Supreme Hunter of Beautiful Souls-Chapter 31: The path to Azalith!

Kael paused for a moment, holding the unfolded map in his hands, his eyes scanning the various routes marked with winding lines. Each path seemed to lead to a different destination, and all had their peculiarities. Some indicated direct shortcuts, others passed through bustling cities, and there was even one that crossed a dense forest with a note written in red ink: "Dangerous. Avoid unless necessary."

"Hm... there are so many paths to take... what should I do?" he murmured, furrowing his brow as he tried to decide.

The silence around him was broken only by the sound of the wind rustling the leaves and the faint scurrying of small animals hidden in the underbrush. Kael let out a sigh, trying to organize his thoughts.

"If I take the shortest route, I'll reach Azalith in three days... but it seems boring," he pondered. "The city route will take a week, but I might gather some useful information... or at least good food." A smile tugged at his lips at the thought of a decent meal after years of rustic rations.

Then, his eyes fell on the forest path. The word "dangerous" seemed to call out to him. He clenched the map, recalling the words of his mother and grandmother.

"If you want to be strong, you must face challenges. Take pride in who you are."

Kael snapped the map shut decisively and tucked it into his backpack. "Well, looks like the forest wins." He said, his smile now tinged with determination.

As he walked toward the entrance of the path covered by towering, shadowy trees, he whispered to himself, "If 'Supreme Hunter' difficulty is my choice, then I better start the right way."

Kael stepped into the forest with steady strides, feeling the atmosphere shift almost immediately. The air was heavier, humid, and charged with an almost tangible energy. The trees, tall and imposing, formed a canopy that blocked most of the sunlight, leaving the environment shrouded in shadows. The silence was unsettling; there were no birds singing or leaves rustling in the wind—only the sound of his own footsteps crunching over the fallen leaves.

"Well, this is already starting to feel dangerous," he muttered, more to himself than anything else. At the same time, he felt a growing excitement. It was as if the forest itself was testing him—a prelude to the greater challenges ahead.

Suddenly, the system interrupted his thoughts:

[Special Location Discovered: Umbra Forest]

[Danger Level: High]

[Rewards: Experience, Rare Treasures, Unique Skills]

[Alert: The user is entering a zone inhabited by hostile creatures. Survival is not guaranteed.]

Kael paused for a moment, reading the notifications as a daring grin spread across his face. "Now you're getting me excited, System. Let's see what this forest has to offer."

He continued walking, but this time with heightened senses, his hand hovering near the hilt of his sword. The vegetation seemed to close in around him, making the paths narrower and harder to traverse.

Then he heard it. A distant sound, almost imperceptible—like the rustling of something large moving between the trees. Kael stopped immediately, his eyes scanning the environment ahead, trying to pinpoint the source.

"Something is watching me," he whispered.

[Enhanced Perception Activated]

Kael's vision sharpened, and he caught movement in the shadows. It was fast, almost impossible to track, but he saw it.

Glowing yellow eyes stared at him from the darkness.

A creature emerged from the shadows—a massive black wolf with fangs that gleamed like blades under the dim light. Its fur seemed to be woven from pure darkness, and a low growl echoed through the forest, reverberating in Kael's chest.

[Alert: Creature Detected – Shadowfang Wolf]

[Reward for Defeat: Shadow Soul Fragment + Random Treasure]

Kael swallowed hard, but his grip on the sword remained firm. A fearless smile spread across his lips.

"So, you'll be my first real test." He took a battle stance, magic energy already flowing through his body. "Let's see what I'm made of."

The wolf roared and lunged, its claws slicing through the air with impressive speed. But Kael didn't retreat. Instead, he activated his abilities.

[Shadowblade Dance Activated]

The shadows around him came to life, wrapping around his blade with pulsating, lethal energy. Kael moved with precision, dodging the creature's attack and countering with a swift, precise slash that forced the wolf to retreat.

"Looks like this is going to be fun," Kael said, his heart pounding as he braced for the next assault.

The Shadowfang Wolf didn't stay back for long. Its glowing yellow eyes flared even brighter as it charged again, this time faster, trying to catch Kael off guard. But he was ready.

[Passive Skill: Enhanced Reflexes Activated]

Kael felt the world slow for a moment, the wolf's movement now perfectly clear to him. With a precise spin, he evaded the claws that nearly grazed his side, positioning himself for a counterattack.

[Shadowblade Dance – Combo Lv.1 Activated]

He slid through the wolf's shadow, his sword glowing with accumulated dark energy. Three swift slashes cut through the air, striking the wolf with precision. The beast let out a pained howl, retreating into the trees. Yet, despite its wounds, it showed no signs of giving up.

[Shadowfang Wolf has entered Fury State]

[Creature's Damage Increased by 50%]

Kael tensed at the notification. He knew better than to underestimate the beast—especially now. The creature began circling him, its paws making almost no sound as it prowled, never taking its eyes off him. Kael tightened his grip on his sword, staying focused.

"If you want to play, then come at me already," he taunted, his audacious grin never leaving his face.

The wolf roared and lunged once more, its fangs aiming for Kael's throat. He waited until the last second before activating a new ability.

[Shadow Manipulation Activated]

From the ground around him, shadows rose like spears, thrusting toward the wolf. The creature dodged most of them, but one managed to pierce its hind leg, forcing it to stumble. That was the opening Kael needed.

With a swift motion, he dashed forward, his sword plunging straight into the wolf's side. The dark energy surrounding the blade erupted upon impact, sending the monster crashing into a tree.

The wolf let out one last howl before collapsing, its form dissolving into black mist.

[You have defeated: Shadowfang Wolf]

[Rewards: Soul Fragment + Relic: Shadowfang Tooth]

Kael took a deep breath, feeling the sweat trickle down his forehead. The battle had been short but intense. He crouched down to pick up the relic the system had mentioned—a gleaming black fang that pulsed with a strange energy.

"First victory on the road to Azalith," he murmured, examining the object. "I hope all the trials ahead are just as interesting."

As he stored the fang in his backpack, a new notification appeared.

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[Hidden Quest Unlocked: Guardian of the Umbra Forest]

[Details: Defeat the Shadowfang Wolf pack before leaving the forest to earn the respect of the magical fauna.]

Kael let out a chuckle. "Of course, there's more." He glanced at the horizon, noticing the glowing eyes of more wolves lurking in the shadows. With a confident smile, he adjusted his stance.

"Time for a proper warm-up."