Solo Leveling : 10 Shadow Technique

Finn dragged Antoneth through the bustling city streets, his grip firm on her wrist as he led her toward a food stand.

"Come on, Neth! Faster! The food won't eat itself!" Finn urged, his usual energy unrelenting.

Antoneth sighed, her gaze drifting up to the starry sky. "Yeah, yeah… but what about your job?" she asked.

Finn slowed his pace slightly, looking at her with furrowed brows.

"Oh, don't worry about that. I left most of my Shikigami with Jess. She's probably just road rolling through the gates by now," he said with a smirk.

Antoneth gave him a look—one of curiosity and mild exasperation. "Where did you even get the expression 'Road Rolling'?"

Finn popped a piece of kwek-kwek into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully before answering, "From a time-stopping, blonde-haired, gay vampire," he said nonchalantly.

Antoneth blinked, then let out a chuckle. "Alright, what else does he say?"

Finn smirked. He turned to her and, in an exaggerated voice, began chanting, "Useless! Useless! Useless!" over and over again.

Antoneth shook her head, laughing. "You are such a nerd."

Later that night, Finn lay sprawled out on the couch, watching a movie. Antoneth sat beside him, her head leaning gently on his shoulder.

"Ahh… just like old times, huh?" Finn murmured, his voice softer now.

Antoneth, who had been resting her eyes, slowly opened them. She let out a quiet hum, nodding in agreement.

A peaceful silence settled between them. Finn didn't even realize how exhausted he was until his eyes grew heavy. For the first time in a week, he finally slept.

When Finn woke up, the first thing he saw was Antoneth staring at him. Her expression was unreadable, but there was something warm and familiar in her gaze.

"Oh… it's that dream again," Antoneth muttered to herself before shifting closer, wrapping her arms around him. She gently adjusted his position until he was lying comfortably next to her.

"You know… I miss you," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. Then, with a teasing smile, she added, "And what's this I hear? You've got another woman by your side now?"

Finn blinked, still half-asleep, but before he could respond, Antoneth continued.

"At least that Yuki girl is back in Japan, so now I have you all to myself," she murmured.

She moved closer, her lips brushing against his neck before pressing a soft kiss there.

Finn barely had time to process what was happening when she took a deep breath, inhaling his scent.

"You smell… nice," Antoneth muttered absentmindedly.

Her thoughts briefly drifted to her father, who was also a hunter. But then, something clicked in her mind.

"You… smell?" Antoneth muttered again, her eyes widening.

Her face turned red, and she bit her lower lip. Without another word, she suddenly sprang to her feet and bolted out of the room, steam practically rising from her head.

Finn remained frozen for a moment, staring at the ceiling, realization slowly dawning on him.

His crush had just basically confessed.

A slow grin spread across his face. Finally.

//--\\

Days Later Finn was inside a car with all his current Shikigam inside his shadow, and all their augments had already been consumed and for Finn they are already much stronger that the Megumi ones,

"so Jess where is this field you bought," Finn said and he heard Jess sighed,

"it's a 100 acre land it was ones a rice field," Jess said and she looked at the map on her phone,

"We are about an hour away," Jess said and Finn narrowed his eyes, "you do know i have a short span when it comes to waiting," Finn said then his shadow expanded and on top of the red card it was just darkness,

Finn then summoned Sky limit the Nue and Great Serpent Fusion it then grabbed the car and it started flapping it wings,

"so... where to" Finn said appearing next to Jess, "you know what just let me," Finn said he then grabbed the phone and he made the thing small so he could see where they were doing, "hey you can't just..." Jess said,

"eh eh eh ey don't worry I'm already S - rank like what are they going to do," Finn said he then continued while looking at the phone, "just say we are in urgent business," Finn said,

//--\\

The sun sat high in the sky, casting sharp shadows over the field. Finn stood in the center, slowly spinning his Tonfa Hammers, getting a feel for their weight. His grip adjusted instinctively—one end was built for crushing force, the other for sharp, precise strikes.

