(Opening Scene: The Shadowed Maw recoils from the severed tip of its tail, its glowing red eyes burning with pain and fury. Kurozane holds the Null Blade steady, Eclipse coiled and ready to strike.)
The Shadowed Maw, enraged by the severed tail spike and the disruption of its shadow blending, abandoned its stealthy tactics and lunged at Kurozane with raw aggression. Its powerful jaws snapped, and its remaining tail lashed out with frantic speed, leaving shadowy streaks in the air.
Kurozane met the attack head-on. The Null Blade moved with an almost instinctive grace in his hand, deflecting the snapping jaws and parrying the whipping tail. The cold energy of the blade seemed to unsettle the creature, causing it to hiss and recoil whenever their shadowy forms made contact.
Eclipse moved fluidly around the Shadowed Maw, its serpentine body a blur of darkness. It struck with surprising force, slamming into the creature's flank, sending it stumbling sideways. The Shadowed Maw snarled, momentarily distracted from Kurozane.
Seizing the opportunity, Kurozane channeled more void energy into the Null Blade. The shadowy blade pulsed with a deeper darkness, and he swung it in a wide arc, aiming for the creature's exposed side. The Null Blade connected with the Shadowed Maw's chitinous armor, and while it didn't pierce through completely, a visible gash appeared, leaking a viscous, black fluid.
The Shadowed Maw shrieked, a high-pitched, grating sound that echoed through the forest. It thrashed wildly, its claws raking at the ground and its remaining tail whipping erratically. It was clearly injured and in pain.
Its fury seemed to amplify its shadow blending, however. It flickered in and out of sight with greater speed, making it harder for Kurozane to track. It was trying to use its remaining stealth to land a decisive blow.
A thought echoed in Kurozane's mind from Eclipse, urgent and focused. "Sense the disruption… where the shadows twist… it hides."
"Speak normally, how many times do I have to tell you" . Kurozane (Zane ) said
Kurozane closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on the subtle disturbances in the shadows around him. He could feel the faint pull and twist where the Shadowed Maw was trying to conceal itself. Trusting Eclipse's guidance, he swung the Null Blade blindly into the area of greatest distortion.
The blade connected with solid flesh. The Shadowed Maw roared in pain, fully materializing as the Null Blade struck its leg. The creature stumbled, its movements now hampered.
The fight was turning in Kurozane's favor. Armed with the Null Blade and with Eclipse as his swift and silent ally, he was no longer the hunted. He was the hunter.