An Understated Dominance by Marina Vittori

Chapter 1958

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On the camp’s outskirts, two elite squads stood watch with their eyes fixed on the darkness ahead.
The distant roars of approaching creatures echoed, accompanied by the rumble of their thunderous run. Everyone in the camp
had assembled, prepared to face the unknown threat.
“Protect Ms. Linsor!” The captain of the royal guard quickly assembled his men when he saw Grace step forward. They formed a
protective circle around her as a precaution.
“Draw your swords!” Excitement and nervous anticipation mixed within Jackson as he directed the disciples of the Embersteel
Order to form a defensive stance.
While sparring in the martial world was familiar, facing a creature was entirely new and anxiety-inducing.
“Stay sharp and adapt to the situation, “Garrett urged.
The Black Scorpion Squad took a strategic position at the back. Despite their diverse skills, their combat strength fell short
compared to the Embersteel Order disciples.
“Making a fuss over nothing.” Aidan leaned casually against a tree, jug of warm wine in hand, appearing indifferent.
Despite his status as a grandmaster martial artist, he radiated pride and paid little attention to common creatures. Yet, he
couldn’t help but be curious about the peculiar beings hidden in the mysterious oasis.
Suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed through the air, and a strange creature, neither deer nor horse, emerged from the shadows.
It had two horns, scales that adorned its body, a tail resembling a steel whip, and razor-sharp teeth, creating an intimidating
spectacle.
“Set the fire ablaze!” the captain of the royal guard commanded. The outer perimeter’s kerosene was immediately ignited. The
camp’s surroundings came to life, casting away the earlier chill and enveloping the area in comforting warmth.
The deer-horse-like creature emitted a startled neigh in front of the wall of fire. It paused in its advance and lifted its front hooves

in fear. After all, nearly all creatures displayed an instinctual aversion to fire.

“Hah! That really got me! I thought this creature was some powerhouse, but no, just this scaredy-cat!”
“This creature seems menacing, but it couldn’t even handle a wall of fire. Classic case of appearances being deceiving.”
“This creature’s definitely one of a kind. Imagine if we manage to capture it alive! It could fetch a hefty sum in the market, don’t
you think?”
“Yes! Let’s catch it alive and cash in big time!”
Excitement bubbled within the group as discussions erupted. The realization that the rare creature before them could fetch a
substantial sum at auction heightened the anticipation, surpassing the value of most treasures.
Amidst their discussion, a sudden movement emerged from the darkness. The creature resembled a panther but was notably
larger. Its black fur shimmered like a coat of armor in the flickering firelight.
The black panther swiftly lunged at the deer-horse-like creature, clamping its jaws onto its neck.
Overwhelming in size and strength, the panther tore into its prey, and the cries of the deer-horse-like creature weakened with
each passing moment.
As the struggle wore on, the deer-horse -like creature’s attempts to break free proved futile against the relentless assault of the
black panther.
The vast difference in size allowed the panther to immobilize the deer-horse- like creature easily with a single swipe, keeping it
pressed to the ground.
As the deer-horse-like creature let out a final wail, its struggles stopped, leaving its blood to stain the ground.

Unperturbed, the black panther continued to feed on its prey, the pungent smell of blood rapidly permeating the surroundings.
“What ... What in the world is this?”
“Damn! This creature looks seriously tough!”
The group’s eyes widened in a mix of astonishment and dread as they observed the ferocious black panther.

Its sheer size, towering over a tiger, exuded an intimidating presence that held them in awe. The aggressive attack added to the
spectacle as it pounced with lightning speed, catching everyone off guard.
The black panther’s razor-sharp claws and fangs effortlessly pierced through the scales of the deer-horse-like creature.
In the blink of an eye, it demonstrated a lethal prowess that, if directed at a human, could lead to immediate dismemberment with
a single swipe.
Initially, they assumed the intruder in the camp was a deer-horse-like creature. However, they soon realized it was the prey being
pursued by an even more ferocious creature.
“Ms. Linsor, what should we do? Should we try to capture it alive or take it down?” The captain of the royal guard asked
cautiously.
The creature, resembling a black panther, could have been a captivating sight for Oakvale had they succeeded in capturing it.
Nevertheless, its fierce temperament and formidable strength presented a considerable challenge.
Although killing it appeared to be the simpler choice, trying to capture it entailed the potential harm to their team.

“Let it be. If it finishes its meal and moves on, just act like nothing happened,” Grace replied calmly. Initially alarmed by the
possibility of a camp attack, she soon recognized the situation as a predator simply hunting for its prey.
Understanding that such events were part of the oasis ecosystem, she chose to refrain from interference as long as there was no
imminent threat.
Laughter echoed through the air, and Aidan, holding his wine jug, approached with a spark of excitement. “This creature is
extraordinary. I want to make this creature my mount.”
His eyes glittered with enthusiasm, clearly fascinated by the black panther creature.
“Mr. Ridge, this creature is quite fierce. Are you sure about this?” Jackson inquired cautiously.
“What? Are you doubting my ability to tame it?” Aidan raised an eyebrow, a hint of displeasure crossing his face.
“No.” Jackson shook his head decisively.
He added, “Mr. Ridge’s strength is unparalleled. Taming a creature like this would be a breeze. My only worry is that taking such
a wild creature out of the oasis might lead to some troubles.”
“Cut the nonsense! I couldn’t care less about trouble. This creature is mine, and nobody is taking it away from me!” Aidan
declared with authority.
In his eyes, having such a majestic creature as his mount meant the name “Sandscale” would echo far and wide..

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