His gaze was serious, his words measured. "If you encounter Shadow Claws above level 30, run. You're not ready for them yet."

  Tyler frowned. "But what if it catches me?"

  "Listen for their shriek," Grone instructed, his voice low. "They let out a high-pitched shriek just before they strike. They're fast, yes, incredibly fast, but they lack the raw power to match their speed. They might seem weak at first glance, but never underestimate them."

  ***

  Tyler’s heart hammered against his ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the silence of the forest. The Shadow Walker’s gaze, twin points of malevolent crimson, locked onto his. Its menacing smile, a rictus of bloody teeth, was unnerving. His hands trembled as he adopted a fighting stance, the familiar weight of his copper daggers grounding him. A swirling, smoke-like aura emanated from the rabbit-like creature, a miasma of darkness that seemed to writhe and pulse with malevolent energy. Then, as quickly as it appeared, the aura dissipated, and the Shadow Walker vanished, dissolving into the earth like smoke fading into the night, leaving only the lingering scent of ozone and decay.

  Instinct screamed at Tyler, and he took a stumbling step back, his eyes darting around, searching for the vanished Shadow Walker. "Where is it?" he thought, a prickle of unease crawling up his spine. Then, a high-pitched shriek tore through the night, the sound impossibly close, directly in front of him. A Level 28 Shadow ClawShadow Walker activated skill: Shadow Strike.

  Panic seized him. He couldn't see where the Shadow Walker would strike . He reacted instantly, activating his Rush skill.

  He spun around, his dagger arcing in a desperate slash, but found nothing. His HP display flashed into view: 8

  He looked up to see the Shadow Walker standing there, its red eyes burning into him. "I dodged it?" he thought, a flicker of grim satisfaction amidst the pain. But his relief was short-lived. The Shadow Walker launched itself at him with a spinning kick. Tyler reacted instinctively, crossing his daggers to block the blow. The impact sent a shockwave up his arms, but the Shadow Walker was relentless. A swift, sweeping kick followed, sending Tyler sprawling to the ground.

  He rolled, using his hands to propel himself upward as the Shadow Walker's teeth missed his face by a hair's breadth. Landing on his feet, he reacted instantly, throwing both daggers. The Shadow Walker met the first with a spinning kick, deflecting it harmlessly. The second dagger, aimed for the creature's head, was met with an incredible display of agility; the Shadow Walker used its ear to deflect the blade, sending it flying into the shadows.

  A shriek announced the arrival of a Shadow Claw, launching itself from behind the Shadow Walker. Tyler reacted with brutal efficiency, rotating his body and delivering a powerful kick that sent the creature sprawling, its head impacting the ground with a sickening crunch. Level UpShadow Strike

  He groaned, a sound ripped from his lungs by the searing pain, and instinctively reached for the Shadow Walker, but his grasp closed on nothing. The creature had vanished. He tasted blood, the coppery tang of it filling his mouth as he vomited. The system message appeared: Shadow Walker activated Shadow Step.

  Then, a blur of motion—but not just any blur. This was a calculated blur, a terrifying ballet of death. A shadow, impossibly fast, appeared near him, then, instead of a direct attack, it seemed to push off the nearest tree trunk, its movement a rapid series of precisely timed hops. A whoosh of displaced air accompanied each impossible leap. It wasn't merely bouncing; it was using the trees as springboards, launching itself from one trunk to the next in a dizzying display of speed and agility. One moment it was near Tyler's head, the next it was impacting a tree trunk with a shar twack

  A searing pain lanced through his leg, then his cheek, his shoulder, his back—each blow precise, each impact leaving a deep, burning wound. He couldn't see the attacks coming; the Shadow Walker was a phantom, a wraith of darkness, its movements too fast for his eyes to follow. His HP plummeted to 68, the deep wounds burning with agony. He activated his Rush skill

  The Shadow Walker, having completed its dizzying display of speed, launched itself from the tree trunk, its target: Tyler's eyes. Tyler, having activated his Rush skill

  Meanwhile, Rebecca walked through the forest, her bow and quiver of arrows resting comfortably on her back. "It should be around here," she murmured, her gaze sweeping across the dense undergrowth. Then, a sound reached her ears—a faint but distinct series of thuds and scrapes, carried on the wind. Instantly, she activated her Perception skill

  As the man turned, his gaze sweeping across the trees, Rebecca felt a jolt of recognition. "Wait a minute," she whispered, a frown creasing her brow. "Isn't that...?" The moonlight glinted off a familiar glint—an E-rank copper necklace, hanging around the man's neck, bobbing slightly as he turned his head frantically. Surprise flickered across Rebecca's face. He'd become a hunter. Her surprise deepened into something akin to alarm as a dark shape, almost like a fleeting shadow, brushed past the man's face. He stumbled backward, a hand flying up to his cheek, a fresh wound already welling with blood.

