---
The forest was thick with mist.
At its center, Lin Xian stood still.
He closed his eyes.
A faint tremor rippled through his pupils—
—and the Nirvana God's Eye bloomed into its Second Form.
Facade of Thousand Facade.
In that instant—
his presence vanished.
Lin Xian did not merely disappear—
he shed his existence, dissolving into the mist.
Where he stood moments before, there was only shadow layered upon shadow, silence resting atop silence.
If someone stood right in front of him—
They would sense nothing.
To the forest, he was no longer prey…
He was the hunter that had already chosen its victims.
It was as though Lin Xian had never been born into this world.
A faint smile curved his lips.
"So…"
His voice drifted lazily through the fog,
"You actually think you can ambush me?"
He tilted his head slightly. Silver hair shifted like moonlight caught in mist.
"Then let me show you…"
A pause.
Soft & Deadly.
"What a true master of ambush looks like."
The forest remained silent.
But somewhere within the mist—
death had already chosen its prey.
---
The pursuers arrived moments later.
These were not amateurs. Every one of them had killed before. Their formation adjusted naturally as they advanced, covering blind spots.
"Spread out," the leader whispered.
"He should be just ahead."
"Stay sharp".
A breath passed.
Then—
one man froze.
"C–Commander…" his voice wavered.
"He's gone."
The leader frowned. "Gone? What nonsense are you—"
"I can't sense him!" the man hissed.
"No aura. No trace. No residual qi. It's like—like he disappeared from reality!"
Another scoffed, though sweat had already formed on his brow.
"Stop panicking. No one can just vanish—"
Shiiiiing—
The sound cut through the mist like a whispering blade.
They saw nothing.
But they felt it.
Shadowbane slid free from its sheath.
Its edge gleamed pale and cold, curved like a crescent moon hung low over a battlefield. The sword trembled faintly, not from excitement—
—but hunger.
Lin Xian's voice drifted through the fog, calm and intimate.
> "Xiao Jin…"
> "You ready?"
On his shoulder, Xiao Jin's body tensed.
His pupils narrowed into radiant golden slits. His lips curled back slightly, revealing tiny fangs far too sharp for something so small.
"Purrrrrr~!"
The sound was playful.
But the moment his claws extended—
BOOM.
A wave of primal bloodlust erupted outward.
Leaves trembled. Branches creaked. The mist recoiled as if burned.
Shadowbane vibrated violently, its blade humming like a chained beast straining to break free.
Lin Xian chuckled under his breath.
> "Easy," he whispered to the sword.
"I'll let you feed soon."
Every single pursuer felt it.
The temperature plunged.
Not with cold—
but with terror.
The leader's face drained of color.
"This bloodlust…" he rasped.
"No—this isn't an ambush…"
His voice cracked.
> "WE WALKED INTO A SLAUGHTER."
---
Scene 2 — The First Slaughter
A whisper of wind.
A flicker of shadow.
One moment, a pursuer stood alert—
The next—
Puchi.
Shadowbane pierced cleanly through his throat from behind.
His eyes went wide. Blood poured between his fingers as he clutched uselessly at the wound. His mouth opened to scream—
Only a wet gurgle escaped.
Before his body could even fall—
SWISH.
The blade swept horizontally.
One head flew.
Then another.
And another.
Five.
Five heads lifted into the air like crimson petals scattered by a storm.
Blood sprayed into the mist, staining it red.
Six bodies collapsed in a single breath.
The leader staggered backward, pupils shrinking.
"W–WHAT THE FXXK IS HAPPENING?!"
"WHERE IS HE?!"
"WHERE ARE THEY ATTACKING FROM?!"
Another man screamed, voice cracking.
"I can't feel him—he's everywhere and nowhere!"
"He's killing us like ghosts!"
"This isn't possible—this is—"
"REFORM—REF—"
BOOM—!!
Lightning tore through the formation.
Xiao Jin shot forward like a living thunderbolt.
His claws, wrapped in violent blue arcs, slammed into a man's throat.
«Divine Beast Art — Storm Crush.»
CRACK—!!
Bone shattered like porcelain.
The kitten didn't slow.
Another flash—
CRACK!
Second throat crushed.
CRACK!
Third neck exploded beneath his electrified claws.
The forest lit up white.
Xiao Jin leapt skyward, body trailing lightning like a comet.
"What kind of monster is that?!" someone screamed.
They never finished the thought.
Xiao Jin launched himself off the falling body—
Mid-air spin—
Lightning gathered around him like armor.
Divine Beast Art — Lightning Pounce: Thunder's Descent!
Xiao Jin slammed into the earth.
BOOOOOOM!!
Lightning erupted outward.
Five men were vaporized, their screams swallowed by thunder.
When the light faded—
fourteen corpses lay scattered across the forest floor.
The remaining pursuers trembled.
"W–We're fighting monsters…"
"No… demons…"
"Retreat! Retreat now—!"
But the environment in the forest did not allow retreat.
The mist becomes heavier
The air went dead quiet, thick with tension.
---
Scene 3 — Absolute Suppression
Two assassins broke formation and ran.
They took three steps—
Lin Xian appeared before them.
His fist was already moving.
Shadow Step!
He vanished—
—and reappeared behind one of them.
Nirvana Fist — Second Form: Abyssal Pulse.
BOOM—!!!
His fist struck.
The man's chest collapsed inward with a wet, crushing sound. Ribs caved. Organs ruptured. He folded like a broken puppet, lifeless before he hit the ground.
The second assassin opened his mouth—
Shadowbane flashed.
Shadow Severing Sword Art — First Form: Silent Edge.
Shlick.
Shlick.
Shlick.
Shlick.
Four heads fell—clean, silent, merciless.
Twenty bodies lay still.
Only three remained.
The strongest.
Mid-Stage Spirit Foundation Realm.
They pressed their backs together, shaking, eyes darting wildly.
"S–Stay alert!" one shouted desperately.
"Alert?! Against what?!"
"He killed twenty of us in minutes—how do we fight that?!"
"I can't even see him!"
"His aura's gone—he vanished again!"
"What kind of demon did we provoke…?"
---
Lin Xian stepped out of the mist.
Unhurried. Immaculate.
As if he hadn't killed anyone at all.
Xiao Jin landed beside him, lightning still dancing along his fur.
Man and beast stood together—
like emperors surveying a conquered battlefield.
Xiao Jin flicked his tail smugly.
Lin Xian glanced at him.
"I killed more than you."
"MEOW!"
(Hmph! I was warming up!)
"Excuses," Lin Xian smirked.
"MEOW!!"
(You stole my kills!)
The kitten puffed up, hissing indignantly.
The three survivors trembled harder.
What kind of nightmare duo was this?
Lin Xian raised Shadowbane.
Xiao Jin's fur crackled with lightning.
Lin Xian smiled—softly.
> "Well then…"
> "Now it's your turn."
To be continued…
---