Chapter 8: The Forest of Whispers and The Elite Shadow Cat
Days after the duel, Vicky stood before his newly pledged knights in the main courtyard. Reman's voice was a persistent whisper in his mind.
"Boy, I sense a strange and powerful energy emanating from the eastern woods—a presence that feels ancient, tied to our bloodline. It is different, potent. I believe it is the dungeon from your past memories."
The dungeon… Vicky thought, a surge of excitement coursing through him. He remembered legends of a hidden chamber deep within the so-called Forest of Whispers, containing powerful artifacts and mana crystals. But it was also said to be guarded by terrible beasts.
"Men!" Vicky announced, his voice cutting through the morning air. "Today, we train in the Forest of Whispers!"
A wave of nervous murmurs spread through the knights. Gideon, their unofficial leader, stepped forward, concern etched on his face. "Young Master, with all due respect, that is the deep forest! No one dares to go there. It's filled with monsters that could wipe out a town in moments. Why would we train there?"
Vicky projected an air of unshakable confidence. "Why? Because this is where I trained after I lost to my brother! This is the secret to my new strength! The danger forges true power. Here, you will not just become knights; you will become Low-Level Knights, stronger than you ever imagined!"
His words, a blend of truth and clever exaggeration, ignited a spark in the men. Their fear was replaced by fervent hope. If their young master could become so powerful by training here, so could they! They cheered, "Long live Young Master Vicky! We will follow you!"
"You are quite the motivator, boy," Reman remarked, a hint of amusement in his tone.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, the air grew thick and heavy. Sunlight struggled to pierce the dense canopy, creating a world of shadows and eerie silence. The knights gripped their weapons tightly, their eyes scanning every rustling bush.
Suddenly, a low, menacing growl echoed from a thicket. The bushes parted, and a creature emerged. It was a massive feline, its fur as black as midnight, with sharp claws and eyes that glowed yellow. Crackling arcs of electricity sparked along its body.
"An Elite Level Shadow Lightning Cat!" Reman's voice turned urgent. "Be extremely careful! It is fast, intelligent, and controls electricity. Its elemental shockwave can strike multiple targets at once."
"Everyone, stay alert! Spread out! Do not cluster together!" Vicky commanded, his voice steady. "This is an Elite Level monster! Its electricity can jump between you if you're too close!"
The knights obeyed instantly, forming a wide circle around the beast. The cat let out a sharp yowl and lunged at Vicky with blinding speed. Vicky barely dodged, feeling the heat of the electrical discharge as it passed.
"Gideon, now!" Vicky yelled.
Gideon threw a spear from the flank, forcing the cat to twist away. Enraged, the cat turned its attention to Gideon, gathering crackling energy around its body.
"It's targeting Gideon! It's going to use its shockwave!" Vicky shouted. "Everyone, get back!"
But it was too late. The cat released a pulse of blue electricity that expanded outward in a circle. Knights cried out as the shockwave threw them off their feet. Gideon took the brunt of it, collapsing to the ground, smoke rising from his armor.
Seeing his knight fall, a cold fury settled over Vicky. "You want a real fight? You'll get one." He took a deep breath. "Iron Blood Art, activate!"
A visible wave of power rippled over Vicky's skin, giving it a metallic sheen. The cat lunged again. This time, Vicky didn't dodge. He met the charge head-on, grabbing the beast and using its own momentum to hurl it against a large, moss-covered boulder with a sickening crunch.
The impact was so violent that the boulder cracked open like an egg.
As the dazed cat struggled to its feet, Vicky didn't give it a chance. Focusing all the power of the Iron Blood Art into his fist, he unleashed a single, devastating punch. The mana-infused strike hit the creature square in the chest, and the force ripped through it, splitting the Elite Level monster into two halves.
Silence descended upon the forest, broken only by the heavy breathing of the knights. They stared at Vicky, their faces a mixture of terror and awe. They had just witnessed their young master single-handedly kill an Elite Level monster.
"Well done," Reman said. "But look."
Vicky's eyes turned to the cracked boulder. From within the fissure, a faint, eerie glow emanated, and a strange, low hum filled the air.
"Young Master… what is that?" one of the knights whispered, getting to his feet.
Vicky walked towards the cracked rock, a slow smile spreading across his face. "I'm not sure," he said, though he had a strong suspicion. "But I think this is what we came for. This is just the beginning."
The dungeon awaited.
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