Intruder (1)

14 of January.

On his ornate throne, Leo lounged with an air of lazy elegance, a milkshake in hand, as his gaze drifted over the forest below. His divine sense, ever vigilant, enveloped the entire area, ensuring that nothing escaped his notice.

"Ah, this thing is indeed marvelous!" he mused to himself, finishing the milkshake in one large gulp.

Earth had been full of surprises. While its technology had fascinated him, what truly captivated Leo was the food. He had visited countless worlds, tasted countless delicacies enhanced by Qi, yet none compared to the variety and richness he found here. Even without the mystical energy he was accustomed to, the flavors on this planet were nothing short of extraordinary. The fact that many foods were made in a strange way did not bother him, he had eaten worse.

Relaxing in his comfy throne, the red-haired man observed the battle unfolding below with growing interest. The soldiers, mere mortals struggling against the formidable giant scaled frogs, fought with a synergy that was both impressive and, to him, amusing. He couldn't help but smile as some of them fell in the fray, their lives snuffed out in a heartbeat. For him, the lives of these beings didn't matter, he had seen- and done- much worse without batting an eye.

Even so, he found the soldiers' varied strategies intriguing, not only here in the forest, but all around the world he was watching with the divine sense. It seemed that the humans on this planet made up for their lack of Qi with greater combat tactics and military strategy.

In a way, the art of ruling—whether by power or by strategy—seemed universal, and here, Leo found the humans' approach to be a refreshing, if ultimately futile, spectacle.

At another corner of the forest, a more interesting fight was taking place. Mainly because it did not involve any weak humans, but only two beasts! With a casual flick of his wrist, Leo summoned a bag of popcorn, reclining on his throne as he focused intently on the savage confrontation below.

The wilderness had always been a brutal arena where survival was paramount, but now, the stakes were higher. The Qi within the forest was richer, its density far greater than that of the outside world. This abundance of Qi accelerated cultivation, transforming ordinary animals into something more—beasts reminiscent of the ones Leo had encountered in faraway realms. With greater resources at their disposal, such as heavenly plants and fruits, these creatures evolved at an alarming rate, surpassing human progress and becoming more akin to the fearsome Beasts Leo was familiar with.

However, that did not mean that they had an easier life, but quite the opposite. It made it even more treacherous. The life of a wild animal had always been dictated by its place in the food chain, but now, as they cultivated and began to transmute into Wild Beasts, the competition grew fiercer and more deadly. 

Knowing that, Leo made use of it to increase the competition even more: By strategically placing valuable resources and ensuring that the Qi became richer the closer one got to his castle, he created a brutal hierarchy where only the strongest could thrive. The result was a forest teeming with powerful Beasts, each battle more savage than the last.

*BANG!*

A metallic clang reverberated through the forest as two colossal Beasts collided with bone-crushing force. The impact sent shockwaves through the air, causing flocks of birds to scatter in panic and lesser creatures to flee in terror. The two adversaries stood locked in a stalemate, their raw power evident as they sized each other up, neither willing to back down.

ROAAAR!

One of the Beasts, a massive ape, hung from a towering branch by its muscular tail. With a furious roar, it pounded its chest in a display of dominance. However, instead of the usual dull thud, the sound was like the clash of metal against metal. This was no ordinary ape—it had adapted to the Qi-infused environment, mutating into something far more dangerous. Its fur had transformed into a layer of gleaming metal!

A short distance away, a small lake with crystalline water shimmered brightly under the dappled sunlight. Despite its modest size, no larger than a pool, the lake was a source of immense heavenly Qi, its energy radiating with an intensity that belied its appearance. The ape's gaze constantly flicked between its enemy and the lake, making it clear that this territory was worth defending at all costs.

But the ape's fierce display of power and territoriality seemed to have little effect on its opponent.

Across the clearing, a sleek black panther prowled silently, its eyes fixed on the metallic ape with unwavering determination. This was no ordinary panther—it had six powerful legs ending in deadly claws, pitch-black fur that merged seamlessly with the shadows, and a long, scorpion-like tail that flicked menacingly behind it. Leo's keen eyes caught a subtle detail: a small scar marring the otherwise flawless fur on the panther's forehead.

That scar was more than just a physical blemish—it was a symbol, a constant reminder of a past humiliation. Despite having the ability to heal it, the panther had chosen to keep the scar as a testament to its shame from a battle with a human. 

This sign of growing intelligence and self-awareness was what had piqued Leo's interest. He had been watching this creature closely, intrigued by the possibility that it might be his next disciple—if it could become the first of these Beasts to speak the human language, as he had once whimsically declared.

