Chapter 36: Mistshadow's Breakthrough
Awoooooo!!!
Mistshadow's victorious howl pierced through the night, its chilling resonance rippling through the forest. Though the battle had ended, the air remained thick with the weight of lingering tension. The metallic scent of blood clung to the breeze, mingling with the distant rustle of nocturnal creatures.
The silver-furred wolf lowered its gaze, its piercing eyes locked onto the lifeless form of the Moon Wolf. A moment of silence passed—an eerie stillness that spoke volumes.
Then, Mistshadow moved.
With deliberate slowness, it raised a bloodied claw, then—without hesitation—drove it straight into the Moon Wolf's skull.
"Mistshadow! What are you—?!"
Xiao Rongyu's voice cut through the silence, but she abruptly fell silent.
Her sharp eyes caught sight of something unexpected.
A glimmering object emerged from the Moon Wolf's head, hoisted into the air by Mistshadow's claw. It pulsed with a faint silver-blue light, casting an eerie glow in the darkness.
A Beast Core?
Xiao Rongyu's mind reeled. That couldn't be right! Normally, Grade Three beasts didn't develop cores; their energy was dispersed throughout their bodies. That was why she and Xiao Chen hadn't even bothered searching for them after previous battles—it was pointless.
"No, it's not," Xiao Chen's calm voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Ahh!"
Xiao Rongyu jumped, spinning around to find Xiao Chen standing just behind her. His expression was unreadable, his dark eyes focused solely on the glowing core in Mistshadow's grasp.
"You scared me!" she exclaimed, pressing a hand against her chest. "Try making some noise next time!"
Xiao Chen blinked, puzzled. "Why would I need to make a sound? Since when are you this jumpy?"
"It's night, and we're deep in the forest! Of course, I'll be scared if you sneak up on me like that!" she huffed, crossing her arms in a pout.
Xiao Chen smirked but said nothing. His gaze returned to the radiant orb Mistshadow held.
"That's an Embryonic Core."
"Huh?" Xiao Rongyu frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Xiao Chen's tone remained indifferent. "It means this Moon Wolf was at the threshold of evolution. The Embryonic Core is like a seed—an incomplete Beast Core formed when a creature is on the verge of advancing to the next grade. If it had survived a little longer, it would have fully condensed into a true Grade Four Core."
Xiao Rongyu's lips parted slightly in realization. "So… it was that close to breaking through?"
Xiao Chen nodded.
Xiao Rongyu exhaled, shaking her head. "Tch. And here I thought you knew everything, Rong," Xiao Chen teased with a smirk.
She shot him a glare but chose to ignore him, turning her attention back to Mistshadow.
The silver-furred wolf stood motionless under the pale moonlight, its body bathed in the silver-blue radiance of the Embryonic Core. The orb shimmered, untouched by the blood of battle, its energy pulsating in a mesmerizing rhythm.
Then—without hesitation—Mistshadow swallowed it whole.
"What?!" Xiao Rongyu gasped in shock.
Xiao Chen, however, remained silent, his narrowed eyes locked onto Mistshadow.
A change was coming.
The moment the core entered its body, Mistshadow's muscles tensed. A violent ripple of energy surged from within, causing its silver fur to bristle.
The beast let out a sickly growl, its battered frame trembling under the immense pressure. Exhaustion weighed it down—its body was riddled with wounds, drenched in blood after the brutal battle. And yet, it remained standing.
"Mistshadow!" Xiao Rongyu's worried voice rang through the forest.
She moved to rush forward, but before she could take a step—
"No, don't go."
Xiao Chen's voice was calm, unwavering.
Xiao Rongyu turned to him, eyes filled with disbelief. "What are you saying? She needs our help!"
Xiao Chen, standing with his hands behind his back, didn't move. His dark eyes remained fixed on Mistshadow, an unreadable expression on his face.
"Just… watch."
Mistshadow's weak growls grew louder, turning into deep, agonized snarls. Its body twisted and convulsed violently, silver-blue energy writhing through its frame as if its very being was being torn apart and reforged.
Xiao Rongyu clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging into her palm. Watching Mistshadow in such pain made her heart ache.
Xiao Chen, catching the tension in her stance, shifted his gaze toward her. A small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at his lips before he reached out and gently unfolded her clenched fingers, taking her hand in his own.
"It's okay," he said in a warm, reassuring tone.
Xiao Rongyu stiffened.
The warmth of his touch sent a strange, tingling sensation up her arm. She glanced at their joined hands, her heart thudding wildly in her chest.
"Did he just…?" she mumbled inwardly.
A soft flush crept up her cheeks.
"What's wrong with me?! He used to hold my hand all the time when we were kids. Why am I acting like this now?"
Xiao Chen, oblivious to her inner turmoil, absentmindedly muttered, "Hmm… Rong's hands are so soft."
Xiao Rongyu's face turned as red as a tomato. "A-Ah!"
She quickly yanked her hand away, as if burned.
Xiao Chen blinked in confusion. "What's wrong, Rong?"
"W-What's wrong with me?! Why did I pull away?!" Xiao Rongyu screamed inwardly, gripping her golden hair in frustration. We could've held hands longer…
Before she could process her thoughts further, a sudden glow caught her attention.
"Brother Chen, look!" she gasped, pointing toward Mistshadow.
Xiao Chen turned his gaze back to the wolf—his pupils narrowing in astonishment.
Mistshadow's body was enveloped in a brilliant silver-blue radiance, her once-matted fur now gleaming like polished moonlight. Her wounds knitted themselves back together at an astonishing speed, as though time itself was reversing. Her battered frame straightened, her weakened limbs now standing firm and unshaken.
The air around her rippled, heavy with an unknown force. The wind responded—swirling around her in an invisible storm.
Then—
BOOM!
A deafening shockwave erupted from Mistshadow's body. Leaves and debris scattered in all directions, a powerful windstorm raging through the forest. The ground trembled beneath the sheer force of her aura.
Her form began to change.
Her once-sleek silver fur darkened slightly, streaks of glowing blue wind patterns appearing along her body, pulsating with living energy. Her muscles grew more refined, her limbs longer and more powerful. Her claws and fangs sharpened, gleaming like forged steel.
Most striking of all were her eyes—what were once the keen, intelligent orbs of a simple beast had now transformed into the gaze of a higher existence.
She lifted her head toward the heavens and let out a mighty howl.
AWOOOOOO!!!
The sound carried for miles—filled with an indomitable majesty.
"She broke through!" Xiao Rongyu exclaimed. "This is the first time I've ever witnessed a beast evolve!"
Xiao Chen, arms still crossed, shrugged nonchalantly. Though his eyes shimmered with intrigue, his expression remained neutral.
"Wait… you knew?" Xiao Rongyu's gaze snapped to him. "That's why you told me not to interfere, isn't it?!"
Xiao Chen smirked slightly.
"I just knew."
"Y-You…" Xiao Rongyu stared at him in disbelief. "Unbelievable."
Her eyes, however, flickered with something else—admiration.
Tonight, she had witnessed the rise of a powerful beast.
And once again—Xiao Chen had seen it coming before anyone else.