Bloody hell! Marcus cried out internally, dashing away from the Cursed Juggernaut's fists. I should have known this was a horrible idea. Lin, I swear, if we survive this, I'm gonna punch you and then myself. Just to make sure we both remember this.

Everything had been going so well ever since the second Cataclysm ended. Despite the Tainted Wasteland consuming and wiping out most of Stonehamp, he and his friends still managed to survive and thrive. Hell, their levels and evolved forms spoke for themselves. He would bet there weren't many survivors out there who could match them.

If only we didn't get so cocky. He hissed, rolling out of the way of another swipe. The Juggernaut just wouldn't give him a break. Shit! Shit! Shit! Why did I want to be the fastest again? I bloody hate this!

Until yesterday, the most Marcus had to deal with was a Brute or a few Reapers. He would entertain the strongest beasts while the rest of his team killed the stragglers and then focused on the true targets. It had been a good tactic, even a perfect one for them. So when Lin proposed a fight against a Juggernaut like it was nothing, they should have disagreed or at least protested a bit.

Yet, they didn't.

Too much success, a bit of boredom, and a desire to perhaps weaken the Wasteland by killing its strongest warriors made them overconfident. Even he, who was usually the voice of reason in the group, stayed silent, listening to Lin's plan with a bit too much eagerness.

Baiting a Juggernaut around won't be much harder than a Brute, she said. Marcus scowled, pushing more and more Essence into Reinforcement. Like hell, it isn't! Next time, you can try this yourself, cuz ain't no way I'm doing this again.

However, even though he wanted to shout those words in Lin's face and then hug her, he knew that might never happen. They had attracted way too many Voidlings along with the Juggernaut. His Essence was already over halfway gone, and he didn't even want to think how bad it had to be for the others.

At least we'll die together. He wanted to laugh and cry as the panicked shouts of his friends reached his ears. From the beginning till the end. I guess we had a good run. Our luck had to run out sooner or later. A pity. We should have gotten out of here a long time ago.

Even as the flames of hope in his heart slowly flickered out, Marcus didn't give up. He still led the giant Voidling on a wild goose chase, sometimes even getting a chance to score a hit on other unsuspecting monsters here and there. This was the most he could do to help his team. Any more, and he would end as a bloody paste on the ground.

Come on, guys! We're better than this. Please! He begged as his vision blurred a bit, the first tears finally coming out. He shook them out and slid along the ice just as the Juggernaut stomped on his previous location. Please!

Only there was no one there to hear his prayers, and instead, their luck got much worse as multiple roars filled the air. Marcus turned his head, a pit forming in his stomach when he spotted three Brutes approaching from the distance.

Yeah. He choked back a laugh. We are fucked.

They had to run, somehow escape this hell. But where to, and how? The Tainted Voidlings would follow even if they left the Wasteland; they had already tested as much. Yet, taking that chance was still much better than dying while fighting a losing battle.

We need to split up. I will lead this bastard into the woods. Maybe I can lose it there... And if that doesn't work, Lin and the others will at least have a chance. That's enough for me.

That was how he justified his suicide plan, a way for his friends to live. But just before he could open his mouth, another roar consumed the area. The powerful, almost demonic sound straight out of horrors drowned every other noise, freezing more than one Voidling in place.

Those died a moment later to the blades and Essence of his group, but Marcus barely paid any attention to that. No, his eyes almost immediately snapped to the source of the noise, never expecting it to be a demon on the back of the Juggernaut, who suddenly stopped following him.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Prime Night Hunter | LVL: 27

What!? B-but that's a Voidling. W-why is it showing... His thoughts were cut short as someone bumped into his body, pushing him out of the way of a Reaper that almost cut his head off.

"Wake up, idiot!" Lin shouted, battling the Voidling away, her golden hair swishing with each move. "This is our chance! It's now or never."

Still half in shock, Marcus somehow stood up, his Blistering Dagger falling into his hand. "But what about them?! You have seen it too, right?" He shouted, slipping through the Reaper's defense and jabbing the blade right into its eye.

