Chapter 5 - The Masked Cultivators
Akari barely had time to react before the masked figure struck again.
His skeletal hand shot forward like a spear, aiming for her chest. Too fast!
Her body moved on instinct—she twisted, barely dodging as the cold air around his attack rippled unnaturally. The ground where she had been standing cracked from the force of his strike.
If that hit me, I’d be dead.
Her crimson-eyed wolves snarled and lunged forward, their fangs snapping at the masked figure’s legs.
But he didn’t even flinch.
With a flick of his wrist, a pulse of dark Qi burst from his body, slamming into both wolves and sending them skidding backward.
Akari’s eyes widened. He’s on a completely different level.
And the worst part?
The other two masked cultivators had started moving.
She was outnumbered, outmatched, and completely alone.
Think.
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Running wasn’t an option—not with how fast they were. Fighting them head-on? Suicide.
But then, something flickered in her vision.
A message.
> New Passive Activated: Shadow Beast Synchronization
Your summoned beasts share a fragment of their instincts and senses with you.
A surge of awareness rushed through her mind.
She could feel the wolves.
Their hunger. Their rage. Their desire to fight.
More than that—she could see through their eyes.
Her heartbeat slowed.
If she couldn’t match them in power… she’d outmaneuver them.
Akari dropped low, gripping the bloodied rock she still had from before. With her connection to the wolves, she sent them a command without speaking.
Split up. Distract them. Make them move.
The wolves snarled in unison.
One charged from the left, the other from behind.
The lead cultivator turned slightly—just for a fraction of a second.
That was all Akari needed.
She sprang forward, gripping the rock tight, and aimed for his throat.
A reckless move. A desperate move.
But sometimes, those were the only ones that worked.
The rock slammed into his mask.
A sharp crack echoed through the dead air.
The masked cultivator staggered.
Not a lot. But just enough.
NOW.
The wolf behind him lunged, sinking its fangs into his leg. The other ripped at his arm, tearing through his robes.
Akari didn’t waste time watching. She grabbed the sword from his waist and ran.
She dashed past him, past the shrine, and into the twisted forest beyond.
Behind her, she heard the enraged shouts of the other two cultivators.
They’d come after her.
But that was fine.
Because now, she was armed.
And she knew how to fight back.
---
Somewhere Deeper in the Forsaken Province…
Akari leaned against a jagged rock, panting. Her shoulder ached, her head spun, and she could still feel the faint sting of where her summons had taken damage.
But she had a sword.
And she was alive.
She turned the weapon over in her hands. It wasn’t anything extraordinary—just a simple, curved blade with a darkened edge. But the moment she touched it, another notification appeared.
> Item Acquired: Forsaken Blade
Rank: Low-Grade Spirit Weapon
Effect: Slightly enhances the flow of Qi for smoother attacks.
A spirit weapon. Even if it was low-grade, it was better than nothing.
She exhaled.
I need to get stronger. Fast.
If those masked cultivators were roaming this world, then she wasn’t just dealing with wild beasts and bandits.
There were forces at play—forces that didn’t want her here.
But Akari wasn’t planning to leave.
She was going to survive.
And one day, she’d make them the ones running in fear.