Life And Death Battle With Tiger

Aryan knew he was nothing compared to the tiger standing before him. As a peak Master-level warrior, his strength was insignificant against such a formidable creature. Yet, he also understood that escaping this confrontation without a fight was no longer an option. Beyond survival, a spark of greed had taken root in his mind—the promise of 250,000 extra experience points. It wasn't a small reward by any means. If he could complete just two or three missions like this, he'd have enough points to solve all his problems and finally purchase that coveted cultivation manual. That temptation alone was enough to steel his resolve. He would fight the tiger.

With determination surging through him, Aryan advanced toward the beast. He reached into his System Space and retrieved the twin swords he'd bought, their blades gleaming faintly in the dim light of Elora's early morning. Without hesitation, he charged at the tiger, refusing to give it the chance to strike first. He knew all too well that if the tiger landed a single lethal blow, he'd be finished in an instant. That wasn't a risk he could afford. Raising his swords, he slashed at the beast with all his might.

The tiger, too, was advancing, its predatory instincts locked onto Aryan. It didn't care that Aryan had intruded into its territory—it was a bloodthirsty monster, driven by hunger and the thrill of the hunt. When prey stood before it, the tiger wouldn't let it live. With a deafening roar, it lunged, its massive claws aimed at Aryan. The clash was explosive—metal swords met razor-sharp claws, and a harsh, grating sound of steel against bone echoed through the forest. Nearby, primary and ordinary aliens scattered in panic, fleeing to their hiding spots as the battle unfolded.

The force of the collision sent Aryan stumbling back, crashing to the ground. One of his swords slipped from his grip, skidding across the dirt. The tiger, however, stood unmoved, as steady and unshaken as a mountain. Aryan's attack hadn't left a scratch on it. As he scrambled to his feet, he caught the beast's gaze—its eyes burned with savage intent. For the first time, fear flickered in Aryan's chest. This wasn't like the petty bullies he'd faced before, the ones who mocked him or tried to bring him down with fists alone. Those he could handle with a beating. But this? This was a true predator, and it had already marked him as its next meal.

The tiger didn't waste time. It launched another attack, its claws slashing through the air with lethal precision. Aryan barely dodged, rolling to the side as the ground where he'd stood was torn apart. He couldn't keep this up—running and dodging wouldn't save him. Gritting his teeth, he rose again, snatching his fallen sword. The tiger advanced once more, its massive paw raised to strike. This time, the blow connected, sending Aryan flying backward. He hit the ground hard, pain radiating through his body. It felt as though the tiger was toying with him, prolonging his suffering rather than ending it swiftly. If it truly wanted him dead, one strike would've sufficed. Instead, it seemed content to inflict shallow, internal wounds—enough to hurt, but not to kill.

That realization ignited a fire within Aryan. His fear morphed into rage, boiling over until it consumed him. He was done being the prey. With a furious roar of his own, he charged at the tiger again. This time, he didn't bother with his swords. Dropping them to the ground, he attacked with his bare fists, slamming them into the beast with reckless abandon. The tiger's expression shifted—its eyes gleamed with what looked like mockery, as if it were sneering, *"Foolish human, do you even know what you're up against?"* Then, with a guttural growl, it opened its jaws wide, lunging to rip Aryan's head clean off his shoulders.

But Aryan was ready. He ducked low, sidestepping the tiger's bite with a nimble twist. Using the beast's massive size to his advantage—he noted it stood nearly five meters long, one meter wide, and two meters tall—he slid beneath its legs, emerging behind it. Before the tiger could react, Aryan drove a powerful punch into one of its hind legs. The impact reverberated through his arm, and he immediately regretted not using his sword. A blade would've done far more damage. Scrambling back, he retrieved one of his fallen weapons as the tiger whirled around with surprising agility.

