NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3: Nightmare is No Joke!
A low growl rumbled through the underbrush, and in the dark, a pair of golden eyes gleamed like small lanterns. The beast circled Julian and Umbra like an unnerving drumbeat roughly 20 yards away from Julian's position.
Despite knowing of its presence, the creature remained elusive, hiding in the darkness and avoiding the flickering embers.
Julian tightened his grip on his smooth staff, his voice low and steady.
"Umbra, hold position. Let it come to us."
The feminine shade nodded silently, her spear twirling in a circle before snapping into position. Suddenly, the bushes parted with a snarl, and the creature—a sleek panther coated in darkness with golden eyes—charged forward.
"Shadow Bolt!" Julian commanded, raising his staff at the panther.
As a novice, he didn't know the chants to cast without a command as the spell launched, crackling with chaotic energy.
The bolt struck the creature's shoulder for 25 damage and halted its momentum briefly. But the panther was swift, disappearing in a blur to the left.
Julian's eyes darted, lost in the darkness. "Move left, Umbra! Intercept it!"
Umbra's body billowed as she obeyed—her shadowy form darted forward using [Shadow Dash].
Her spear gleamed as it pierced the panther's side, prompting a sharp whimper as a red number 6 appeared. The creatures retaliated instantly, spinning mid-air and swiping at her with its claws.
Umbra staggered back, her speed lower than the beast as it tore at her chest for 4 damage.
"Rally Unit!" Julian called out because he was too excited to activate the skill using his mind.
A faint pulse of energy surrounded Umbra, dark tentacles wrapping around her thighs and arms like armour before seeping into her body. Her strikes grew faster and more precise.
She lashed out with her spear, landing a series of rapid blows that pushed the panther into retreat and caused 6 damage. But the beast snarled, its body shimmering into the darkness as it used [Shadow Step] and reappeared behind Umbra.
Julian reacted as fast as he could, pointing his staff at the beast. "Shadow Bolt!"
The dark orb shot through the air, forcing the Shadow Panther to lunge for Umbra's exposed back to avoid the spell. Umbra's figure flickered, seizing the moment, spinning her spear in a fluid arc before delivering a brutally accurate [Triple Thrust] into the beast's soft chest for 10 damage.
Julian's eyes widened—he noticed from the brief fight that Umbra's health dropped to 16 from a simple exchange with a single monster.
"Good... one down," Julian muttered, his voice strained.
The panther's shadowy corpse crumbled into mist, leaving two small glowing white orbs. Now safe, Julian's adrenaline faded, and he finally started breathing normally with slow, deep breaths. Umbra stood by the panther, her spear lowered, flickering faintly.
[◊ Night Prowler - Slain ◊]
• Gained 50 Experience Points
• Gained Panther Pelt
• Gained Panther Fang
The two items flickered like light and vanished—when Julian's eyes noticed the blinking icon in the corner of his sight, the backpack opened with twenty free slots. It showed the two items in slot one and slot two.
"Phew... Umbra, defend me."
Not wanting to die from a sudden ambush, he commanded her.
Umbra instantly floated towards him, her body hovering around him while spinning her spear.
There was a moment of silence as Julian closed his eyes and took a deep breath, able to taste the burning air and its acidic flavour. The 10-second cast time for his summoning spell was dangerous in the middle of a contested area.
Though the system called it nightmare mode, Julian thought it wasn't so bad because the enemy was only a few levels higher than him and had two skills.
He pointed his staff to the ground, the summoning spell already forming in his mind. Uncertain of what shade would appear this time.
—Create Lesser Shade
The moment he started channelling his magic, the shadows beneath him stirred... but that wasn't the only thing that was disturbed by the flow of his magic.
He wasn't fast enough...
A deep growl rolled through the clearing, freezing the words on his lips.
From the shadows emerged a monstrous hound with pitch-black fur that rippled like the void. Its blood-red eyes locked onto Julian and were unblinking. The three-metre-tall colossal figure dashed out with heavy lumbering paws.
"Umbra!"
It was bigger, stronger and far more deadly than the panther... He could just tell.
Julian's fingers tightened around his staff. "Umbra, protect me—"
The hound tilted its head and howled.
—Howl~
Shadows rippled outward, slamming into Julian like a wave. His staff dimmed, the spell crumbling before it could take form.
"No!" Julian's body staggered, his legs suddenly heavy, and his movements slowed. He tried to focus, his mind racing to catch up. Umbra stumbled as well, her spear trembling in her hands.
The system notification flashed in the corner of Julian's vision, and he felt dread grow in his stomach.
Debuff: Shadow Howl
• Reduce speed by 1 for 10 seconds.
The Nightmare Hound didn't wait. It darted forward, wild and aggressive claws flashing. Umbra barely raised her spear in time, the impact sending her skidding across the ground with a red 9 appearing from the collision.
"Umbra, counter!" Julian shouted, but his voice felt sluggish, and his command was delayed. The hound snarled, its fangs snapping inches from her throat.
Julian's staff pointed forward, his mana surging like a geyser. "Shadow Bolt!" He yelled, the spell crackling to life, a black bolt shooting at the hound and impacting its flank for 25 damage, draining the beast's health bar.
Umbra took advantage of this to twirl her spear and rapidly pierce the monster using [Triple Thrust] with three sharp attacks, dealing 10 damage and gouging the hound's chest and abdomen. Blood oozing from the shadowy figure.
The beast retaliated with a brutal bite, latching onto Umbra's neck and inflicting 20 critical damage, written in bold, vibrating font.
"Damn it!" Julian pointed the staff at the hound, which tossed Umbra away as she vanished.
"Shadow Bolt!" He grunted in anger, the spell crackling to life, but the hound's speed was too fast. Its claws lashed out, swiping his neck the moment he fired the spell.
Two red numbers flashed... 25 and 12
Pain exploded in his side as he was thrown backwards, his vision spinning.
The hound's glowing eyes locked onto him again, its low growl promising the end before it suddenly stumbled and dropped to the ground... However, a hot sensation filled Julian's throat as he choked, coughing up blood.
• You suffered 5 Damage from internal bleeding.
[Player Health Dangerously Low - Heal Quickly!]
Julian's hands gripped the moist soil, and the scent and sweet taste of earth were in his mouth from the powerful blow, dragging himself to his feet. His vision became blurry, a burning sensation spread in his throat... and he couldn't speak properly.
"Urrk..."
[◊ Nightmare Hound - Slain ◊]
• Gained 60 Experience Points
• Gained Shadowwoven Robe (Uncommon)
The green glowing orb floated into his body as Julian prepared to level up before his vision turned black and he collapsed.
• You suffered 5 Damage from internal bleeding.
• You died!