Tebu: The Hidden Evolution

Chapter 20: Chapter 19: Unmasking the Truth



The moonlight bathed the forest in an ethereal glow, casting long shadows that danced with the wind's whispers. The MC's heart pounded as he navigated through the dense trees, his mind a storm of conflicting emotions. The encounter with the hooded figure earlier had left him unsettled. Every word spoken, every gesture made—it all felt like a carefully orchestrated move in a game he barely understood.

"What does he want from me?"

His mind kept repeating the question, but there was no answer. The figure's cryptic words echoed in his head, "Every choice has consequences." What was he really after? The MC had always been cautious, but now, he was even more aware of the invisible threads that seemed to be pulling at him.

---

A Convergence of Forces

The system's voice broke through the whirlwind of thoughts, its cold, mechanical tone oddly comforting in the midst of the chaos.

Host is nearing the location of the next challenge. Proceed with caution.

The MC's eyes narrowed as he glanced around, the oppressive silence of the forest almost suffocating. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, his instincts screaming that something was about to happen. He was nearing the edge of the hunting grounds—a place he had only heard rumors of, whispered in fearful tones by the academy's most experienced hunters.

The location itself was forbidden to many. Legends spoke of a hidden relic, an artifact that could alter the very fabric of power in the world, buried deep within the heart of the woods. The MC didn't care about the relic, but the rumors of its power had caught his attention. If he could uncover it, he could use it to strengthen his creatures—and himself.

But there was something else lurking here, something far more dangerous.

---

The First Encounter

As he pushed forward, the air grew colder, thick with tension. The sound of leaves crunching underfoot echoed in the stillness, but it wasn't just his footsteps that caused the noise.

A shadow moved at the edge of his vision.

The MC froze, his body going rigid. His creature—evolved and battle-hardened—stood alert, its glowing eyes scanning the surrounding trees for any sign of movement.

Then, it came—a flash of black fur, a blur of motion. The creature lunged, its claws aimed directly at the MC. The MC barely had time to react, diving to the side as the creature crashed into the ground where he had been moments before.

"What the hell?!"

The beast before him was unlike anything he had encountered in the hunting grounds. It was massive, with sleek black fur that shimmered under the moonlight, its eyes glowing a menacing red. But it wasn't just its size that made it a threat—it was the sheer power it radiated.

The creature growled, its fangs gleaming as it snarled at the MC, its body coiling for another strike.

"Tebu system—!" The MC didn't need to finish his thought.

The Tebu system responded instantly, analyzing the threat.

Host is facing a Bloodhound Alpha. Host's chances of survival: 40%.

The odds weren't good.

---

A Desperate Gamble

The Bloodhound Alpha lunged again, and this time, the MC didn't have the luxury of dodging. He summoned his creature to intercept, but even it struggled against the brute strength of the beast.

"I need to end this quickly," the MC thought, his heart racing.

He gathered the shadows around him, drawing upon every ounce of power he had left. The energy coiled in his palms, forming a solid sphere of darkness. He aimed it at the Bloodhound Alpha, releasing the energy in a burst of raw force.

The blast hit the creature square in the chest, but to the MC's horror, the beast barely flinched. It was far stronger than he had anticipated, its resilience pushing the MC to his limits.

"Damn it!"

But he couldn't afford to lose focus. He knew that the only way to defeat this beast was to use the environment to his advantage, just as he had done with the Rift Guardian.

The MC's eyes darted around the clearing. In the distance, he spotted a large rock formation—a perfect vantage point. The only problem was getting to it before the Alpha tore him apart.

---

A Moment of Clarity

"Now!"

He dashed toward the rocks, his creature at his side, drawing the Bloodhound Alpha's attention long enough to buy him the time he needed. The beast snarled, charging after him with terrifying speed.

The MC reached the rock formation just in time, using his shadow energy to leap onto the ledge. As the Alpha pounced, he released another blast, aiming for the ground beneath the creature.

The explosion sent shockwaves through the area, knocking the Alpha off balance and giving the MC the opening he needed.

He pounced.

In an instant, he summoned the full power of his Tebu system, infusing it into his creature and himself. The energy coursed through his veins, amplifying every strike, every movement. His creature—its body glowing with the same energy—lunged forward, sinking its claws deep into the Alpha's flesh.

The Bloodhound Alpha howled in pain, but the MC didn't stop. He poured everything into that final, decisive strike, using his creature as a conduit for his energy. The Alpha's body trembled, its red eyes dimming as the life drained from it.

And then, silence.

The beast lay dead at his feet.

---

The Aftermath

The MC took a deep breath, his chest heaving as he took in the gravity of the fight. His creature collapsed beside him, equally exhausted but alive. The battle had been harder than he anticipated, but he had done it.

"Not bad," the system mused. "Host has gained 1000 Evolution Points. Creature's evolution path has been unlocked."

But before the MC could fully process the victory, a voice echoed through the trees.

"Impressive."

The MC's eyes narrowed.

From the shadows emerged the hooded figure once again. They stepped into the clearing, their presence an oppressive weight on the air.

"You've grown stronger, Masked One," they said, their voice dripping with something unreadable. "But this victory means nothing in the grand scheme of things."

The MC's hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword, his muscles coiled with tension. "What do you want?" he demanded, his voice steady despite the anger bubbling inside him.

The figure chuckled softly, their laughter echoing in the clearing. "What I want is simple. I want you to accept your fate."

The MC gritted his teeth. "My fate is my own. You can't dictate it."

The figure's eyes gleamed from beneath their hood. "We'll see. After all, every choice has consequences."

And with that, the figure disappeared once more, leaving the MC with nothing but the unsettling weight of their words.

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