Chapter 32: Playing tag with big kitty
The next several minutes went by in a blur as Damon feasted on one panther after another. After the first leap of panthers, there was yet another group, and surprisingly, he picked up a new skill from this leap of panthers.
[Shadowstep – D Rank Active Skill: Instantly teleport to a location within 10 meters, provided both your current position and target destination are within shadowed terrain. Grants a +20% movement speed bonus for 3 seconds after use.]
It looked like the bloodline of a single beast could contain more than one skill. Perhaps this was because the shadow panthers were tier 1 beasts with the ability to use mana more efficiently, possessing their innate magic skills and, more importantly, mana cores.
Damon didn't forget to dig out mana cores from the beast corpses as he left a trail of mangled bodies in his wake. After the tenth panther, his bloodlust was finally sated. Not that he complained when he drank the blood from an eleventh one.
His body was greedy enough to gobble up every drop of blood he absorbed. Finally, after clearing the third leap of panthers, he had drained every single beast in the first part of the dungeon.
"2 skills, 5 stat points, and 1 level." Damon was very satisfied with the haul. His gaze darted around the dark forest, which many players would find uncomfortable, but he was immediately able to locate the boss.
There, crouched atop a jagged rock partially concealed by overgrown roots, stood a massive beast—easily twice the size of the panthers. Its fur shimmered with an oil-slick iridescence, absorbing the dim light around it. Its long limbs were taut with muscle, and its eyes gleamed with a sinister silver glow.
[Nightclaw Alpha – Level 20 – Elite Tier 1 Beast]
The creature didn't snarl. It didn't roar. It simply stared, unmoving, as though daring Damon to come closer. The beast was intelligent. Not too intelligent because it was underestimating him.