Ethan walked through the desolate city, each step echoing in the silence. The cracked pavement beneath him was barely more than jagged edges, a reflection of the chaos this place had endured. Buildings leaned precariously against one another, their windows shattered, their walls scarred by time and decay. He looked around, confused.
'What does it mean to conquer?' he thought, his mind racing. The word, like a riddle, lingered in his head, gnawing at his thoughts.
As he walked, the road suddenly broke apart in front of him, a gap stretching wide. A drop far too deep to see the bottom. He eyed it for a moment, then, without hesitation, jumped.
His feet landed on the other side with a hard thud, his knees buckling under the impact, but his body adjusted. The force sent a brief shockwave up his spine, but he stayed on his feet, pushing forward.
He kept walking.
His senses sharpened. His feet quieted as he stepped, his breathing steady. A familiar pressure in the air—tension. Something was approaching.
He stopped.
Step. Step.
The sounds of footsteps filtered through the ruins. Some were light, quick, like the skittering of animals. Others were heavier, slower, but no less dangerous.
From the shadows of a crumbled building, he caught sight of the creatures. Red hounds—tall, with muscular frames and sharp, elongated nails. One stood out among them, larger, more menacing. Its claws gleamed a sickly red, and its eyes glowed with an unnatural light. This one had blue marks beneath its claws. The others were just as red, but it was clear—this one was different.
Ethan's heart pounded in his chest. He reached for his axe, feeling its weight settle into his palm. But his mind was cautious. I'm just a level two, he reminded himself. I need to be smart.
He could take the hounds, but he didn't know what else was waiting in this ruin. Every decision counted. And if he failed here, the consequences would be fatal.
He climbed a nearby ruined wall, moving silently, using the debris for cover. Go right, he thought. Don't engage unless I have to.
Meanwhile...
Detective Mara stormed through the station, furious. Her footsteps echoed through the cold, sterile hallways as she passed by uniformed officers, her face set in a mask of frustration.
Lia was being questioned, the room tense with the hum of bad news. The reporters' faces were still fresh in Mara's mind, flashing pictures of Ethan, his escape caught on the hospital's security footage. She had seen the footage—Ethan jumping out of the window, defying the very odds of his confinement.
Her anger boiled over as she stood outside the interrogation room, her fist clenched.
Suddenly, the door opened, and Julius Reed entered, his eyes cold and calculating. He walked directly up to Mara, his presence commanding.
"This is a case for the Hunter's Association now," Julius said flatly. "I'll be continuing to question Ms. Lia." His voice carried an edge of finality.
Mara's eyes narrowed. "And what about the innocent people who are dying while these chickens learn to fly? You watching the news?" she snapped, her frustration spilling out. "Are we just supposed to let them handle everything now?"
Julius' expression didn't shift. "If you hate the hunters that much, Mara, then you hate living. You know how many hunters die every year? Half a million. In Korea alone."
Mara's face twisted with a bitter smile. "I guess that's just how the world works, isn't it?" She turned on her heel, storming out of the room.
Back in the interrogation room, Julius Reed's demeanor changed. He walked over to Lia, still handcuffed, and without a word, swiped his hand. The cuffs snapped off like fragile twigs. Lia flinched at the sudden action but then looked up to find herself free.
"Follow me," Julius commanded.
Lia's eyes darted around the room, avoiding the stares of the cops around her. She didn't speak, but her lips twisted into a wry smile as she followed him.
They made their way down the hallway, and Julius led her out of the building to a waiting Rolls-Royce Phantom. The car gleamed under the sun, its sleek body reflecting the light, opulent and imposing.
Lia couldn't help herself. "What, no personal jets? I guess this is what 'taking it easy' looks like."
Julius didn't laugh. "More trouble is coming. Ethan's case is only the beginning. The public won't keep the lid on this for long. We need to protect you, Lia."
"Why?" she asked, voice laced with sarcasm. "What's so important about me?"
Julius' eyes were unreadable. "I'm just following orders."
Meanwhile, back in the ruins, Ethan stood silently atop a high point, watching the hounds below. His mind was racing. He could feel their eyes on him, especially the red and blue one. It was watching, waiting. And it wasn't alone.
"This is their area," Ethan whispered to himself, eyeing the monsters closely. "They defend their leader."
The system beeped in his ear, and he quickly checked his status.
[SYSTEM: Red and Blue Hound – Boss: Leader of the Pack]
[SYSTEM: 80+ Red Hounds in the vicinity.]
Ethan's breath hitched in his chest. I have to be careful. His fingers tightened around the golden axe, and his heart raced. I'm just a level two... he thought. His palms were slick with sweat, but he couldn't afford to hesitate. He had no choice.
He needed to be smart. I can't afford to fight them all head-on.
Suddenly, another beep echoed in his mind, followed by a glowing notification in his vision.
[QUEST RECEIVED: Defeat the Leader of the Pack]
[Objective: Eliminate the Red and Blue Hound – Boss: Leader of the Pack.]
[Reward: 500 EXP, Special Item Drop]
[Failure Penalty: Death.]
Ethan froze for a moment, his mind racing. This is it. The system's pushing me to fight. But can I even do this?
He inhaled deeply, focusing. His muscles coiled, ready for action. With one swift motion, he jumped down from his perch, landing directly in the midst of the hounds.
The red and blue hound's pack reacted instantly, snarling, their claws slashing through the air like daggers. Their eyes were wild with fury, and the pack's leader stayed low, its larger frame moving with deadly precision.
But Ethan was faster.
He spun mid-air, his golden axe slicing through the wind with an almost supernatural fluidity. The first hound lunged at him, its teeth bared. Ethan moved in a blur, his body twisting and the axe cutting a perfect arc through the air.
Back at the station, Mara seethed in her office, pacing back and forth. Her colleagues tried to calm her down, but she couldn't contain it. The weight of the system, the power struggles between cops and hunters, it all felt like too much. Her hands trembled with frustration, and her jaw tightened with the simmering anger that had been building up for weeks. The hunters had all the power, and she was left in their shadow, powerless to make a real difference.
A voice cut through her thoughts—low and authoritative.
"You need to take it slow, Mara," a man's voice chimed in. He was heavyset, wearing a well-tailored suit, his demeanor cold but polite. "Close Ethan's case. You've done enough."
Mara's fist clenched in frustration, and she glared at him. "And if I don't?" she spat, her voice tight, her anger threatening to boil over.
"This isn't an argument," the man said, his tone final, almost dismissive.
"Sir," Mara replied bitterly, knowing the hierarchy all too well. She forced herself to bite her tongue and keep her anger in check. The man turned and walked out, leaving her standing there, fuming.
As the door clicked shut, Mara's face betrayed the anger simmering beneath the surface. She gritted her teeth, her fists tight at her sides. This isn't over, she thought, her eyes narrowing. I'll prove them wrong. I'll make them regret underestimating me.
She turned her gaze to the window, where a young child was running through the station, laughing freely. It reminded her of everything she'd lost. She's not even ten years old, Mara thought, bitterly. I'm supposed to protect people like her... but all I'm doing is failing.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Detective?" A nervous voice called out. A slim man stood there, his face twitching with nervous energy.
Mara turned sharply. "We're leaving," she ordered, her voice low but commanding.
The man flinched, startled by the authority in her tone. "Now, Detective?" he asked, his voice trembling.
"NOW!" Mara barked, her patience finally snapping.
The man froze, his face pale, before quickly nodding. He moved to gather his things, but Mara was already out the door, storming down the hallway toward the exit.