Chapter 7- Shadow Leopard
Ren's eyes widened in amazment as he suddenly saw him materialize silently beside him. But before Ren could process the sudden appearance, Dante's gaze swept over the devastated clearing ahead. Pointing his hands, he said"there, the attack was not random it was made by the shadow leopard. Ren eyes followed Dante outstreched hand, there Dante's former seat was long ruined, the barren, rocky terrain scarred by violence. The landscape, once a rugged but stable outcrop, now lay in disarray: jagged rocks were shattered and scattered like broken promises, and deep gouges marred the earth.
A mixture and dread filled Ren, the awe over the devastating power the viscious beast has and the dread because the beast could be a threat and hindrance to their journey.He glanced at Dante's face looking for reassurance in his mentor's steady gaze but all he found was a little hesitation which turend to unwavering resolve. Slowly he turned to Ren, he voice deeper than usual he said"Ren, you have to defeat this beast because if you do not defeat this beast you can die here tonight cause if you cannot defeat a beast like this how can you defeat the blood suckin monsters that lives in blackthorn city, those who shed blood and defeat oponents five times stronger than this"
The words felt heavy in the air, mixing with the burnt smell of stone. Ren's heart pounded as he absorbed the harsh truth. His mentor's cold, unyielding gaze left no room for excuses Dante stepped closer, his voice dropping even lower. "This isn't just a test of strength; it's a test of your will to survive. Here, in the wild, failure means death, and in the city, failure is unthinkable. You must prove to yourself and to me that you are more than your fears."
Ren's breath caught as he looked into Dante's fierce eyes. The ultimatum was clear, defeat the shadow leopard and live, fail and die. The weight of his future weighed down on him and for a moment he felt terror and determination. With laboured breathing and shaky hands, he squared his shoulders ready to face the looming threat. His heart pounded as he remembered his old father and mother still waiting for him to come back, the goal to change their life and give them a better accomplished life filled him with energy a flash of memory surged through his mind as remembered one humid afternoon, deep in the forest, when Dante had led him away from the safety of their camp. There, amid the rustling of leaves and distant animal calls, Dante had shown him how to face a vicious beast.
In His memory, Dante's voice was low and steady as he explained"When you confront these creatures, Ren, your first task is to silence your fear. Focus your mind, and let your instincts guide you.feet firm on the ground, eyes fixed on the target" with a steady gaze that spoke of years of battling in the wild. He had pushed Ren to feel the rhythm of the forest, to understand that every rustle, every whisper of the wind, could be a prelude to danger or a signal to strike.
Back then, Ren had been clumsy, his limbs betraying him with uncertainty. But Dante's calm insistence and steady guidance had chipped away at his hesitation. "Remember," Dante had said, his eyes locking with Ren's, "a true warrior does not let the beast dictate the outcome. Instead, you must become the beast—calm, relentless, and precise."Now, as the threat of the shadow leopard loomed large and Dante's stern words echoed in his ears, that memory lent Ren a spark of resolve as rushed toward the destroyed ruins to confront the shadow leopard.