Chapter 19: Shadows and Instincts
Nix and Roni had fallen into a comfortable rhythm hunting in the Level 2 zones. Over the past four days, they’d faced down dangerous beasts, Shadowclaw Panthers, Ironjaw Monkeys, and other cunning predators that pushed their skills to the limit. With every hunt, they became sharper, more synchronized. They moved quietly, exchanged glances and nods for communication, and executed their attacks without hesitation.
But on the second day of their routine, something felt off. Roni first noticed it, a creeping sense that gnawed at her as they moved through the dense forest. It wasn’t the usual tension of the hunt. It felt like something, or someone, was watching them, more intelligent and calculating than the creatures they hunted.
As they crossed a narrow clearing, Roni stopped abruptly, gripping her bow tightly.
“What’s wrong?” Nix asked, sensing her hesitation.
Roni scanned the treeline, her eyes sharp but finding nothing. “I don’t know… it feels like we’re being followed.”
Without hesitation, Nix activated his [Radar Sense], closing his eyes as he focused on the world around them. Every rustle of leaves, every small movement within a 12-meter radius mapped out in his mind’s eye. But nothing stood out, just small animals in the underbrush and the distant sounds of larger beasts deeper in the forest.
“I’m not picking up anything unusual,” Nix said, glancing at her.
Roni let out a slow breath, lowering her bow. “Maybe it’s just the pressure of constantly being hunted. It’s making me jumpy.”
Nix stepped closer, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. “Want to take a break?”
She thought about the offer, feeling a lingering unease, but eventually she shook her head. “No. Let’s keep moving. I’m probably just being paranoid.”
Nix nodded, trusting her instinct. They ventured further into the hunting area, proceeding with care at every step. Despite Roni's efforts to dismiss it, she couldn't shake the lingering sense that something was hiding nearby.
By the fifth day, Nix and Roni had built confidence. The Level 2 zone had become familiar, almost routine. The beasts, while dangerous, followed predictable patterns. Together, they had mastered the art of outmaneuvering their prey.
That night, while sitting next to the campfire, Roni gazed at the flames, reminiscing about the odd sensation she had experienced days before. The forest was calm and silent at this moment, yet the remaining uneasiness had not entirely disappeared.
“You ready to step it up?” Nix asked, breaking the silence.
Roni looked up, the flickering firelight reflecting in her eyes. “Level 3, you mean?”
Nix nodded. “We’ve handled everything Level 2 has thrown at us. It’s time for a real challenge.”
Roni considered his words. So far, they’d been successful, their teamwork solid. But Level 3 beasts were a different kind of threat, smarter, deadlier, far less forgiving. The danger was greater, yet a piece of her felt thrilled by the thought of testing their boundaries.
"Let's get it done," she stated confidently.
Nix smiled. “Tomorrow, we head to the Level 3 zone.”
The next morning, they entered the Level 3 zone with heightened senses. The atmosphere was heavier here, more oppressive. The beasts were stronger, and danger clung to the air. Nix’s [Radar Sense] was constantly active, mapping their surroundings as they moved through the dense forest.
After hours of tracking, they found their first target, a Steelhide Lion. The massive feline prowled through the trees, its silver fur gleaming in the sunlight, eyes locked on the intruders in its territory.
Nix signaled for Roni to stay back, knowing the creature would come for him first. Entering the open space, his chest hair transformed into [Silkshade Armor], strengthening him for the upcoming fight.
The lion snarled, its muscles tensing as it readied itself to strike. Nix gripped Morning Wood, ready for the fight.
Meanwhile, Roni stayed hidden, setting traps in the shadows. She strung wire traps along the lion’s escape routes with quick precision, her bow ready and arrow aimed, its tip designed to pierce even the toughest hides.
The lion lunged at Nix, its claws swiping with blinding speed. Nix sidestepped, countering with his [Phantom Hands], striking the beast’s flank and pushing it back. Furious, the lion roared and charged again.
Just as Nix deflected the next attack, Roni’s trap triggered, a wire snapping around the lion’s hind leg. The beast roared in frustration, trying to free itself. Roni seized the opportunity, firing an arrow aimed at its exposed throat.
The arrow hit its mark, but the lion’s thick hide slowed the impact. Wounded but not defeated, the lion thrashed, snapping the wire with ease.