"Doesn't matter," Lin growled, a wave of green Essence escaping her sword. "We just need to fight our way out of this shit! They can kill each other for all I care."

But if that's a survivor... No, impossible. He shook his head, quickly cutting down another Cursed Human. There's no way for anyone to have already turned into something like that. There must be another reason.

And so, with that thought in mind, Marcus put most of his focus on the battle ahead. The rest of his group joined him and Lin, getting into a formation they had used many times before. Support, defense, offense, they all knew their roles.

Even as they passed the Wasteland's border, he sometimes managed to take a quick glance at the fight they left behind. Chains of fire registered in his vision first, followed by masses of shadows clashing against the ice giant. The Night Hunter ran circles around the larger beast, cutting and slashing whenever it could.

Constant howls of pain escaped the Juggernaut's mouth, but it never backed off and just continued swinging. Wherever it hit, ice exploded, raining sharp shards upon the battlefield. Those always killed a random Voidling or two, but never the Hunter.

The dark demon was just too fast, too slippery. And with the fire upon its chains appearing stronger each time Marcus looked, he knew who would be the winner there.

We have to hurry. This thing will slaughter us.

With renewed fire burning bright in his chest, he took the charge. Harden enveloped his fist as he crashed it against a Runner, its head popping like a balloon. His dagger followed right after, catching another Voidling off guard.

The beasts kept coming, still trying to chase them even outside the Wasteland. However, their numbers dwindled as quite a few Voidlings went for the Hunter instead. Not that the demon minded. It just slaughtered the annoyances as if they were ants.

Only a bit mor-

Time seemed to stop as a final howl pierced the heavens, followed by a loud thud that shook the ground. Marcus, his friends, and hell, even Voidlings, turned to witness the Juggernaut's final moment as flames consumed its body.

And then, within a blink of an eye, it all disappeared. The chains, the fire, and even the giant's corpse. Only the Hunter and a pile of dust remained, of which the former was looking straight at them.

Fuck.

The Voidlings were first to react, abandoning their chase and running away as fast as they could. They didn't even care about going back to the Wasteland as long as it got them out of the Hunter's sight.

"Guys. Run!"

At once, they all broke into a mad dash toward the forest. Marcus, despite being the fastest, stayed at the back of the pack. He wouldn't leave anyone behind.

Come on! Come on! Don't follow us!

Once more, his prayers were left unanswered when a dark form sped past them. They tried to swerve to the side, but a surge of shadows cut off that path too, surrounding them in a circle.

"For fuck's sake, stop and listen!" A low, but powerful growl came from the demon blocking their escape. "I mean you no harm, you bunch of idiots. Just got a piece of advice. That's all."

Despite the obvious human response and act, nobody even dared to move or speak out. Not even Lin, who never had a problem with voicing her thoughts.

We are dead. Marcus gulped, heart thrumming in his chest. Please let it be fast.

Only no attack came. The demon just sighed while muttering something nobody could hear.

"Whatever," it shook its head. "Whether you ignore it or not, I don't care, but if you people are looking for a place to rest, go to Wolford and enter from the north. You will find a Safe Zone there."

With that said, the shadow walls collapsed, but once more, no one moved.

The beast rolled its eyes. "What are you all waiting for? Go. I won't follow."

Quietly, Marcus shared a look with everyone in the group before connecting his eyes with Lin. She appeared just as scared as him but still managed to nod, showing three fingers behind her back and starting the countdown.

"Now!" She screamed, and everyone dashed toward the forest.

----------------------------------------

Leo snorted, watching the human group disappear between the trees. They sure could run if given the right incentive.

'Do you think they will listen?' Nyx asked, coming to a stop beside him. 'It sure didn't seem like it.'

He shrugged. "No idea. It's not my problem anyway. I did what I could." He glanced at the feline, raising an eyebrow. "Had fun?"

She huffed, licking the remaining blood off her muzzle. 'I wish. You?'

"Learned something useful, but apart from that?" Leo sighed, his shoulders dropping. "Not really..."