Being Summoned Isn't Easy At All

Grant's figure blurred as the fallen leaves of the forest floor cracked under his light yet powerful steps. Three balls of flame followed closely after him. The four who were traveling through the forest of shadows.

'I have to hurry up and go find the girl.' Grant peered back at the three goblins following him before he increased his speed. Following the rosy lavender scent that was starting to vanish and be replaced by the smell of blood.

Unlike earlier where the forest of shadows although a bit dim and hard to see in. Light and the surroundings within it was still somewhat visible. But as time passed, the forest grew darker and darker to the point that even with his enhanced vision, he could only see up to five meters around him.

The goblins although having the same skill as Grant weren't able to see as much as him in near-total darkness. To solve their lack of vision, they had to pick up sticks, wrap it with dried leaves on the way and use the staff-wielding goblin's elementary knowledge of fire magic to create torches for them.

The three little gobs nervously followed their now new and hopefully more competent leader deeper and deeper into the forest.

Going deeper could only result in being lost, possible riches or certain death in the form of a strong monster.

The fiery crimson light coming from the now setting sun started darkening the forest. Howls and roars coming deep within the forest startled the four.

He looked to the side and saw the faraway shadowy figures of monsters locked in bloody combat while the red hue of light penetrating the forest canopy made it dark enough for their rage-filled eyes to glow dangerously.

Grant pressed on forward, nearing the source of the now bloody scent with worry seeping into his heart.

He might've miscalculated and had caused the girl's untimely death. His steps accelerated further and Grant left behind the Goblins who desperately tried to keep up.

Low bestial roars greeted Grant upon finally reaching the shadow leopard that had been tailing Hado's daughter.

The shadow leopard stood almost a meter tall and two meters long. It's dark purple fur made it harder to spot in the now dark forest.

The white circles dotting its darkly colored body looked like hollow eyes that stared at your soul.

True to its name, the Shadow leopard seemed to become a real living shadow. With its faintly glowing cat eyes being the only indication of it being there.

Grant stopped on his tracks. He wasn't able to move any further or do anything against the feline's growls of warning.

A small, delicate-looking arm dyed with fresh blood was locked between the jaws of the beast. Grant observed Beatry and he breathed a small sigh of relief.

The girl was still breathing faintly but if he didn't do anything she would die due to blood loss or by the leopard's jaws.

Khuk!!!

The goblins finally caught up to Grant who lowered his hand and blocked the Goblins from blindly charging to fight the shadow leopard who vigilantly eyed them.

"Extinguish your torches. " The gobs tilted their heads before nodding hesitatingly and doing as Grant commanded.

"Shield gob I'm counting on you to go behind our prey and ready yourself to throw the shield once you hear my signal alright?" Grant spoke in a hushed tone and clicked his tongue toward the goblin who held a shield dearly as if it was his wife.

It nodded at Grant before carefully positioning itself outside the leopard's range but behind it.

He praised the goblin for being able to obediently follow his instructions and Grant readied himself for a lunge. He took a runner's starting stance.

His fingers dug deep into the soil as the innately powerful legs of his pressed hard against the ground.

One of his knees was outstretched forward with two of his arms gripping the ground. Then his hind leg tensed, ready to propel him forward.

Click! He clicked his tongue.

Thunk! And the worse for wear looking buckler made a spinning arc. It successfully struck the back of the leopard's head before bouncing back, disorienting it for a second.

That second was all Grant needed.

The ground cracked under the sheer explosive force that Grant used. His figure blinked and the leopard was already within arms reach.

His extended arms invaded the free space between the leopard's jaws.

Roar! The leopard, realizing what was happening tried to bite down. Intent on tearing Grant's hands which were doing their best to hold onto the beast's upper mouth along with the lower jaw.

It wasn't just Grant's hand that was at stake here, it was also Beatry's well being. If Grant made an error with his next movements, sure his hands would be fine with the exception of a few torn skin and muscles.

But Beatry's arm would be mangled and would need to possibly be severed to prevent necrosis.

His face tensed. Grant Gritted his teeth and didn't let his hold slip despite seeing the leopard aiming at his face with glinting sharp claws.

He managed to successfully separate Beatry's arm from the beast's jaws.

Grant growled before lifting the feline overhead and throwing it. Sending the leopard rolling through the forest floor.

Grant immediately lifted Beatry's body and propped her unto a nearby tree, checking her wound before relief made him let go of his worries.

The halfling was just out cold and aside the other cuts filling her legs and other parts of her body, the only worse ones were the deep claw marks burned unto her back and the left arm that was bitten into by the leopard.

Every adventurer never leaves for the wild without any ample preparation. Skimming through the girl's bag, Grant found two vials and some seasonings inside the bag.

A skillet, frying pan and even cooking oil was inside the bag as well. Confusing Grant for a bit.

He checked the vial and the two had different fluids inside it. The vials were sealed with a cork, preventing them from leaking out.

One with a red fluid and one with purple fluid contained inside.

'Ah screw it...' Grant wasn't sure what the vials did. He could only guess since they lacked labels.

He wasn't a native or knowledgeable enough to differentiate an antidote from a healing potion.

The corks were removed and two scents assaulted Grant's nose. One smelled like a mixed concoction of various fragrant herbs while the other simply was odorless.

Tssss~

Wishing the best for Beatry, he doused the arm and the back of the girl with both medicinal solutions.

"Ahhhh!" Beatry hissed in pain despite being unconscious. Her m.o.a.n of pain quickly died down and was silenced.

The sound of evaporating water trickled into his ears. Steam started rising from the afflicted parts and their bleeding stopped.

The wounds started healing at a slow yet visible rate before stopping after the wounds were fully taken care of. At the cost of Beatry's skin turning paler.

Something growled behind Grant and the distressed sounds of goblins made itself known to Grant.

The air whistled and Grant could feel something lunging at him. He swiftly turned around and his right hand quickly slapped the shadow leopard away.

Grant could easily take care of the leopard who was now nothing but an annoyance to him now but he chose not to.

He gestured for the three goblins to come closer to him and he kneeled down onto one foot. the three goblins standing at three feet obeyed and stood before him.

"That thing is a shadow leopard right?" Grant asked.

The goblins nodded before fearfully eyeing the leopard who was stalking them. It was pacing around the five, circling and waiting for an opportunity to strike.

It didn't fear the gobs nor does it fear the little girl whom it nearly ate earlier. It feared the tall man who was talking to the goblins.

Something about him felt off. The leopard had acknowledged his strength but there was this deterrent aura enshrouding him. Making the man look more threatening and give off a more dangerous vibe.

"How many gobs do it usually take to take down such a weak thing?" He pondered out loud while observing the leopard.

Khuekkuk!

Descending into little hubbubs of discussion, they counted their little green hands before presenting ten c.u.mulative fingers to Grant.

It takes at least ten goblins with crude weapons who cared not for their own safety to take down a shadow leopard. Even less if the goblins had a proper strategy and a perfectly suited team composition against their prey.

Shadow leopards were dangerous and tricky to rookie adventurers. Their stealth and light steps make them the perfect assassins suited for the forest of shadows.

If it wasn't for the fact that their eyes and the white rings riddling their fur flowed faintly in the dark, they would've been completely invisible in the darkness.

"Then show me what you've got. Take that thing down for me to prove your allegiance to me."

His finger pointed at the growling shadow leopard.

The three goblins gulped. They were stuck between a human and a monster who could easily kill them.