The low, guttural roar echoed through the cave, sounding like rolling thunder that shook loose stones from the ceiling, sending them tumbling down.
Each falling rock felt like a countdown to fate, making my already trembling heart pound even harder.
Terrified, I clutched my ears and pressed my body tightly against the cold, hard cave wall, desperate to find some semblance of safety in its unyielding embrace.
In the darkness, a pair of eyes glowed faintly, slowly drawing closer like ghostly flames flickering in the night—unpredictable yet deadly.
I widened my eyes, straining to make out what it was, but the darkness mercilessly swallowed my vision, revealing only a vague, enormous silhouette that loomed and faded in the shadows.
As the shape grew clearer with every inch it advanced, so did my fear deepen.
With its approach came a pungent stench, a sickening blend of rot and blood that assaulted my nostrils.
My stomach churned violently, and I couldn’t help but gag. Then, by the dim light filtering into the cave, I finally made out the figure: a massive black panther.
Its sleek, powerful body looked even more formidable in the darkness. Muscles tensed and rippled beneath its glossy fur, each movement like a reservoir of hidden strength, ready to explode at any moment.
Its coat was shiny and smooth, yet carried an eerie, chilling aura—as if it were a messenger of the night, bearing the shadow of death itself. Its tail lashed the ground like a thick whip, stirring up dust with every strike.
The panther crouched low, limbs slightly bent like a drawn bowstring, poised to launch a deadly attack.
Cold, merciless killing intent blazed in its eyes—the pure, unrelenting gaze of a predator with no mercy. Its teeth gleamed like blades in the faint light, sharp enough to snap my throat in an instant.
In a panic, I scrambled blindly on the cold stone floor, my hands clawing desperately for anything to defend myself.
At last, my fingers brushed against a sharp stone. Its jagged edges bit into my skin, but in that moment, it felt like a treasure. I gripped it tightly, small but filled with newfound courage and hope.
The panther leapt suddenly, a black streak slicing through the darkness like a bolt of lightning. Its form unfurled midair, carrying with it a storm of wind and death.
Its movements were swift and fierce, as if tearing the very space apart.
I twisted my body to the side, summoning every ounce of strength to evade the lethal pounce. At the same time, I swung the stone in my hand and struck hard at its head.
The stone struck with a dull thud, only causing the panther to hesitate briefly before it grew even more enraged.
It roared furiously, the sound reverberating through the cave as if it might shatter the entire cavern. The fury and pain in its bellow sent chills down my spine.
It lunged again, so fast that I could barely react. Its claws gouged deep furrows into the ground, the sharp scraping sound against the earth like the grinding of hellish teeth, sending chills down my spine.
Every attack carried a deadly resolve, forcing me to teeter on the edge between life and death. My breath grew rapid and erratic, every dodge leaving me utterly exhausted.
Gasping for air, I scrambled to evade the black panther’s relentless strikes. Sweat poured down my forehead like rain, blurring my vision.
Each second was filled with terror and despair, yet the fierce will to survive still burned fiercely within me.
The panther moved with agile ferocity, its rhythm nearly impossible to follow.
Every pounce was accompanied by a sharp rush of wind, its razor-sharp claws slicing through the air as if tearing it apart.
Its shadow flickered through the darkness like a ghost—elusive and unpredictable, leaving me defenseless.
I studied its every move, desperately searching for a pattern in its attacks.
Each second felt like a year, every breath heavy with the hunger for life. My eyes locked onto its every motion, unwilling to let down my guard for even a moment.
I noticed a subtle change in its gaze before each strike—a fleeting moment of intense focus and concentration.
When its eyes sharpened and its muscles tensed, that was the signal that an attack was imminent.
Seizing the moment, I crouched low as it lunged once more, slipping beneath its belly. At the same time, I scraped a stone fiercely against its abdomen.
The screech of stone against flesh pierced the air. The panther howled in pain, a chilling, desperate cry.
Enraged, it turned and attacked with even greater fury, its wild aggression threatening to tear me apart.
Its strikes grew more violent and frenzied, as if determined to end my life.
Its claws raked across my arm, sharp pain shooting through me like lightning.
Blood gushed out instantly, staining my sleeve crimson. The agony nearly overwhelmed me, but I gritted my teeth, refusing to lose consciousness.
The wound was deep enough to see bone, blood flowing steadily, making my arm heavy and weak.
I kept circling, staggering but never giving up the fight.
I darted through the cave, evading the panther’s deadly attacks. Every turn, every leap, drained the last of my strength.
Then I spotted some jagged rocks inside the cave, a flicker of hope rising in my chest.
I deliberately ran toward the rocks, luring the panther after me. My steps grew heavier, but that hope pushed me onward.
Just as the panther closed in, I dove behind the rocks. It couldn’t stop in time and slammed hard into the stone.
The thunderous crash echoed through the cave, leaving the panther dazed.
Its head struck the rock with a dull thud, slowing its movements.
Seizing the chance, I charged forward and hammered its head with the stone.
The panther roared in fury and shook its head violently, flinging me aside.
My body flew through the air for a moment before crashing heavily onto the ground.
I hit the earth hard, feeling as if every bone in my body was about to shatter.
The pain was so intense that I could barely move, yet the will to survive pushed me to stand up once more. The jagged stones beneath me tore through my skin, sending sharp stabs of pain coursing through me.
The black panther lunged again, its speed like a flash of lightning. I had no strength left to dodge; all I could do was watch helplessly as it pounced.
Despair filled my heart, but I gripped the stone in my hand tightly, preparing for one last stand.
At that critical moment, my eyes caught sight of a thick branch lying on the ground.
Summoning every ounce of strength I had left, I grabbed the branch. Just as the panther leapt before me, I thrust the branch forcefully into its mouth.
The panther writhed in agony, struggling to free itself from the branch. Its limbs kicked wildly, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Its body twisted desperately, trying to shake off the binding branch, but I held on with all my might, refusing to give it any chance to escape.
My hands trembled from the strain, but I knew that letting go meant certain death. My fingers had turned white, and my joints ached unbearably from the effort, yet I persisted.
After a fierce struggle, the panther’s strength gradually faded, and it collapsed onto the ground.
Its body still twitched faintly, and the eyes that once gleamed with murderous intent slowly lost their light. Its breathing grew weak, and finally ceased.
I slumped to the ground, gasping for air. Sweat and blood mixed on my face, dripping down onto the earth.
Looking at the motionless body of the panther, I felt no joy—only endless exhaustion and a deep fear of the unknown.
But before I could rest for long, a strange sound echoed from deep within the cave…
