The tail had drawn closer, emboldened by Arthur's apparent ignorance.
'Good. You're falling for it.'
Arthur moved into a clearing and crouched near a cluster of tracks—claws, fresh.
He pretended to study them, but his mind was elsewhere, focusing on Hank's vision through the clairvoyance skill Hank had. The hawk was circling high above, his keen eyes scanning the forest below.
'Hank, spot anything?'
Hank responded with a negative response. Arthur was unable to see anything either.
'He is very cautious, it seems like he caught on. But to still continue tailing, he is quite arrogant.' Arthur thought.
Shortly after, Arthur encountered a beast.
Arthur crouched low behind a dense thicket, his eyes locked onto the sleek form prowling through the underbrush—a cheetah.
Its golden fur shimmered under the filtered sunlight, dark spots rippling as its lean muscles shifted with each cautious step.
Arthur's brow arched in curiosity.
'A cheetah? First time I've seen one here.'
The beast moved gracefully, its slender frame taut with predatory energy, tail swaying behind it like a pendulum.
He flicked his gaze to Hank, who perched on a nearby tree branch, massive wings tucked in tightly as his sharp talons gripped the bark.
'This beast is quite unique, should I summon it later on?'
Arthur instincts said no, at least for the time being.' I don't know if cheetahs even have a high enough population here. Without that, evolving would be nearly impossible. It's just level fifteen and it's a normal-grade beast... not worth the effort right now.'
He sighed inwardly. 'I'll decide later if I really need one .'
"Hank," Arthur murmured through their telepathic link, keeping his physical movements still. 'Take it out. But don't go overboard—keep it simple. We don't want to scare off our guest.'
Hank responded with a low shriek, barely audible to anyone beyond their bond. His large wings unfurled, glistening under the sun for a brief moment before he launched into the air, cutting through the forest's canopy.
Arthur crouched lower, watching intently.
The cheetah's ears twitched, sensing the faint rush of air above—but too late.
Hank dived like a spear from the heavens, his talons outstretched. At the last second, the cheetah looked up, its vibrant yellow eyes widening.
With incredible speed, it lunged sideways, narrowly dodging Hank's initial strike. Claws raked the earth as the cheetah twisted mid-leap, preparing to bolt.
Hank pivoted mid-air, wings slicing through the air as he flapped hard to regain momentum. His talons clamped around the cheetah's haunches, yanking it upward before slamming the beast into the forest floor with a brutal thud.
Dust exploded into the air, mingling with the cheetah's pained growl.
But then—Hank hesitated.
He loosened his grip slightly, giving the cheetah enough room to struggle free. His movements became sluggish.
It seemed as if he were suddenly outmatched by the person watching from afar.
His wings flapped harder but with less force, his talons swiping clumsily at the cheetah.
Arthur narrowed his eyes, watching the act unfold. 'Good, Hank. Play weak'
The cheetah, panting heavily, seemed to notice the shift. It growled low, its body coiled like a spring before lunging again.
Hank met it mid-air, but this time, the fight was sloppier. Talons and claws clashed, but neither landed a critical blow.
For five minutes, they clashed—Hank's massive wings fanning the leaves while the cheetah twisted and dodged with surprising agility.
It was a dance of chaos, but Arthur could see the tide turning.
'He is still waiting, although I'm clearly in a vulnerable position...'
The cheetah's golden eyes darted around, its breathing ragged. It realized it couldn't overpower Hank, not directly. But then—it saw Arthur.
Standing in the clearing, his sword was sheathed, and his body was in a vulnerable position.
The cheetah's decision was instant.
With a snarl, it broke from Hank, paws skimming across the dirt as it bolted straight for Arthur. Its muscles flexed with every stride, closing the distance in seconds.
Arthur widened his eyes.
"Hank!" he shouted, staggering back.
Hank, still in the air, immediately dove. His wings folded tightly against his body as he rocketed downward, angling to intercept.
The cheetah was nearly on Arthur—jaws wide, claws extended—when Hank slammed into its side with crushing force.
The cheetah was thrown sideways, colliding with a tree trunk so hard that bark exploded in every direction. It whimpered, sliding to the ground in a heap.
From the shadows, hidden deep within the trees, the figure watching them tensed. Their breath hitched.
'Something is off about this guy... I think I should call for backup before engaging, even though I am confident in my strength and the skill I'm using.'
The stalker crouched low behind a thick tree trunk, eyes narrowed as he studied Arthur from the shadows.
His instincts screamed that something wasn't right. 'Could he know I'm here?'
'I better get back first… it's not like he'll be able to escape anyway.' He slowly shifted backwards, careful not to make a sound.
But just as he turned to leave, a voice echoed through the trees.
"Is that a very rare item! This cheetah actually dropped a very rare item!" Arthur exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement.
The stalker's head snapped back toward the clearing. His heart pounded faster, blood rushing to his ears.
Peeking around the tree, his eyes locked onto Arthur, who now stood over the lifeless cheetah, holding a glowing dark-blue item in his hand.
The unmistakable shimmer of a Very Rare item.
'No way…' The stalker's eyes widened, greed immediately flaring.
Arthur held the item up, letting it catch the sunlight. Its soft glow illuminated his face, the excitement in his voice growing louder.
"This… this is easily worth a hundred gold coins! Maybe more!" Arthur said, holding the pendant between his fingers.
The hidden figure swallowed hard. A hundred gold coins. That was by no means a small fortune.
It was enough to change lives completely, it was a step closer to becoming someone important in the city.
'But if I call for backup… I'll have to split the loot. And I won't get the full cut.'