48 Hunting Down The Rock Bear
One of the weakness of the Shadow Traversing Step is that one will need to leave the safety of the shadow to detect their whereabouts. As he merged completely with the shadow, the only way for him to peek is by getting out of the shadow completely, which could lead to some very dangerous situation.
However, there is another method to allow him to check his surrounding. Namely the use of his Soul Sense. Normally, such thing is not advised as it would allow any cultivators to detect their whereabouts, which would lead to some very nasty accidents.
However, because Beast as a whole have weak Soul Power, and rarely used them, preferring to use their bulky body against their foes, with some rare exception, it is safe for him to use his Soul Sense.
His Soul Sense scanned the area before finding a spot where there is no Rock Bear. When he reach the said spot, he come out of the shadow before crouching behind a boulder.
Now that he reach the inside of the Valley without getting spotted, come the hard part; killing the Rock Bear.
Thankfully, most of the Rock Bears is a Tier 2 Genesis Beasts so he did not lack target. What he lack is the opportunities to kill them and put them inside his storage ring.
"Let's have a look around first," he said to himself, hoping to find suitable target.
-x-
After scouring the outer part of the valley, safe to say, Rock Bears are different than the other bears. While other bears see solitary Beast, Rock Bears are a park beast, living in large group.
Then again, it is likely due to the ruler of the Territory that cause the Rock Bears to band together. If so, he is impressed by what the beast achieve.
Of course, he had some other worries. Namely how much of a commotion he can make before the powerful beasts at the deeper part will come out to turn him into lunch.
With how little opportunity he get, he would likely need to do something drastic in hope of finishing the mission. As if his wish get granted, a commotion can be heard at the less populated part of the valley.
Realizng it might be the opportunity he is looking for, Ryker merged with the shadow before searching for the source.
-x-
A Dust Bunny ran as quickly as it short legs could. Behind him is a large Rock Bear, eager to have him for lunch. Despite his best attempt, getting away from the Rock Bear is almost futile.
While Dust Bunny is faster than Rock Bear, the latter possess mastery of Law of Earth, allowing them to trap any Dust Bunny they cornered before eating them.
The Dust Bunny tried to not go into any possible places where he could get trap but there seem to be no such places. Soon, he find himself in a cave, trying to get as far as possible from the bulky predator.
To his horror, he reached a dead end. He tried to burrow through the stone walls, but it hardened, preventing it from breaking through and running for it's life. Despite its futile effort, the Dust Bunny keep on digging, it's instinct pushing him to moving even faster.
It keep digging even when it heard a thud behind it. It stopped when something grabbed him. It let out a squeak but stop when it see the being who grabbed him is not a Rock Bear.
He turned his head to see the dead body of the Rock Bear. It let out quiet squeak, trying to communicate with the black furred creature.
The being put a finger on it's forehead, which seem to allow him to understand what the creature want.
"Bait... Get Rock Bear for me... Bring you out of here," the prospect of being chase by the Rock Bears is too much for the Dust Bunny. Unfortunately, the part where he would get out of this place sold him on being the bait, whatever that is.
It nodded. The creature put a hand on him and brush it. The Dust Bunny could not help but think it is nice, leaning towards the touch of the creature.
-x-
After grabbing the Dust Bunny, Ryker prepared his plan. After communicating the plan with the bunny, the creature nodded as it, he, ran as quickly as possible. Naturally, the sight of their prey cause the Rock Bear to chase after them.
A little observation tell him that the Rock Bears seem to have a system, one human called first come, first serve. After all, the one who chased after the Dust Bunny first is the one to get to hunt it, despite there being some Rock Bears closer and more powerful than it.
Soon enough, the Rock Bear entered a cave, cornering the Dust Bunny. A smile formed on his face as Ryker enter the cave himself.
-x-
"Two down, two more to go," he uttered, wondering where he could find a possible prey. After all, while Beast mostly driven by instinct, they are still capable of thinking, just they don't do it often.
Seeing a Dust Bunny would no doubt cause some suspicion, as Ryker never seen one aside from the one he grab. He decide to head slightly deeper, where there could be some stronger but mostly lone bear at the Tier 2 Genesis Realm.
-x-
"My intuition seem to be correct," he whispered. His eyes is on two Rock Bears, fighting in front of a cave. While he had no doubt the cave likely contains some form of treasure, he did not want to abandon the mission just the grab a possible treasure.
However, leaving whatever inside that the Rock Bears are fighting for to them would be a pity.
"What to do, what to do?" an idea soon formed in his head as he hide himself, ready to spring his trap.
-x-
One of the Rock Bear fell backward, defeated. The victorious one let a might roar, signifying it victory and dominance. The winning Rock Bear head inside the cave while the defeated one limped away, it's head lowered.
As it head away from the cave, it barely realize something move against it. Soon, a sword pierced through it's spine, killing the Rock Bear instantly.
-x-
As for the winner, it basked in it's victory, ready to claim his prize. The large rock bear find itself in front of glowing brown rocks, staring at it in want. As it was about to shatter a piece and bit it, a sword behead the beast, it's head falling into the ground, along with it's body.
