His dagger, when it connected with the Panther’s flank, drove twice as deep as before.

The beast howled in genuine pain, blood flowing freely from the grievous wound. Its attacks and defence grew increasingly desperate, as it was no longer able to keep the balance with Ethan’s new power.

Then Ethan saw its eyes.

In that moment, Ethan recognised what was coming.

‘It’s going to run.’

The Panther feinted toward the Mid-Silver general, then abruptly disengaged from combat entirely. Its Speed talent activated at maximum capacity, carrying it away from the battlefield in a silver-streaked blur.

Headed for the distant forest.

“It’s fleeing!” the Low-Silver general shouted.

The Mid-Silver rank cursed. “Let it go. We’ve done enough.”

But Ethan was already moving.

Enhanced Speed activated, his newly elevated Strength amplifying the talent’s effectiveness. He sprinted after the retreating beast, following the distortion in the air where its passage stirred dust.

“What are you doing?” the general called after him. “Let it go! It’s not worth the risk!”

Ethan ignored the warning, his pace accelerating.

The Panther remained visible ahead, a midnight blur against the afternoon landscape.

The distance between them gradually decreased.

I’m catching up.

The realization struck him as odd. The Panther’s Speed talent was superior to his. By all logic, it should be widening the gap, not allowing him to close it.

Something was wrong.

Fifty meters from the forest edge, the Panther unexpectedly slowed. Its fluid sprint became a measured trot, then a deliberate walk.

It glanced backward, its silver eyes meeting his.

intelligence gleamed there.

It’s a trap.

The realisation came too late. Ethan’s momentum carried him forward even as his instinct screamed danger.

The Panther hadn’t fled in fear—it had lured him away from his allies into terrain of its choosing.

It turned smoothly, muscles bunching beneath midnight fur as it prepared to face him alone.

Ethan adjusted his approach, his speed bleeding away as he adopted a more cautious stance. His daggers were held in front of him, in an X-shape.

The Panther circled warily, assessing him.

Although it was stronger, the human in front of it was by no means weak. Ever since he appeared, it had been losing nonstop.

Underestimating him was not an option, but it was confident it could win.

Blood matted its fur, but its wounds were no longer leaking. Yet it showed no signs of weakness.

“Just the two of us now,” Ethan murmured, matching the beast’s circling pattern. “No more distractions.”

The Panther’s silver eyes narrowed, intelligence beyond animal instinct processing his words. It paced the invisible boundary between them, seeking weakness.

Ethan maintained his defensive posture, letting the beast make the first move. Time favoured the panther, but the beast had no intention of waiting.

It charged with explosive speed, becoming a blur of midnight fur and gleaming claws. Ethan sidestepped, and his speed and basic footwork skills allowed him to evade by millimetres.

Counter-strike.

His dagger scored a shallow cut along the beast’s flank, drawing fresh blood. The Panther snarled but didn’t break stride, its Speed talent activating as it circled for another attack.

Ethan tracked its movement, enhanced perception allowing him to anticipate its trajectory. This time, he met the charge head-on.

Fire erupted from his palm, a concentrated blast that forced the Panther to alter its approach. The beast twisted mid-air, claws missing his throat by millimetres.

But the manoeuvre left its side exposed.

Ethan’s dagger found flesh, carving a deeper wound that drew a howl of genuine pain.

Blood splattered across the forest floor.

The Panther landed awkwardly, favouring its injured side. Its silver eyes reassessed him with newfound wariness.

‘It didn’t expect it,’ He smiled

The beast circled more cautiously now, calculating rather than charging blindly. Intelligence beyond animal instinct gleamed in its predatory gaze.

Ethan followed its movement, his daggers held at ready angles. “Come on,” he murmured. “Show me what you’ve got, meow, meow,”

The Panther’s muscles bunched, telegraphing another attack. Ethan prepared to counter—

Only to find empty air where the beast should have been.

Pain exploded across his back as claws tore through leather and flesh. The Speed talent had been a feint, allowing the Panther to circle behind him faster than his perception could track.

Ethan staggered forward, blood soaking his torn clothing. His Shield talent activated instinctively, a translucent barrier flickering into existence to prevent a follow-up attack.

The Panther’s claws scraped against ethereal energy, breaking the shield.

Although the shield broke, it had removed a lot of the damage as his crystal body was able to defend against that attack without an injury.

Four talents now. How, Human?

Almost as if it had spoken the thought aloud, the beast retreated several paces, reassessing the threat he posed.

Ethan didn’t waste the momentary reprieve. His hand pressed against his wounded back to stop the bleeding, as his regeneration talent accelerated the healing process. Not enough to close the wounds completely in a few seconds, but sufficient to stem the worst bleeding.

The Panther launched another attack, this one more measured. It darted forward, feinted left, then struck from the right.

Ethan countered with Wind, the invisible force, making the beast mid-leap stagger slightly as it was unexpected.

The Panther snarled as its trajectory shifted, claws missing their mark by inches.

Which was what Ethan had wanted.

But the beast adapted quickly. Its next attack came low, below the wind currents, targeting Ethan’s legs.

He leapt, his legs carrying him above the strike. Water gathered around his hand, condensing into blades that he hurled downward.

The Panther twisted aside, but not quickly enough. One water-blade caught its shoulder, slicing through. It had caused a minor injury, nothing serious as his water talent wasn’t strong enough.

They landed opposite each other, both breathing heavily.

The beast no longer looked confident. Confusion replaced calculation in its silver eyes. Whatever it had expected from this human, five distinct talents exceeded its understanding.

But it wasn’t beaten yet.

The Panther darted forward, changed direction mid-stride, then vanished completely. Its Speed talent activated at maximum capacity, creating a blur too fast for even Ethan’s enhanced perception to track.

Pain lanced through his side as its claws found his flesh.

He was unable to use his shield as it would cost him more mana than he wanted to spend.

He had to firm the attack using his crystal talent, which still wasn’t enough to completely stop the strike.

Blood spattered the grass as Ethan spun, dagger slashing at empty air.

The beast had already disappeared, circling for another attack.

This isn’t working.

For all his talents, the Panther’s Speed outmatched him. Each exchange left him with new wounds while the beast darted away before he could inflict equal damage.

Time to change the equation.

Ethan tracked the distortion in the air that betrayed the Panther’s movement. It circled warily, preparing for another lightning strike.

Perfect.

He deliberately lowered his guard, creating an opening too tempting to ignore. The beast took the bait, charging directly at his exposed back.

Now!

<Transformation Active: Crystal Ape (Mid-Silver)>

Power erupted around Ethan in a silver tempest.

His body expanded explosively, his muscles swelling to inhuman proportions. Crystals erupted across his skin, hardening into impenetrable armour.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep