Chapter 10: First Encounter with Demonic Beast

The forest grew darker as Ruchir and the group of students followed the path that supposedly smelled of freshly baked acorns. The canopy above thickened, casting deep shadows across their path and muffling the sounds of their footsteps. Unease settled over them, a stark contrast to the earlier laughter that now seemed like a distant memory.

Ruchir glanced around warily, his senses on high alert. "Are we sure about this path?" he muttered, half to himself and half to his companions.

One of the students spoke up, his voice tinged with nervousness. "I don't know, man. This place gives me the creeps."

Another student chimed in, trying to sound brave. "Come on, it's just a forest. What could possibly go wrong?"

As if in response to their bravado, the forest suddenly came alive with eerie sounds—rustling leaves, distant creaks, and the occasional hoot of an owl. The air seemed to grow heavier, charged with an unspoken tension that made their skin prickle.

"Just keep moving," Ruchir urged, his own nerves beginning to fray. "We need to find a clearing or some sign of where we're headed."

They pressed on in silence, the only sound their footsteps on the leaf-strewn path. The trees closed in around them, creating a claustrophobic tunnel that seemed to stretch endlessly ahead. Every now and then, a fleeting shadow or a rustle in the underbrush would set their hearts racing, but each time, they found nothing more than the dense foliage of the forest.

After what felt like hours of walking, they stumbled upon a small clearing bathed in dappled sunlight. Relief washed over them as they stepped into the open space, grateful for a moment of respite from the oppressive darkness of the forest.

"This looks promising," one of the students murmured, his voice filled with cautious optimism.

Another student scanned their surroundings, his gaze sharp and alert. "Let's not get too comfortable," he warned, his hand still resting on his weapon.

Ruchir nodded in agreement, his eyes scanning the perimeter of the clearing. "We should rest briefly and then decide our next move," he suggested, trying to steady his racing thoughts.

As they settled onto a fallen log at the edge of the clearing, the forest around them seemed to hold its breath. The stillness was unsettling, a stark reminder that they were intruders in a realm where even the slightest noise could herald danger.

Just as Ruchir was about to speak, a low growl rumbled through the air, sending a chill down their spines. They froze, exchanging wide-eyed glances as the sound grew louder and closer, emanating from the shadows beyond the clearing.

One of the students drew his breath sharply, his hand tightening around the hilt of his weapon. "Do you hear that?" he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Another student's grip on his weapon tightened, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the edge of the clearing. "Something's out there," he murmured, his tone tinged with urgency.

Ruchir swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. "Stay calm," he urged, though his own voice sounded strained. "We need to be ready."

As if on cue, a pair of glowing eyes appeared at the edge of the clearing, followed by the massive form of a demonic beast. Its fur was matted and dark, its muscles rippling under its taut skin as it prowled into the open space. Sharp claws clicked against the forest floor, and its snout wrinkled in a menacing snarl.

The students gasped in unison, their weapons raised defensively as they backed closer together. "What do we do?" one of them asked, his voice trembling.

Another student stepped forward, his weapon held in a steady grip. "Stand your ground," he commanded, his eyes locked on the advancing beast. "We can't afford to show fear."

Ruchir took a deep breath, his mind racing for a plan. "Stay together," he said firmly, his voice steadier than he felt. "We need to defend ourselves."

The demonic beast paused at the edge of the clearing, its eyes narrowing as it assessed its prey. Saliva dripped from its jagged teeth, and a guttural growl rumbled in its throat. It seemed to sense their fear, feeding on the tension that hung heavy in the air.

"We didn't sign up for this," one of the students muttered under his breath, his eyes fixed on the beast.

Ruchir exchanged a determined glance with the other students, their silent communication speaking volumes. They knew they had to fight, to protect each other and to prove themselves worthy of surviving the trials of the Thousand Inheritance Forest.

As the beast lunged forward with a deafening roar, they braced themselves for their first true test of survival.

The clearing fell silent as the demonic beast stepped into the light, revealing its terrifying form. It was a black mutated panther, four meters long and two meters high, its eyes glowing with a malevolent intelligence. Muscles rippled beneath its sleek fur, and its sharp claws dug into the earth with every step. A low, menacing growl emanated from its throat, sending chills down the spines of Ruchir and his companions.

"Stay together," Ruchir whispered urgently, his mind racing to formulate a plan. "We need to outsmart it."

The panther's eyes flicked between the students, sensing their fear. It crouched low, preparing to pounce. One of the students, a tall boy with a determined look, stepped forward, brandishing his weapon. "We can't let it divide us," he said, his voice firm despite the tremor in his hands.

Ruchir nodded, his gaze never leaving the panther. "Right. We need to keep it focused on one target. I'll distract it, and you guys flank it from the sides. Aim for its legs; if we can cripple it, we stand a chance."

The students nodded, though their faces betrayed their apprehension. Ruchir took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come. "Hey, ugly!" he shouted, waving his arms to get the panther's attention. "Over here!"

The panther's head snapped towards him, its eyes narrowing. With a snarl, it lunged at Ruchir, who barely managed to dodge to the side. The beast's claws raked the ground where he had stood moments before, leaving deep gouges in the earth.

Ruchir's heart pounded in his chest as he scrambled to his feet. "Now!" he yelled, hoping his friends were ready.

Two students, weapons in hand, charged at the panther from the sides. The beast whipped around with astonishing speed, swatting one of them away with a powerful swipe of its paw. The student hit the ground hard, groaning in pain.

"Keep it distracted!" Ruchir shouted, trying to draw the panther's attention back to him. He picked up a large stick and threw it at the beast, hitting it squarely on the snout. The panther growled, turning its murderous gaze back to him.

Ruchir's mind raced. They couldn't defeat it with brute strength alone. He needed to think of something clever, something that would give them an edge. As the panther advanced, an idea struck him.

"Everyone, follow my lead!" he called out, backing towards a nearby tree. "We need to get it tangled up!"

The students hesitated for a moment, but seeing no better option, they began to move. Ruchir led the panther in a wide arc, dodging and weaving around trees and underbrush. The beast followed, its eyes locked onto him with single-minded ferocity.

"Now, split up and start circling!" Ruchir instructed, his voice breathless from exertion. "We need to confuse it!"

The students obeyed, fanning out and moving in erratic patterns around the clearing. The panther's head snapped back and forth, trying to track multiple targets at once. Its growls grew louder, frustration clear in its eyes.

"Come on, you overgrown housecat!" Ruchir taunted, leading the panther towards a cluster of dense underbrush. "Can't keep up, can you?"

The panther snarled and lunged at him, but Ruchir dodged to the side, causing the beast to crash into the tangled bushes. It struggled to free itself, its powerful limbs caught in the thick foliage.

"Now! Attack its legs!" Ruchir shouted.

The students rushed forward, their weapons aimed at the panther's hind legs. The beast thrashed violently, but the dense underbrush held it in place just long enough for them to strike. Blades and staves hit their mark, injuring the panther's legs and slowing it down.

With a furious roar, the panther managed to break free, but its movements were now labored, its balance compromised. It staggered, struggling to keep up with the nimble students who continued to dart around it, keeping it off balance.

"Keep it up! Don't let it recover!" Ruchir yelled, feeling a surge of hope. They had a chance now, a slim one, but a chance nonetheless.

As the panther thrashed and growled, Ruchir's mind raced to find a solution. "This isn't working," he muttered to himself. "We need to trick it somehow."

He scanned the clearing and saw a large, hollow tree trunk nearby. An idea began to form in his mind. "Everyone, follow me!" he shouted, sprinting towards the tree trunk.

The students, confused but trusting Ruchir's judgment, followed closely. Ruchir duck

ed into the hollow trunk and motioned for the others to do the same. "Quick, get inside! We'll use this to our advantage."

As the last student squeezed into the tight space, the panther charged at the tree trunk, its eyes blazing with fury. Ruchir took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. "Okay, here's the plan," he whispered. "We'll make a run for it while it's distracted. On my signal, we all dash out in different directions. Hopefully, it'll be too confused to catch us."

The students nodded, their faces pale with fear but determined to follow Ruchir's lead. The panther clawed at the trunk, trying to get inside, but the narrow opening prevented it from reaching them.

"Ready...now!" Ruchir yelled, bursting out of the trunk and sprinting to the right. The students scattered, running in every direction. The panther, momentarily stunned by the sudden movement, hesitated before giving chase.

Ruchir darted through the underbrush, his heart pounding in his chest. He could hear the panther crashing through the foliage behind him, but he didn't dare look back. "Keep going, keep going," he repeated to himself, willing his legs to move faster.

Just as he thought he couldn't run any further, he spotted a steep hill ahead. Without hesitation, he scrambled up the slope, hoping the panther wouldn't be able to follow. He reached the top and glanced back, relieved to see the beast struggling to climb the hill.

Taking advantage of the brief respite, Ruchir scanned the area for his friends. One by one, he saw them emerging from their hiding spots, all looking equally exhausted but unharmed. They regrouped at the top of the hill, panting and covered in sweat.

"Is...is it gone?" one of the students asked between breaths.

Ruchir peered down the slope and saw the panther stalking away, clearly frustrated but no longer pursuing them. "Yeah, I think we lost it," he said, his voice shaky with relief.

Another student, trying to lighten the mood, joked, "Well, that was fun. Who's up for another round?"

Despite the tension, a few of them managed weak smiles. "Let's not do that again anytime soon," Ruchir said, his tone half-serious, half-joking.

As they caught their breath and tended to their minor injuries, Ruchir couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. They had faced a formidable opponent and, through quick thinking and teamwork, managed to escape unscathed.

"Alright, everyone," he said, standing up and brushing the dirt off his clothes. "We need to keep moving. This forest isn't going to get any friendlier."

The students nodded, their expressions a mix of exhaustion and determination. They knew they had a long journey ahead, but their encounter with the panther had taught them an invaluable lesson about the importance of staying alert and working together.

With a renewed sense of camaraderie and a cautious optimism, Ruchir and his companions set off deeper into the forest, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. They knew the Thousand Inheritance Forest was full of dangers, but they also knew they had the wit and courage to overcome them.