The beast did not wait for Leo to finish his stray thoughts.Without warning, it broke the tense standoff, dashing towards the ape with blinding speed. The ape responded instantly, launching itself from the branch with explosive power, using the sturdy Twilight Heavenly Tree as a springboard. 

The two Beasts collided in midair, the panther's claws slashing through the air with deadly precision.

*SLASH!*

*TINNG!*

The panther's sharp claws struck the ape's metallic fur, but the result was the same as before—only faint marks were left on the hardened surface.

The Metal Ape, its confidence in its near-invincible defense unshaken, didn't bother to dodge or block. Instead, it retaliated with a powerful double-fisted strike aimed at the panther. But the panther, agile and swift, evaded the blow with ease, its movements a blur of black in the air.

Now they were back where they started, each measuring the other with cautious eyes. The ape's impenetrable defense and the panther's superior speed had led them to a stalemate once again. Neither was willing to retreat from this coveted spot, where the Qi was richest!

But the ape didn't stop there. Emboldened by its near-invulnerable defense, it pressed the attack relentlessly, launching a flurry of strikes with reckless abandon. Punches flew left and right, and the ape used the trees as springboards to deliver powerful kicks. The panther, once a blur of agility, was beginning to slow. Each evasion took longer, and the ape could almost taste victory as it closed in.

Just as the ape prepared to leap for another crushing blow, it failed to notice the subtle shift beneath its feet. Small black particles had been quietly gathering, coalescing into shadowy tendrils that snaked along the ground.

In the split second before the ape could react, the tendrils shot up, wrapping around its right foot like living chains. The ape was momentarily trapped, its momentum halted.

That brief moment of hesitation was all the black panther needed. The ape had unwittingly fallen into its trap, and now the panther seized the opportunity to end the fight. With blinding speed, the panther unleashed its deadliest weapon—its scorpion-like tail, which it had kept in reserve until now. The tail shot forward like a bullet, its tip aimed unerringly at the ape's heart.

The ape could only open his eyes, scared, feeling the death approaching him. But there was no time to scream, no time to resist. The panther's tail pierced the metallic fur and buried itself deep into the ape's chest. 

Blood, mingled with a viscous green acid, spattered across the tall grass as the ape's life was snuffed out in an instant.

Everything had gone according to the panther's cunning plan. It had deliberately withheld the use of its tail, lulling the ape into a false sense of security. By feigning fatigue, the panther had baited its opponent into a careless assault, only to strike with lethal precision when the moment was right.

Now, with a satisfied flick of its tail, the six-legged panther dropped the ape's lifeless body to the ground. It opened its mouth in what could almost be described as a grin, savoring the sweet taste of victory. Moments later, the panther began to feast on the fallen ape, absorbing the Qi-rich flesh to further enhance its own strength.

If any outsider had witnessed this brutal battle, they would have been terrified beyond reason. Not only was the panther a savage predator, but it also possessed a cunning intelligence that made it even more dangerous. As it devoured the ape, the Qi in the area swirled around the panther, signaling its breakthrough to a new level of power—equivalent to that of a Fifth Stage Body Tempering cultivator!

"Nice fight," Leo murmured to himself, eyeing the empty popcorn bag in his hand. "That ape was quite dumb, indeed." He chuckled softly. Even though both Beasts had been nearly equal in terms of cultivation, that didn't mean they were equal in skill or strategy—just like humans.

He extended his divine sense across the entire Earth, effortlessly covering the small world with his awareness. Despite his relaxed demeanor, Leo had not forgotten the task his master had given him: to introduce cultivation to Earth while keeping a vigilant eye on the planet, protecting it from any external threats.

Suddenly, he got up from his throne and smiled devilishly.

"Oh, so someone finally showed up," he murmured, a dangerous glint in his eyes. He cracked his knuckles, the sound echoing like thunder in the silent chamber, and stretched his arms lazily. "Took them long enough. I was really in need of a helping hand."

At the sight of their master's grin, his two disciples—a majestic Red-maned Lion and a sleek, silver-furred Wolf—instinctively tensed, their powerful bodies shivering with unease. They knew that smile all too well. It meant trouble, and whoever had dared to provoke their master was in for a world of pain.

Before they could even process what was happening, Leo vanished, disappearing into thin air as if he had never been there. The Lion and Wolf exchanged wary glances, left to ponder not only the identity of the intruder but also when they would reach a level of strength that matched their master's.

That smile… They could only imagine the fate of whoever had dared to disturb him. One thing was certain: someone was about to suffer.