Leo’s evolved claw skill erupted with energy as he unleashed his technique. The attack didn’t just slash, it tore through the wind barrier itself.
The crimson horn bear’s pained bellow echoed across the rocky terrain as Leo’s attack proved far too powerful for his defences. Deep gouges appeared across the beast’s hide, glowing with lingering energy that continued dealing damage.
"This is...too easy!" Leo said as he pressed his advantage.
The bear attempted to gore Leo with its horn, but the lion’s reflexes made evasion effortless. Leo flowed around the attack like the wind, positioning himself for another devastating assault.
A thunderous roar erupted from Leo’s throat, the sound carrying magical force that made the very air tremble. The crimson horn bear stumbled backwards, its eyes glazing with fear as debilitating effects took hold.
On the other side, another battle was taking place between Noah and the second Crimson Horn Bear.
Noah quickly finished his opponent with a combination of strikes, each blow finding the bear’s weak points. His aura made every attack devastatingly more effective against the bear’s natural defences.
The creature collapsed with a final groan, its massive body no longer moving.
Apprentice-rank opponents are no longer challenging. Noah thought, using the bear’s fur to clean his blade from its blood.
Leo’s battle concluded moments later as his combination of evolved techniques overwhelmed his opponent entirely. The second bear fell with deep claw marks that continued glowing with residual energy.
"Well done," Noah called to Leo, who was standing proudly over his defeated opponent, his size returning to normal adolescent proportions. "Ready for something more challenging?"
Leo’s response was quick and enthusiastic. "Lead the way to the minotaurs! These bears were barely a warm-up."
They moved deeper into the hunting grounds, approaching the territory where adept-rank creatures made their lairs.
Leo is an adept-rank golden mane lion now. As a superior magical beast species, he should be significantly stronger than typical adept-rank opponents.
The rocky terrain in the Minotaur’s territory appeared ahead.
Leo and Noah walked into the minotaur area, their footsteps echoing softly against the rocky terrain that marked the transition from apprentice-rank hunting grounds to more dangerous territory.
Stone boulders jutted from the ground like sentinels, creating a difficult terrain to fight in.
This is where real hunting begins.
As they navigated between large rock pillars, they encountered their first target. A minotaur stood in a small clearing ahead, its massive humanoid body topped by a bull’s head that surveyed the area with intelligence.
The creature stood eight feet tall, its muscled torso covered in brown fur, while powerful hands gripped a crude but effective stone club. This was exactly the kind of opponent Noah had been hoping to find, an adept-rank beast worthy of Leo’s power.
Noah turned toward Leo with confidence in his companion’s abilities.
"He’s all yours, big boy," he announced, gesturing toward the minotaur with obvious trust in Leo’s combat prowess.
Leo roared in excitement, the sound carrying anticipation for genuine combat rather than the easy victories they’d just experienced. His voice practically vibrated with eagerness.
"Finally! A good challenge!"
The young lion prepared to lunge forward and engage the minotaur in the kind of battle that would truly test his evolved abilities against appropriate opposition.
But as Leo began his advance, Noah frowned, his eyes spotting something that didn’t align with his expectations.
The minotaur looks... weak?
Something was fundamentally wrong with the creature’s posture and movement. Instead of the confident bearing typical of healthy adept-rank beasts, this minotaur moved with obvious difficulty.
As if answering Noah’s question, the minotaur turned for a second as he looked around the terrain frantically.
The truth became apparent and deeply concerning.
The minotaur’s body was bloodied, dark stains matting its fur. It had clearly been subjected to recent violence. A large wound gaped across its torso, the injury severe enough that the creature was barely standing upright.
These are some fresh wounds. Noaght thought, with a growing frown appearing on his face.
Immediately, Noah felt alarm bells ringing in his mind. Minotaurs were apex predators in their territory, feared by most creatures and capable of holding their own against other apprentice-rank opponents in the area without issue.
What could injure an adept-rank minotaur this severely?
"Leo, drop back!" Noah commanded urgently.
Without hesitation, Leo obeyed immediately. He recognised the concern in his father’s voice. The young lion retreated to Noah’s side, his excitement replaced by alertness.
"I sense it too, Father. Something dangerous is nearby."
Good instincts. His predator senses are detecting the threat that I can’t. I only knew something was wrong because of the injuries to the minotaur.
Noah’s hearing suddenly picked up a sound coming from the dense jungle vegetation adjacent to where the wounded minotaur stood. The noise was guttural, malevolent, carrying a tone that made his survival instincts scream warnings.
That’s not a normal creature sound.
"What’s that sound..." Noah muttered, his hand instinctively moving to his sword hilt as every sense focused on identifying the source of the disturbing noise.
Before long, the sight that emerged from the jungle told him exactly what they were facing, and the revelation sent ice through his veins.
A larger, stronger, and definitely more fearsome minotaur stepped into view. This creature dwarfed its injured counterpart, standing nearly twelve feet tall with muscles that rippled beneath pristine fur unmarked by any wounds.
The aura radiating from the newcomer was overwhelming, a pressure that made the air itself scream.
Power rolled off the creature in waves. Noah could practically feel the pressure despite the distance between them. This was no Adept-rank minotaur.
The wounded minotaur that had seemed like appropriate prey now revealed itself as the survivor of an encounter with this predator.
The minotaur they first spotted was an adept-rank creature that had barely escaped with its life.
Before Noah could react or formulate an escape plan, the larger minotaur let out a loud shout, his voice shaking the weak branches on the trees, and then the large minotaur charged forward.