Chapter 8-First Fight

Under the dark shadow of the night, Ren squared his shoulder as he faced the Shadow Leopard. Finally, the viscious beast showed its appearance. It is like a wraith born of darkness—a lithe, spectral predator whose form seems to merge with the night. Its fur is the color of midnight, absorbing light and lending it an almost ethereal presence, while its eyes burn like embers in the gloom, reflecting both intelligence and ferocity. Every movement is silent and fluid, as if it glides between the boundaries of reality and shadow. Its claws, sharp as shards of obsidian, flash in brief, deadly glints before disappearing back into the enveloping darkness. The creature's very presence distorts the air around it, leaving a trail of eerie stillness that hints at the profound, almost otherworldly power it wields.

Ren gulped hard when he saw the beast as he nervously brandished the steel sword Dante gave him during the course of their three months journey, seeing the beast dashing towards him, ren brandished his sword in a desperate parry, the clashing of the steel sword against the sharp claws of the beast echoed through the forest. His heart thundered as he fought to counter the leopard savage strike which gave him no time to rest. His muscles began to burn with exhaustion. In a moment of brutal force, the shadow leopard's claw slashed accross Ren's side as it tore a mass of flesh from his stomach nearly revealing his insides. 

Ren stumbled back gasping as the searing pain shot through his side, warm blood seeped through his fingers as his vision became blurry due to the pain. 

His mind screamed at him to run but his leg would not obey him, he could feel the icy fingers of fear gripping his mind as he thought "is this the end?" but then Dante's word echoed in his mind"A blade is only as strong as the will behind it."

He gritted his teeth forcing his hand to steady on the hilt of the steel sword, He couldn't afford to give in, "not now" he thought.

The Shadow Leopard sprang forward — a streak of black danger — but this time, Ren saw it coming. Pushing through the burning pain in his side, he dodged to the left and swung his sword. The blade sliced into the beast's shoulder, leaving a thin cut that oozed dark, shimmering blood.

The beast let out a low, guttural snarl — more angered than wounded — but it was a sign. It could bleed.

Ren's breath came in ragged gasps, but a flicker of hope ignited within him. He shifted his stance, gripping the sword with both hands. He had trained for this. Every grueling day under Dante's watchful eye, every sleepless night spent mastering the blade — it was all for this moment.

The predator circled again, slower this time. Its ember eyes locked with Ren's, as if reassessing its prey as a potential danger.

"Come on..." Ren muttered through clenched teeth, his bloodied fingers tightening around the hilt. "I'm not dying here."

With a sudden burst of speed, the beast lunged once more. Time seemed to slow. Ren sidestepped at the last second, bringing his sword up in a sweeping arc. The blade met the beast's neck — not deep enough to kill, but enough to stagger it.

Ren saw his opening.

Ignoring the screaming pain in his side, he surged forward, driving the blade deep into the creature's chest with every ounce of strength he had left. The Shadow Leopard let out a final, haunting cry before collapsing into the dirt, its ember eyes flickering before fading into darkness.

Ren stood over the fallen beast, chest heaving, blood dripping from both his wound and his blade. The forest around him remained silent — as if the night itself had finally exhaled.

He fell to his knees, the weight of exhaustion and victory crashing down on him.

"A blade is only as strong as the will behind it."

Ren had proven that tonight.