. The air behind him exploded.
The bear vanished.
That was what Kerus thought, but he was wrong.
It didn't vanish but crossed the distance instantly with his mountain-like body.
Kerus's eyes widened, not in shock, but in realization.
"This fast…?"
Before he could react, a massive claw sealed his view.
Kerus crossed his arms to block.
Boom!
That beast attacked Kerus with its massive claw. But the impact was monstrous.
Kerus's body was launched like a cannonball, crashing through trees one after another. Trunks shattered, branches exploded, and the ground tore apart as his body skidded violently across the forest floor.
He slammed into a massive tree.
Crack!
Pain erupted.
His arm twisted unnaturally.
Broken.
Kerus coughed up blood.
Still, this was not enough to take him out. He was a martial sovereign. With his decades of battle experience, he reduced the impact as much as he could.
He stood again. In the dark, moonlight exposed his eyes, which showed no fear, only determination to kill the beast.
With sheer willpower, he moved his body again.
This time, he used phantom Art.
A movement technique once created by a friend of his, a Martial Emperor. It helped him run silently.
He leaped into the trees again, using branches, changing directions midair, moving unpredictably.
Faster and sharper. It felt like he wasn't even there now.
The bear stood in confusion in the forest. Kerus just circled that beast, but it couldn't even sense his presence.
The demonic beast looked at all sides, but couldn't do anything.
The demonic beast hesitated for a breath. Then its aura surged violently.
Now Kerus knew running and dodging wouldn't help him in this battle. To kill this demonic beast, he unsheathed his sword and changed his direction toward the beast.
The demonic bear sensed Kerus's killing intent and looked in that direction, but it was too late....
"Ninefold Void-Opening Slice," shouted Kerus and passed the beast. Then he distanced himself from the beast to look at the result. "This technique is enough for you. It will ignore your tough hide and directly attack your body nine times in the same spot." Hoping to end this beast with this art, but to his surprise, the beast not only refused to die but more aura exploded outward from his body. The beast entered into a more terrifying phase now. It was...