32: Chapter 32, First Battle

Lu Chen charged toward the Fire Shadow Leopard like a whirlwind.

The two realms sword was already drawn.

He wanted to fully experience this battle.

So he had lowered his strength to F-rank first level.

He gripped the weapon in his hand tightly.

The newly forged high-tech alloy blade was cold and heavy.

The spine of the sword shimmered with a faint icy-blue luster.

Beneath the setting sun, it cast a layer of magnificent light and shadow.

In the distance,

the Fire Shadow Leopard, straying on the outskirts of the pack, prowled among the ruins of the abandoned factory.

It now noticed Lu Chen rushing toward it.

Its mouth parted slightly,

revealing sharp fangs.

Its roughly two-meter-long body coiled slightly, ready to strike.

Its deep yellow fur was covered in black spots,

like burn marks from a fire.

Undulating like waves.

Its eyes resembled unburned black embers,

glowing with a red firelight.

Each exhalation puffed out a white breath.

Heat waves distorted the air around its mouth.

Clusters of flames danced nimbly at the edges of its claws.

Fire Shadow Leopard.

True to its name,

its elemental talent manifested in various aspects even in its normal state.

"Lu Chen, remember!"

Luo Dafei shouted a reminder from behind.

"The flames on its claws can melt steel. Don't let them grab you!"

"I won't."

Boom.

In the blink of an eye,

the Fire Shadow Leopard lunged forward with terrifying speed.

A loud crack sounded.

Its massive paw slammed hard onto the ground.

The long-cracked cement immediately split apart beneath its claws.

Chunks of shattered concrete

shot out like sharp arrows.

Immediately after,

the massive figure pounced to close range.

Lu Chen narrowed his eyes.

At the last moment of its pounce, he retreated to the side.

His body moved swiftly and gracefully.

The Fire Shadow Leopard's burning claws missed him by a hair's breadth.

They plunged directly into the side of a nearby overturned, abandoned bus.

Once the flames on its claws touched the bus,

they instantly set it ablaze.

"Whew! That was fast."

Lu Chen took cover behind a collapsed concrete wall,

blocking the flying sparks.

The Fire Shadow Leopard immediately turned around.

It opened its mouth, baring sharp fangs.

White steam shot from its nostrils like an air gun.

Its front legs suddenly crouched low.

Its tail swirled.

As if gauging the distance between them.

"Good reflexes."

Captain Lü Xingjia stood on a ridge in the distance,

watching the battle site from afar.

He said quietly to the others.

Tong Ziqiang adjusted his goggles.

"However, that was just the opponent's probing attack."

"Let's see if he can withstand the Fire Shadow Leopard's real attacks next."

Zhou Yu, the usually taciturn sniper in the group, suddenly spoke up.

The reason these people could watch the battle so leisurely here

was because they had already dealt with their own opponents.

The strongest in this Fire Shadow Leopard pack were only a few at F-rank Sixth Level, and one at F-rank Seventh Level.

For them,

it was a piece of cake.

They were here to train Lu Chen,

not to actually hunt.

"Roar!"

With a roar,

the Fire Shadow Leopard charged again.

The flames swirling around its body seemed to merge with it,

making its form indistinct.

Lu Chen raised the two realms sword in his hand.

In the end, he still chose not to clash head-on with it.

Instead, he turned sideways,

his long sword extending like a gentle breeze.

It lightly sliced across the Fire Shadow Leopard's shoulder.

Thump!

Sparks flew.

A faint line of blood sprayed into the air.

The Fire Shadow Leopard roared,

staggering backward.

It quickly regained its footing.

Its red eyes glared coldly at Lu Chen.

Its black pupils seemed to burn with raging flames.

It opened its mouth wide.

A mass of flame compressed continuously,

quickly forming a fireball.

"Fireball!"

The fireball shot toward him.

It exploded beside him.

Lu Chen immediately rolled back and retreated.

The powerful shockwave tore up the ground.

It rattled his bones.

The concrete wall in front of him melted directly,

turning into a pile of slag.

This was the opponent's real killing move.

An elemental attack.

Lu Chen stood up.

He frowned.

The edges of his leather armor were singed.

Wisps of smoke rose from the cuffs and collar of his clothes.

But he smiled.

"Now it's my turn."

Lu Chen took a deep breath.

His muscles tensed all over.

The aura around him faintly surged.

During the earlier exchanges,

he had been utilizing his hidden advantage—his Soul Skill, Max Level Comprehension.

Observing his opponent.

At this moment,

the Fire Shadow Leopard's attack rhythm, body posture, and striking angles

flashed through his mind one by one.

Therefore,

facing its step-by-step advance,

he did not retreat.

Instead, he took a step forward.

The Fire Shadow Leopard let out a roar.

It felt puzzled.

This prey seemed different.

Facing its killing move,

it didn't flee.

Instead, it walked toward it.

"Come on, little leopard."

Seeing the provocation,

the Fire Shadow Leopard was instantly enraged.

It pounced again like a starving tiger.

Its mouth gaped wide.

Flames crackled within its mouth.

They shot out like cannonballs.

But this time,

Lu Chen seemed to have foresight,

easily dodging the terrifying elemental attack.

His figure flickered,

gliding as if on ice.

With a sideways spin,

the two realms sword in his hand traced a graceful arc.

Like a gentle breeze,

it directly pierced into the Fire Shadow Leopard's abdomen.

The sharp blade plunged deep,

sweeping diagonally!

"Roar!!"

A shrill howl rang out.

The Fire Shadow Leopard stumbled and fell to the ground.

Blood gushed from a foot-long wound.

It struggled to rise.

A fire shadow flashed.

It raised its flame-wreathed claws,

attempting to attack Lu Chen again.

But Lu Chen dodged as if he had foreseen it.

He leaped onto the wreckage of a nearby abandoned van.

He landed,

descending like a falling meteor.

Mid-air, he raised both arms high.

Gripping the sword with both hands,

Thud!

The sharp blade buried itself directly into the Fire Shadow Leopard's back.

Piercing through its flesh and emerging from its abdomen.

The monster let out an even more piercing howl.

The flames within its body burst forth like a leaky sprinkler.

But Lu Chen remained calm in the face of danger.

He grabbed the hilt,

twisted forcefully,

then delivered a flying kick.

At the last moment before the monster's entire body erupted into a fireball,

he directly kicked its massive body away.

A backflip allowed him to retreat in time.

Boom!

A loud explosion.

Smoke, flames, and bloody light scattered everywhere.

Then silence returned.

The battle was settled.

The Fire Shadow Leopard lay quietly on the ground.

Its head hung low.

Its tongue lolled out.

Its scorched fur and exposed ribs

were all proof of the battle's brutality.

Lu Chen stood calmly in place.

Holding the dual realm sword.

There was a black burn mark on his left arm.

But his eyes were very bright.

Thrilling.

He had enjoyed this battle.

Finally knowing what it felt like to face a monster.

Behind him,

a round of enthusiastic applause sounded.

It was from the members of the Spark Squad.

They were cheering for him.

"Not bad, Lu Chen. Truly a terrifying Genius who Awakened in three days."

Tong Zili whistled.

"Your performance just now was nearly perfect."

Tong Ziqiang also nodded.

Impressed by his earlier display.

"Clean and efficient movements, precise strikes, no wasted actions."

This time, Lu Chen did not show modesty.

Instead, he wiped the blood off his sword.

And said:

"I still have to thank everyone for taking care of me."

Then he turned toward the captain.

His expression had already returned to normal.

He spoke up.

"Captain, should we continue deeper in?"