Chapter 26: Bonds of Hope and Strength.

Nix and Roni stalked their prey through the dense forest, each step carefully measured to avoid detection. Sunlight pierced the canopy in thin beams, illuminating the otherwise shadowed underbrush, and the sounds of nature blended seamlessly with their movements. The duo had been tracking Rax and his three thugs for hours, drawn by the trail of footprints and broken branches. Their target: a stolen bag that belonged to a young novice hunter, the subject of the Hope Retrieval Quest.

Crouched behind a thick tangle of vines, Nix peered out to observe the group they had been tailing. Rax, a mountain of a man with a greatsword resting at his side, was joking loudly with his thugs. Each thug was armed to the teeth, a crossbow, a heavy mace, and a broad axe were scattered among them. But Nix’s eyes locked onto a satchel lying carelessly at one thug’s feet, its distinct markings matching the description given in the quest.

“That’s it. They’re our targets,” Nix whispered, his eyes meeting Roni’s. “We need to know what they’re capable of before we act.”

Roni nodded. “I'll climb above and keep watch. We use stealth, learn their strengths and weaknesses, then strike.” With that, she swung into the trees, her Hair Vines stretching and wrapping around branches, silently moving her to a higher vantage point. From there, she would be ready to assist, using her traps and seeds to control the battlefield.

image [https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54045499162_ee152042d8_m.jpg]

Nix, staying low, circled around the clearing. His hair rippled with anticipation as he activated [HairForm: Silkshade Armor], dark strands weaving into a flexible armor that shrouded his body in shadows. His grip tightened on his spiked bat, Morning Wood, ready to strike.

image [https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54045463207_ff7f9dc261_m.jpg]

After assessing their physical strength, Nix and Roni found that Rax is a Level 3 evolver while the other three are around level 2.

Perched above, Roni carefully scanned the thugs, assessing their movements. The one with the crossbow, Thug 3, was alert, scanning the treeline, while Thug 2, the mace-wielder, was stronger and more cautious, adjusting his grip as he moved. Thug 1, armed with an axe, seemed impatient, pacing the clearing as if spoiling for a fight.

Roni reached into her pouch, her fingers brushing over a few choice seeds. She pulled out a Paralysis Seed and nocked it to her bow, aiming for Thug 3, the lookout. The arrow flew silently, embedding itself in the thug’s thigh. Within moments, vines sprouted from the seed, winding around his legs and arms, locking his body in place as the paralysis spread through his system.

Before the other thugs could react, Nix surged from the underbrush, using [HairForm: String] to pull himself forward with incredible speed. He closed the gap on Thug 1 and swung Morning Wood in a brutal arc. The spiked bat crashed into the thug’s side with a sickening thud, knocking the wind out of him. Blood spattered across the forest floor as Thug 1 crumpled, but before he could recover, Nix used [HairForm: Phantom Hands] to bind the thug’s limbs, rendering him immobile.

Roni, meanwhile, had drawn a Binding Arrow and fired it at Thug 2. The arrow split into rope-like threads that coiled around his mace arm, tightening with every movement. The thug struggled, but Roni swung down from the tree, her Hair Vines wrapping around Thug 2’s legs and yanking him to the ground. With a flick of her wrist, the vines coiled tighter, constricting his movements further.

“Nix, the bag!” Roni called out as she fired another arrow to subdue Thug 2. Nix’s eyes locked onto the satchel, which was now lying unattended on the ground. But just as he reached for it, a massive shadow loomed over him.

Rax stood towering over the clearing, his eyes glinting with predatory intelligence. He cracked his knuckles, the sound like snapping branches, as his greatsword glinted ominously in the fading sunlight. “You think you can steal from me?” he bellowed, his voice dripping with arrogance. He activated his ability, [Endure], and a metallic sheen spread over his skin, hardening his muscles and granting him numbness to pain.

Nix knew this fight would be different, Rax was a Level 3 warrior, and his [Endure] would make any straightforward attack nearly useless. Even so, Nix refused to back down. He activated [Might], his muscles swelling as raw strength surged through his veins. For a few short minutes, he would be stronger than any Level 3 monster, his power unmatched.

The two clashed, and the sound of metal hitting metal filled the forest. Nix's Morning Wood crashed against Rax’s greatsword, sparks flying as they exchanged blows. Nix’s enhanced strength allowed him to parry Rax’s brutal strikes, but Rax have a strange way of deflecting his attack, showing his cunning and skills against brute force, and for a moment, the two were evenly matched, each blocking and countering with deadly precision.

