"Looks like he's found them."
"Yes, sir. He's one of the strongest users as of the moment."
He stares at a bank of screens.
"Wow, that many kills in such a short time?"
"Yes. He seems to have an obsession with hunting down those who he deems as strong."
".......What a fucking edge-lord."
"Sir, what should we do? Isn't this a bit too soon for them to die-?"
"Hey. If they die, they die. I only put the bounty on them because I thought it'd be fun to see how long they'd last."
He grins, a smile stretching his face.
"Fight, fight, little maggots. Make this entertaining for me."
-----------------------------------------------------------
[Use Skill! Ray of light!]
The beam of light just misses his head.
[Skill evaded!]
"!?"
Evaded!?
"That skill of yours is impressive."
He hefts his blade, red cloak rippling like waves. Silver plates shine underneath.
Armor....
Catnip glances at the golden giant behind him.
"G-get him!"
It charges at the swordsman without a moment's hesitation.
"A mage and a summoner......what a strong combination."
He raises his blade to block a golden fist, skidding back a little.
"But from that punch alone, I can already tell that this summon of yours....is weak."
The giant's hands are sent flying into the air, detached from their arms. Then it's legs. And finally as it falls to the floor, it's head. Catnip can only watch in shock, the head stopping at his feet.
[Construct destroyed!]
It couldn't even land a hit on him....
The swordsman lowers his blade, resting a foot on the defeated summon's chest.
"My username is [Hunter]. And I am the one who shall claim your bounty-"
[Use Skill! Ray of light!]
He dodges again with a tilt of his head, focusing on Eclipse.
"How much mana does using that skill consume? You've been using it quite a lot."
His stance is laid-back, casual.
"You're not part of the bounty, so if you surrender now I'll spare your life."
She grits her teeth.
"Fuck off."
Her eyes glow, the sunlight from the window tickling her skin. She can feel it coursing through her body, revitalising and strengthening her.
[Passive skill: Under the Sun! Mana recovery for light skills has been increased!]
Five orbs of light surround her like stars, gradually increasing in size. She holds it in for as long as she dares, charging them with as much mana as she can muster, before raising a hand at Hunter, and letting it all go.
[Use Skill: Ray of light X5!]
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Frozen, slow down a little!"
A thin, dark-skinned boy momentarily stops, red and black rimmed glasses framing dark brown eyes. Eyes that are currently glaring at a girl around his height straggling behind him.
"Could you move any slower?"
"Is that a challenge-?"
"Bish, if you dare-"
A sudden explosion causes him to jump, ice exploding from his feet and crawling up a lamp post. The girl has clung to him in the heat of the moment.
"What was that!?"
He looks up, examining the decaying buildings before pointing to one that was now billowing smoke into the sky.
"Looks like it came from there."
"Maybe we should go another way...."
He sighs.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
"I'd love to. But this is the shortest path to the place marked on the map. We're too close to just back out now."
She lets out a huff.
"Fine...."
".......So, are you gonna let go of me, or what?"
"Oh-right!"
-----------------------------------------------------------
She slumps to her knees, panting. Her hair falls over her face in clumped strands. Sunlight, once small, now covers her completely as the wall has been obliterated. But still.....
"A respectable effort."
Hunter stands over her, his shadow blocking her from the sunlight.
"You truly are strong. But this is as far as you go."
He raises his sword, the blade catching the light.
"It's been an hour to fight you, mage."
Fight? What a load of bullshit.
The blade comes down-
"Open Menu."
-And bounces off of a menu screen that has suddenly appeared.
"What the fuck-?"
Something barrels into him and he grunts, stumbling over his own feet. Right out of the hole in the wall. HAV0C watches him fall, saluting him with a middle finger.
"See ya, bitch."
"YOU-!"
Bones snap as he hits the ground.
-----------------------------------------------------------
"..........."
"Sir, you should really fix that loophole."
"Yeah, yeah....."
-----------------------------------------------------------
"E__ip_e?"
Why am I here?
"_cl__s_e..."
I hate this place. I want to go home, I want to go home, I-
"ECLIPSE!!!"
She jolts, finally reacting to the hands gripping her shoulder and the voice now shouting her name. She looks sickly and pale, detached from reality.
"W-wha?"
The hands and voice belong to HAV0C, who's not looking so good himself. He's dripping in sweat, and his eyes continuously seem to flit out of focus. Even still, he grabs unto her hands and pulls Eclipse to her feet.
"Come on, we need to go! Right now!"
