SSS Awakening: Rebirth of the Strongest Vampire God-Chapter 32: Playing tag with big kitty

The next several minutes went by in a blur as Damon feasted on one panther after another. After the first leap of panthers, there was yet another group, and surprisingly, he picked up a new skill from this leap of panthers.

[Shadowstep – D Rank Active Skill: Instantly teleport to a location within 10 meters, provided both your current position and target destination are within shadowed terrain. Grants a +20% movement speed bonus for 3 seconds after use.]

It looked like the bloodline of a single beast could contain more than one skill. Perhaps this was because the shadow panthers were tier 1 beasts with the ability to use mana more efficiently, possessing their innate magic skills and, more importantly, mana cores.

Damon didn't forget to dig out mana cores from the beast corpses as he left a trail of mangled bodies in his wake. After the tenth panther, his bloodlust was finally sated. Not that he complained when he drank the blood from an eleventh one.

His body was greedy enough to gobble up every drop of blood he absorbed. Finally, after clearing the third leap of panthers, he had drained every single beast in the first part of the dungeon.

"2 skills, 5 stat points, and 1 level." Damon was very satisfied with the haul. His gaze darted around the dark forest, which many players would find uncomfortable, but he was immediately able to locate the boss.

There, crouched atop a jagged rock partially concealed by overgrown roots, stood a massive beast—easily twice the size of the panthers. Its fur shimmered with an oil-slick iridescence, absorbing the dim light around it. Its long limbs were taut with muscle, and its eyes gleamed with a sinister silver glow.

[Nightclaw Alpha – Level 20 – Elite Tier 1 Beast]

The creature didn't snarl. It didn't roar. It simply stared, unmoving, as though daring Damon to come closer. The beast was intelligent. Not too intelligent because it was underestimating him.

With a wicked grin, Damon started the fight by activating his new skill [Shadowstep]. Blood lance appeared in his hand readily, and the panther's eyes widened. Instead of pride, there was now fear in its eyes.

The beast did not hesitate, instantly activating Shadowmeld and running away, but Damon managed to land a good strike on its back before it could vanish entirely into the gloom.

With the blood lance stuck in its body, it did not matter where it was trying to hide. Damon was able to instantly sense the beast. Seeing its current state, Damon had an idea. Instead of the lance, if he used just a smear of his blood, would he still be able to sense it?

He made a mental note to toy with that idea for the next boss. For now, it was time to play catch with this big kitty. No matter where the panther showed up, Damon was ready for it and used Blood Swipe on the beast.

The elite was strong and agile and it was adept in using the shadows to improve its combat ability. However, with the lance stuck in its body, everything was absolutely useless. Damon was ready for it every single time and swiped it left and right as it danced in the shadow.

"Stop teasing that kitty kat, Damon." Bloodreign pouted.

"Don't tell me... you are a cat person?" Damon smiled.

"And you are not?"

"Well... I guess like both cats and dogs. Don't really have a preference." Damon shrugged.

"Mmmmm. Why do I feel like you are lying?"

Damon ignored the busybody and continued fighting with the panther. Soon enough the beast's health dropped to the final 10%.

Damon was waiting for this.

The moment the Nightclaw Alpha dipped below that critical threshold, its body tensed unnaturally. A low, warbling growl rose from its throat—not a threat, but a ritual. Damon's eyes gleamed.

Right on cue.

The panther's body burst into shadowy tendrils, dispersing its form into six flickering afterimages that circled him in a blur of speed and rage.

[Shadow Phantom – Passive Trigger: When HP falls below 10%, creates 6 Shadow Phantoms. Each phantom mirrors 50% of the Alpha's speed and damage for 10 seconds.]

In his last life so many players fell for this trick. It took a while to figure out how to deal with this attack. But Damon was grinning. It looked like his lance trick was still working so in a second he was able to see which was the real beast.

The cunning little thing was eyeing him from a nearby boulder. As the six phantoms closed in on him, he activated Shadowstep again. He reappeared directly behind the real alpha and swiped his hand straight across its ribs.

The beast let out a strangled yowl, the shadows around it scattering like ash in wind. Its health quickly plummeted and right before the beast could die, Damon hurriedly sunk his fangs into the beast's open wound.

Blood filled his mouth and the system notifications started rolling in.

[Ding! Bloodline Extraction Initiated]

[Target: Nightclaw Alpha – Elite Tier 1 Beast]

[Ding! You have extracted the ability: 'Shadow Cloak]

[Shadow Cloak – C Rank Active Skill: Envelop yourself in living shadow, reducing all physical damage by 30% for 5 seconds. While active, movement creates afterimages that increase evasion chance by 15%. Cooldown: 45 seconds.]

[Ding! You have slain Nightclaw Alpha Lv 20]

[Ding! You have gained experience points]

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[Ding! You have leveled up!]

Damon dropped the beast corpse after draining the blood completely. He checked out the notifications and clicked his tongue. "Tch. I did not get the shadow phantom skill."

This was a game changing skill in combat and he really hoped he could get it but there was always tomorrow. He could probably run this dungeon again a few times and get a few more shadow skills under his belt.

Damon didn't dwell on it and bent down to pick up the mana core when suddenly he stopped. His head snapped to the side as he sensed something coming at him in an extremely high speed.

There was still a beast left in this part of the dungeon?