He exhaled, steadying his breath.

Time to see what he was dealing with.

Lowering into a stance, Finn formed a hand sign. His shadow rippled unnaturally beneath him, stretching outward like ink spilling into water.

Something emerged.

A massive white tiger, its fur lined with black tribal markings, stepped out from the darkness. It was silent, its golden eyes locked onto Finn—not with mindless aggression, but with something else. Calculating. Watching.

Then, without warning, it disappeared.

Finn's eyes flicked to the side. He barely twisted his body in time—a claw sliced through the space where he had just been standing, carving deep trenches into the ground.

His muscles tensed.

So, that's how it is.

Finn took a slow breath, rolling his shoulders as he stepped back. No wasted movement. No sudden reactions.

His grip on his weapons adjusted subtly. His senses were already sharpened, but now, he let himself focus completely.

There.

The wind shifted. A faint pressure—almost imperceptible—signaled movement.

Finn swung his Tonfa Hammers in a cross pattern. A metallic clang rang out as Tiger Funeral flickered back into existence, its claws scraping against the weapons. The impact sent a shockwave through the field, rattling the ground beneath them.

Finn skidded back slightly, adjusting his stance. His arms tingled from the force of the blow.

It's not just strong—it's fast. Faster than anything he had seen them before.

He inhaled slowly, steadying his pulse. If it was going to test him, he'd return the favor.

Unleashing the Shadows

Finn pressed a hand against the ground.

His shadow twisted—and then, his other Shikigami emerged.

Divine Dogs—one black, one white—moved first, disappearing into the wind. Nue shrieked overhead, its presence marked only by a flicker of lightning. Max Elephant stomped onto the battlefield, dust rising beneath its weight. Toad crouched low, muscles coiling, ready to strike.

Finn spun his Tonfa Hammers, adjusting his grip—his movements precise, controlled. The tiger had already proven it could overpower him in raw speed and strength. So, he wouldn't fight it head-on.

Tiger Funeral reappeared mid-pounce. Finn flicked his wrist—dark venom lashed out, coating the beast's fur.

It landed, but something was off.

Finn's eyes narrowed. Invisible, but not untouchable.

Tiger Funeral flickered—trying to vanish again. But the venom clung to its fur, turning its outline into a shifting, distorted silhouette.

That confirmed it.

A presence neared. Finn sensed it before he heard her voice.

Jess.

She stopped at the edge of the field. "Finn… what is that!?"

Finn didn't look away from the tiger. "A new Shikigami." His voice was quiet, calm.

Jess folded her arms. "You're fighting a giant tiger that turns invisible—alone—because you want to tame it?"

Finn exhaled, shifting his stance. "Yeah."

She was still talking, but Finn had already tuned it out. The fight wasn't over yet.

He gave a silent signal.

Divine Dogs struck first, their fangs sinking into Tiger Funeral's legs. Nue dived from above, lightning bursting from its wings. Toad lashed out its tongue, wrapping around the tiger's torso. Max Elephant reared up, bringing its trunk down like a hammer.

Tiger Funeral let out a guttural snarl, thrashing wildly.

Finn moved.

One step. Two. Three.

His Tonfa Hammers flickered with dark venom as he closed the distance—weaving through the chaos with precise, calculated speed.

One strike. Two. Three.

The final blow connected—a crushing impact that sent black lightning crackling through Tiger Funeral's body.

A tense silence filled the air.

Then, Tiger Funeral lowered its head. and it turned into shadows,

Finn finally exhaled, his heartbeat steady. he then signed again and created the tiger out his shadow,

Jess just stared. "Did you… just tame it?"

Finn nodded.

Jess rubbed her temples. "You're impossible."

Finn glanced at the tiger, his expression unreadable.

This one was different. Stronger. Smarter. A true hunter.

And now, it was his.