  "Wait a minute," Rebecca muttered, her eyes narrowing. "Is he facing Shadow Claws? What kind of stupid E-rank is he?" She swiftly removed her bow from her back, selecting an arrow with practiced ease. Nocking the arrow, she drew back the string, her gaze fixed on the fleeting shadow that continued to dart around Tyler. A low murmur escaped her lips, "Flaming Arrow," and as she spoke, a ring of fire, like a fiery serpent, coiled around the arrow, its heat shimmering in the air. Then, with a smooth, practiced motion, she loosed the arrow. Before the arrow could reach its target, Tyler's system panel flashed: Shadow Walker activated skill: Shadow Strike.Rebecca activated skill: Flaming Arrow.

  The Shadow Walker, mid-leap, caught sight of the incoming flaming arrow. With a blur of motion, it unleashed a spinning kick, deflecting the projectile. The flaming arrow, its trajectory altered, veered sharply to the left, impacting a nearby tree with a loud crack and a small explosion of fire. The distraction was all the Shadow Walker needed. Before Tyler could react, it struck, a spinning kick connecting with his face. The force of the blow sent him hurtling backward, his body slamming against the trunk of a large tree with a sickening thud.

  Rebecca's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh shit," she breathed, her voice laced with alarm. "It's the Shadow Walker."

  Tyler, groaning, pushed himself away from the tree trunk, his body aching. He looked towards the source of the explosion, then glanced down. His gaze fell upon a decaying corpse lying on the forest floor, its armor partially obscured by leaves and undergrowth. A system prompt appeared next to the body: Extract

  Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

  "It easily deflected my arrow," Rebecca muttered, her voice tight with grim determination. She swiftly plucked three more arrows from her quiver, her movements fluid and practiced. With an almost casual grace, she nocked all three arrows, her fingers dancing across the fletching, preparing for a rapid-fire volley. Her gaze remained locked on the Shadow Walker, assessing its movements, calculating the optimal firing angles.

  Meanwhile, Tyler, his body screaming in protest, found his copper daggers materializing in his hands. He lunged, driving a dagger toward the Shadow Walker's throat. The creature reacted instantly, its hind legs propelling it backward in a powerful hop, narrowly avoiding the blade. He spun, attempting a sweeping strike at its flank. The Shadow Walker twisted, its body a blur of motion, the dagger passing harmlessly through the air where it had been a moment before. He tried again, a vicious upward thrust aimed at its abdomen. With a flick of its wrist, the Shadow Walker sidestepped, its furry armor brushing against Tyler's arm.

  Then, with a sudden, brutal movement, the Shadow Walker seized one of Tyler's daggers in its teeth, the metal groaning under the pressure before snapping with a sharp crack. Before Tyler could react, a lightning-fast kick shattered his second dagger, sending the pieces flying. He was disarmed, defenseless, facing a creature of terrifying speed and power. The Shadow Walker loomed over him, its crimson eyes burning with malevolent glee, poised to strike. Rebecca, however, held her aim, three arrows nocked and ready, waiting for the perfect moment to unleash her deadly volley.

  Rebecca, seeing her opening, unleashed her arrows. Three flaming projectiles, each trailing a fiery wake, shot towards the Shadow Walker in rapid succession. The creature, sensing the imminent threat, turned its gaze towards the incoming volley. Before it could react, however, the Shadow Walker launched itself at Tyler. A spinning kick, swift and brutal, impacted Tyler's chest, sending him sprawling backward. Using Tyler's body as a springboard, the Shadow Walker propelled itself forward, its trajectory carrying it directly into the path of the oncoming arrows. With impossible grace, it met the first arrow with a back-kick, sending it careening harmlessly off to the side. The second arrow it intercepted with a sideways strike of its paw, deflecting it with a sharp clack. The third arrow, however, was too close, too fast. The Shadow Walker barely had time to react, its head snapping back as the flaming arrow grazed its skull, leaving a burning trail across its furry armor.

