---
The Jungle – Mid-Combat
The Stormclaw Panthers weren't running.
They were analyzing. Adjusting.
The lead panther prowled in a slow circle, golden fur flickering with charged lightning. Its packmates mirrored the movement, coordinating silently.
They weren't mindless beasts.
They were hunters.
Kyle wiped the blood from his knuckles. The kick had landed, but it wasn't enough.
Jace shifted beside him. "Please tell me we have a plan, because I really don't want to get electrocuted today."
Lena exhaled sharply.
"We're fighting like idiots."
The group turned to her.
She pointed at Kyle. "That kick should have broken its ribs. But it didn't. Why?"
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Because it absorbed the impact."
"Exactly."
Lena's fingers twirled her dagger. "These things are using their fur as conductors. Lightning attacks won't work. But they're also adapting to physical blows. Meaning?"
Vivian's gaze sharpened. "We need something unpredictable."
Lena nodded. "And we have exactly that."
Her eyes flicked to Darius. To Kyle. To the others.
"Summon your familiars."
---
Unleashing the Familiars – But Not All
Jace grinned. "Now you're talking."
With a flick of his wrist, a dark mist spiraled around him. The air vibrated as a large, obsidian-colored hawk materialized.
"Nightpiercer, let's go."
The hawk screeched, flaring its wings, the black feathers absorbing the dim jungle light.
Lena's dagger pulsed with energy as a serpentine shape slithered into existence.
Her Glassthorn Viper.
It coiled at her feet, its translucent scales glinting like razor-edged glass.
Vivian raised her hand, and her Silverwing Moth emerged, its shimmering wings leaving behind traces of mana dust.
Darius hesitated.
His Stormfang Panther was a lightning-based familiar. Against these creatures? It would be useless.
Kyle caught his hesitation. "Not summoning it?"
Darius clenched his jaw. "It'd only make things worse. Their lightning would feed off its energy."
Lena nodded approvingly. "Good call. Then let's work with what we have."
---
The Counterattack Begins
The Stormclaw Panthers tensed as the familiars materialized.
They recognized the shift in battle.
They had been hunting prey.
Now?
The prey had claws of their own.
The first panther moved.
It flickered through the air, aiming for Vivian.
Her Silverwing Moth intercepted, releasing a burst of blinding mana dust.
The panther staggered mid-air, disoriented.
That was all the opening they needed.
Darius charged, joining his hands together into a hammer like fist slamming into the beast like a wrecking ball.
CRASH!
The panther howled, flipping through the air before crashing into a nearby tree.
Jace's Nightpiercer hawk dove, claws extending, ripping across the flank of the second panther.
Lena's Glassthorn Viper coiled, then struck—fangs sinking deep into the third panther's hind leg.
For the first time—the beasts were losing ground.
---
Kyle's Turn – Shadowstep in Action
The lead panther recovered first.
It locked eyes with Kyle.
Then—it moved.
Instantaneous.
A lightning-fast pounce aimed directly at his throat.
But Kyle?
Kyle was already gone.
Shadowstep activated.
His body phased slightly, and he reappeared directly behind the panther.
Its eyes widened.
Kyle's fist blurred.
A precise, controlled strike aimed at the panther's exposed ribs.
CRACK.
This time, the impact landed fully. The beast stumbled, gasping for breath.
Kyle didn't hesitate.
His foot slammed down on the panther's tail, pinning it.
It tried to escape—tried to flicker away.
But it was too slow.
And Kyle was too fast.
His fist came down again.
Hard. Brutal. Unforgiving.
The panther collapsed.
Dead.
---
[System Alert]
✔ You have slain 1/2 Elite Veil-Tier Creatures.
✔ EXP Gained.
✔ New Skill Unlocked: Phantom Repeater (Rank 1).
✔ System Function Detected: Absorb Crystal?
[YES] / [NO]
Kyle dismissed the alert.
He wasn't going to absorb anything. Not yet.
Instead—he turned to the others.
---
Darius wiped his brow. "That was more annoying than I expected." Want l more
Jace threw his hands in the air. "Speak for yourself! That thing nearly took my head off!"
Lena flicked blood from her dagger. "Maybe if you spent less time talking and more time fighting, it wouldn't have."
Jace scoffed. "Oh, excuse me, Miss Perfect Form."
Vivian took a step toward Kyle. "That move… you've never done that before."
Kyle's voice was flat. "What move?"
Vivian narrowed her eyes. "You know exactly what move."
Kyle didn't respond. He simply turned away, checking the jungle for movement.
Darius rolled his shoulders. "We should keep moving. If there are three of these things, there could be more."
Lena sheathed her dagger. "Agreed. Let's find more crystals before Vale's team gets ahead of us."
Jace smirked. "That's the first smart thing you've said all day."
Lena glared. "Say that again, and I'll make sure the next fight is me against you."
Kyle finally spoke. "Enough. We move."
---
Meanwhile – Soren's Team
Soren Vale stood at the edge of the jungle, his sharp eyes scanning the treetops.
Markus wiped blood from his blade. "Another Hollowfang Stalker down. That's two Veil-Tiers for us."
Theo grinned. "Kyle's team won't stand a chance."
Soren didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he turned slightly—watching.
Because not far from here…
Kyle's team had just finished their fight.
And something about it felt different.
---