Douluo Dalu:Shards of Fate

The heavy weight of black iron dragged behind Ryo as he entered the Sunset Forest, his crimson eyes scanning the dense trees. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and leaves, but it was the feeling of countless eyes watching him that put him on edge. Predators lurked in every shadow, their instincts sharpened by centuries of survival in this dangerous territory.

Ryo's steps didn't falter. His mind was calm, calculating, as he tightened his grip on the makeshift straps holding the metal together. Suddenly, a low growl reverberated through the air.

His gaze shifted to the left, locking onto a striped tiger emerging from the underbrush, its golden fur marked by black stripes that rippled over its massive muscles. The beast was three meters long, its amber eyes fixed on Ryo with predatory intent.

With a snarl, the tiger lunged.

"Let's warm up," Ryo muttered, his eyes glowing bright red. His body tensed as he prepared to meet the charge head-on.

A tiger, three meters in length, padded silently through the forest. Its steps were confident but subdued, its breathing steady. On its back sat Ryo, comfortably perched as though he were riding a tame horse.

"So," Ryo began, his tone conversational, "have you found any other humans yet?"

The tiger growled low in response, the sound reverberating through its chest.

Ryo's eyes narrowed slightly, and a faint smirk tugged at his lips. "Do you want another fist of love?" he asked, his glowing red eyes casting an eerie light in the dim forest.

The tiger flinched slightly before emitting a soft, begrudging growl.

"Ah," Ryo said, interpreting the sound. "So you've spotted two men."

The tiger gave a low rumbling noise, affirming Ryo's guess.

"Hmm," Ryo murmured thoughtfully, his mind already piecing together the possibilities. One of them was likely Dugu Bo, the Poison Douluo known to frequent this area. But the second figure was a mystery.

He tilted his head, his expression calm. No need to rush, he thought. I'll figure it out soon enough.

As for how he understood the tiger's responses so clearly? It was thanks to his parents' unique bloodline, a legacy that enabled him to communicate with spirit beasts. Coupled with Shendu's lingering influence, understanding the tiger's basic intent had become second nature.

The tiger's name? Tai Lung.

Three days had passed since Ryo set up camp in the Sunset Forest. The nights were long, and the dangers ever-present, but he remained vigilant.

It was another quiet evening, the only light coming from a small red flame that flickered between him and the tiger. Tai Lung sat nearby, tearing into a hunk of freshly hunted meat. Blood dripped down its chin, splattering onto the forest floor as the beast chewed noisily.

"So, Tai Lung," Ryo began, his voice cutting through the night.

The tiger's ears perked up slightly, its glowing amber eyes lifting to meet Ryo's.

"What's your dream?" Ryo asked, leaning back against a tree as his gaze drifted upward toward the star-filled sky.

The tiger growled softly, tilting its head in confusion.

"Ah, I forgot," Ryo said dryly, smirking. "You're not that smart."

The tiger huffed and continued eating, seemingly unbothered by the comment.

Swish.

A dark shadow shot past Ryo's peripheral vision, rustling the leaves as it disappeared into the trees. Ryo's eyes narrowed instantly.

"Tai Lung!" he barked, rising to his feet. Flames erupted from his hands, casting a fiery glow over the clearing.

The tiger growled, its body tense as it scanned the forest.

Rustle…

A low, guttural growl echoed from the shadows. One by one, wolf-like figures emerged, their fur pitch black and their eyes glowing faintly in the dark. Shadow Wolves. Their numbers grew quickly, surrounding the clearing.

Ryo's mind raced. The blood from their earlier hunts must have drawn them in.

"Shadow Wolves," Ryo muttered. "Troublesome."

Tai Lung stood beside him, its muscles coiled as it prepared to strike. Ryo remained calm, extending his hand as his glass box materialized, its crystalline shards swirling around him.

One shard shot out instantly, whistling through the air as it struck the nearest wolf, piercing its neck. The beast collapsed silently, its body vanishing into the darkness.

"Careful, you idiot," Ryo muttered to Tai Lung, pulling the tiger closer. "Let's handle this efficiently."

The pack circled, their movements fluid and synchronized. Their eyes gleamed with predatory hunger, and the tension in the air grew thick as the wolves prepared to strike.

The Battle Begins

The first wolf lunged, its sharp claws aiming for Tai Lung's throat. The tiger sidestepped swiftly, swiping its powerful paw and sending the wolf crashing into a tree.

Ryo stayed calm, his crimson eyes glowing as his shards shot out with precision, striking down wolves left and right. Each shard struck with deadly accuracy, embedding itself into their vital points before retreating for another attack.

The wolves retaliated in numbers, their shadowy forms blending into the darkness as they tried to overwhelm their prey. But Ryo remained unfazed, his movements controlled as he continued to direct the shards with surgical precision.

Tai Lung fought viciously beside him, its claws and fangs tearing through the wolves that got too close. Blood sprayed through the air, painting the forest floor red.

But the pack's numbers didn't seem to dwindle. For every wolf that fell, two more emerged from the shadows, their growls deep and menacing.

Ryo's breathing grew heavier as the battle dragged on. His spiritual energy was beginning to wane, but his resolve remained unshaken.

"Tai Lung," Ryo said, his voice steady but commanding. "Run."

The tiger growled in protest, its body still poised to fight.

"I said, run!" Ryo barked, his crimson eyes flaring as he directed the tiger toward the forest's edge.

Tai Lung hesitated for only a moment before turning and dashing into the trees.

Ryo took a deep breath, his hands raising as the remaining shards floated high above him, their surfaces glowing red like stars in the night sky.

"Wave of a Thousand Suns," he muttered.

With a flick of his hand, the shards rained down upon the wolves, each one exploding into smaller fragments upon impact. The resulting barrage was devastating, tearing through the pack like a storm of molten glass.

Bang! The ground shook with the force of the attack as countless wolves were torn apart, their bodies disintegrating into pools of blood.

Ryo staggered, his vision blurring as the strain of the technique took its toll. His spiritual energy had been drained, and his body felt impossibly heavy.

"I feel… so heavy," Ryo murmured as he collapsed onto the blood-soaked ground. His consciousness slipped away, and he fell into the darkness.

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This will be last chapter for this month as I have a fucking camp which is 20% of my final grades.