Roni, seeing the chaos, fired a Boom Arrow at Rax, aiming for his legs to slow him down. It hit its mark, sending the explosion to halt his movements, but Rax merely grinned, unfazed. His [Endure] nullified the pain, and he ripped the arrow from his leg as if it were nothing more than a splinter.

“Nix, we have to separate him!” Roni shouted, swinging from tree to tree with her Hair Vines, trying to find an angle to disable Rax. She threw down a Trap Seed, a thin vibes that expanded on impact, trying to ensnare Rax’s feet, but the warrior stomped through it, snapping the vines as if they were threads.

“Gotta try harder than that!” Rax taunted, his greatsword slicing through the air. He brought the blade down in a powerful swing, and though Nix managed to block it, the force sent him skidding backward. The ground cracked beneath his feet, and his [Silkshade Armor] shimmered as it absorbed some of the impact, but not all.

The tide was turning, and Nix could feel his stamina draining rapidly. [Might] had its cost; every second drained his reserves, and Rax’s relentless attacks showed no sign of stopping. Though Nix was physically stronger, Rax’s cunning and refusal to feel pain made every exchange dangerous.

Roni, sensing the urgency, fired a Fog Arrow directly at Rax’s face. It exploded on impact, a burst of light and smoke temporarily blinding the warrior. “Now!” she called out, dropping down beside Nix.

Nix nodded, his [HairForm: String] latching onto the satchel as he pulled it toward them. In a fluid motion, Roni used her Hair Vines to whip at Thug 2, knocking him out cold, while Nix yanked the bag free and tucked it under his arm.

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But Rax recovered quickly, his eyes burning with rage as he swung his greatsword wildly, trying to hit anything in reach. “You’re not getting away!” he roared, charging forward.

“Time to go!” Roni shouted, and she swung her Hair Vines around Nix, pulling him up into the trees. The two of them moved in tandem, Roni propelling them from branch to branch while Nix used [HairForm: String] to keep his grip steady.

Below Rax’s furious roars filled the forest as he hacked st the trees, trying to bring them down. But the dense canopy provided the cover they needed, and soon, the sound of Rax’s greatsword faded into the distance.

The two hunters finally stopped once they were a safe distance away, collapsing onto a high branch as they caught their breath. Nix’s [Might] faded, leaving him exhausted but relieved. After their narrow escape, he winced as he adjusted his grip on the bag, feeling the bruises and cuts that marred his body. Roni sat beside him, both grateful for the cover of the dense forest and towering trees that concealed them from Rax and his thugs. The adrenaline that had fueled their escape was fading, leaving Nix painfully aware of the dull ache throbbing in his side. Though battered and bruised, they had emerged victorious.

As Roni worked carefully to mend Nix’s injuries, the weight of the battle settled over them like a thick fog. Nix’s gaze was distant, his thoughts replaying the fight against Rax, each moment revealing new insights and mistakes. The cunning tricks Rax had used, the blinding dirt, the deafening shouts, left a bitter taste in his mouth. He couldn’t afford to be caught off guard like that again, not when facing opponents who had the skill and resilience to use every weakness against him.

A faint growl of frustration rumbled in his chest. “I should’ve seen it coming,” he muttered, more to himself than to Roni.

Roni paused in her work, her fingers brushing over one of his deeper bruises, gently applying pressure with the Mini Healing Seed. “It wasn’t something you could’ve predicted, Nix,” she said quietly. “He didn’t fight like any opponent we’ve faced before. Most would’ve run once you started using [Might]. Rax... he didn’t flinch.”

Nix’s jaw clenched, his frustration turning into resolve. “Exactly. He knew how to handle pain. No fear of injury, just pure focus on exploiting every opening I gave him. It was like he had been waiting for someone like me, someone strong, but predictable.” He paused, closing his eyes as if searching for a deeper solution. “I need to make some changes to my Silkshade Armor.”

Roni raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What do you mean?”

Nix winced as he adjusted his position against the cave wall, his injuries flaring briefly. “The dirt... I couldn’t see a damn thing when he threw it in my eyes. And those shouts... it threw off my whole balance, like I was trying to fight underwater.” He clenched his fists, the idea crystallizing in his mind. “If I integrate a mask and a hoodie into the Silkshade Armor, I can block out anything that tries to mess with my senses. I won’t even need to see with my eyes.”

