I am Just an Average Tamer

The burly man's fingers slackened, and his axe dropped to the blood-soaked ground with a dull clunk.

His eyes widened.

From the tree line, a sleek, black panther emerged.

Its body shimmered with obsidian scales beneath velvet fur. Muscles rippled with each step. Glowing deep blue eyes locked onto him—unblinking.

The air grew colder.

Even at a glance, the burly man felt the crushing aura rolling off it.

"A… P-Peak Great Core Rank?" he uttered, barely above a whisper.

The beast didn't roar.

It didn't growl.

It just walked—calmly, and, deadly.

The other beasts, sensing its presence, scattered instantly—vanishing into the forest, leaving the man alone, battered and bleeding.

He gritted his teeth, reached for his axe—

"COME ON!" he roared, blood streaming down his chin.

He lifted the weapon with trembling arms, hurled it with everything he had—

But the panther vanished.

Whoosh!

A blur.

The next second—

CRUNCH!

The man's scream echoed across the clearing—

Only for it to cut short.

The panther stood above him, its massive jaws clamped around his upper body, blood pouring from what was left of him.

Ribs cracked. Flesh torn.

Then it dropped what remained.

Elina watched, paralyzed.

Her body shivered uncontrollably, the gag soaking with her panicked breaths.

Tears streaked her cheeks.

She couldn't look away.

The panther turned, its glowing eyes now fixated on her.

The remaining beasts circling her tensed. Whined.

Then stood defensively between her and the new apex predator.

The panther took a single step.

ROARRR!

The beasts scattered immediately, crashing into trees and vanishing into the dark.

And now—

It was just Elina.

And the panther.

Step!

It moved closer.

Step!

Slowly.

Step!

Deliberately.

With its eyes locked with hers.

The panther bared its fangs.

A low, rumbling snarl building in its throat.

Grre!

Its steps slowed, muscles coiled.

Elina's breath caught.

Her tears wouldn't stop.

She shut her eyes tightly, sobbing into the gag.

'I don't want to die…'

But then—

The air shifted.

Sudden.

Sharp.

The scent of ozone.

Crack!

Thunder crackled overhead like a whip tearing the sky apart.

The panther paused.

Its ears flicked.

And—

It stepped back.

Instincts flared—danger.

Then—

BOOOOOM!

A thunderbolt struck the earth with a deafening crash, splitting the ground in sparks and smoke.

Grr!

The panther leapt back, eyes wide, growling.

Dust and ash swirled in the air.

And when the smoke cleared—

He stood there.

Back hunched.

Fangs bared.

Arms tensed.

Covering her.

Blue dragonic eyes glowing with the etheral aura.

Kai.

His skin was scorched with scale, blue, his form twisted—inhuman.

Lightning licked across his shoulders, and his snarl wasn't human either.

He didn't say a word.

He just glared ahead.

Grrr!

A low, furious rumble left his throat.

And the panther, for the first time, took a cautious step back.

Kai growled—

Then lunged.

The panther dodged.

Its form blurred sideways, too fast.

Then—

Slash!

Claws raked across Kai's side.

Blood splattered, a mix of red and glowing blue.

Argh!

Kai shrieked—a mix of pain and fury—and staggered back.

He didn't wait.

Didn't breathe.

And.

Charged again.

Their bodies clashed in a storm of blurs and sparks—

Claw meeting scaled skin.

Dagger meeting fang.

The ground shook beneath them.

Each strike shook Kai's bones.

And, the panther kept up—graceful, relentless.

Faster. Stronger.

But Kai didn't stop.

He couldn't.

His breath grew ragged.

Muscles aching.

Scales cracking.

His limbs slowed.

But then—he feinted left, then spun—

Sliced deep into the panther's hind leg.

Howl!

It howled, staggering—

That was the moment.

Kai flicked his hand—

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Three senbons whistled through the air, sinking right into the wound.

The beast's leg spasmed.

Howl!

Its stance faltered.

Kai didn't wait.

He turned, dashed toward Elina, scooped her into his arms.

"Hold on," he growled.

Then—blur.

Whoosh!

He vanished into the forest, Elina in his arms, leaving behind the snarling cries of a paralyzed predator.

Whoosh!

Kai rushed through the trees, wind howling in his ears, branches tearing at his skin.

But the panther didn't stop.

Even injured—it came after them, its snarls echoing like death itself.

Kai's legs burned.

Breath shallow.

'Faster. Just a little more.'

But his limbs felt like lead.

His speed faltered.

The forest blurred.

Then—

A break in the terrain.

A cave. Small. Hidden.

He dived inside, skidding across the ground, clutching Elina tight.

With shaking hands, he raised a glowing sigil—

A barrier shimmered to life at the cave's mouth, flickering faintly.

"Huffff"

'Safe. For now.'

He laid her down gently, tearing the ropes from her bruised wrists and ankles.

Then—

He dropped to all fours, gasping.

His vision blurred.

His body trembled violently.

The scales faded.

The horns cracked and vanished.

Claws retracted. Skin became human again.

He collapsed on his side, panting.

Elina watched it all, her wide, terrified eyes frozen on him.

What was he?

Who was he?

Then he turned to her—

Eyes tired but still gentle.

"Elina—"

But before he could say more, she lunged forward, wrapping her arms around him.

Sobbing into his shoulder.

Loud. Unfiltered.

Kai blinked, then slowly raised his arms—and held her close.

"It's okay," he murmured.

"You're safe now. I've got you. I won't let anything happen to you again."

She only nodded, face buried in his chest, still trembling.

He stroked her back, whispering gently.

"It's over. I'm here."

"I'll take you home."

Hick!

"I… I was scared…" Elina choked between sobs, her voice barely a whisper.

Kai gently patted her head, fingers threading through her messy hair.

"I know," he said softly. "but you are brave. You made it. And now I'm here, everything will be fine, okay."

Her breathing slowed.

Minutes passed.

Then finally, she sat back, sniffling, her cheeks stained with tears.

Kai looked her over.

Minor cuts, some bruises—nothing too deep. He pulled a small vial from his bracelet and began treating them.

But before he could finish—

ROOOAR!

A deafening roar shattered the moment.

The cave shook.

The barrier at the mouth cracked—then exploded into shards.

The panther stepped in.

Eyes locked at it's preys.

'Shit'