The feeling did not fade.
It grew stronger.
Step by step.
Xu Tian moved forward.
But his pace slowed.
Not from hesitation.
From awareness.
The air around him shifted again.
Heavier.
Denser.
The wind carried faint sounds.
More than before.
Not one.
Multiple.
"…So it wasn't alone."
Xu Tian stopped.
Completely still.
Listening.
Tracking.
The ground remained quiet.
But the presence-
Clear.
Closing in.
The girl's grip tightened.
More than before.
Xu Tian adjusted slightly.
"…Four," he thought.
A pause.
Then—
"…No. Five."
The air tightened.
Then-
Movement.
From the shadows.
One appeared first.
Low to the ground.
Same dark, rough body.
Glowing eyes.
Then another.
From the opposite side.
Then-
Behind.
And one more-
From ahead.
They stepped into view slowly.
Not rushing.
Not reckless.
Watching him.
Surrounding him.
Xu Tian remained still.
"…Different from before."
Not wild.
Not chaotic.
Controlled.
The circle closed.
Five creatures.
Spacing themselves evenly.
Cutting off escape.
Xu Tian's gaze moved once.
Slow.
Measuring.
"…Coordinated."
The first moved.
A sudden lunge.
Fast.
Xu Tian stepped forward.
Breaking the circle.
His strike landed first.
A clean impact.
The creature staggered.
But didn't fall.
The second attacked immediately.
From the side.
Xu Tian turned.
Blocked.
The force hit harder than before.
His stance shifted slightly.
"…Stronger."
The third came.
From behind.
Xu Tian stepped forward again.
Avoiding the angle.
Then turned sharply.
His strike connected.
The creature was pushed back.
But still standing.
No pause.
No hesitation.
The fourth attacked.
Xu Tian moved.
Avoided.
Then-
Countered.
The impact cracked its surface.
A visible fracture.
But not enough.
The fifth-
Still didn't move.
Watching.
Waiting.
Xu Tian noticed.
"…The leader."
The pattern was clear.
The others pressured.
That one observed.
The first attacked again.
Faster.
Xu Tian stepped inside it.
His strike landed.
The creature staggered.
Cracks spread across its body.
Xu Tian followed.
Another strike.
The creature broke apart.
Falling.
"…One."
No time.
The second and third attacked together.
From both sides.
Xu Tian moved.
Step.
Turn.
Block.
Redirect.
The impacts came faster.
Sharper.
The pressure increased.
Less space.
Less time.
Xu Tian's breathing remained steady.
But his focus sharpened.
"…Need to reduce them."
He stepped forward.
Into the gap.
His strike landed on the second creature.
Clean.
The impact cracked its structure.
The third lunged.
Xu Tian turned.
Blocked.
Then-
Countered.
A direct hit.
The creature staggered.
Then collapsed.
"…Two."
The fourth attacked immediately.
More aggressive now.
Xu Tian moved.
Avoided.
Then stepped in.
His strike landed.
The creature's body cracked.
But it didn't fall.
It pushed forward again.
Relentless.
Xu Tian's eyes narrowed.
"…Persistent."
He adjusted.
His next strike came sharper.
More precise.
The impact landed.
The creature broke apart.
"…Three."
Silence-
For a moment.
Then-
The air shifted.
The fifth moved.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Different.
Xu Tian felt it immediately.
Heavier.
More stable.
More aware.
"…So you waited."
The creature stepped forward.
Its glowing eyes fixed on him.
Not wild.
Not unstable.
Focused.
The next moment-
It moved.
Fast.
Faster than the others.
Xu Tian reacted.
Their movements collided.
A sharp impact echoed.
This time-
Xu Tian stepped back.
One step.
The difference was clear.
The creature didn't stop.
It attacked again.
Stronger.
More precise.
Xu Tian adjusted.
Step.
Turn.
Block.
But the pressure increased.
"…Better."
Xu Tian stepped forward.
Into the attack.
Their strikes collided again.
Harder.
Sharper.
The force spread outward.
Neither moved.
For a moment.
Then-
The creature adjusted.
Mid-motion.
Its next strike changed direction.
Xu Tian reacted late.
The impact brushed past him.
Too close.
"…It adapts faster."
Xu Tian's eyes sharpened.
The energy inside him moved.
Clear.
Responsive.
The next exchange came.
Faster.
Sharper.
More dangerous.
Because this time-
He wasn't fighting something wild.
He was fighting something that learned.
And that made it-
Far more dangerous.