Shadows in the North
The group stood frozen as the roar faded into an unsettling silence, the air thick with tension. Luo tightened his grip on his practice spear, his knuckles white. The system chimed softly in his mind.
**"Quest Progress: Investigate the source of the roar."**
"Stay close," Sun Qing ordered, his spear igniting with faint flames. "We don't know what's out there, but we can't afford to lose anyone."
Meilin nodded, her daggers glinting in the dim light filtering through the forest canopy. Luo stepped up beside her, his eyes scanning the dense trees ahead.
"Do you think it's another beast?" Meilin asked, her voice low.
"Maybe," Luo replied, his voice steady despite the unease gnawing at him. "But it feels... different."
---
**The Source of the Roar**
The group moved cautiously, the crunch of leaves underfoot their only sound. The forest grew darker as they ventured deeper, the trees closing in like walls.
Suddenly, the roar came again—louder, closer. A shadow darted through the trees, too fast to follow. Luo's system chimed again.
**"System Update: High-level Spirit Beast detected. Danger Level: Body Tempering Level 5. Rewards for defeating: +100 Attitude Points."**
"A Spirit Beast?" Luo muttered.
Before he could react, the shadow burst into the clearing, revealing a massive black panther with glowing crimson eyes. Its fur shimmered like obsidian, and its claws left deep gouges in the earth as it advanced.
"That's no ordinary Spirit Beast," Sun Qing said, stepping in front of Luo. "Stay back!"
---
**The Battle Begins**
The panther lunged with a snarl, its claws slashing toward Sun Qing. He blocked with his spear, sparks flying from the impact. Meilin flanked the beast, her daggers striking at its side, but the panther twisted, avoiding her attack with uncanny speed.
"Luo, stay out of this!" Qing barked, his voice strained as he parried another blow.
Luo grit his teeth, his system chiming in again.
**"Quest Update: Assist in defeating the Spirit Beast to earn additional rewards."**
"Not a chance," Luo muttered. He stepped forward, channeling his energy into his spear. The faint glow of flames flickered at its tip.
The panther turned its attention to Luo, its crimson eyes narrowing. It snarled and leaped toward him, claws outstretched.
"Watch out!" Meilin shouted.
Luo planted his feet and thrust his spear forward, the tip colliding with the beast's paw. The force of the blow sent a shockwave through his arms, but he held firm.
**"Attitude Points: +20 for standing your ground against a superior opponent."**
---
**A Team Effort**
Sun Qing seized the opportunity, his spear blazing as he struck the panther's flank. Meilin followed up with a precise slash to its hind leg, forcing the beast to stumble.
"Luo, fall back!" Qing shouted again.
"No," Luo snapped, his voice firm. "We can take it down together."
The system chimed once more.
**"Attitude Points: +15 for defying orders in a dangerous situation."**
Luo darted to the side, avoiding a swipe from the panther's claws. He thrust his spear again, this time aiming for its shoulder. The weapon struck true, drawing a pained roar from the beast.
**"Attitude Points: +30 for landing a critical strike."**
The panther, now wounded, grew more ferocious. It lashed out wildly, its attacks forcing the group to retreat momentarily.
"We need to end this now," Meilin said, her breathing labored.
Sun Qing nodded. "Luo, distract it. Meilin and I will finish it off."
---
**The Final Blow**
Luo stepped forward, his spear crackling with energy. He met the panther's gaze, his own eyes blazing with determination.
"Come on," he taunted, waving his weapon. "Is that all you've got?"
The panther roared and charged at him, its claws glowing faintly with energy. Luo sidestepped at the last moment, driving his spear into its side.
"Now!" Sun Qing shouted. He and Meilin struck simultaneously, their combined attacks piercing the beast's heart.
The panther let out one final roar before collapsing, its body hitting the ground with a resounding thud.
---
**Aftermath**
The group stood in silence, their breaths heavy as the dust settled. Luo's system chimed again.
**"Quest Complete: Investigate the source of the roar."**
**"Rewards: +150 Attitude Points, Skill Unlock: Panther Strike (Basic)."**
Luo blinked as the notification appeared in his mind.
"Panther Strike?" he murmured.
**"New Skill Unlocked: Panther Strike (Basic) – A swift, powerful thrust mimicking the speed and precision of a panther's attack. Energy Cost: Moderate."**
Sun Qing turned to him, a rare smile on his face. "You did well, Luo. Better than I expected."
Meilin nodded, a grin tugging at her lips. "Looks like you're not just talk after all."
Luo smirked, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Told you I could handle it."
---
**Ending Hook**
As they prepared to leave, Sun Qing crouched by the panther's body, examining the faint markings on its fur. His expression darkened.
"This isn't just a Spirit Beast," he said. "It was marked... controlled."
Luo's eyes narrowed. "Controlled by who?"
Sun Qing stood, his gaze hard. "That's what we need to find out."
The group exchanged grim looks. The hunt was far from over.