Suddenly, its attention shifted to Roni. With a ferocious roar, it charged her, its massive form barreling through the trees.
“Roni, get back!” Nix shouted, but she was already moving.
She dodged, but the lion’s claw sliced through the chain of her necklace. Instinctively, Roni reached to grab it, the gift Nix had given her, overcome with the need to protect it. For a split second, her thoughts were divided, her body caught in an awkward position. The weight of the necklace reminded her of her bond with Nix, but her safety was at risk.
The lion was nearly upon her when Nix leapt between them. His hair form technique [Phantom Hands] shot out, gripping the lion by the throat and throwing it off balance. The force of the impact knocked Nix backward, sending both him and the lion crashing into the trees.
Roni gasped, her heart race as she realized how close she had come to death. She watched in horror as the lion circled Nix, getting ready for another attack.
But Nix wasn’t done yet.
With a roar of his own, he activated [Might], his muscles swelling as his strength tripled. He swung Morning Wood with all his might, the spiked bat smashing into the lion’s skull with a brutal force. The beast let out a final growl before collapsing, its body still.
Panting heavily, Nix turned to Roni, his expression a mix of relief and frustration. “What were you thinking?”
Roni held onto the necklace firmly, speaking softly. “I didn’t want to lose it.”
Nix's expression became more gentle as he came closer to her, softly placing a hand on her shoulder. “Roni, you’re more important than any gift. I’d lose a thousand necklaces before I’d lose you.”
Roni swallowed hard, her emotions swirling, fear, guilt, and gratitude. “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”
Nix nodded, reassuring her. “We’re a team. We look out for each other.”
Roni nodded back, her grip on the necklace easing as she realized just how close she’d come to losing far more than a piece of jewelry. She met Nix’s gaze, a silent understanding passing between them.
They’d be more careful from now on. They had to be.
Nix and Roni made their way back toward the edge of the Level 3 hunting zone. The tension from their recent battle with the Steelhide Lion still hung in the air, and they had decided to call it a day.
As they neared the boundary between the Level 3 zone and safer territory, a sudden movement in the undergrowth froze them in place.
A massive Nightstalker Serpent erupted from the shadows, its dark, razor-edged scales catching the faint light. Its predatory eyes locked onto them, and before either could react, its spiked tail lashed out. Nix swung Morning Wood with all his strength, the bat smashing into the serpent’s body and knocking it back momentarily, but the creature recovered faster than expected.
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Roni quickly set up traps, but before she could retreat to a safe distance, the serpent lunged past Nix, its spiked tail whipping toward her, aiming directly for her heart.
In that instant, the necklace Nix had given her deflected the strike, but not enough to prevent disaster. The serpent’s tail pierced through her chest, grazing her heart and embedding the cracked crystal from the necklace deep inside her body.
Roni let out a sharp gasp and collapsed as blood pooled beneath her. The serpent, sensing victory, hissed menacingly, but Nix was already on the move.
With a desperate shout, Nix slammed Morning Wood into the serpent’s head, stunning it just long enough for him to rush to Roni’s side. His heart raced as he saw the blood pouring from her chest. Time was running out.
Nix’s training kicked in. He activated his hair forming technique [Patch], using thin strands of his hair to stitch Roni’s open wound. His hands moved quickly, threading the fine strands through her skin to stop the bleeding. His [Radar Sense] painted a clear picture of the damage, but he didn’t notice the black crystal lodged near her heart, cracked and leaking its contents. He pulled the shard out without realizing its significance, fully focused on keeping her alive.
He poured a vial of Level 1 healing liquid over her wound, praying it would be enough. But Roni’s breathing remained shallow, her pulse weak.
In the distance, the serpent began to stir again. It wasn’t dead, just stunned. Nix glanced toward it but stayed focused on Roni. He had failed to act fast enough to defend her, and now his only priority was to preserve her life.
Out of nowhere, the ground trembled from a loud bang. Something massive dropped from above, crushing the serpent’s head under its weight. Nix looked up to see a hulking figure, an older, bulky man still holding a liquor bottle, who seems to had fallen from the cliffs. The serpent lay motionless, dead from the impact.
But Nix didn’t have time to process what had happened. He returned to Roni, his hands trembling as he continued stitching her wound. Despite his best efforts, she remained unresponsive.
