My fist shot forward, colliding with the rabbit as it whirled to face me. The beast staggered under the weight of my Gu-enhanced blow, its furry features crunching inward as it flew across the clearing, hitting a rock with a resounding thud. A misty tendril of crimson swirled around me, the flow having been disrupted by my punch. The rabbit's companion, another rabbit - shocker - hissed at me, crouching low in the grass.
I gripped my sword.
It snarled, the furry little thing leaping toward me in a flash of red. My sword cleaved through the air, the blade of the weapon coming to rest on the rabbit's shoulder.
The creature howled, the sound dying in a bloody gurgle as I tore the blade from its torso, slicing its head from its body. The crimson fog that swirled around the rabbit's corpse faded into the static of the before, dissipating as it was absorbed into the surrounding mist.
The last rabbit - the one I'd punched - struggled to its feet, its ears drooping. It looked up at me, shaking its head before its eyes snapped into a furious glare. Its tiny paws curled into fists, the little animal stomping its feet on the ground. I stood there, staring at it.
Its mouth opened, but the only sound that came out was a tiny squeak. The bunny puffed out its chest, its stance wide as it raised its fists. Then, it grew into its second form.
I lowered my stance, raising my hands, ready for a fight.
The rabbit was taller than me now, a full two feet larger than its previous form. It stood on its hind legs, its eyes now even with mine. 'That's new,' I thought, wondering how its size was bigger than the others.
The creature growled.
"Alright, big boy. Come at me," I said, beckoning it with my fingers. The beast roared, charging toward me. I brought my fist forward, connecting with its jaw, my sword following as I blasted Gu out of my hand and circled midair to gain momentum, sending the blade of my weapon into its flesh. The rabbit staggered, its blood staining my clothes. However, it wasn't enough.
The rabbit's paw flashed toward my face.
My hand shot out, grabbing the creature's wrist. My Eclipse Heart flaring, I twisted its arm, forcing its body to flip over itself before slamming the monster's face into the ground, the stone cratering beneath its weight.
'Damn. That should have been more than enough,' I thought, watching as the bunny staggered to its feet. The creature snarled, its eyes turning a deep shade of red.
I sighed, and coated my sword in a thin layer of Gu, thin enough that any of the disciples around me wouldn't notice it - perhaps, Master Shin would, but that hardly mattered.
'You know what? I'm done fucking around.' I rushed the creature, the rabbit's eyes widening as it saw me blurring across the distance between us. The beast's fist shot out, glinting claws extending forward as a blast of wind whistled through the air, but I ignored it, bringing my blade down upon the monster.
'Now die,' I thought. The sword coated in Gu sliced through the rabbit, a torrent of crimson flowing out of its body and splattering onto the floor. The monster froze. I stared at the beast as its eyes turned glassy, the light within fading away. Its body toppled, crashing to the ground.
The disciples in the area were all silent, the clearing eerily still. I glanced around.
"What?" I said, looking around.
They all scattered, rushing back to their respective areas. I shook my head.
'Whatever,' I thought, heading back to the campsite.
"Well done," I heard a familiar voice say. I turned to see Master Shin smiling, and instantly, I knew that he'd figured out my use of Gu on the sword. I shrugged and walked away. I had no intention of hiding that I'd recovered my Eclipse Heart.
Wrapping up for the day, we prepared to go back to town. Fewer disciples died today. Most survived. And in a few minutes, we set out.
"Today was nice," I heard the disciples talking amongst them. "I have enough to surprise my family."
"Mhm. You're right. It's a shame they'll only last a week at most," another replied, holding onto a crimson shard - the core - in his hand.
"Ahh, you're right. I guess we'll just have to hunt a Hellhound or two. Hehe."
"True."
I looked around. The disciples were all happy, but at the same time, they seemed a bit... anxious.
I sighed. It was understandable. They were excited, but at the same time, they had their lives on the line, too.
***
- Two Days Later -
I cracked my fingers, sitting comfortably as I opened my status.
- System Panel -
Name Wu Ryujin Race Human Template Demonic Sect Elder, Type A Cultivation Path Formation (Layer 02) Constitution None Bloodline None Affinity ??? Path None
Disciples [Biscuit] | [Li Renji] | [Wang Kai] | [Noodles]
- Scriptures & Techniques -
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
[Demonic Eclipse Heart Sutra (Middle-Grade Cultivation Scripture)] - [Power: Mid-rank]
Comprehension: 23%
Progress: Slow [Demonic Sovereign Fist (High-Grade Martial Art Scripture)] - [Power: High-rank]
Comprehension: 06%
Progress: Slow
[Demon Shadow Blade Dance (Middle-Grade Martial Art Scripture)] - [Power: High-rank]
Comprehension: 08%
Progress: Slow
Techniques: [Soulreaper's Malevolent Slash (Middle-Grade Martial Technique)]
- System Perks -
[Herald of Flags]
[Identify]
[Inventory]
[Quest System]
[Dual Cultivation]
The progress had been slow since I didn't have much time to practice my arts, a few days or weeks were barely enough, but the amount of progress for the time I had was substantial, to say the least.
