Chapter 3 - The First Step
The crimson-eyed wolf stood beside Akari, silent and motionless. Its once-hostile presence now felt eerily obedient, as if waiting for her command.
She took a shaky breath, still trying to process what had just happened. I can summon whatever I kill.
She turned her gaze to the wolf. Its body was no longer made of flesh and blood but of dark mist, flickering in and out of form.
"Sit," she whispered.
Without hesitation, the wolf obeyed, lowering itself onto its haunches.
A shiver ran down her spine.
This power… it’s real.
But before she could fully grasp the implications, another chime rang in her ears, and more translucent text appeared before her.
> Shadow Summoning (Tier 1) unlocked.
Summoned beasts retain their original abilities.
Summoning Limit: 1/1 (Tier 1)
Beast can be dismissed or re-summoned at will.
Akari narrowed her eyes. Retain original abilities? That meant the wolf’s speed and ferocity were now hers to command. A skill like this… in a cultivation world…
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Her lips curled into a smirk.
This wasn’t just survival.
This was an advantage.
But before she could plan her next move, a deep, guttural roar echoed from the darkness.
Akari froze.
She wasn’t alone.
More beasts.
Her eyes darted to the treeline. Several pairs of glowing red eyes emerged from the shadows, moving toward her with slow, predatory steps.
> Corrupted Shadow Wolves (x3) - Rank: Low Spirit Beast
Akari cursed under her breath. Three of them. She had barely survived one.
Her mind raced. Run or fight?
She clenched her fists. No. I refuse to die here.
She turned to her summoned wolf. "Attack."
The beast lunged forward without hesitation.
The battle began.
The first wolf clashed with her summon, snarling and biting as dark mist swirled around them. Akari barely dodged as the second lunged for her.
Damn it, I need a weapon!
Her eyes darted to a broken tree branch nearby. Without thinking, she grabbed it and swung, the sharp end slashing across the beast’s face. It yelped, staggering back.
The third wolf pounced from behind.
Too fast.
She spun, raising her arm to block—
Pain.
Its claws ripped through her flesh, searing pain tearing through her shoulder. Akari gritted her teeth, refusing to scream.
Blood dripped onto the grass.
Move. Now.
Ignoring the pain, she lunged forward and drove the wooden branch into the beast’s throat.
A sickening crunch. The wolf let out a strangled whimper before collapsing.
> You have defeated a Corrupted Shadow Wolf.
New Ability Unlocked: Shadow Vision (Tier 1).
No time to process it.
She turned just as her summoned wolf ripped the second beast’s throat open.
Only one left.
The final wolf hesitated. It snarled, ears flattening. It saw what had happened.
It turned—ready to flee.
Akari wouldn’t let it.
She clenched her fist, feeling something new stirring within her. Shadow Vision.
Her eyes burned for a moment, and suddenly—
The world shifted.
The darkness became clearer, sharper. She could see the movements before they happened.
The wolf sprinted, but Akari was faster. She grabbed another rock and hurled it with perfect accuracy.
A sharp crack rang out as the rock struck the wolf’s skull. It collapsed mid-step, twitching before going still.
It was over.
Akari stood there, panting, blood dripping from her wound, her body aching. But she was alive.
> You have defeated a Corrupted Shadow Wolf.
Summoning Limit Increased: 2/2 (Tier 1).
She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, a grim smile forming on her lips.
The more I kill, the stronger I become.
She had no idea why she was here. No idea how to leave.
But one thing was certain—
She wasn’t going to die in this world.
She was going to conquer it.