Shadows of Dominion"

Lon has received orders to locate and apprehend a wanted criminal named Heabi, last sighted near Mount Prika. With an anxious but determined spirit, he dons his rugged iron plate armor—battle-worn and practical, standard among the military but sturdy enough to endure the rugged paths. His commander, Herly, has given him an additional task: if Lon encounters the reclusive general Hercules on this journey, he is to deliver a sealed letter of significance.

Setting out toward the mountain, Lon recalls that his friend Auralis traveled to Mount Prika for his own mission and hasn't been heard from since. Concerned for his friend's well-being and curious about Auralis's fate, Lon feels a surge of resolve. The mountain is known to harbor both powerful figures and wild dangers, and this knowledge makes him uneasy, yet focused.

The journey to Mount Prika is intense. Lon feels the strain in his muscles as he traverses rocky trails and windswept ridges. The path ahead is steep and dotted with jagged rocks that threaten to trip him at every step, but he pushes on, driven by a dual purpose: to fulfill his mission and find Auralis.

Upon reaching the mountain's lower slopes, he senses a heavy tension in the air, as if the mountain itself guards dark secrets. He knows that both his target and his ally might be somewhere ahead, and as he pauses to gather his bearings, he steels himself for whatever lies ahead, prepared to confront the mysterious criminal, meet the legendary Hercules, and, hopefully, reunite with Auralis.

Lon continues up Mount Prika, wary of both the mission and the unexpected dangers the mountain might throw at him, understanding that success will require all his strength and courage.

As auralis continued to recover from his injuries, Auralis took to the wilderness, eager to test his resilience. Each step in the dense forest was a reminder of his body's limits; bruises throbbed, and his movements were slightly off balance. Still, he found some peace in the quiet of nature, far from the clamor of people and ambition. Here, the silence had a weight to it that felt both calming and formidable, as if it held secrets older than civilization itself. He inhaled the crisp, untouched air and thought, How serene this world could be if left to its own course.

But that peace was short-lived. A sudden rustle in the bushes caught his ear, followed by an instant, sharp shift in the atmosphere. He barely had a moment to react before he sensed a shadow closing in from behind. Pivoting quickly, Auralis lifted his leg to counter the attack, but his injuries held him back, and he stumbled, feeling the full force of a kick slam into his side, sending a sharp pain lancing through his ribcage.

The figure before him was quick, barely more than a blur, with a gleeful smirk plastered across his face. "The rumors didn't exaggerate. You really are in bad shape," sneered the man, whose agile movements and piercing eyes hinted at a deadly prowess. This was Heabi, the "Heavenly Thief"—a criminal whose stealth and deadly strikes had earned him both fear and admiration.

Before Auralis could find his footing, Heabi vanished, melting into the shadows as if he were part of them. His movements were eerily silent, impossible to trace. With every sense heightened, Auralis tried to anticipate the thief's next move, but his injuries dulled his reactions, making him feel almost as if he were moving underwater. Then, in the span of a heartbeat, Heabi struck again, reappearing behind him and slamming an elbow into the wound on his side.

Auralis staggered, the pain blurring his vision momentarily, but his resolve held firm. As Heabi circled him, taunting, Auralis observed the thief's pattern and realized he was playing a dangerous game, attacking his same injury over and over.

So that's his tactic, Auralis thought, clenching his fists. He'd just have to use it against him.

Feigning fatigue, Auralis slowed his breathing, letting himself look vulnerable. He heard Heabi chuckle and approach, footsteps soft as whispers. Just as Heabi raised his arm to strike again, Auralis spun, channeling all his remaining strength into a powerful Gonky Fist. The punch connected, and with a fierce blast of energy, it hurled Heabi backward, sending him crashing into a boulder. Dust and debris flew up as Heabi hit the ground, gasping from the impact, his mocking smirk replaced by a look of shock.

"How... did you know?" Heabi stammered, wiping blood from his lip, disbelief clear in his eyes. He had underestimated his weakened prey.

Auralis met his gaze steadily, a trace of a smile on his lips. "You hit the same spot twice. Even a wounded animal defends its weakest point."

Still reeling, Heabi looked ready to attack again, but Auralis remained calm, positioning himself defensively. For the first time, a flicker of doubt crossed Heabi's face as he realized the resilience of the opponent before him wasn't as fragile as he'd assumed.