Chapter 18 – King of the Black Hunt
The ruined factory trembled under the weight of the creature's steps.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
Each movement of the Alpha Shadow Fang Panther echoed like distant thunder through the hollow structure. Dust fell from the broken ceiling beams as the massive predator emerged from the darkness.
Ronan did not move.
His eyes were locked on the creature.
The difference between the Alpha and the other panthers was obvious.
It was enormous.
Nearly three meters from nose to tail, its body was built like a living weapon. Thick muscles rolled beneath its midnight-black fur, and long curved fangs protruded from its jaws like ivory daggers.
But the most unsettling part were its eyes.
Cold.
Calculating.
Not the instinctive hunger of a beast.
This creature possessed something closer to intelligence.
Behind the Alpha, the two remaining panthers lowered their bodies.
Not to attack.
But in submission.
They had recognized their king.
And now the king had arrived to deal with the intruder.
Ronan exhaled slowly.
One wrong move now would mean death.
The Alpha stopped about ten meters away from him.
Its glowing silver eyes scanned the floor.
Then the corpse of the fallen panther.
Then Ronan.
A low rumble rolled out from its chest.
Anger.
The air inside the factory suddenly felt heavier.
Ronan tightened his grip on the dagger.
"Yeah," he muttered quietly.
"I'd be angry too."
The Alpha moved first.
Without warning—
The monster vanished.
Ronan's instincts screamed.
He barely managed to raise his dagger.
CLANG!
The impact exploded like a hammer strike.
The Alpha's claws slammed against the blade, and the force sent Ronan flying backward. He crashed into a rusted machine and rolled across the floor.
Pain erupted through his shoulder.
His dagger hand trembled.
"Fast…"
No.
Fast wasn't the right word.
That movement had been almost invisible.
The Alpha landed silently several meters away.
Watching him.
Testing him.
Just like the others had earlier.
But this time the difference in power was overwhelming.
The two remaining panthers began to circle again.
Now they had regained their confidence.
Three enemies.
And the strongest among them was far beyond the others.
A blue window flashed in Ronan's vision.
---
Danger Level Critical
Enemy: Shadow Fang Panther Alpha
Combat Difficulty: Extreme
Recommendation: Retreat
---
Ronan stared at the message for a moment.
Then he smirked.
"Too late for that."
The Alpha moved again.
This time Ronan was ready.
The massive panther lunged forward with terrifying speed.
Ronan rolled sideways.
The claws slammed into the floor where he had stood, carving deep trenches into the concrete.
Before the Alpha could fully recover—
Ronan attacked.
His dagger shot forward toward the creature's neck.
CLANG.
The blade struck the Alpha's hide—
And bounced off.
Ronan's eyes widened.
The fur wasn't just fur.
It was dense.
Thick.
Almost like natural armor.
The Alpha turned its head slowly.
Its glowing eyes met Ronan's.
For a brief moment…
The monster seemed amused.
Then it attacked again.
This time the speed doubled.
Ronan ducked under the first claw.
The second tore across his coat, slicing the fabric and grazing his ribs.
Pain burned across his side.
The third strike came from the jaws.
The fangs snapped shut inches from his face.
Ronan kicked the creature's chest with all his strength and pushed himself backward.
He slid across the dusty floor.
Breathing heavily.
This was bad.
Very bad.
Even if he landed a perfect strike, the dagger might not penetrate deeply enough to kill the Alpha.
And the two other panthers were still waiting for an opening.
The Alpha slowly stepped forward again.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
Each step felt like a countdown.
But then—
Another blue window appeared.
---
Energy Absorption Available
Source: Fallen Shadow Fang Panther
Energy Value: Moderate
Absorb?
---
Ronan blinked.
Then he understood.
The corpse behind him.
The panther he had killed earlier.
Energy absorption.
His gaze flicked briefly toward the body.
Then back to the Alpha.
If he could gain even a temporary boost…
It might give him a chance.
The Alpha suddenly lunged again.
Ronan dashed backward—
Straight toward the fallen corpse.
The other two panthers rushed forward as well.
They thought he was retreating.
That mistake would cost them.
Ronan slid beside the dead monster and placed his hand on its fur.
"Absorb."
The system responded instantly.
---
Energy Absorption Initiated
---
A surge of heat exploded through Ronan's body.
It felt like liquid fire flowing through his veins.
His muscles tightened.
His heartbeat accelerated.
His senses sharpened.
The world slowed.
The Alpha's attack approached—
But now Ronan could see it clearly.
Every muscle movement.
Every shift in weight.
Ronan moved.
He stepped forward instead of backward.
The Alpha's claws slashed downward—
Ronan slipped past them.
For the first time in the battle…
He entered the creature's blind spot.
The dagger flashed.
This time he didn't aim for the neck.
He aimed for the eye.
The Alpha reacted instantly.
Its head jerked sideways.
But Ronan's blade still struck.
The tip of the dagger cut across the creature's face.
Blood sprayed across the floor.
The Alpha roared.
A deafening sound that shook the entire factory.
The other panthers froze for a split second.
That was enough.
Ronan attacked again.
His dagger plunged toward the Alpha's shoulder joint.
This time the blade pierced through the fur.
Not deep.
But deep enough.
The Alpha lashed out in fury.
Its tail whipped across Ronan's body like a steel cable.
The impact sent him flying.
He slammed into a conveyor frame and collapsed onto the ground.
The energy boost was already fading.
His chest burned.
His vision blurred slightly.
But the Alpha was bleeding now.
Dark blood dripped from its eye and shoulder.
The monster rose slowly.
Its breathing had changed.
No longer calm.
Now it was furious.
Truly furious.
The two remaining panthers began to growl as well.
The hunt had turned into something else.
A challenge.
A fight for dominance.
The Alpha lowered its body.
Ronan forced himself back to his feet.
His legs trembled.
His dagger was stained black with blood.
The factory was silent again.
Just predator…
Against predator.
The Alpha lunged.
Ronan charged forward at the same moment.
Their movements collided in the center of the hall.
Claws flashed.
Steel flashed.
Blood sprayed.
The outcome of the battle—
Was still undecided.
And deep within the system…
Something new was beginning to awaken.