"Huh? But-wait-didn't you push him out of building? He should be dead right now-"
A groan of pain from outside makes them freeze. HAV0C makes his way to the gaping hole in the wall and peers down, stomach lurching. What he sees makes it even harder to keep his breakfast down.
Hunter is lying on his back, legs bent and twisted underneath him, a mess of red flesh and white splintered bones. He stares up at them, more specifically at HAV0C, noting the tremble in his arms and legs.
I'm....injured? By that weakling?
He doesn't even have an ability yet! He's worthless, and still.....
He grits his teeth.
I let my guard down!
"HAV0C....you bastard....."
The three stare down at him in disbelief.
"He's still alive? After that?"
Catnip can't believe what he's seeing.
"Is this guy even human?"
HAV0C doesn't reply, the world tilting this way and that as he continues to stare down, down, down at the person he's brutally injured. It doesn't feel real. It can't be real. Everything that's happened, the blood, the burns, the screens, the multiple screens, users? How is this possible. It can't be, it can't be-
He doesn't even know when he begins to lean forward, gravity gently taking him in its soft embrace and pulling him further and further down. The sunlight tickles his skin, and he feels hot and cold, a strange state of being that he doesn't....actually mind....it's nice, so nice....
Do I hear.....screaming?
"Use skill. Hunter's Mark."
A thin beam of red light hits HAV0C in the forehead, sending him tumbling back. He lands on his back with a thud, eyes wide.
What was I doing!?
Catnip and Eclipse are by his side, checking him over. They both freeze when they examine his face.
"G-guys? What is it?"
Eclipse raises her hand, gently brushing her fingers over the red target symbol now on HAV0C's forehead.
"I'm not sure....."
[Hunter's Mark is now in effect! HAV0C has been recognized as the Hunted! Hunter's main stats are increased!]
"!?"
It's like that feral guy's power!
[Health recovery is activated! All wounds are being healed!]
Hunter chuckles, staggering to his feet. Muscle fibers are reconnecting, splintered bones melding back together. A red hue surrounds him, arcs of ruby lightning firing off of his body. The plates of his armor glow red.
Hunter's Mark is the first skill I attained here. And it's the reason I'm one of the strongest. A skill that greatly buffs me, AND grants me regeneration as a bonus! As long as I have this.....I'm unstoppable!
"HAV0C....prepare to be hunted...."
The three watch the light show in silence for a moment. HAV0C eventually speaks up.
"That's......probably isn't good."
"It's definitely not good."
"Definitely."
"Okay, with that realized, what are we going to do!?"
"Calm down, Catnip. I have a plan."
He turns to HAV0C, who has a confident smirk on his face.
"Really?"
"Of course."
He points down at Hunter, more specifically his legs.
"He isn't immediately coming after us, which means his legs are still healing."
"Ah-right!"
"For this plan...."
HAV0C taps his thighs.
"I shall use my own legs as well."
"?"
He glances at Eclipse, who seems to be on the same page as HAV0C, nodding calmly.
What are the two on about? Are they planning to just keep wounding his legs?
"You, Catnip, shall also play a special role."
He jumps.
"M-me?"
"Of course. So shall Eclipse."
He turns to the two and grins.
"This is a plan that in order to work, requires complete cooperation and perfect teamwork. Are you guys with me?"
Eclipse nods, grinning. "Always."
I don't know what his plan is, but....we've survived this long. Let's do our best!
Catnip nods, determination in his eyes.
"Tell us what to do!"
HAV0C runs past the two of them, heading for the door.
............huh?
"THE PLAN IS TO USE MY LEGS TO HOTFOOT IT OUT OF HERE, JOEY!!!"
WHAT!?
Eclipse isn't that far behind HAV0C, who's already out into the hallway. Catnip can only sprint after them.
"HOW THE FUCK IS THIS A PLAN!?"
The room they were just in explodes, a cloud of dust raining down into the hallway. Hunter soon bursts out of it in hot pursuit. And he's gaining on them fast.
"YOU DARE RUN AWAY FROM ME!?"
He hefts his blade, which begins to glow red.
[Use skill!]
HAV0C flinches, grabbing Eclipse and Catnip who's miraculously caught up and pushing them to the floor.
"GET DOWN-!"
Hunter swings, releasing a wave that fills the entire hallway.
[Sword Aura: Crescent Wave!]
The building is racked with another explosion as one of its floors is split in two. HAV0C and the others get to their feet, hacking and coughing. If they'd been any slower, they'd have been cut in half.
"You three are quite lucky. However, this is as far as your luck can go."
The smoke is cleared with a swing of his blade, eyes glowing red from the darkness of his hood.
"Luck, resourcefulness....none of that matters in the face of true power."