Desperation set in as Nix glanced at the unconscious man reeking in alcohol lying nearby. A large pack was strapped to his back, filled with supplies. Without hesitation, Nix tore the pack open and rummaged through it, his hands shaking until he found two vials of what appeared to be Level 3 healing liquid. He grabbed one immediately.
He hurried back to Roni, opening the vial and pouring the liquid onto her injury. He was filled with anxiety and anticipation as he observed the restorative liquid starting to take effect. Gradually, her injury began to heal, her heart rate stabilized, and her respiration became more profound. The bleeding ceased, and her complexion regained its color.
Relief washed over Nix. He wiped a tear from his eye as he stared down at Roni’s pale but recovering face. He had done it. She was going to be okay.
A groan from nearby broke the silence. The old man who fell from the cliff moved and mumbled as he turned to his side. Nix barely paid attention to him, his focus still on Roni, until the man’s gaze landed on the pack beside Nix—the one from which he had taken the vial.
“Hey, kid…” the old man grumbled in a rough voice. “Why’d you take my stuff?”
Nix, still kneeling beside Roni, looked up, guilt flashing in his eyes. “I... I needed it to save her.”
The old man’s eyes narrowed as he noticed the blood on Roni’s chest and the signs of the recently healed wound. “What are two kids like you doing in a Level 3 zone?” He let out a gruff laugh. “You’re barely Level 2, and she’s not even an Evolver.”
Nix didn’t reply, his mind too consumed by everything that had happened. He knew the man was right but was too shaken to respond.
Roni’s weak voice cut through the tension. “Nix… I’m okay,” she whispered, her eyes barely open but a small smile on her lips.
Nix smiled back, his heart finally calming as he realized she was safe. “You’re safe now,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “I’m here.”
The old man, still puzzled but understanding the seriousness of the moment, sighed. “Well… looks like I saved more than just your hides today.”
As he stood, dusting himself off, the old man took in the full scene with sharp eyes.
Nix decided it was time to get Roni back to the Hunter’s Base as fast as possible. She needed to recover in a healing pod. Before they could leave, the old man, still groggy from his fall, asked Nix to provide his Hunter contact details, saying he’d need to charge him later. Nix, more concerned about Roni’s safety than anything else, agreed without hesitation.
Once Nix had shared his contact info, he tied Roni securely to his back, then slung his backpack across his chest for balance. He activated his [Might] ability, boosting his strength and speed. But instead of running, Nix used his [String] technique, shooting hair strands toward the trees and latching onto branches. With incredible speed and agility, he swung away through the forest, Roni safely secured to his back.
The old man watched in surprise, a smirk playing on his lips as Nix vanished into the forest. Shaking his head, he bent down and picked up a level 3 Gene Bone that Nix had forgotten. “Looks like he left something valuable behind,” the old man chuckled. “Well, finders keepers.”
As he rummaged through his own belongings, the man realized his level 3 healing liquid was still in his bag. Puzzled, he then checked the vial Nix had taken earlier and found it was actually his special unscented sap that he discovered years ago and good to mix with wine because it turns the wine sweet and unscented, good for drunkard like him, to avoid detection from predators. “Guess the kid didn’t know what he was grabbing,” the old man muttered to himself. “I’ll still charge him for that healing liquid, though.”
He shrugged, taking out an old pendant from his bag. Inside was a picture of a woman in her thirties. He gazed at it for a long moment, turning his gaze towards the sky. He let out a sigh as he tucked the pendant and proceeded into the forest at a slow pace, his form vanishing into the shadows.
At the Hunter’s Base, Nix rushed straight to the Medical Care Unit. Without hesitation, he asked for a healing pod to treat Roni. A woman at the desk turned around, and to Nix’s surprise, it was Concierge Lisa.
“Nix?” she asked, taken aback by the urgency in his voice.
“She needs a healing pod, fast,” Nix said, trying to keep his emotions in check.
Lisa, seeing the situation was dire, quickly asked for details. Nix explained the injury, and Lisa recommended using a Level 2 healing pod for optimal recovery.
Without delay, Lisa guided them to the medical station. The AI in the medical room instructed Nix to remove Roni’s clothes before placing her into the pod. Nix carefully did as instructed, kissing her forehead before lowering her into the pod. As the healing process began, Nix stepped outside to speak with Lisa about the costs.
