Shadow Panthers

Two years later,

"Don't get hurt," Grandpa said.

Iris and I were standing in front of a mana beast that was as massive as an elephant. It was a swift wolf, a speed-type mana beast, an E-class mana beast. It will be our first prey.

"Are you ready, Sis?"

"Yeah,"

"I'll take the legs, and you'll take the head,"

"It's fine with me.,"

I used the wind to improve my speed and went close to the swift wolf's legs.

We attacked the quick wolf like hungry predators that hadn't fed in months.

In a sense, we were starving, not for food, but rather for an opportunity to put our abilities to the test.

In the last two years, a lot happened. For instance, the people who attended my birthday celebration built their houses near our house, except for the old man, Olympio, who remained in the village. They became our neighbors, which was nice.

Grandpa taught Iris and me hand-to-hand combat. In addition, old man Kieran taught me how to wield daggers, grandma taught me how to control my wind element, and uncle Sergius taught me business skills.

Iris learned swordsmanship from the old man, Olympio, and magic from Grandma and her mother.

After that spear incident, I developed a phobia of meditating, but I ended up doing it, and surprisingly, this time, the dark space didn't appear; as a result, I could focus on my mana pool.

As a side note, I also went to the village for the first time and got cross-dressed by my grandma, Iris, and Iris's mother. That was one hell of an experience; I hope I don't have to go through it again.

* Thud*

The swift wolf's dead body fell to the ground. The swift wolf couldn't fight back against our comb attack.

"Our first kill,"

I gave Iris a high five.

"Good work," Grandpa said as he got near the wolf's corpse.

He cut the wolf's forehead and took a red crystal.

"What's that?"

"It's a mana core; you can purify your mana pool with it or sell it for money."

"Are we going to hunt more swift wolves, Grandpa?" I asked, my voice full of anticipation.

"Yeah, we will, but not today."

"Why not right now?" Iris and I both questioned,

"I have to go to the village for some work."

We returned home disheartened.

Grandma asked, upon seeing our dejected expression,

"What's wrong?" Wasn't able to find a mana beast? "

"Quite the opposite; we killed a mana beast."

"Then why do you look so down?"

"We planned to hunt more mana beasts, but Grandpa had some work to do, so we only hunted one," I complained.

"You can hunt another time; it's not like your grandpa is stopping you."

"You're right,"

---------

A few months pass by, and Iris and I start hunting without Grandpa.

"Let's see who can hunt more shadow panthers,"

"That's fine by me, but don't cry after you lose," Iris replied.

"I never cry,"

"Then we'll meet in half an hour,"

Iris vanished into the woods as soon as she finished her words.

I rushed into the woods as well, and after a few minutes of running, I came across a pack of shadow panthers.

"1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Jackpot,"

"I got six shadow panthers,"

These E-class mana beasts use the shadow element to attack and defend. They have powerful attacks and high speeds. Due to their shadow, the element is a little tricky to deal with since they hide their presence by using the shadow.

"Wind Steps,"

I crept up behind one of the shadow panthers and cut its throat silently. I did the same thing to the other one, but the third time I was busted.

*Growls*

"Sorry to disturb you,"

"I will take my leave,"

I said as I sped away from them,

The shadow panthers also follow behind me,

"I'm sorry, I thought I could kill you all, and you wouldn't know."

I yelled while running,

After running for a while, I stopped.

Four shadow panthers encircled me as I stopped.

"This is enough for the warm-up."

I had a smile on my face after seeing the shadow panthers,

"You guys are dead,"

"Air bullets,"

The air around me twisted and turned into bullets. Feeling the danger, shadow panthers try to flee.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Bullets pierce the shadow panthers' bodies, killing them instantly.

After killing them, I picked up their mana core and headed to my next target.

After half an hour,

"How many did you hunt?" Iris asked.

"20," I boasted.

"Only twenty,"

"Yeah, but why are you acting as if this isn't a big deal?"

"How many did you hunt?" I narrowed my eyes,

"Try to guess,"

"21,"

"Nah."

"25,'

"Nah,"

"27,"

"Nope,"

"Say it already,"

"40,"

Upon hearing her words, my eyes widened.

"40?"

"Yup,"

"So, I lost," I sighed.

"It seems so,"

"But it was fun to hunt for the last time,"

"Last time?" I tilted my head.