Silver’s heartbeat accelerated.

He didn’t want to believe the assumptions that were forming in his mind. It sounded even more ridiculous to him.

The first thought had been a speed-type beast had attacked him but from the way the stone was cut, it could only leave one ridiculous possibility.

An elemental. Just from the attack pattern he came to two conclusions it was either a wind-type or a space-type.

The conclusion came immediately afterwards. It couldn’t be a Wind type since there would be movement in the air. Wind has sound but this didn’t.

It could only be a Space type.

He had read about this type of attack pattern though not in detail.

Space manipulation and distortion. Something attacking from impossible angles and difficult to perceive directly.

Silver moved instantly.

Another invisible slash passed through the space where he’d stood moments earlier. The stone wall behind him was cut open like paper. It was way too dangerous.

He crouched behind a boulder.

Breathing slowly.

While thinking of a way to get out of the situation he was in. He could already perceive the attack had direction. That much was clear. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Meaning the beast that was creating it was probably small enough for it to stay hidden among the rocks. This meant finding it was not going to be a joyous occasion.

Another slash cut across the top of the boulder and stone fragments exploded.

Silver waited patiently, watching and waiting for any sort of movement but nothing.

Then, a tiny almost invisible movement broke the quiet nights. Something darted between rocks briefly.

Silver’s eyes narrowed.

There.

It was a small shape. Grey fur and a tail. For a moment he thought he’d imagined it then the creature paused atop a distant stone.

Moonlight touched it and Silver finally saw his attacker.

A squirrel

Or something close enough to one. It was tiny, cute, and completely ridiculous especially in the environment he was in. Its silver eyes glowed faintly while space distorted subtly around its paws almost like tiny air waves.

The creature tilted its head then vanished.

Silver immediately rolled sideways.

An invisible slash split the ground where he’d stood.

’...You’ve got to be kidding me’

The squirrel reappeared atop another rock.

Looking smug.

Silver was suddenly certain the beast knew exactly how annoying it was and somehow, that made him dislike it immediately.

The sword tightened in his grip.

The squirrel’s tail flicked once almost in response. Space rippled before it.

Silver smiled grimly.

"Fine."

Then he charged.

At the exact same moment, the quirrel disappeared. One moment it perched atop the rock with its tail flicking lazily behind it. The next empty air.

Silver’s instincts screamed.

He threw himself sideways. A silent distortion sliced through the space he had occupied moments earlier. The stone beneath his feet separated cleanly in half immediately afterwards.

Silver rolled across the uneven ground before forcing himself upright again.

His breathing slowed deliberately. He knew that panic would kill him faster than the beast.

The squirrel appeared again. Twenty meters away. Sitting innocently atop a boulder. Its tiny paws rested against its chest while its silver eyes watched him curiously.

The sight was almost comical. Because a second later, the rock beneath it split apart without warning.

There wasn’t any force or impact, the squirrel simply looked at it and the space distorted. The stone separated neatly into three pieces.

Silver felt his stomach sink.

That wasn’t strength or speed. It wasn’t even elemental power. The little monster wasn’t attacking objects but the space they occupied. This made defending against it far more complicated.

The squirrel vanished again.

Silver immediately moved but he was too slow.

Pain flashed across his shoulder. A thin red line appeared followed by blood. Another invisible cut but thankfully it wasn’t deep. Thought it was deeper than before.

It was clear that the squirrel was adjusting. It was learning and testing him.

Silver retreated toward a cluster of jagged rocks while trying to think about some of Shawn’s lessons.

Every beast had patterns.

Every beast had limits.

Even space-types.

The question was figuring them out before becoming several separate pieces.

The squirrel appeared again. It was closer this time, maybe fifteen meters. Its tail swayed gently behind him causing the air to distort around it.

Silver noticed something.

The distortions didn’t happen instantly. Not quite. There was always a faint ripple formed before each attack. It was almost impossible to see unless carefully looked for. He also had moonlight as his only source of light making things harder.

The squirrel vanished.

Silver focused harder.

There.

He immediately spotted a small ripple from his left side.

He twisted immediately.

The invisible attack missed by centimeters. A shallow groove appeared along the cliff wall behind him. Silver was a little delighted at his prediction although the result still wasn’t the best.

He tightened his grip on the sword.

He could feel the throb from the rapidly increasing wounds but Silver didn’t have much of a chance to even check.

The squirrel appeared atop a narrow stone pillar. It tilted its tiny head then another distortion formed.

Silver moved preemptively this time. The invisible slash passed harmlessly beside him. But he didn’t have the time to breathe.

Another strike came and then another. The squirrel’s attacks accelerated. It wasn’t stronger but faster, leaving little cuts.

Space distorted repeatedly throughout the ravine and Silver found himself weaving between attacks while desperately trying to close the distance.

The problem was obvious. Every time he approached, the beast simply vanished. He noticed that its teleportation wasn’t long-range but it didn’t need to be.

A five- or ten-meter range was enough to put distance between them. The squirrel remained frustratingly untouchable.

Silver ducked beneath another invisible slash. A loft of cleanly cut hair drifted downwards.

His eyes narrowed.

Something else was bothering him through this all. The beast wasn’t acting aggressively. Predators attacked directly.

This felt different, almost playful. Like a cat tormenting prey.

The realization irritated him immediately.

The squirrel wasn’t trying to kill him efficiently, it was enjoying itself.