  The Shadow Walker landed heavily, the impact jarring. It turned its head to the left, its crimson eyes fixing on Tyler. Before it could react, Tyler, fueled by adrenaline and a desperate need for survival, unleashed a ferocious punch, aiming for its face. "Got you!" he roared, putting every ounce of his remaining strength into the blow. The Shadow Walker was propelled backward, its body reeling from the impact. But just as it seemed certain to crash against a nearby tree trunk, Tyler's system panel flashed: Shadow Walker activated skill: Shadow Den.

  Silence descended, broken only by Tyler's ragged breathing. He looked around, his gaze sweeping across the forest, searching for any sign of the creature. Then, remembering the fiery arrows that had grazed the Shadow Walker, he knew it was Rebecca. She was here.

  The system message appeared: Shadow walker activated skill: Shadow Strike

  Rebecca, having loosed her volley, turned to see if her arrows had found their mark. The area where the Shadow Walker had been was empty. Before she could react, a blur of motion appeared behind her. It was too late. The Shadow Claw connected with a brutal spinning kick to her back, the force of the blow sending her hurtling forward.

  Tyler's gaze fell upon the decaying corpse. "I'm sorry about this," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper. He yelled, "Extract!", the word a raw cry tearing through the silence. The command initiated the extraction process; the dead man's armor shimmered, then vanished. Mid-run, the thought formed, sharp and clear: Craft, Bashing Hammer. The system responded instantly: Crafting

  Tyler swung the Bashing Hammer in a wide arc, aiming for the Shadow Claw's head. But the creature wasn't there. One moment, it had been looming before him, its crimson eyes burning with malevolent intent; the next, it was gone. Then, a searing pain shot through his side as the Shadow Walker materialized behind him, its claws tearing into his flesh. He stumbled forward, his breath catching in his throat.

  "Damn it!" he grunted, clutching at his wound.

  Before he could recover, a dark shape appeared beside Rebecca. She reacted instantly, her dagger flashing out in a desperate attempt to intercept the attack. But the Shadow Claw was too quick, too unpredictable. Her blade sliced through empty air as the creature vanished once more.

  Rebecca hissed, her eyes narrowed in concentration. "Where the hell is it?" she muttered, her voice tight with frustration.

  Tyler, nursing his wound, glared at the spot where the creature had last appeared. "It's using the shadows," he said, his voice strained. "It's like it's teleporting."

  The Shadow Walker reappeared behind Tyler, its claws extended. He barely managed to twist away, the claws grazing his shoulder. He spun around, his hammer raised, but the creature was gone again, reappearing beside Rebecca, forcing her to leap back to avoid another attack. The dance of death continued, a terrifying game of hide and seek played in the flickering shadows of the forest.

  "The shadow walker, a blur of inky darkness, rebounded from the tree trunk with unnatural spring. Taylor reacted instantly. With a powerful thrust, he extended the hammer's shaft, its weight a sudden, brutal counterforce. The hammer's head slammed into Rebecca's abdomen, a jarring impact that sent her sprawling away from the creature's deadly lunge. The shadow walker, its target snatched away, swiped with razor-sharp claws, narrowly missing Rebecca's neck. A shallow gash opened across her throat, a thin crimson line against her pale skin. A strangled groan escaped her lips as she collapsed, her body hitting the forest floor with a soft thud.

  "‘Damn it,’ Tyler muttered, the low curse barely audible above the rustling leaves as his hammer swung wide, narrowly missing the shadow walker's fleeting form. Rebecca, clutching her bleeding neck, watched the creature's movements with growing alarm. Its speed was unnatural, a blur of motion that defied prediction. Each feint, each darting leap, was perfectly timed to evade Tyler's attacks. ‘Shadow claws… I should have focused on ranged tactics,’ she thought grimly.

  "A blue system panel shimmered into existence before Tyler, stark against the dim forest light: *18 HP*. His heart hammered against his ribs, a frantic drumbeat accompanying the unsettling whisper of the shadow walker flitting through the trees. ‘I have to finish this,’ he muttered, his voice tight with grim determination, ‘or else I’m going to die.’

  Rebecca, noticing her fallen position near her quiver, scrambled to her feet. Her fingers closed around the familiar weight of her bow and arrows. Her gaze darted around, searching for an opening, a fleeting glimpse of the shadow walker's movements that might offer a clear shot."

