Tremors shook the surface, as the legion of Ahamkara tumbled, spreading out as tried reaching Pahanin.

The lone hunter stood patiently in the centre of the army, yet none could approach him, inching closer to his range would bring out his clones.

Like silver spectres, in a frenzy of blinding streaks, all who tried would be torn to shreds.

Pahanin gazed back at the erupting clouds of dust and rocks, where hurricanes lingered and ravines spread out. His keen eyes caught sight of Kabr sauntering back to the battlefield.

A sly smile crept on his lips as they curled upwards. Wordlessly, he turned his back, unsheathing his blade, his eyes searched for Void.

"Handling it?" He spoke up.

Void's translucent form flickered into sight as he fought off Ahamkara, but this time utilizing his aura to the highest efficiency.

He weaved in and out of stealth, combined with his previous speed outburst, he was akin to a lethal ghost.

Void clicked his daggers together as he cleaved through beasts one after the other, keeping his guard up.

"Just...barely." He grit his teeth and spat out.

Seeing as Kabr had killed off the calamitous Ahamkara, Pahanin had thinned down their numbers, just enough to a manageable flock.

The next step? Training of course. Pahanin stood calmly gathering their attention, while Void hid and picked off a group one after the other.

Naturally, Void couldn't keep the stealth up for long, and just then, Pahanin would provide a slight, helping hand.

-Clink-

Pahanin's gripped his blade, glancing at Void, he clenched, slicing forwards. A wave of light followed the strike, sweeping through the Ahamkara, dropping them like flies.

The Ahamkara were helpless, due to Kabr's wish, none could run off.

Had they decided to rush in to Pahanin, they would be ruthlessly cut to pieces before they could blink. Hence, the only one option remained.

To try and eliminate at least one was their thought. As their numbers piled on Void, pushing the Nightstalker to the limit.

'F***, is this a solo raid? Am I on ad clear?' He cried internally, but there was no time to complain.

Instantly, his muscles tensed, Void shot forwards his daggers edge glowing a bright purple, zooming through their numbers Void hacked and slashed.

Pushing himself further and beyond, Void didn't spare a second to breath, a phantom blitzing through the entire army alone.

His eyes glimmered a faint blue, time slowed down as Void's figure blurred, dodging the attack inches from his face, he countered with a strike, cutting through a winged tiger.

But exhaustion drew closer than ever. It was given that Void could always use his Shadowshot. But there was only one reason he didn't.

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

{Legendary Guardian System}

Dual Super Abilities Unlocked!

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

A crazy grin threatened to spread on his lips, Void hacked and hacked like a maniac, a hysterical psychopath chasing his reward.

What better way to temper himself than a war? It was obvious that he had to suffer. To die again and again until he could be sharpened into a real weapon.

Pahanin understood, and hence gave him a chance. It wasn't one Void was willing to squander.

With each breath he grew closer to death, but each strike pushed him closer to an epiphany.

Until suddenly, his light reserves ran out. The moment his stealth vanished, hundreds of Ahamkara piled on top, chomping through his limbs, bone by bone.

Before he could blink, Void's heart was punctured by serpent's tail slamming into him.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

Void felt his chest shudder, a pain he couldn't describe in words. It felt as if each vein in his body was suffocated at once.

{Guardian Down}

Instantly, Pahanin shot towards him, a barrage of clones rushing out to clear an area as he reached for Void's corpse. Obsidian appeared, seeming concerned.

"Rest assured, he's a tough one." Pahanin soothed, the ghost nodded as he looked to him, Pahanin sent a jolt of light from his fingers to Obsidian.

Immediately, Void felt he was touched by a spark of life, his body resurrected, as Obsidian hid again.

"How many is that?" Pahanin asked calmly.

Void gasped for breaths as he stumbled to his feet, his heart raced as he tried to calm it down.

"I think....that.... was eight." He uttered through wheezing breaths, Void glanced at his system screen, and flashed a smile.

"Is this really helping?" Pahanin inquired, leaning on the hilt of his blade, he yawned.

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

{Legendary Guardian System}

+ Spectral Blades (Super Unlocked!):

With each strike, vanish at will, weave into the veil of shadows, your presence, nothing but a haze. None may hide from your sight while you are veiled.

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

"Just watch" Void replied, his hands covered with a misty energy.

Pahanin shrugged and watched intently

Void conjured two deadly daggers, brimming with light, he clenched the blades, exuding immense power. Light condensed on his feet as Void shot towards the battle once more.

Seeing his enthusiastic leap, Pahanin felt odd, he had never really met a hunter so eager to jump in, just to keep dying. At least not one as young as Void.

