THE FINAL SPRINT
Isaac’s body moved before his mind had even finished calculating.
No hesitation. No fear. Just pure, instinctual motion.
The valley was a death trap for most people. Steep cliffs, enclosed space, only one exit. A normal player would have no choice but to fight.
But Isaac wasn’t normal.
He had never needed a weapon.
The moment his foot hit the rocky ground, he launched himself forward, accelerating faster than any of the Iron Hounds expected.
One second he was standing still.
The next, he was gone.
“DON’T LET HIM ESCAPE!” Garrus roared.
But it was already too late.
Isaac had already calculated the only route out of this place.
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THE IRON HOUNDS’ DESPERATION
The guild reacted instantly.
Lena swung her spear, Isaac dropped low, rolling beneath it.
Drake lunged to intercept, Isaac twisted, stepping onto a rock and flipping over him.
A rogue leaped from the side, Isaac pivoted, using the rogue’s shoulder as a launch point to spring forward.
He was already halfway to the valley entrance.
Garrus gritted his teeth.
“Block him off! NOW!”
The remaining Iron Hounds rushed to close the exit.
But Isaac had been waiting for that.
His masked face tilted slightly, eyes scanning every movement, every mistake.
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And then..
He changed direction.
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Instead of running for the entrance.
Isaac ran for the cliff wall.
Lena’s eyes widened. “No way.”
Drake shouted, “He won’t make it!”
Isaac jumped.
His foot landed on a jagged rock. Kicked off.
Another foothold—another launch.
The stone crumbled beneath him, but he was already higher.
Again. Again. Faster.
He was running up the cliff.
Garrus watched in stunned disbelief.
“No one should be able to do that…”
But Isaac wasn’t just running.
He was moving with absolute confidence. As if he had done this a thousand times before.
Because he had.
Not here. Not in this exact valley.
But in countless places like it.
Isaac had spent years mastering terrain movement. Learning every parkour trick, every climbing technique, every way to escape impossible situations.
This wasn’t new.
This was routine.
And by the time the Iron Hounds reached the cliff base...
He was already at the top.
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Silence.
The guild stared up in shock.
Isaac stood on the cliff’s edge, looking down at them, perfectly calm.
The wind ruffled his cloak, his featureless mask giving nothing away.
Garrus clenched his fists.
“…You planned this.”
Isaac tilted his head. “Of course.”
Lena cursed under her breath. “How did you even?!”
Drake exhaled, shaking his head. “That’s not normal. That’s not even close to normal.”
Garrus lifted a hand. The guild fell silent.
He didn’t look angry.
He looked focused. Calculating.
Isaac had proven one thing today.
He wasn’t just some courier.
He was a ghost.
A force.
And Garrus hated things he couldn’t control.
Slowly, he spoke.
“Alright, Relay.” His voice was calm, cold. Dangerous. “You’ve made your point.”
Isaac didn’t respond.
“But this? This was just a hunt.” Garrus narrowed his eyes. “Now it’s a war.”
Isaac remained motionless for a moment.
Then..
He nodded.
As if accepting the challenge.
And before anyone could react.
He turned and disappeared into the trees.
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THE AFTERMATH
The Iron Hounds stood in silence.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Then, finally...
Lena muttered. “What now?”
Garrus exhaled. “We regroup.”
Drake scowled. “Are we seriously just gonna let him go?”
Garrus turned to him. And smiled.
“You think we lost?”
Drake frowned. “We failed to catch him.”
Garrus shook his head. “We got exactly what we needed.”
Lena narrowed her eyes. “…What do you mean?”
Garrus smirked.
“We know how he moves now.”
He glanced up at the cliff where Isaac had escaped.
“We know what he’s capable of.”
Then, finally. He turned back to his guild.
“And now?” His voice was low, steady. Deadly.
“Now we stop playing games.”