  "Tyler's eyes tracked the shadow walker, the seemingly random leaps resolving into a discernible pattern. 'These aren't random at all,' he murmured, a grim smile playing on his lips. 'I think I've got it.' With a controlled swing, his hammer whistled through the air, missing the creature by a hair. The shadow walker's eyes widened in mid-air as it reacted to the near miss, leaping to another tree. 'I knew it,' Tyler said, a surge of confidence coursing through him. 'I think I can beat it."

  Rebecca watched Tyler, surprise evident on her face. He seemed to be anticipating the shadow walker's movements, a skill she lacked despite her ability to see faraway objects. Her skill didn't slow down fast movements; it only extended her vision. Confused, she thought, "How is he doing that? That's impossible. Isn't he just E-rank?"

  Tyler infused mana into his hammer and armor. A system notification appeared: Skill Fusion Possible.

  The shadow walker seized the moment, launching a Shadow Strike. Tyler reacted instinctively, narrowly dodging the attack, but not before a claw raked across his cheek, drawing blood.

  He glanced at the system panel, his breath catching in his throat. "Yes," he whispered, "fuse skills.

  The system responded: Skill Fusion Complete: Kinetic Overload.

  Tyler said, "Kinetic Overload?"

  The system replied: Kinetic Overload combines Bash and Rush. Increased attack speed, strength, and damage 150 Atk. Shockwave on impact deals 20-30 additional damage. Active for 5 seconds. Consumes 22 mana. Bash and Rush remain usable separately.

  Tyler glanced at his system panel. Frost Arrow Activated

  He looked up, his gaze snagging on a branch high above. Perched there, a silhouette against the fading light, the shadow walker regarded him with chilling patience. The creature was assessing him, gauging its next move. Tyler's grip tightened on his hammer, the cold metal a stark contrast to the burning intensity in his eyes. A faint blue luminescence emanated from his eyes, echoing the glow of the concentric circles on his Gloom Armor sleeves. The air crackled with anticipation as the system messages flashed before him: Shadow Walker has activated Shadow Step. Shadow Strike.

  The shadow walker launched itself from the branch, a blur of shadow and claw, its attack a deadly combination of speed and surprise. Adrenaline surged through Tyler. With a guttural roar, he activated Kinetic Overload. The world seemed to sharpen, colors intensifying as his muscles coiled, ready to unleash a devastating blow. He launched himself upwards, a human projectile defying gravity, soaring to meet the oncoming creature in a mid-air collision.

  Their blows met with earth-shattering force. His hammer slammed into the shadow walker, a blinding flash erupting as a shockwave radiated outwards, throwing Rebecca backward. The air itself seemed to crackle and explode as a deafening roar filled the forest. The impact sent Tyler hurtling back to earth, the force of the blow knocking the wind from his lungs.

  He landed hard, the impact jarring. He checked his HP; it was down to 8

  Breath ragged, Tyler stared into the distance. The shadow walker was slowly rising, its movements sluggish, its head bleeding profusely. It was clearly weakened, near death. His gaze shifted to Rebecca. To his surprise, she was already standing, her bow drawn, a fiery arrow aimed squarely at the wounded creature. The arrow blazed with an intense, almost supernatural light.

  "Oh no," Tyler breathed, "She's about to kill it."

  He launched himself forward, desperate to reach the shadow walker, but Rebecca's arrow flew first.

  "I'm too late," Tyler muttered,

  With a guttural yell, Tyler hurled his hammer. It spun through the air, a blur of metal and power, propelled by the full force of his remaining strength. Before the hammer could reach its target, Rebecca's fiery arrow struck the shadow walker. A massive explosion erupted, sending the creature hurtling into the air. Rebecca breathed a sigh of relief, believing her shot had been fatal. But her relief was short-lived. Her eyes widened as she saw Tyler, a silhouette against the sky, launching himself upwards.

  Tyler spun through the air, his body a blur of motion. His spinning kick connected with the falling shadow walker, sending the creature crashing to the ground with bone-jarring force. The impact caused the shadow walker to shriek in pain, its body convulsing, but it was not yet dead. Tyler reacted instantly. With a wordless command, his hammer materialized in his hand.

  "Wait!" Rebecca shouted, but it was too late.

  Tyler smashed the hammer down onto the shadow walker, the blow delivering a final, decisive strike. The creature went still. Silence descended, broken only by the ragged sound of Tyler's breathing. He stood, feeling the relief wash over him. Then, his system panel appeared before his eyes: Level up Level up Level up Level up Level up Level up Level up.