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The lion creature's amber eyes locked onto Jade like a predator finding worthy prey.
It crouched low.
Muscles tightening beneath dark-gold fur.
Then—
it vanished.
Jade barely reacted in time.
A claw flashed across his chest.
BOOM.
His obsidian-armored body was launched backward through broken stone and shadow mist.
He smashed through fallen rock before rolling to a stop.
Pain exploded through his ribs.
A sharp crack echoed inside him.
For a second his vision blurred.
Blood spilled from Jade's lips onto the black ground.
Then the silver healing aura from Cassie's flute reached him.
Warm energy entered his body.
The cracked ribs began stitching back together.
Bruises faded.
Pain dulled.
Jade rose immediately.
The lion monster was already moving.
Too fast.
Far too fast.
Jade narrowed his eyes.
His obsidian vine armor shifted around his arms like living black muscle.
A sharp blade formed over his right forearm.
The lion lunged again.
Jade slashed.
The obsidian edge sliced through the air—
but the creature twisted mid-motion and dodged.
Its claw crashed into Jade's shoulder.
Jade staggered sideways.
Before the monster could follow—
three obsidian vines burst from Jade's back like spears.
They shot toward the lion with explosive speed.
The lion crossed both arms and blocked.
The vines struck—
but only sparks burst out.
No blood.
No puncture.
Jade's expression changed instantly.
It didn't pierce.
His strongest vine attack hadn't pierced its hide.
The lion lowered its arms and bared its fangs.
A deep growl rolled from its throat.
Jade felt it in his bones.
This wasn't a normal Initiate creature.
It was stronger than everything else on the battlefield.
And dangerous enough to kill him.
The creature charged again.
Jade flapped his Blood Wings and shot upward.
The lion leapt after him—
higher than Jade expected.
Claws reached his leg.
Jade twisted midair, barely avoiding the strike.
One claw still grazed him, cutting through the outer obsidian layer.
Jade flew backward and landed on broken stone.
The monster landed opposite him.
Both stared at each other.
Mist swirled between them.
Around them, the battle continued.
Shadow creatures screamed.
Steel clashed.
Cassie's flute echoed like distant moonlight.
But here—
for Jade—
the battlefield had narrowed to one enemy.
The lion's breathing was heavy.
Its shoulders rose and fell.
Amber eyes never leaving Jade.
Jade wiped blood from his lip.
Then mentally commanded the obsidian vines.
Immediately they moved.
They coiled tighter around his body.
More layers formed over his chest.
Over his arms.
Across his back.
His frame became bulkier.
Heavier.
Like a monster made of black obsidian armor.
The lion attacked first.
Jade met it head-on.
Their fists collided.
CRASH.
Shockwave.
Dust burst outward.
Stone cracked beneath their feet.
Jade slid backward several meters.
The lion didn't move.
Jade's arms shook from the impact.
Its physical strength was monstrous.
The lion roared and swung again.
Jade ducked beneath the claw and drove a Sharp Punch into its ribs.
The blow landed hard.
The creature staggered one step.
Only one.
Jade's eyes widened.
The lion retaliated instantly.
A brutal elbow slammed into Jade's side.
His obsidian armor cracked.
He flew sideways and crashed hard against ruined stone.
The lion stalked toward him.
Slow.
Confident.
Like it already knew Jade couldn't win.
Jade forced himself upright.
His breathing grew heavier.
The healing aura helped—
but it couldn't restore stamina.
And Jade had spent too much already.
Too much blood.
Too much energy.
Too much fighting.
He glanced around.
More shadow creatures were pouring onto the battlefield.
Ant Demon was cutting through them in the distance like a red phantom.
Aaron flickered through shadows.
Cassie's flute players continued holding formation.
But if Jade stayed locked in this fight—
he'd be dragged down.
And if he fell here—
the monster would break into the convoy.
That couldn't happen.
The lion bent its knees.
Preparing another killing leap.
Jade made his decision.
Not victory.
Escape.
Survival.
He spread Blood Wings wide.
At the same time dozens of obsidian vines burst outward around him, striking the ground and exploding debris into the air like smoke cover.
The lion lunged through the dust—
but Jade was already gone.
He shot upward into the darkness above the battlefield.
The lion's claws cut through empty air.
Jade flew across the black sky with blood-red wings tearing through mist.
His heart pounded.
Below him the monster roared furiously.
Watching him retreat.
Jade didn't stop until he landed on a broken tower overlooking the battlefield.
He crouched there breathing hard.
Blood dripping from his fingers.
The obsidian armor slowly retracting into dark vines around his wrist.
His chest rose and fell violently.
Then he looked down at the lion below.
Still searching.
Still waiting.
Jade's eyes sharpened.
He smiled despite the pain.
"You're strong…"
He wiped blood from his mouth.
"…but next time I'll be stronger."
Below—
the lion roared into the darkness.
And Jade watched—
already thinking of how to kill it.