At least that's what he had thought. Yet Pahanin's keen gaze had caught on to Void's plan. His brows furled as he watched.

"Could it be?"

A swipe of his daggers, Void vanished, leaving Pahanin awestruck. A haze spread across his flickering figure akin to an ethereal phantom running berserk.

Void's presence felt incomprehensible, each strike of his blade threading through shadows. Pahanin's eyes went wide.

Each move calculated, each stab precisely at the right time, unfathomable lethality. A blink and one would miss it. Void was able to blend into nothingness, as if he never existed.

Till the last fading seconds his blade caressed the enemy, he was undetectable, illimitable by his own senses, a true hunter who lurked in the dark.

For the first time in centuries, Pahanin beamed, a chuckle escaping from his lips.

The laugh felt contagious as it spread out, echoing in the distance. A few seconds later, Kabr who had rushed across, leapt to stand beside Pahanin confused at his antics.

"....Did the Ahamkara finally offer you a sense of humor?"

"Shut your mouth and don't ruin my mood. Is this what it feel like to be outclassed? Fate is a cruel mistress." He lamented, shaking his head.

Kabr's eyes fell on the battlefield, as he saw a blur flickering and reaping kill after kill.

"You taught him that?" He crossed his arms and observed, impressed with Void's agility.

"No, he learned it on his own. Funny isn't it, what took us decades, took him mere days." Pahanin's eyes narrowed.

Kabr smirked, "Seems like he will be a monster in the future."

Pahanin's lips parted, he spoke, barely a whisper, his words drowned out by the hectic bustling battle.

"Hopefully, not one we have to face."

The two veterans stood at the sidelines, watching Void cleanup. A few minutes had passed, and his aura drained out. Void panted, exhausting himself to the brink of failure.

His legs gave out as he kneeled, but a bright smile lined his lips. Void fell on his back and let out a sigh.

"I am done. You guys got the rest right? I can't even move a muscle." Void grinned staring up at the sky marred with dark clouds, a single ray of light piercing through it all, showering him in a radiant glow.

Kabr and Pahanin shook their heads as Void laid on the ground, "Kids these days..."

"This new generation is hopeless." Pahanin pressed his lips, his clones splitting up and charging into battle.

"I suppose he deserves a small break. Lets end this, you and me." Kabr cracked his knuckles and held out a fist.

Pahanin bumped his fist as the two strolled on to center of the field. Ahamkara's threatened to lunge at Void, but Kabr swept his hand as a barricade appeared around the hunter.

"Sit tight."

Void gestured a quick salute as he plopped his neck down on the sand, heaving a sigh, the world seemed to grow distorted.

Perhaps it was his own senses growing dreary, his mentality exhausted to the brink, as a young guardian he had yet to built a perfectly resilient mind.

With one last glance at the golden light Void closed his eyes.

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

[A distant moon of Jupiter]

Crimson light piercing through desolate space, blood red skies.

Volcanic dust spread through the air, a pungent sulfuric odor choking the lungs, the horizon blemished by charcoal clouds, the surface, an ashen ground, barren to even the most miniscule of life's miracles.

Myriad mountains of corpses littered around, Ikorra stood over a graveyard of whispering bones.

Mere moments ago, it was an army of Ahamkara, now reduced to dust and dirt. Her lone figure brooded, eyes glued to the skies, deep thoughts surfaced within her.

Until a figure approached, Eris Morn, a hunter within the infamous hidden. She walked towards the vanguard, her steps halting mere inches away.

"What did they offer you?" Eris said, her gaze stretching for miles, following the grave of carcasses.

"Same as you, I'm sure" Ikorra clenched her arms behind her back, a gentle wisp of light fluttered around her, she looked down at the bones, incessant whispers eroded her mind.

Yet standing above them, she felt at peace, it was far easier to concentrate.

"Everything they said, was true." Eris whispered her eyes misty, recalling what she had seen.

Ikorra frowned, her voice crisp, "Regret is a morbid companion." she cautioned.

Eris felt a prick in her mind, she nodded, but the Voices grew harsher in her ears.

"Guide your light north of here, if there are any left, we must find them."

"They showed me my life before my ghost."

The whispering bones shuddered, quivering with an ethereal presence.

"Eris. Focus." Ikorra retorted, her sharp reminder seemed to calm the huntress down. The whispers seemed to weaken.

"Yes." Eris sucked in a quick breath, channelling her light.

The two summoned a storm that consumed the bones, crushing them to dust. The whispers grew louder by the second, screeching in their ear, but the maelstrom grew stronger.

Soon they couldn't distinguish between the other, as all the bones disappeared, seemingly wiped from existence.