The beast was done playing games. Its eyes narrowed, radiating murderous intent. It wanted Aryan dead—and it wanted to eat him. Aryan understood that now. There'd be no more cat-and-mouse antics. He tightened his grip on his sword, his mind racing for a strategy. Then, he darted forward again, this time veering toward the tiger's flank instead of charging head-on. At that moment, the System intervened. A surge of power coursed through Aryan's body—not overwhelming, but enough to give him a slight edge. The System had bolstered his strength and reinforced his swords, making them capable of piercing the tiger's tough hide. In exchange, it silently deducted every last point he had left in his account. Aryan, caught up in the heat of battle, didn't notice.

The two clashed again. Aryan struck with newfound force, his sword slicing toward the tiger's neck. The beast countered with a swipe aimed at Aryan's throat. Both attacks were lethal, each combatant intent on ending the other in a single blow. At the last second, Aryan twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the tiger's claws. But the tiger, cunning and experienced, adjusted its strike mid-motion. Aryan froze, stunned by the beast's intelligence. This wasn't mere instinct—it was battle-hardened wisdom, honed from countless fights against humans and aliens alike.

There was no dodging this time. Aryan braced himself, deciding to take the hit head-on. He trusted his Vajra Body—a technique that hardened his physique—to withstand the blow. If it failed, he'd die. The tiger's claws raked across him, and simultaneously, his sword plunged into the beast's neck. A twin cry of agony erupted—blood sprayed from Aryan's shoulder as the tiger's neck gushed crimson, the blade sinking five inches deep. The sheer force of their mutual strikes sent both reeling backward, crashing to the ground several meters apart.

The tiger's pained roar filled the air, and Aryan's eyes lit up. He'd hurt it—really hurt it. For the first time, victory seemed possible. Questions swirled in his mind—where had this strength come from?—but he shoved them aside. There'd be time to think later. Right now, he had to finish this. The tiger, however, wasn't done. It staggered to its feet, fury pushing it beyond its limits. With a deafening bellow, it charged again, its body suddenly erupting in flames. Tongues of fire licked the air, rising a meter high, and above its head, a blazing orb of fire formed.

Aryan's heart sank as the tiger unleashed the fireball. The searing sphere hurtled toward him, and panic gripped him. Instinctively, he swung his sword at it. To his shock, a condensed droplet of water shot from the blade, colliding with the fireball. The flames extinguished in an instant, leaving nothing but a faint hiss of steam. Aryan blinked, bewildered, but a grin soon spread across his face. He didn't know where that water had come from, nor did he care. All that mattered was killing the tiger.

Emboldened, he attacked again. This time, his strikes unleashed a barrage of elemental fury—fireballs, gusts of wind energy, crackling sky energy, and spears of metal rained down on the tiger. The spectacle was awe-inspiring and terrifying, even to Aryan himself. He had no idea how he was doing this, but the tiger faltered under the onslaught, its massive form battered and overwhelmed. For the first time, it turned to flee. Survival trumped pride—*if there's life, there's a world,* a universal truth for man and beast alike. But Aryan wasn't about to let it escape.

With a final, earth-shaking roar, he poured every ounce of his enhanced strength into one last strike. His sword cleaved through the air, striking the tiger with devastating force. A pitiful, guttural scream escaped the beast's throat as it collapsed, lifeless, to the ground. The forest fell silent.

A familiar voice chimed in Aryan's mind:

*"Ding! You have killed a Mutated Primary Alien. You have earned 10,000 experience points. For completing a hidden quest, you are awarded 250,000 additional points. Due to System assistance in this battle, 50,000 points have been deducted from your account."*

Aryan didn't react. He knew the System's help had saved his life—without it, he'd be the one lying dead. The voice continued:

*"Ding! You have also obtained a Devil Soul. Would you like to convert it into experience points?"*

"No," Aryan replied aloud, his voice steady despite his exhaustion. "I want to sell it for money. This tiger was a dangerous beast—its Devil Soul should fetch a high price."

The System fell silent, offering no further comment. Aryan approached the tiger's corpse, storing it in his System Space with a thought. His body ached, his mind buzzed with unanswered questions, but he pushed forward. The hunt was over—for now. With a deep breath, he resumed his journey into the wilds of Planet Elora, ready for whatever came next.