He paused, the concept taking form. “I’ll use [Radar] instead. It’ll give me a 3D view of my surroundings... like seeing through a bird’s eye. I won’t need to rely on my sight; I’ll have the entire battlefield mapped out.”

Roni’s eyes sparkled with interest as she applied another Mini Healing Seed, the coolness soothing Nix’s wounds. “And the hoodie? How would that help?”

“The hoodie would dull loud sounds, like Rax’s shouts. They threw me off because I didn’t expect them, but with the armor covering my ears, it’ll protect me from any disorienting noises,” Nix explained. “I’ll be able to keep my focus on the fight, no matter what tricks my opponent pulls. And the best part? They won’t even know what I’m seeing.”

Roni sat back for a moment, impressed. “It’s smart. If you can block out distractions and keep your [Radar] on, then you won’t be blind or disoriented. And with the mask hiding your face, they won’t be able to predict where you’re looking or what you’re planning.”

Nix’s eyes flickered with a grim satisfaction. “It’s not perfect, though. If someone manages to hide their breath and stay completely still, then they could slip past the [Radar]. It won’t make me invincible... but it’s a lot better than being left blind in a fight like before.”

“Which means you’ll have to be extra careful when it comes to stationary opponents,” Roni added thoughtfully. “If someone catches on to how [Radar] works, they could try to set a trap by holding their position. But if you keep moving and forcing them to act, they’ll have no choice but to reveal themselves.”

“Exactly,” Nix said, nodding. “I can use my hair’s range to bait them into movement. And if I can force them into an opening, then I can close in before they even realize what’s happening.”

A smile tugged at the corner of Roni’s lips. “And I can use my Hair Vines to keep an eye on their movements from a distance. If we combine your [Radar] with my own vantage points, we’ll be able to coordinate our attacks without needing to see everything ourselves.”

Nix grinned, already feeling the new tactics form in his mind. “We’ll be one step ahead. I just need to test it.” Closing his eyes, he focused on his hair’s transformation. Slowly, the Silkshade Armor reformed, strands of hair weaving around his head to create a dark hood, while the mask covered his face, molding perfectly to block out light and muffle sound. When he activated [Radar], a vivid 3D layout of their surroundings sprang to life in his mind, the cave walls, Roni’s position, even the subtle movements of leaves outside the entrance.

image [https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54045453587_03b4fa4bc1_m.jpg]

“This is it,” Nix said, his voice slightly muffled by the mask. “No more being blinded. No more distractions. It’s like I’m seeing the entire world without needing to look.”

Roni’s smile widened as she watched him, pride and admiration clear in her eyes. “Looks like you’ve found a way to counter Rax’s dirty tactics. But we’ll need to do more than just react to the next fight. We need to be proactive. We need to know each other’s moves before they even happen.”

Nix’s brow furrowed, considering the possibilities. “You’re right. When we’re in the middle of a fight, we can’t afford to hesitate. If Rax had thrown in one more surprise, we might’ve been finished.”

Roni nodded in agreement. “We need to tighten our coordination. And for that... we should use the Hunter’s Mark. I’ve tested it before; it works like a direct neuro transmission. Think of it as a direct line between our thoughts. It’s like talking on a phone, but in the heat of battle, fast and silent.”

Nix’s eyes lit up as the idea took root. “We could share positions, warn each other about incoming attacks, and change tactics on the fly. And with no need to shout over the noise, we stay stealthy.”

“Exactly,” Roni said, a determined gleam in her eyes. “If you’re taking the lead in close combat, I’ll stay back and give you updates on the enemy’s position or potential traps. And if I’m setting up something like a Trap Seed, I can tell you exactly where to avoid so we don’t get caught up in it.”

Nix's grin widened as he leaned back against the wall. “You know, hearing your voice in my head during a fight might just be what I need to stay grounded.”

Roni chuckled softly, her hands finally resting from treating his wounds. “Well, you’ll have to get used to it. Because once we start using the Hunter’s Mark, there’s no turning back. We become each other’s eyes and ears, no matter what.”

Nix’s eyes softened as he looked at her. “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”

The cave fell into a comfortable silence after that, the tension of the battle slowly ebbing away as the seeds continued to do their work on Nix’s wounds. Roni sat beside him, ready to keep watch as Nix’s breathing steadied and the weight of exhaustion began to take over. The world outside the cave continued to turn, but inside the cave, time felt suspended, the darkness pressing in. They held onto that stillness, bracing for whatever shadows might find them next.