Chapter 24: The Hunt for the Shadow Leopard

Elara briefly explained the basic information about Shadow Leopards to Hilvyn on their way.

Shadow Leopards were classified as A-rank magical beasts. They possessed incredible speed, excelled at ambushes, and wielded dark-elemental attacks.

During the day, they rested in dark, secluded places—such as dense forests or caves. This period also presented the optimal time to hunt them.

These creatures could freely merge into shadows using a magic similar to ‘Shadow Assault,’ making their aggression and threat level skyrocket at night.

“This is the spot.” Elara stopped before a dense patch of forest.

According to the intelligence provided by the Guild, a Shadow Leopard was highly likely to be resting within this very forest during the day.

“Master, what should we do?”

Hilvyn awaited Elara’s next command.

The best method to deal with a Shadow Leopard was to engage it in an area with minimal shadows, effectively luring it out of the dense forest.

“It’s best to draw it out.”

As for how to lure it, simply enraging it would suffice. Imagine being suddenly attacked while resting; even intelligent beings would struggle to suppress their anger, let alone a magical beast with less wit.

The problem, however, was that Shadow Leopards rested within shadows even during the day, reducing their presence. Their magical aura also went dormant, making it difficult for Elara’s ‘Spatial Sense’ to pinpoint their location.

Direct physical exploration was out of the question. If one were to be ambushed, the leopard might wonder who had ordered its takeout.

Soon, Elara formed a plan.

“Hilvyn, cast ‘Ice Vortex’ right at the edge of this forest.”

Hilvyn’s fusion magic, ‘Ice Vortex,’ hadn’t been tested for its power yet, but its sheer commotion was undeniable.

A Shadow Leopard, startled from its daytime rest, would surely move, creating a spatial disturbance. At that point, ‘Spatial Sense’ could pinpoint any anomaly.

There was no need to worry about disturbing multiple Shadow Leopards; these creatures were highly territorial, with only one inhabiting a given area.

Hilvyn nodded, skillfully unleashing ‘Ice Vortex.’

For a moment, a frigid wind howled, ice crystals clattering against each other within the gale. They scraped against the ground, branches, leaves, and bushes with a resounding crackle that echoed through the sky.

Elara closed her eyes, fully immersing herself in sensing any unusual movements within the dense forest.

Approximately thirty meters into the dense forest ahead, something indeed stirred briefly before settling back into stillness.

The wind gradually subsided, leaving a large clearing where the magic had swept through.

“Did you find it, Master?” Hilvyn whispered.

Elara nodded, confirming her expectation.

Since the sound originated outside the dense forest, the Shadow Leopard had not moved. Instead, it continued its rest.

“In a moment, use Wind Spears, several of them,” Elara instructed, pointing towards the Shadow Leopard’s location. “Aim directly at the ‘neck’ of that crooked-necked tree.”

“Mhm!” Hilvyn listened intently, clenching her small fists, ready for a major engagement.

“Wait for my command to release.”

Both began to channel their magic. Elara condensed two dark arrows, while Hilvyn raised her staff high, seven Wind Spears circling around her.

Elara tried to estimate the Shadow Leopard’s sleeping posture, anticipating the position of its head.

It would be best to eliminate it directly, or at least severely wound it.

“Release.”

The dark arrows flew silently, while the Wind Spears whistled.

The trunk of the crooked-necked tree snapped under the force of the Wind Spears, its canopy plummeting. A large patch of ground was instantly bathed in sunlight.

“Roar—”

A magical beast, predominantly black with purple spots, materialized in the sunlight.

Its left leg bore a gushing, penetrating wound, and a section of its tail had been severed.

The Shadow Leopard’s fur bristled, its body pressed low. Its front paws clawed at the ground, revealing deep purple fangs, and a muffled rumble like distant thunder emanated from its chest. Its ears flattened against its head, resembling a hissing, round-headed old cat.

“Hss—”

It fixed its gaze on Elara and Hilvyn.

