The system message lingered in my mind as I turned toward Maito. My throat felt dry, and my fingers trembled slightly as I relayed the warning.

  “Maito… the system just alerted me. A Grade 2 beast has appeared.”

  Maito’s usual composed expression shifted instantly. His eyes sharpened as he stepped closer. “What grade?”

  I hesitated before forcing the words out. “The Black Panther.”

  The moment the name left my mouth, Maito’s face darkened. A bead of sweat trickled down his forehead, something I hadn’t seen before. If even Maito—an elite soldier—was reacting like this, then this thing was no joke.

  Kaito, who had been training nearby, turned to us with a confused expression. “Black Panther? What’s that?”

  Maito inhaled sharply before answering. “A predator. One of the deadliest beasts in the wild. It doesn’t just hunt its prey—it plays with it. Unlike the Direwolf, which relies on brute strength, the Black Panther is a master of stealth. If it’s already nearby, it’s probably been watching us for a while.”

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  A heavy silence filled the air. The idea that something had been lurking in the shadows, studying us without us even realizing it, sent shivers down my spine.

  I clenched my fists. “Can we take it down?”

  Maito shook his head. “If it were just me and my father, maybe. But even then, it would be a gamble. A beast like this doesn’t fight fair. It strikes from the darkness and vanishes before you can react. If you don’t kill it in one hit, it will escape—and come back when you least expect it.”

  Ryoji, who had been sitting in the distance observing our training, stood up and walked toward us. His face was serious.

  “So it’s finally appeared, huh?” He sighed. “I had a feeling something was coming, but I didn’t expect it to be a Grade 2 beast.”

  I turned to him. “You knew something was wrong?”

  Ryoji nodded. “When you train in mana control long enough, you start to feel distortions in the flow of nature. For the past few nights, something has been disturbing the balance around the village. But I wasn’t sure what it was… until now.”

  Maito tightened his grip on his sword. “We need to act fast. If the Black Panther is close, that means it’s already chosen its target.”

  Kaito gulped. “Target?”

  Maito looked at me. “It’s probably you, Hiroshi.”

  I felt my heart drop. “Me?! Why?”

  “Because you’re the weakest one here.” Maito’s voice was blunt but firm. “Beasts are like predators in nature—they go for the easiest prey first. You may have magic, but you lack experience. That makes you vulnerable.”

  I gritted my teeth. I knew he was right. Compared to Maito, Ryoji, or even Kaito, I was still just a beginner.

  Ryoji crossed his arms. “We need to prepare. If the Black Panther attacks, we either have to kill it instantly or drive it far away from the village. But failing isn’t an option.”

  Maito nodded. “Agreed. And we can’t let the villagers panic. If they run, they’ll only become easier prey.”

  I exhaled, trying to calm my racing heart. “Then what do we do?”

  Maito unsheathed his sword, the blade reflecting the dim light of the setting sun.

  “We hunt it first.”