"Thump thump thump." 

Three sharp beats echoed from my chest consistently.

My heart was palpitating in my chest wildly, like a caged beast it slammed against my rib cage in the most violent fashion; I was sure if not for my improved physique that it would've been possible for my heart to have broken my bones with its current beats... It was frighteningly exciting... 

I glimpsed out of the corner of my eyes, a shadowed word had been hanging there since I had been approaching my 'battlefield';

Ruler

I knew what it was telling me, more importantly, I knew what my mind was telling me - at the back of my mind it would be simple to win this, all I had to do was order them to stop and kill them individually... I didn't feel the same type of Aura I felt from James or the Tiger King from them; it was more tame and calm in comparison, of course, that wasn't to say it wasn't aggressive. I could feel their arrogance simply from the looks in their eyes let alone the pressure they were exuding.

But I didn't want to win like that.. it would be easy sure, but what was the point in pushing myself to the brink if I was simply going to back out by using an ability which would make this Death trial a walk in the park; I wasn't a coward, and this wasn't foolhardy braveness - it was confidence. 

...

"Not the choice I would've made if I could use weapons.." The Tiger King looked at the daggers on my waist, I had managed to find a belt with two sheaths that had previously belonged to a dual-wielding dagger user.

"Maybe not.. but they were made to kill nonetheless." My mind was still on the pair of pitch black blades lying in his cave, I felt like he was referring to that being the pair I should've chosen but I had no way to be sure; I wasn't about to ask either, distractions this close to a fight for my life would get me killed.

"Are you ready then Human?" He asked, concern in his voice - I was touched yet I knew his concern was more towards whether I would waste my training and meet my end at the claws of his clansmen leaving me unable to fulfill the promise I had given to him. "Once you step towards them the fight will begin do you understand? During that time I won't step in to save you no matter whether you're about to die or not, these are the rules of a fight to the death. So I ask you again, are you ready?" He stared at me intently; he knew my decision already of course yet out of courtesy he had asked once more.

I was tempted to say no to see his reaction but tempting the tiger in his own den didn't seem like a wise idea, especially with the immense favors he had done me over the past week of being here; my power had increased dramatically... it was incredible, to say the least at how much I had changed.

"I accept," I uttered confidently as I started towards my opponents, there were twelve tigers laying down snarling at me; they didn't think me to be their opponent obviously. The look in their eyes said it all, each one of them disdained to even spare a glance at me, only baring their teeth as if an early threat. 

I hated it... I glared back, the pounding of my heart growing more intense by the second, "Thump.. Thump.. Thump" That look.. I never wanted to see it again... NEVER AGAIN

There was a small ridge separating us, the land they were on was on a lower level, it was like a naturally formed ring to prevent the challenger from escaping mid-fight, to the tigers it seemed like I was digging my own grave.. but to me? It was the perfect battlefield.

"ROAAR"

The Tiger King behind me seemed to command the respect of these tigers as they finally spared me a glance, it was obviously one where they considered me beneath them yet I ignored it.. Soon now it would be their blood staining this floor

...

"They ask why I allow a weakling to fight them, even my own people spectating are questioning my decision; mocking me behind my back," I could tell from his voice he was angered by them; but even as the leader they had the right to question his decision - surprisingly freedom of speech was a rule of the Tiger Clan as well, although the strong were unlikely to listen to the words of the weak but in this case they knew that the Tiger King was restricted by the rules of the clan from killing them so this is why they dared to talk behind his back and question his choice.

But at least I knew what those sneers and snarls just now were, it was them questioning my capabilities to challenge them; I revealed a cold grin as I looked at them - releasing an invisible pressure that caused surprise to flash in their eyes briefly, it was quickly suppressed by their arrogance.

"ROAAR" The Tiger King shouted once more, I didn't need to be able to speak their language to know what that roar was for; it was time to kill, a cold glint in my eyes as I merged into the Shadow Realm startling several of the tigers.

Using my internal energy I focused it into my legs allowing me to move several times faster, using the meagre amount of shadows I dodged from side to side to stay within the shade - using the shadow of a tiger which was barely connecting to the shadow cast off of a wall I darted into its shadow, I positioned myself by its neck - unsheathing my daggers I reappeared outside of the Shadow Realm in an instant; the tiger had sensed something was off but I gave it no chance to retaliate as I plunged my dagger into its neck.