“It’s 1,000 COIN for the Level 2 Healing Pod,” Lisa informed him.
Nix agreed to the payment and decided to sell the loot they had collected from their hunts. Lisa was surprised when Nix revealed the full haul: 27 Level 2 Gene Bones, 1 Level 3 Gene Bone, and 39 Level 1 Gene Bones.
“How much can I get for them?” Nix asked.
Lisa calculated quickly. “I can offer 1,170 COIN for the 39 Level 1 Gene Bones, 4,050 COIN for the Level 2 Gene Bones, and 600 for the Level 3 Gene Bone. Would you like to sell all of them?”
Nix decided to sell only the Level 1 and Level 2 Gene Bones, choosing to keep the Level 3 Gene Bone for later use. After the transaction, Nix received 5,220 COIN, leaving him with a total of 6,520 COIN after paying for the healing pod.
With the financials sorted out, Nix hurried back to the medical room to watch over Roni. He stood by the glass, his eyes fixed on her face, silently willing her to wake up. Twenty minutes passed, but she remained unconscious. Panic rising in his chest, Nix ran to find Lisa.
“Something’s wrong,” he blurted, his voice tight with worry. “She’s not waking up.”
Lisa followed him back into the room to check on Roni. As they neared the pod, Nix noticed the status bar turning pink, and his heart dropped into a panicked frenzy. He rushed to the pod, his voice trembling as he whispered, “Please don’t leave me, Roni. Please don’t leave me,” tears welling in his eyes.
Lisa checked the pod’s health analysis and noted Roni’s high temperature. She pressed a button to scan for possible causes, and the AI listed three: heart attack, unknown illness, or evolution.
“What happened?” Lisa asked, frowning.
Nix quickly explained the fight with the serpent and how he had pulled a crystal from Roni’s chest. Lisa’s eyes widened at the mention of the crystal.
“Where is it now?” she asked urgently.
Realizing he still had it, Nix reached into his pocket and handed it to her. Lisa scanned the crystal, and the AI confirmed that it contained 99% evolution genes.
“This isn’t just any crystal,” Lisa explained, showing Nix the results. “It’s triggering an evolutionary response in her body.”
Nix’s anxiety spiked. “Will she be okay?”
Lisa nodded but kept her tone serious. “It should be fine, but we’ll need to monitor her closely. You should stay with her, just in case.”
Taking her advice to heart, Nix called Granny Laurie to explain the situation and then reached out to Roni’s grandparents, softening the story to ease their worries. Roni’s grandmother, Rosalie, simply told him to bring Roni home safe.
“I will,” Nix promised, his voice firm.
Returning to the medical room, Nix took up his post beside the glass. He couldn’t shake the worry gnawing at him despite Lisa’s reassurances. He stared at Roni’s peaceful face inside the pod, willing her to wake up soon.
The pink glow on the pod’s status bar flickered again, causing his heart to skip a beat. He pressed his hand gently against the glass. “Come on, Roni,” he whispered. “You’re stronger than this.”
Time seemed to drag on endlessly as Nix's thoughts raced through all possible worst-case outcomes. However, he forced himself to focus on the steady sound of her breathing. She was healing, he had to believe that. She was just healing.
Sitting in a nearby chair, Nix’s thoughts kept circling back to the battle, the serpent’s attack, the crystal embedded in her chest, and the desperation he felt as he tried to save her. Even with the healing liquid and the pod, her stillness haunted him.
As he leaned forward, head in his hands, he noticed movement from the pod. The pink glow pulsed softly, and the status bar flickered with slight activity. His pulse quickened as he stood, pressing his hand against the glass again, watching for any sign that Roni was waking.
The pink hue brightened for a moment before slowly dimming, as if the pod was nearing the end of its work. Roni’s breathing seemed deeper, more stable, but she still had not moved. Hope and fear wrestled within him, tightening the knot of tension in his chest.
Sighing, Nix rested his forehead against the glass. “Roni… I’m here,” he murmured. “I’m not going anywhere.”
The room remained quiet except for the soft hum of the pod. Nix stayed at her side, determined not to leave until he saw her eyes open.
Hours passed, but Nix’s resolve never wavered. He knew she would wake up soon, and when she did, he would be there, waiting. For now, all that mattered was that Roni was safe, and Nix would remain by her side until she comes back to him.