Jun Xin adjusted his grip on the metal pipe, its cold surface grounding him in the chaos. The faint sounds of the market behind them had all but faded, leaving only the oppressive silence of the night. His breaths came in quick, shallow bursts, but he forced himself to focus.

Hana stood a few paces ahead, her posture steady despite the tension hanging in the air. The dim light from a flickering streetlamp caught the edge of her makeshift blade, giving it an almost ominous glow. Her eyes scanned their surroundings with precision, every muscle in her body taut and ready for action.

“What’s the plan?” Jun Xin asked, breaking the silence. He kept his voice low, though the adrenaline coursing through him made it hard to keep calm.

Hana tilted her head slightly, her gaze locking onto the dark silhouette looming in the distance. The figure didn’t move but radiated a suffocating aura as if the air itself bent around its presence.

“We head to the construction site,” she said firmly, her tone sharp and calculated. “It’s messy terrain. We can use it to buy time or use it to our advantage.”

Jun Xin hesitated, glancing at the shadowy figure. It hadn’t made any aggressive moves yet, but its menace was enough to keep him on edge. “Are you sure we can outrun it?”

Hana’s lips pressed into a thin line. “We’re not outrunning it. We’re outsmarting it.” She turned toward him, her eyes glinting with determination. “This thing isn’t just chasing us. It’s hunting. If we keep running blindly, we’ll make a mistake—and it’ll capitalize on it.”

Jun Xin nodded, understanding the gravity of her words. The pipe felt heavier in his hand now.

The figure shifted slightly, its movements fluid yet unnatural. Jun Xin’s breath hitched as he instinctively took a step back. “We need to move. Now.”

Hana didn’t need further convincing. With a quick nod, she took off toward the construction site, her footsteps light and deliberate. Jun Xin followed close behind, his eyes darting between her and the ominous figure that had begun its pursuit.

As they ran, the narrow alleyways of the marketplace gave way to open streets. The air was cooler here, tinged with the faint scent of wet concrete. Jun Xin could hear the figure now, its movements too deliberate to be mere footsteps.

“What is that thing?” he asked, his voice strained as they rounded a corner.

“Something we don’t want to fight head-on,” Hana replied without turning. Her pace quickened as the steel framework of the construction site came into view.

The site loomed before them, a skeletal maze of beams and machinery bathed in pale moonlight. Piles of rubble and half-finished structures created an uneven terrain that promised both danger and opportunity. Hana slowed as they entered, her movements calculated as she scanned their surroundings.

“This place is a death trap,” Jun Xin muttered, his eyes darting to the precarious stacks of materials and open pits scattered throughout the site.

“That’s the point,” Hana said, her voice calm but laced with urgency. “We’re not looking for a fair fight. We’re looking for an edge.”

Jun Xin adjusted his grip on the pipe again, his knuckles whitening. “Then let’s hope this place gives us one.”

Hana turned to face him. “We need to split up,” she said, her tone urgent. “If we distract it, we might get an opening to counterattack.”

“Not happening,” Jun Xin replied, shaking his head. “We’re stronger together.”

She hesitated, her expression softening briefly before she relented. “Fine. But stay close. We don’t have the luxury of mistakes.”

The figure emerged from the shadows, its movements unnervingly smooth. The faint glow around it pulsated a sinister aura that seemed to distort the air.

Jun Xin tightened his grip on the pipe. “This thing isn’t normal.”

“No kidding,” Hana muttered, positioning herself defensively. “Let’s see how it handles a real fight.”

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The figure lunged without warning, its speed defying logic. Jun Xin barely had time to react, ducking as a clawed hand swiped past his head. He retaliated with a pipe swing, but the figure twisted impossibly, avoiding the attack.

Hana struck from the side, her blade slicing through the air. The figure raised an arm to block, the sound of metal against metal ringing out.

“It’s not human,” Hana said through gritted teeth, her strikes relentless.

“Yeah, I noticed!” Jun Xin shouted, circling to flank the figure.

They moved in unison, their coordination keeping the figure at bay for now. Hana’s attacks were precise and controlled, while Jun Xin used his improvised weapon to disrupt its movements. Despite their efforts, the figure seemed to anticipate their every move, countering with a chilling ease.

