Supreme Hunter of Beautiful Souls-Chapter 32: A Group of Adventurers.

After defeating the Shadowfang Wolf, Kael continued his journey along the winding path, the sky above gradually clearing as the dense trees of the forest thinned out. The map in his hands marked the correct route to Azalith, and he felt he was making good progress despite the setbacks.

"If the system keeps testing me like this, I’ll end up leveling up faster than I expected," he muttered, folding the map and tucking it into his backpack.

As he walked, Kael arrived at a clearing where the sound of rushing water filled the air. Ahead, a rope and wooden suspension bridge stretched across a wide and turbulent river, but something was off.

He approached, frowning as he examined the bridge’s condition. The ropes were frayed and partially loose, while several wooden planks had fallen, leaving large gaps.

"Great… Because why would there ever be a perfectly functional bridge?" Kael sighed, stepping closer to the riverbank. He looked down at the churning waters below, where jagged rocks and the powerful current made swimming across impossible.

Turning his attention back to the bridge, he weighed his options. "Well, it looks like I have a few choices: try to fix this, cross carefully, or look for another way around."

He crouched down to inspect the ropes, giving one a light tug. The material was old but still somewhat sturdy in certain spots. Then, he eyed the scattered wooden planks—some rotted through, others split in half.

"I definitely can’t just walk across like this. And if I fall, the system won’t be saving my ass," he murmured.

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Closing his eyes for a moment, Kael tried to think of a solution. Magic came to mind.

"Could I create temporary supports with shadow manipulation?" He raised an eyebrow at the thought. "Never tried something like this before… But it sounds fun… And I need to test this ability—I can’t just rely on wind magic all the time."

Positioning himself at the entrance of the bridge, Kael extended his hand toward the loose ropes and the gaps where the planks were missing.

From the ground around him, shadows slowly began to rise, slithering like serpents toward the damaged areas. He focused his mana, shaping the shadows into firm planks and additional ropes, filling the bridge’s gaps.

The process was exhausting, and beads of sweat had already formed on his forehead. But little by little, the bridge took on a more stable form.

When he finished, he stepped back, admiring his work. "Not perfect, but it should hold my weight."

Carefully, Kael began crossing the bridge. The structure creaked under his feet, but the shadows created by his magic held firm. Each step was measured, and he moved slowly, maintaining his focus on the magic so the shadows wouldn’t dissipate.

Reaching the other side, he exhaled in relief as he stepped onto solid ground again.

Leaning against a nearby tree, Kael let out a long sigh, catching his breath. He glanced back at the bridge, still held together by the shadows he had conjured.

"Man… That was harder than it looked," he murmured, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "But it worked. I guess I can trust this ability more now."

A notification appeared before him, glowing faintly with a golden shimmer as always:

[Skill "Shadow Manipulation" leveled up to 2!]

[Skill Progress: Creative application detected.]

[Bonus: Increased duration and stability for shadow constructs.]

He chuckled softly, feeling the familiar euphoria that came with each improvement. "Not bad. If this keeps up, I might actually get used to these stressful situations."

Stowing the map once more, Kael looked ahead at the road stretching before him. The path seemed more desolate now, with the cold morning breeze gently sweeping through. Adjusting his backpack, he started walking, feeling more confident after his small triumph.

However, it didn’t take long before something caught his attention again. A distant sound reached his ears—a metallic clang echoing between the nearby hills. It was followed by muffled shouts and something that sounded like… a battle?

Kael stopped, frowning as he tried to determine the exact direction of the noise. "What’s happening now?" he murmured, turning toward the sound.

"Trouble in…" he said with a smirk. Turning, he started running toward the commotion, ready to face whatever was going on. "The more chaos, the better the system’s rewards, anyway!"

Adrenaline surged through his body as he sprinted down the trail. The clash of metal against metal grew clearer with each step, and the muffled shouts became distinct—orders being barked and fierce roars shaking the air. Rounding a bend in the road, he reached a clearing overlooking a narrow canyon.

Down below, amid the rocky terrain, an intense battle was unfolding. A small group of adventurers was surrounded by a pack of shadowy creatures—grotesque beasts made of pure darkness, with glowing eyes and razor-sharp fangs.

Kael crouched behind a boulder, analyzing the situation. The group consisted of three people: a warrior wielding a massive sword, an archer firing magical energy-infused arrows with deadly precision, and a mage whose hands shimmered with arcane circles as she cast spells to keep the creatures at bay.

Despite their efforts, they were clearly at a disadvantage. The shadow beasts attacked relentlessly, ignoring wounds and closing in on the adventurers with swift, coordinated movements.

[Random Event: Rescue in the Canyon]

[Description: A group of adventurers is under attack by shadow creatures. They seem to be drawn to magical energy.]

[Objective: Assist the adventurers in defeating the shadow beasts.]

[Rewards: Souls, random items, and potential alliance with the group.]

[Penalty: If you fail, the group will be eliminated, and the presence of shadow beasts in the region will increase.]

Kael clicked his tongue in frustration. "Of course, I needed more tension."

He carefully began descending the slope, staying out of sight. As he moved, his mind rapidly analyzed his available options.

"Shadow manipulation is effective, but these things are probably made of the same material… I need to be creative."

He got close enough to hear the archer shout, "We’re running out of options! They just keep coming!"

Kael grinned. "Then let’s give these things a little chaos."

With a flick of his hand, he conjured a wind magic circle. Summoning razor-sharp gusts, he aimed at one of the creatures that was about to pounce on the warrior. The wind blades sliced through the air, cutting the beast in half and drawing the attention of both the adventurers and the remaining monsters.

"Hello there," Kael said, leaping from the slope and landing with a dust-raising impact.

The warrior looked at him, surprised, but quickly shouted, "Help us keep these things back!"

"I’m already at the party!" Kael replied, a confident grin spreading across his face. He raised his hands, the shadows around him beginning to stir, as if coming to life on their own.

The shadowy creatures sensed Kael’s presence and started advancing toward him. He took a step forward, the darkness forming into sharp spears around him. With a swift motion, he launched the spears at the creatures, striking several at once.

"Come on! Show me what you’re made of!" he challenged, ready to dive headfirst into the battle.