[Attack Imminent]
As the message flashed before his eyes, a chill raced down Shen's spine.
He leapt from the branch just in time to smash a strange creature mid-air — a bizarre fusion of monkey and kangaroo. The thing's body was like a wiry primate's, but its legs coiled with spring-loaded muscle. Its tail was long, prehensile, twitching with unnatural control.
Before Shen could even get his bearings, another one dropped from the canopy, slamming into the ground with a heavy thud. It beat its chest and bared jagged teeth, eyes glinting with cruel intelligence.
"Damn, it's fast!" Shen cursed, barely diving aside as the beast lunged.
It didn't stop. The monkeyroo wrapped its tail around a tree, used the momentum, and came back around like a slingshot. Shen was still turning when the kick slammed into his back.
Crack!
He flew into a trunk, bark exploding around him, before collapsing onto the ground. His vision swam.
[Health: 150/200]
"Fifty from one hit?!" Shen's breath came ragged. "What the hell is this thing?"
The beast didn't give him time. Using its tail like a grappling hook, it whipped around a tree in dizzying arcs. Shen dodged the first strike, but the second — a rebound kick — smashed into his ribs.
[Health: 110/200]
Pain lit up his side like fire. Shen rolled desperately as the monster landed where he'd been.
"Water Blade!" Shen shouted, conjuring a slicing arc of liquid. The monkeyroo jerked back, laughing — laughing — in a raspy screech.
Shen blinked. "…Did it just mock me?"
The creature thumped its chest again, then — horrifyingly deliberate — lifted one long claw, extended it upward, and pointed it at him.
Shen's face went red. "Oh you little bastard!"
His blood boiled. He slammed his fist against his chest, thumping back. "You think you're king of the jungle, huh?!"
The beast grinned wide, mimicked him perfectly, pounding its chest even harder, its tail cracking the ground like a whip. Then it screeched again, mocking him with uncanny precision — even cocking its head with smug arrogance.
Shen's fists shook. "…It's actually making fun of me."
The beast launched forward, this time clutching a heavy stone in its tail. The rock caught Shen's shoulder squarely. Bone popped.
[Health: 40/200]
Shen staggered, vision blurring from pain. Warm blood poured down his arm, his muscles spasming. The monkeyroo stood at a safe distance, hooting and pounding its chest again, savoring his misery.
Shen spat blood, raised his good arm, and thumped his chest one more time — but this time, his lips curled into a grin.
"Yeah… keep laughing."
The beast screeched and launched itself, tail snapping as it slingshotted forward with bone-crushing speed.
At the last possible second, Shen raised his hand. "Water Blade!"
The shimmering edge of liquid formed — and the monkeyroo impaled itself straight onto it. The blade sliced through its skull, splitting it clean.
The creature collapsed in a heap.
Shen dropped to his knees, panting, sweat and blood mingling on his body. He whispered, "I'm the king of the jungle, bitch." Then collapsed against the trunk, forcing out minor healing magic until the bleeding slowed.
[Monkeyroo defeated]
The body shimmered away into meat and materials. Shen cooked what he could, gnawing through the stringy flesh as the system chimed.
[Skill Acquired]
[Requirements met. Upgrade available: Iron Body, Water Blade.]
[New Skill: Charged Rush]
Shen's body glowed as the enhancements took root. His vision sharpened, his muscles coiled with new force. He punched a tree, cracking it down the middle, and laughed breathlessly.
But as the glow faded, he looked back at the bloody ground where he'd nearly died. His arm still ached where the stone had shattered through flesh and bone.
'If I hadn't gotten lucky… that thing would've mocked me over my corpse.'
He clenched his fist. "Lesson learned. Strength isn't enough. I need to outthink them too."