8. Little One

Chapter 8: Little One

"Let's go!" Damon's triumphant shout echoed through the clearing, his fist punching the sky as if he had conquered the world. Behind him, Emily collapsed to her knees, trembling violently. The weight of her near-death experience pressed down on her chest like a suffocating vice. Her wide eyes darted to her younger brother, the reckless boy who had carelessly dragged her into danger. Anger flared within her, hotter than the sun overhead.

"You idiot!" she screamed, lunging at him. Her nails scratched his cheek as she pummeled his face with all the fury she could muster. "You almost got me killed! What were you thinking, you little devil?!"

"Get off me, you witch!" Damon shouted back, swatting her away. His voice was indignant, but his expression betrayed guilt. "At least I fought for us! You just stood there, frozen, like some useless doll!"

Emily's breath hitched as his words struck a nerve. Her glare sharpened, her voice dripping with venom. "And you, Damon? You're ten! Ten! No child should have the strength to fight like that. What are you?"

Her words hung in the air like a thundercloud. For a moment, Damon's bravado faltered, surprise flickering in his wide eyes. Then he scowled, turning his back to her. "Ah, I knew it. You're a witch. A jealous, ungrateful witch," he muttered, avoiding her piercing gaze.

The tension between them lingered as they continued their journey, the silence heavier than the humid forest air. Eventually, they reached a looming cave hidden beneath a canopy of twisted trees. Damon stopped abruptly, his senses tingling. A breakthrough was near—he could feel it in his bones.

"Stay here," he ordered Emily, his tone clipped. "Don't follow me inside."

Emily hesitated, her lips parting to protest, but something in Damon's fiery gaze silenced her. Reluctantly, she sat on a nearby rock, watching him disappear into the cave's shadowy depths.

Inside, Damon wandered until he stumbled upon a serene, glimmering pond. The water shimmered unnaturally, radiating potent spiritual energy. His eyes widened, and a wild grin spread across his face. "Why am I so lucky?" he exclaimed, laughter bubbling up from his chest.

Levitating above the pond, he settled into a lotus position at its center. Energy surged toward him like a torrent, spiraling into his core. He felt the spider-like roots of his demon core latch onto his spirit core, intertwining and pulling at his very essence. The intensity was overwhelming, yet he embraced it, absorbing more and more until cracks began to form in his demon core. With a deafening shatter, light erupted around him, shaking the cave violently.

Far away in the Avalonia forest, a seventh-ranked shadow jaguar bounded through the underbrush. Her sleek, dark fur shimmered as she moved, her cub clamped tightly in her jaws. Behind her, a pack of shadow jaguars pursued relentlessly, their snarls blending with the rustling leaves.

A powerful blast of energy erupted from the cave ahead, momentarily halting her pursuers. The mother jaguar hesitated but pushed forward, drawn to the surge of spiritual power. Her heart ached as she whispered to her cub, "My little one, live. Even if I fall, you must survive."

Reaching the cave, she spotted Damon, glowing with energy as the cave collapsed around him. With a final desperate act, she flung her cub toward him just as the rocks crashed down, trapping her beneath the rubble.

Damon, now brimming with newfound power, felt the cub land in his lap. His barrier sprang to life, protecting them both as he escaped the collapsing cave. Cradling the trembling cub, he muttered, "What the hell is this?"

Outside, Emily jumped to her feet as the ground trembled beneath her. "Isn't that where Damon was?!" she shouted, sprinting toward the cave.

Emerging from the rubble, Damon called out to her, his voice urgent. "Emily! I'm safe, but we need to leave—now!"

Emily's eyes widened as she spotted the tiny black jaguar in Damon's arms. "Where did you find this little one?" she gasped, her irritation melting into adoration. She gently took the cub from him, stroking its fur as it let out a soft, pitiful mewl.

Damon's lips curled into a mischievous grin. "I'm keeping it. It's not just any cub—it's from a royal bloodline. This is a treasure."

Overcome with excitement, Damon pricked his finger, letting his blood drip onto the cub's head. The contract was swift, binding them together. But before the cub drifted into slumber, it lashed out one last time, clawing at Damon's face before collapsing into his arms.

"Ungrateful little beast!" Damon growled, ready to scold it.

Emily snatched the cub away, cradling it protectively. "You're awful! Is this how you treat your new partner?" she scolded, her tone both amused and exasperated.

As they ventured deeper into Avalonia, the Void Clan's hidden domain drew closer.

The Void Clan:

"Hang this here! And make sure the banners are perfectly aligned!" Dora commanded, her voice brimming with excitement. The manor bustled with activity as servants scurried to prepare for the celebration. Dora's heart swelled with pride as relatives from the Panda Sect and other branches of the Void Clan arrived one by one.

Everything has to be perfect. Tonight, the stars would shine not for the clan but for her son—the one who would lead them all to greatness.