+50 XP Gained from killing Adult Tiger (Mortal Leaving Intermediate)

Merging back into the Shadow Realm, the other tigers were clearly on a higher alert now - I just needed three more kills to reach the intermediate realm and if I was lucky I would be able to reach the Pinnacle stage soon after. My eyes shone with excitement as I darted to the next tiger, he'd come over to inspect the corpse of the tiger I'd just killed - maybe hoping there was still breath in him?

It didn't matter to me, in an instant I moved from one shadow to the other and once again plunged my dagger into a tigers neck - my blade now thick with blood after only two kills, 

+50 XP Gained from killing Adult Tiger (Mortal Leaving Intermediate)

I ignored the sudden XP gain and focused on the remaining tigers before me - at the moment my level didn't matter to me, all I had to do was fight.

The other tigers were wary after the death of two of their comrades, only ten of them remained; arrogance began to make a storm in my chest as I looked at them like ants but I suppressed that feeling in an instant, arrogance is what killed these tigers I shouldn't make the same mistake myself.

Focusing my energy into my legs once more I darted across the shadows, but this time the Tigers were on the further side of our little 'arena' there were no shadows connecting to them, keeping calm I focused all my energy into my legs and propelled myself towards the shadow of a nearby tiger, for an instant I was forced out of the Shadow Realm but in the next instant I was enveloped in a familiar darkness.

"It worked... good," I muttered to myself quietly as I proceeded to position myself by the tiger's neck. "Cling." My dagger was infinitely close to its neck but had been blocked by his claw, I was stunned that he had managed to react so fast but recollected myself in an instant and darted forward with both daggers in hand; dancing around the tiger I plunged my dagger into its sides several times wearing it down. 

The other tigers had noticed this and were roaring as they ran over, but it was futile - one more dagger to the neck and he was dead. His corpse still warm as the blood drained out of his lifeless body. Smiling at the shocked tigers who had stopped in their tracks I disappeared from their sight.

+60 XP Gained from killing Adult Tiger (Mortal Leaving Pinnacle)

No wonder he was a harder opponent, he was two small realms above be; it was also likely he was prepared for the neck strike I thought to myself, I'd have to reevaluate where I stuck my knife in the coming battles or else they'd all be countered - I didn't intend to drag this fight out, the faster it ends the better.

Another tiger had foolishly yet cautiously walked into my 'domain of shadows' his shadow had connected with the corpse of the one I had just killed, in an instant I was beside him and this time I plunged my daggers side by side into the side of his head - in an instant I felt the life leave his body as only eight tigers were left..

+60 XP Gained from killing Adult Tiger (Mortal Leaving Pinnacle)

Level Up! Mortal Leaving Intermediate Realm!

I felt power begin to course through my body as my fatigue melted away from me, I felt stronger than before by at least one fold; a cruel grin was plastered on my face as I stared at the requirements for the Pinnacle realm.

Mortal Leaving Intermediate Realm (XP 0/400)

Regardless of their realm, it would only take me the remaining eight Tigers to level up.

...

Level Up! Mortal Leaving Pinnacle Realm!

Mortal Leaving Pinnacle Realm (XP 0/800)

Hmm, it seems that the XP required doubled after every level, I looked over at my dagger still in the corpse of the tiger it was the final one.

For the remaining eight tigers I had used the same method to kill them, it was a bit hard with the remaining two as I had to exchange several moves before they fell under my knives; they seemed to have figured out how I was moving between them so easily which was why they were prepared for me, both had been at the pinnacle realm; the other six had been at the intermediate realm. I felt a slight regret over the 20 XP I had lost to the overflow yet I knew it had gone to strengthen me so I was slightly comforted.

If I had to judge my power now it was at least two times more powerful than I had been at the Primary stage than right now, I smiled to myself as I stood in the center of this 'battlefield' of mine, tiger corpses were lying on the ground and I stood without a single scratch on me, my daggers dripping with the still warm blood of the tigers.

The spectating tigers all looked shocked as they stared at me, even the Tiger King looked at me with unhidden interest; although I suspected it was due to my two sudden breakthroughs more than my slaughter of the tigers.

I estimated it hadn't been even ten minutes since I had begun... and now I stood the victor in this massacre.