Elara drew her twin blades, ready for battle at any moment.

“Hilvyn, your aim was quite off.”

“I’m sorry, Master. I thought it was in that tree fork above.”

Hilvyn: ~>_<~

“Engage.”

The next instant, the Shadow Leopard plunged into the tree shadows before them, as if diving into water.

“Retreat! Fall back to the clearing.”

The two quickly retreated to the open space cleared by ‘Ice Vortex,’ an area devoid of shadows, to prevent the Shadow Leopard from ambushing them from surrounding darkness.

“Pay special attention to the two shadows on our flanks,” Elara warned.

“Mhm!” Hilvyn focused most of her attention on the shadow on her side.

“Ha!”

As expected, the Shadow Leopard burst forth from the shadow at their side. Hilvyn, already prepared, instantly conjured an ice wall, blocking the leopard’s claw attack.

The Shadow Leopard landed in the clearing, then immediately leaped, clearing the ice wall, and pounced directly at Hilvyn.

Just then, Elara emerged from her ‘Shadow Assault’ magic, her twin blades, imbued with ‘Shadow Blade,’ slashing towards the Shadow Leopard’s neck.

The A-rank magical beast’s reaction was incredibly swift. It forcibly twisted its body in mid-air, instantly adjusting its posture. Elara’s blade only managed to shear off its right front paw.

Leopard blood splattered across the ground.

“Roar—!”

The Shadow Leopard was utterly enraged. It shifted its target, turning to pounce on Elara.

Elara retreated rapidly, casually flicking out the magic ‘Shadow Silk Bind,’ but due to the Shadow Leopard’s dark-elemental magic resistance, it only delayed it for a moment.

“Master, come to my side!”

Upon hearing this, Elara transformed into a shadow, decisively escaping to Hilvyn’s side.

The next moment, a spherical ice orb enveloped the two of them.

This was the defensive application of ‘Ice Spike Prison.’

The Shadow Leopard outside attacked the prison with its claws and by ramming it.

Hilvyn anticipated the Shadow Leopard’s next impact and immediately controlled the prison to extend ice spikes, but only outwards from the exterior.

The impact was accompanied by a piercing leopard’s cry, and then silence fell outside the prison.

“Is it dead?” Hilvyn looked beside her.

Elara used ‘Spatial Sense’ to check, then carefully felt the Shadow Leopard’s magical aura.

“It’s dead.”

The prison opened, revealing the Shadow Leopard pierced with several holes, blood pooling on the ground.

It had collided with the extending ice spikes as it charged. The clash of two forces made it impossible for it to survive.

“Hilvyn.”

“Hm?”

“You’re incredible!”

Elara raised her hand, then embraced Hilvyn’s head, giving it a good rub.

Her action of predicting the Shadow Leopard’s next charge and extending the ice spikes was nothing short of genius.

“Really…? Hehehehehehehe…”

Whenever Elara praised her, she would blush and giggle foolishly.

After rubbing her head, Elara then rubbed her giggling cheeks.

“M-Master… Stop rubbing me—”

Elara released her, and Hilvyn rubbed her own tormented cheeks.

Once she recovered, she put her hands on her hips, head held high and chest puffed out.

“Of course, because I’m a genius!”

“You…” Elara was about to retort, but then she suddenly recalled Hilvyn’s experience of independently comprehending the ice wall.

“Perhaps you really are.”

“What did you say, Master?”

“I said, Hilvyn is a genius!”

What harm was there in spoiling her a little?

Elara watched Hilvyn, who was gesticulating wildly, a smile playing on her lips.

“Alright, let’s head back.”

She packed away the Shadow Leopard’s corpse and called out to Hilvyn.

****

Adventurer’s Guild.

“A-rank quest—Hunt and retrieve a Shadow Leopard. The carcass is in good condition. Reward settlement…”

“What do you want to eat tonight?” Elara turned to quietly ask.

“Let me think…” Hilvyn pondered for two seconds.

“Toasted bread.”