A Creature Beyond the Ninth Stage
"Screech~"
Kael crouched low, using the elasticity of the branch to propel himself into the air, lunging toward the low-flying Azure Bird with his machete raised high!
He was so close!
Kael's judgment was precise; the blade's trajectory aligned perfectly with the Azure Bird's flight path!
"Screech!!!" The Azure Bird let out a sharp cry. Just as Kael's blade was about to strike, the bird flapped its wings and accelerated suddenly!
Kael only saw a blur of bluish feathers as the bird darted past him. His desperate swing only grazed its tail, knocking off a few feathers.
"Extreme Speed! This Azure Bird is insane!" Kael's expression darkened. He hadn't expected the bird to have mastered Extreme Speed, a skill typically learned only at the sixth stage!
Missing his target, Kael plummeted from nearly ten meters high. Fortunately, he landed on a soft patch of grass, rolling to absorb the impact.
He looked up, his eyes filled with regret as he watched the Azure Bird.
Normally, an Azure Bird could only master Extreme Speed at the sixth stage. Yet, this one, clearly at the fourth stage by its crest, had already mastered it—a sign of exceptional potential!
A high-level, highly talented Azure Bird would make a perfect combat Soul Pet. Capturing it would undoubtedly give Kael the edge to defeat everyone else on the island.
"Screech!!"
Suddenly, the Azure Bird let out another cry, diving down from the sky in a magnificent swoop!
"Damn it!" Kael realized he had provoked the bird. Grabbing his machete, he sprinted desperately toward a dense thicket.
"Whoosh!!!" A fierce gust of wind slammed into Kael's back, making it hard to breathe. Pebbles and debris flew everywhere.
"A whirlwind… Oh no!" Kael glanced back and saw a three-meter-high spiral of turbulent air hurtling toward him. Grass and small trees were uprooted, whipping around him.
A whirlwind of that size could easily toss a hundred-kilogram object five or six meters into the air—a fall from that height would be fatal.
The air around him turned razor-sharp, and the whirlwind was now only ten meters away. Kael could feel its pull, threatening to drag him into its vortex.
"Moo!"
Suddenly, a sound like a bull's roar echoed through the forest. A heavily armored creature appeared between Kael and the whirlwind.
The whirlwind swept past the armored Soul Pet, lifting it slightly off the ground.
The creature was massive, and the whirlwind barely affected it, swirling harmlessly around its body.
After spinning a few times, the armored creature landed steadily. The whirlwind, obstructed by such a heavyweight, gradually dissipated.
"Nidoking, you arrived just in time!" Kael exhaled in relief, looking at the rhinoceros-like creature covered in thick armor.
Nidoking was a Soul Pet known for its sheer strength and defense, classified as high-level. Judging by its appearance, this Nidoking had to be at least at the eighth stage.
"Moo!!"
Clearly angered by the Azure Bird's attack, Nidoking opened its mouth and unleashed a sonic boom directly at the bird!
The sonic boom exploded near the Azure Bird's left wing, flipping it mid-air.
"Thud, thud." The Azure Bird landed on a tree canopy, shaking its head.
Realizing Nidoking's power, the Azure Bird dared not approach again. It shot Kael a venomous glare before reluctantly flying away.
"High-level Soul Pets are truly not easy to capture," Kael muttered, shaking his head in disappointment as he watched the Azure Bird depart.
After the whirlwind, the small grove was in disarray. Worried the enraged Azure Bird might return, Kael decided to find a new location for his trap.
Fortunately, the journey was uneventful, and Kael encountered no ferocious Soul Pets. After finding a new, secluded spot, he began his wait once more.
"Those guys must already be training their Soul Pets…" Kael muttered to himself. To obtain a powerful Soul Pet, he needed both courage and patience.
A day of waiting yielded no results. Kael leaned against a tree branch, gazing at the slanted moon, his expression somber. He absentmindedly touched his chest.
The devil within his body was always present, making every breath feel heavy. Kael could sense it was nearing the third stage, bringing him closer to death.
"I wonder how much longer I have…" After murmuring to himself, Kael closed his eyes for a brief nap.
As he slept on the tree branch, a shadow seemed to loom over him, like a ghost perched above, making him appear even more lonely and helpless…
Three more days of waiting passed.
Early in the morning, Kael opened his eyes and froze, his drowsy gaze widening in shock.
A Graklash!
His heart pounded wildly!
Facing the creature, at least two meters tall and four meters long, a being that had surpassed the ninth stage, Kael's breath nearly stopped.
Graklash, commonly known as the Fire Lizard, belonged to the Beast category—Lizard type. It possessed fire attributes and skills, capable of spewing flames that could incinerate the overseers' Fang Wolves in an instant!
Moreover, Graklash's defensive capabilities were formidable. Its outer layer was covered in keratin armor so thick that even ten Fang Wolves gnawing at it for an hour wouldn't leave a scratch!
Kael didn't even dare to dream of capturing such a Soul Pet. Not only was its race level beyond high, but its strength had also surpassed the ninth stage!
The massive creature crawled beneath Kael's tree, completely ignoring his trap and bait, moving with an air of calm dominance.
A wave of scorching heat washed over Kael, drenching him in sweat, yet he dared not move a muscle!
Graklash paused for a moment before continuing its leisurely stride.
As it left, Kael exhaled deeply, his eyes lingering on the nearly four-meter-long Soul Pet. He couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. Capturing it would not only allow him to defeat all his competitors but also escape the shackles of those who controlled him…
But alas, it was an impossible dream…
"Rustle~~"
Just as he sighed, Kael heard a faint sound.