The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the bustling streets as Nyx made her way toward the outskirts of town. The fresh scent of blooming ivy mixed with the earthy smell of damp stone, but she barely noticed. Her stomach ached with hunger—she hadn’t eaten anything since morning—but she pushed the thought aside. The faster she completed this job, the sooner she could eat.

As she approached the city gates, the guards stationed there straightened, their expressions shifting from boredom to mild concern. One of them, a broad-shouldered elf with sharp blue eyes, held up a hand to stop her.

“Hold on there, kid,” he said, eyeing her up and down. “Where do you think you’re going?”

Nyx pulled the quest parchment from her pocket and unfolded it, flashing it alongside the hunter’s badge she had received earlier. “Spider extermination quest,” she answered simply.

The other guard, an older elf with streaks of silver in his hair, frowned. “You’re a hunter?”

Nyx gave a small nod.

Both guards exchanged looks. Clearly, they weren’t convinced.

“You sure you can handle this?” the first one pressed, crossing his arms. “These aren’t ordinary pests. They’ll swarm if you’re not careful.”

Nyx didn’t flinch. “I’ll be fine.”

She had handled worse.

Still, the older guard sighed. “We’re just doing our job. Don’t want a kid getting hurt on our watch.”

“She’s got a badge,” the other muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “Means the guild already approved her.”

The older guard exhaled through his nose, then finally stepped aside. “Just be careful,” he warned. “If things get bad, get out of there.”

Nyx dipped her head in acknowledgment before stepping through the gates. The moment she was past them, she picked up her pace, following Uriel’s guidance as they maneuvered through the dense underbrush beyond the city.

The forest beyond Alinthor was vast, its towering trees stretching endlessly into the horizon. Sunlight barely pierced through the thick canopy above, casting dappled patterns on the mossy ground. The deeper she walked, the quieter it became, the distant chatter of birds fading into eerie stillness.

“Almost there,” Uriel’s voice echoed in her mind. “They nest near the hollowed-out roots ahead.”

Nyx rolled her shoulders, preparing herself.

According to the quest, she was to eliminate as many of the creatures as possible and collect their magic stones as proof.

Simple enough.

Nyx reached the area where the creatures lurked, their grotesque legs twitching in the dense undergrowth. The air smelled thick with damp earth and decay, a sign that these spider-like beasts had claimed this part of the forest as their nest.

Uriel’s voice echoed in her mind, steady as ever.

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“No one is nearby. It’s safe.”

With that assurance, Nyx didn’t hesitate.

“Come forth.”

From the depths of the shadows, her army emerged.

Len and Ryu materialized first, their black-and-silver bodies gliding soundlessly beside her. Their eyes, sharp and unreadable, locked onto the enemies ahead. They needed no orders—her will was their command.

Zarvok was next, his towering form stepping forth, the shadowed cloak gleaming under the faint glow of the forest. “We will clear them swiftly, Master,” he declared, voice deep and resolute.

Then came Frosty. The Frostmaw loomed over them all, its silver-tipped fur bristling as it exhaled a breath of ice. It let out a low, guttural growl, eager for battle.

“Kill the spiders. Gather the stones,” Nyx instructed.

Without hesitation, her shadows surged forward.

Len and Ryu were the first to strike. Len activated Aegis Bond, the protective energy pulsing faintly as he moved, shielding Nyx from any surprise attacks. Ryu unleashed Arcane Tempest, tendrils of dark energy sparking as they lashed through the swarm of spiders, slicing through exoskeletons with lethal precision.

Zarvok led the shadow goblins into the fray, his sword cutting clean through a spider’s thick limbs. The goblins followed swiftly, their attacks coordinated, their movements fluid.

Frosty leaped into battle with a thunderous crash, its claws raking through the monstrous creatures like paper. A breath of frost escaped its maw, freezing several in place before it shattered them with a swipe of its tail.

Nyx herself was a blur of motion, twisting and maneuvering through the battlefield with deadly precision.

She pulled her daggers from the Infinity Sheath on her back and disappeared into the fray.

She didn’t use Solar Storm Rend.

She didn’t use any flashy skills.

She didn’t need to.

Every strike, every cut—it wasn’t just about the monsters in front of her.

It was about releasing frustration.

For the rage that simmered beneath her skin.

For the pain of loss.

For the anger at the constellations who did nothing.

For the emptiness of being alone again.

Every kill lightened the weight in her chest—just a little.

Len and Ryu continued silently, carving through enemies like perfectly trained soldiers.

Zarvok’s undead army grew, the battlefield crawling with moving corpses.

Frosty remained an unstoppable wall of destruction.

One by one, the creatures fell.

The battle was swift. One-sided.

The spiders stood no chance.

As the last creature collapsed, twitching before stilling completely, Nyx exhaled. Blood and shadow pooled at her feet. Around her, the others had already begun gathering the magic stones, their silent efficiency a testament to their bond.

She sheathed her daggers, watching them work.

It was a good fight. But it wasn’t enough.

The rage within her still burned.

And she needed more.

After the devastatingly one-sided fight, Uriel’s voice echoed in Nyx’s mind.

“Don’t kill them all. Leave some behind—you don’t want to raise suspicion.”

Nyx exhaled sharply but obeyed. With a flick of her wrist, she signaled her shadows to stop. The remaining spider creatures twitched, confused, their numbers drastically reduced. It wasn’t mercy. It was strategy.

The undead shadow zombies moved efficiently, collecting all the fallen magic stones and delivering them to Nyx. She took the bag she’d received from the guild and placed them inside, securing the straps tightly.

Satisfied with their work, she turned to her shadows. “You guys can go back inside the shadow. We’re done for today.”

They hesitated. Even without words, she could feel their disappointment.

Nyx sighed. “Next time, you’ll get to stay longer,” she promised.

That seemed to appease them. Frosty, ever affectionate, curled around her foot before reluctantly sinking into the darkness.

With that, she started her journey back to town.

The sun hadn’t set yet—she’d have time to get something to eat before heading back to the inn.

She walked in silence, her mind drifting.

Then—

A cry for help.

High-pitched. Desperate.

Nyx stilled. She debated ignoring it, but her feet had already started moving toward the source.

Pushing past the dense foliage, she soon spotted the cause of the commotion.

An elf was hanging upside down from a tree, bound at the ankles with thick rope, swaying slightly as they struggled.

The elf noticed her immediately.

“Oh, thank the gods! Can you help me get down?”

Nyx tilted her head, staring.

This was not what she expected.