I'd gotten a bit of a hang for my techniques and scriptures. But at the same time, I hadn't had much time to improve them either. Still, I was on the path to improve myself. However, I still needed to do a lot. I'd gained the second layer, and it was a vast improvement compared to the first. My speed was faster, my senses sharper. I could move a bit more freely, too, as if an invisible force was propelling me, the world seemingly bending to my will. However, it was hardly an improvement.
'I can't be greedy,' I thought, shaking my head. A whine from below brought me back to reality. I looked down at a big bunny. It was still alive, it seemed.
'Oh, well...' I thought, and stood up, staring down at it. The thought of testing my techniques was enticing. So I balled my fist and sent a powerful punch toward the creature, my knuckles colliding with the monster's jaw.
What happened next was a little short of insane. My fist tore through its skin, and nothing happened, for a moment. The next instant, however, a massive shockwave spread outwards, a torrent of wind exploding outwards as the creature's body was blasted into a hundred pieces. I watched the scene with eyes slightly wide before gagging.
"Ugh, this is going to be a pain to clean up," I muttered, shaking the gore from my hand and clothes.
'Well, that was an unexpected outcome,' I thought, walking toward the town. It was already noon, the sun blazing high above, but I was tired. I had yet to come with anyone. I was alone. My thoughts were fixed on the technique, though. The Gu had acted strangely. My fist had met, like a normal punch. Weak. However, the Gu that followed had expanded inside its body, tearing it apart from within.
'Curious. Curious indeed.' I thought, scratching Noodles’ head as she slithered out.
***
The mouse ran and Bis Ke followed, meowing a mighty roar, dipping low and raising her paws, stalking the little thing that kept just beyond reach. Her prey made for the bush and stopped, turning to face her, the two of them in a standoff until it slipped to the side, the cat's eyes following as it ran up a tree. Bis Ke sat at the bottom of the trunk and meowed.
She could catch it instantly.
However, that was not what she wanted.
A soft breeze blew through the courtyard, the day warm, the air fresh, and she turned toward the sounds coming from the palace. The scents were different now. She didn't know what had happened, or why the smells were different, but the sounds of her junior disciples training were music to her ears. They had finally, finally, become slightly worthy of her master's attention.
She'd been training them. It was more work than she wanted, but a cat must do what she has to. She would take her time, and her master's approval. Her whiskers twitched as she heard the junior disciples sparring and knew they were not nearly skilled enough.
Her master had given them an impossible task.
She didn't mind. Bis Ke never minded anything he said.
They were going on a war, she knew, for her Master was covered in the scent of war every day. Of blood. Of slaughter. He had been fighting a war alone, and the announcement he'd made a few days prior was enough of an indication for her. He was going to war.
So was she.
It was going to be glorious, Bis Ke knew, and she'd been ramping up the training of her junior disciples because that was what a good senior did. Right now, however, she needed to sharpen her claws.
With blood.
The mouse was up the tree, but there were a hundred mice, a thousand, all throughout the town, and her master, she knew, would not mind. He never did.
Bis Ke prowled, a predator waiting for her prey. She wasn't using that warmth from within her heart. No, she couldn't. She needed to train, not mindlessly destroy. Her claws dug into the earth, leaving a mark behind her as she graced the heart with her rear, eyes roving, ears listening.
Her Master was not here.
He was likely slaughtering thousands.
She waited in her ever-growing wisdom - paling in front of her Master, as it should. The mouse would lower its guard, she would strike then.
So, she waited.
Waited until she heard the sound.
Bis Ke moved, running up the tree, the mouse's eyes widening, its ears twitching. It couldn't run fast enough. Her claw swiped out, the mouse disappearing, a hole in its place - on the wood of the tree. She looked down, disappointed in herself. Her warmth, her Gu, had ended up escaping in that attack, just slightly.
A mistake.
She should've done better.
Bis Ke leaped, landing gracefully on her feet and trotting to the courtyard where the juniors were training.
The war was on the horizon, and she was not ready.
How... shameful.
She would be ready, though.
----------------------------------------
> READ NEXT CHAPTER FOR FREE ON PATREON!
(Available for Free on Patreon! Join as Free Member to get notified whenever a free chapter ahead of Royal Road is available!)