The dense forest was eerily silent, the usual sounds of birds chirping and wind rustling through the trees muffled by the thick carpet of snow. The air was cold, biting, yet Li Rong felt a certain fire burn within him. His focus was razor-sharp, his senses tingling as he surveyed the surroundings.
In the distance, a shape darted between the trees. A flash of movement, so swift it was almost imperceptible. Li Rong's eyes narrowed.
"There it is," he muttered under his breath.
His companions, Ren Yao and Li Xue, flanked him on either side. The forest was quiet enough that their footsteps barely made a sound. Behind them, Elder Li Jian walked silently, observing the young ones. His sharp eyes scanned the landscape with practiced ease, yet he said nothing. The elder's stoic expression never changed.
Li Rong's eyes locked onto the fleeting shadow of the creature that had been eluding them. It was fast—too fast for anyone to keep up with, even in the snow. But it wasn't just its speed that made it dangerous. The Shadowfang Rabbit was known for its cunning.
The rabbit's sleek, shadowy fur blended perfectly with the surroundings. Its form flickered like a wisp of smoke, vanishing from one tree to another in an instant. Li Rong smirked. This was no ordinary spirit beast. This was a creature that could rival his agility if it came to it. And that's why he wanted it.
The hunt began.
With a flick of his wrist, Li Rong's Duskwither Moonfang Wolf spirit emerged behind him, its ethereal form glowing faintly. The familiar pulse of power surged through him, and for a moment, he could feel the ancient power of his mutated wolf spirit. He wasn't just another clan member. He was different.
The rabbit darted again, a blur of movement.
Li Rong was already in motion. He moonstepped, his body melting into the shadows as his form shifted and reappeared, his movements unnaturally fast. The shadows embraced him, and for a moment, he became part of them. He dashed forward, his knife flashing in his hand. But as soon as he neared the rabbit, it vanished once more—into thin air.
"Damn it," Li Rong muttered. His eyes swept the area, but the rabbit was gone.
Ren Yao called out, "Where did it go?"
"It's fast," Li Rong replied coolly. "Faster than I thought."
His fingers tightened around the hilt of his knife, and he glanced over at Li Xue, whose icy blue eyes were locked on the same spot. "Stay sharp," he warned her. "It's not going to make it easy."
Li Xue's Frostfang Wolf spirit flickered behind her as she unsheathed her sword, its blade gleaming in the pale light. "I'm ready," she said in a low voice.
The rabbit made another dash, its form barely visible before it vanished again. It was toying with them now, jumping from shadow to shadow. Li Rong's focus deepened. He could hear the thud of his heartbeat in his ears, but the noise didn't distract him. He had become a part of the forest itself, his movements fluid and precise.
Then, in an instant, he saw it again—a brief flash of movement near the edge of a clearing.
Without a second thought, he Moonstepped again, faster this time, closing the gap with terrifying speed. But just as he reached the spot where the rabbit had been, it disappeared yet again, this time with a mocking twist, like it knew his every move.
Li Rong didn't hesitate. He adjusted his stance, analyzing the creature's behavior. The rabbit wasn't just trying to escape—it was leading them. Leading him into a trap.
The wind whispered through the trees as Li Rong crouched low, silent as death. He knew this beast. Shadowfang Rabbit—a creature of the shadows, capable of pulling its pursuers into traps.
But he wasn't so easily caught.
The rabbit darted into view again, just outside the clearing. This time, it hesitated for a moment as if daring him to make a move.
Li Rong smiled faintly. The moment it gave him an opening, he would strike. He didn't need speed alone. He needed to outwit it.
The fight continued.
This time, Li Rong waited. The rabbit was fast, but it was also clever. The more Li Rong chased, the more it taunted him, always staying one step ahead. It darted from shadow to shadow, its form flickering in and out of sight. Yet, with each evasion, Li Rong's Moonstep grew faster, more refined.
He could feel the shift in the air around him—he wasn't just reacting anymore. He was anticipating the rabbit's every movement. He wasn't hunting it like a beast. He was hunting it like a hunter—a predator who had the patience to wait for the perfect moment.
Suddenly, the rabbit paused, its form no longer a blur. It crouched low, its sharp ears twitching as it studied Li Rong. He could see the intelligent gleam in its eyes. It knew. It knew he was getting closer.
In that moment, Li Rong sprang forward, his knife flashing out. The rabbit darted, but this time, Li Rong was ready. He moonstepped with precision, and in the blink of an eye, his blade caught the rabbit's side, slashing deep into its flesh.
The rabbit screeched, but before Li Rong could finish the strike, it vanished into a shadow, its body dissolving into the very night around it. He cursed under his breath, but he didn't give up. His eyes scanned the surroundings, the forest now eerily quiet.
And then, it came.
The rabbit lunged from behind a nearby tree, but this time, Li Rong was waiting. He sidestepped, letting the creature overshoot. Before it could correct its course, Li Rong's Moonstep took him directly behind it, his knife flashing one final time. With a swift, clean strike, he pierced the rabbit's heart.
It went limp in his hands.
Victory.
Li Rong took a step back, his breath coming in steady waves as the Shadowfang Rabbit's body began to glow with a soft blue light. The spirit ring appeared before him, pulsing with power.
He reached out, absorbing it without hesitation.
The surge of power was immediate, filling him with a cold, sharp clarity. His body thrummed with the new ability. He could feel it—the power of the Shadowstep flowing through him. His movements became even more fluid, faster, sharper.
Li Xue approached cautiously, her eyes scanning the area for any remaining threats. "You did it," she said, her voice tinged with surprise.
Li Rong nodded, wiping the blood from his knife. "It wasn't easy."
Ren Yao, who had been standing in the background, his nerves getting the better of him, let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "I didn't think it'd be this difficult. The rabbit's cunning, and your speed... it's insane."
Li Rong didn't respond immediately. He was already thinking ahead. The rabbit had given him his first ring, but this was only the beginning. The true test of his strength would come from inside the clan, from the political battles that raged just beneath the surface. But for now, he had proven one thing: he was ready. He was more than ready.
Li Jian stepped forward, his eyes never leaving Li Rong. "You've done well. But this is just the first step. The clan will be watching."
Li Rong's eyes flashed. "Let them watch."