As the afternoon sun began its slow descent, painting the sky above Sky-Splitter Peak in hues of orange and purple.
Inside the city's martial art hall, students could be seen working and practicing in groups with the aids of combat instructors, Dai Yuan standing at a separate distance away from others, swing a gigantic steal hammer. It has been a week of his stay in the Brightmoon mountain city, since his arrival here, most of his time was spent in the martial art hall as he engage in practicing the martial art he obtained.
The following day after dai yaun registered, he returned to the smithy shop from the market square to purchase a steal hammer, with which he had been using to practice for the past few days, with his increased physical strength and cultivation, dai yaun was able to make rapid progression in the control and release of his strength according to the martial art.
Currently his muscles are pleasantly aching, as he dropped the steal hammer on the floor beside him, he wiped the sweat which has accumulated from his brow.
Hours had passed in the Brightmoon Combat Arena, a blur of stances, footwork drills, and carefully guided practice punches against the enchanted puppets. The combat masters instruction was precise, firm, and incredibly effective.
Though on his side,He hadn't yet achieved the 'sonic' crack, but he could feel the core principles of the Titan Sonic Punch beginning to click. His strikes were becoming more focused.
"Remember, Dai Yuan," Master Borin had said, his voice echoing in his mind,
"the punch is not just your hammer strike. The ground beneath your feet, the rotation of your hips, the tension in your shoulder, and the release through your hammer. Every fiber of your being has to contributes, for you to deliver a successful hit. Practice the flow more often and in your free time, it might serve as foundation to other arts."
Today, he had decided to go out and have a real life experience fighting beast, his journey through the Blackscale jungle, have made him realize the benefit real life and death battles.
Brightmoon City, for all its civilization, was still nestled at the foot of a formidable mountain wilderness. Wang LinLin had mentioned the 'Outer Wilds,' areas beyond the city's immediate defenses where less dangerous, there mortal-ranked beasts roamed. These zones were regularly patrolled by city guards and local hunters, keeping the larger threats away from the city walls, but they still offered opportunities for those seeking to hone their skills against live targets.
After a quick, light dinner from a street vendor and a fresh water-skin, Dai Yuan made his way towards one of the lesser-used gates on the western side of the city. The guards there were less formal, accustomed to hunters and gatherers passing through. He exchanged a brief nod with a gruff guard, who merely grunted.
"Stay on the paths, stranger. Don't wander too far. Dark comes early in the mountains."
"Understood," Dai Yuan replied, stepping out into the wilderness.
Dai Yaun stood at the edge of the city's Great Gate, the bustling sounds of merchants and travelers fading beneath the morning sun. Beyond the towering stone walls of the city lay the wild expanse where mortal-ranked beasts were said to roam, the perfect place for real combat practice.
The transition from the bustling city to the wild was immediate. The sounds of the city faded, replaced by the rustle of leaves, the chirping of crickets, and the occasional distant hoot of an owl.
This area was different from the deep forest where he'd encountered the Iron-Scaled Boar. Here, the trees were less, appearing sparse with the space between filled with overgrown grasses, which did not quite tangled together.
Mortal Rank 1 and 2 beasts were common here – dire wolves, large wild boars, and various aggressive forest creatures. Dai Yuan himself had decided to come to this part of the forest after meeting uncle Wang this morning before heading to the martial art arena, he had asked for the man opinion on what beast material he would required, as he need more money on his journey, having been wearing the same pear of clothe, dai yaun had commissioned a fresh one from the city's semester but has not collected it due to lack of payment.
He was considered a Mortal Rank 2 fighter, having honed his combat skills through numerous encounters, had pushed him to his limits.
Dai Yaun moved with caution through the forest, his senses were high on alert. Though he came looking for a particular monster which he can trade of in the market, at uncle Wang's place. Dai Yaun wasn't looking for a mare casual stroll. He was looking for a challenge, something that would push the limits of his new technique.
The path wound deeper for about half an hour, leading him past a bubbling stream and then coming out through a grove of gnarled oaks. The light was now truly dim, the forest casting long, eerie shadows. Dai yaun had been walking for quite sometime now without encountering a single beast, and he stoped to consider turning back when a suddenly the smell of a monster hit him – a strong, musky odor. It was thick, heavy, and unmistakably ursine.
Then he heard it a heavy, *thump-thump-thump* of large paws on the forest floor, coming from his left.
As the thumping sound of what ever was approaching him becomes louder and clearer, Dai Yuan slowly grip his hammer, the familiar weight of the weapon bringing a small comfort.
He froze, scanning the darkening woods. This scent was stronger than any wild boar he had encountered on his journey to the Brightmoon city,Slowly, from behind a dense thicket, emerged a creature that made his blood run cold: a black bear, massive and imposing, its fur as dark as midnight and eyes sharp like embers..
Feeling the slight pressure building up and silently emanating from the beast dai yaun, realized that this wasn't just any bear. From his knowledge, Dai Yaun estimated this bear to be a mortal rank 3 beast—one step higher than any creature he had ever faced alone.
This is a Mortal Rank 3 Black Bear. It stood almost as tall as Dai Yuan on all fours, and when it slowly rose to its hind legs, its true size was revealed, easily towering over him. Its claws, long and curved, the claws looked capable of ripping through steel, and its small, dark eyes held a chilling intelligence, assessing him.
This was a beast a level above him, This was a significant jump, a far greater challenge than he had anticipated for a "real-life practice." A rank 3 beast would have superior strength, speed, and resilience compared to a rank 2.
Dai yaun quickly suppress the instinctual fear, which has started raising up across his spine, causing him to shudder slightly and almost losing the grip on his hammer. This was the test he had unknowingly bean searching for.
"roar!!"
The Black Bear suddenly raised it head up and let out a deep, rumbling growl, a sound that vibrated through the forest sending birds flying into the distance. Its head dipped as its powerful neck muscles bunching.
Dai Yuan took a deep breath, settling his stance. He gripped his axe tightly with both hands ready to defend, realizing the difference in their strength dai yaun decide not to meet it head on, but engage it in a prolonged fight, while honing his new combat technique with it.
The bear growled once more, a deep, resonant sound that vibrated through the forest. Without warning, the bear charged.
The Black Bear roared, a sound of terrifying power, and lunged forward, a black blur of fury, its massive claws extended.
Before the beast closed up to his position, Dai Yaun has lunged to the right while raising the hammer high above his head before bringing it down with all his strength while following the stance of the thunder strike art. The grip of his fist on the hammer's handle feel like a pear of pliers holding down a metal wire.
Dai Yaun felt elated, as he though about successful getting a hit on the black bear, but the smiling grin on his face instantly turned to a grim look, as the massive bear retract it massive body out of the way.
Whoos!!
Instead the usual "thud" signifying the sound of something hitting flesh, what come into his ear was the sound of air splitting apart, making way for the hammer head as it furiously slam onto the floor. The instant the hammer made contact with the floor, dai yaun let it go from the recoil passing onto his hands while crouching down to avoid the paw of the bear which come in for a straight slap. It massive paw parting the air away.
As he dodged the bear swap, the bear which seems like a boxing champion did not relent as it went for a powerful kick with it's hind leg.
Dao rolled away, grabbing his hammer along the way as he jumped back to his feet, without waiting for the beast to send forth another one of it attack, Dai Yuan went in for a charge with his harm swung across the bears knee cap, hopping to dis-stabilize it.