“We’re not making a dent!” Hana yelled, frustration creeping into her voice.

Jun Xin’s eyes darted around the site, searching for anything that could turn the tide. His gaze landed on a towering stack of steel beams balanced precariously on a rusted crane.

“Hana, keep it busy!” he called out, dashing toward the machinery.

Hana didn’t question him. She pressed the attack, her movements becoming more aggressive as she drew the figure’s focus.

Jun Xin reached the crane, his hands fumbling with the rusted controls. He gritted his teeth, yanking levers and pressing buttons desperately, trying to dislodge the beams.

“Come on, work!” he muttered, sweat dripping down his brow.

The machinery groaned, the stack of beams shifting slightly. The creaking noise drew the figure’s attention. Its head snapped toward Jun Xin, its glowing eyes narrowing.

“Oh no, you don’t!” Hana shouted, lunging at the figure with renewed vigor. Her blade struck its side, drawing a hiss of distorted sound.

The distraction worked. Jun Xin slammed his fist against the controls, and the beams finally toppled.

“Hana, move!” he shouted.

Hana dove out of the way as the steel beams crashed down, kicking up a cloud of dust and debris. Jun Xin shielded his face, squinting through the chaos to see if the figure was buried.

As the dust settled, his stomach dropped. The figure stood amidst the wreckage, battered but persistent. Its aura seemed to darken, the oppressive energy around it intensifying.

“This thing’s unstoppable,” Hana said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jun Xin didn’t reply. He was too focused on the faint glow that began to emanate behind the figure. A Gate was forming, its presence impossible to ignore.

“Hana… tell me I’m not seeing what I think I’m seeing,” he said, his voice tight.

Her eyes widened. “That’s not a normal Gate. That Gate isn’t behaving like the others.”

The figure raised a clawed hand, and a ripple of energy surged through the air. Jun Xin barely had time to react as the attack struck, sending him sprawling backward.

Hana rushed to his side, helping him to his feet. “Are you okay?”

“Define ‘okay,’” he said, wincing as he stood.

The Gate’s glow grew stronger, its energy pulling at the edges of its surroundings. The figure advanced, its focus shifting between Jun Xin and Hana.

“We can’t fight it and deal with that Gate,” Hana said, her voice urgent. “We need to retreat.”

Jun Xin’s jaw tightened. “We’re not running. Not again.”

The figure raised its hand again, the distortion in the air growing more pronounced. Hana shoved Jun Xin aside as the energy blast tore through the ground where he’d been standing.

“Hana!” he shouted, scrambling to his feet.

The figure took advantage of the chaos, its clawed hand lashing out toward Hana. She barely managed to block with her blade, the force of the impact sending her staggering.

Jun Xin charged, swinging his pipe with all his strength. The figure turned to intercept him, its hand striking his weapon and shattering it.

“Jun Xin, fall back!” Hana yelled, desperation in her voice.

Before he could react, the figure struck him with a powerful blow to the chest. The force sent him flying, his body skidding across the ground toward the Gate.

“No!” Hana screamed, rushing toward him.

The Gate’s pull intensified, dragging Jun Xin closer to its boundary. He clawed at the ground, his fingers scraping against the dirt.

“Hana, get out of here!” he yelled, his voice strained.

“I’m not leaving you!” she shouted.

The figure stepped between them, its presence an imminent threat. Hana hesitated, torn between fighting it and reaching Jun Xin.

The Gate’s pull became irresistible, and Jun Xin’s body crossed its threshold.

“Hana!” he called out, his voice fading as the Gate swallowed him.

Jun Xin landed hard, the impact knocking the wind out of him. He groaned, pushing himself onto his hands and knees. The world around him was unlike anything he’d ever seen—a barren wasteland bathed in an eerie, dim light. The air was thick, making it hard to breathe, and the oppressive energy was suffocating.

He looked around. The landscape was desolate, dotted with jagged rocks and twisted, unnatural formations. In the distance, he could hear faint growls and the heavy thud of approaching footsteps.

“This… this isn’t real,” he muttered, his voice trembling.

But it was real. And he was alone.