Chapter 6: Mark of the Hunt
Chapter 6: Mark of the Hunt
The trembling body of Yuno raced through dense foliage, his short legs struggling to match his breakneck speed. His vision showed only trees and dirt, with barely noticeable shapes of his hunters in the distant background.
His Spore Explosion had failed to create an opening. His hopeful prayer was destroyed when the archer's unwavering voice cut through the chaos.
"There! It's still running!"
A chilling terror took root inside him.
They can still see me?
His rapid breathing accompanied his frantic hopping motions across the rough ground as he tried to escape. The endless forest surrounding him failed to provide any cover, his hunters were always close behind.
The sounds of approaching footsteps became louder.
They were right behind him.
How?
Yuno turned his head to look behind him, and discovered the source.
A pale, luminous symbol floated above his cap, emitting an unsettling supernatural radiance. The glowing mark remained no matter how he moved.
It refused to vanish.
What… is that?
Before he could process it.
A sudden surge of electricity erupted in the air.
Lightning.
A lightning bolt struck the earth where he had stood seconds before.
The shockwave blasted him forward, his vision spinning as debris filled the air.
His small body hit the ground, pain radiating through him from the near miss.
[-14 HP]
The burning scent of wood filled his nostrils.
The impact zone had turned completely black, a smoking hole left in the ground.
The powerful force sent a cold shiver through Yuno's body.
This was reality.
I can't fight them. I won't win this battle. I have to escape.
He needed a plan—and fast.
His mission was still active.
If he could survive for a few more minutes, he would receive a reward that might help him escape.
"System," he called out internally, desperation creeping into his voice. "How much time is left on my mission?"
[Time Remaining: 3 minutes, 12 seconds]
Three minutes…
That meant three more minutes of running, fighting, and surviving against an enemy he couldn't defeat.
He gritted his teeth.
He had to hold on.
A powerful gust of wind blasted through the trees.
Yuno instinctively dodged, just in time.
A thin wind blade cut right past him, slicing into a massive tree trunk ahead.
A deep cracking sound filled the air.
The tree groaned, before collapsing with an earth-shaking crash.
That was too close.
[-18 HP]
His health was dropping fast.
His options were running out.
He had to think.
Yuno clenched his teeth and activated Spore Cloud again.
A dense mist of spores spread rapidly, enveloping his position in thick fog.
If he couldn't outrun them, then maybe, just maybe, he could hide.
He needed this to work.
But then.
The archer laughed.
"It's useless," she taunted. "I still see you."
Her arrow was already in flight before Yuno could react.
A metallic glint flashed.
The impact sent him flying.
[-14 HP]
[HP: 1/47]
His small body crashed into the ground, sliding through a mix of dirt and fallen leaves.
His vision blurred. His limbs felt heavy.
His health was critically low.
His movements slowed.
His breathing turned shallow.
I… can't move…
His ears caught the sound of approaching footsteps.
The hunters were closing in.
Their weapons drawn.
The mage raised his staff, its tip glowing with charged magic.
He stared down at Yuno, his voice cold.
"This is your final destination, little mushroom."
Yuno's body refused to move.
His mind screamed at him to fight back, to do something.
But his strength was gone.
Then.
[Time Up. Mission Complete!]
Then,
A distant rumble.
A peculiar low-frequency vibration started to resonate from the ground before intensifying rapidly. At first, the sound was almost invisible before it grew louder and louder until it brought a strange hush to the entire battlefield.
The archer frowned. "Did you hear that?"
The warrior snorted. "Probably just some random monster."
The sky darkened.
Above them appeared a massive shining magic circle, its intricate patterns expanding through a vast shifting design. The massive circle created an overwhelming pressure that pressed down on their bodies because of its enormous size.
The birds in the trees produced high-pitched screeches before fleeing in panic.
The mage's breath hitched. "No… no, this"
Then, the first shadow fell.
A mushroom.
Then another.
And another.
The sky became filled with countless mushrooms, descending one by one as they cast shadows against the strange illumination of the summoning circle. The endless stream of fungal creatures rained down from the sky like an unearthly downpour that filled the entire air space.
Yuno's eyes widened. More of… me?
The warrior displayed a wide grin on his face. The warrior held his axe with a firm grip because his passion had reached its boiling point. "Jackpot."
He let out a battle call before charging toward the enemy while swinging his weapon in a broad dangerous motion. The blade cut through numerous small mushrooms, which scattered across the ground like broken pieces.
The mage cursed under his breath. "You idiot! We need to leave now!"
But the warrior wasn't listening. His eyes showed wildness because greed had seized him. "Are you kidding? This is free experience!" The warrior laughed loudly as he killed more of the falling creatures. Hundreds of dead bodies fell to the forest floor after their bodies hit the ground.
The mage took a step back. "No, you don't understand! We have to"
And then.
A shadow loomed over them.
A colossal entity stepped out of the portal, which made the forest's dim lighting disappear into darkness.
The soil beneath its enormous weight shook violently.
Yuno's breath hitched. His body demanded escape, but he remained frozen in place.
The warrior ignored the changing air pressure as he continued to laugh. "Hah!" The warrior exclaimed while pointing at the enormous mushroom with his axe. The warrior lifted his axe before starting his forward advance. The warrior predicted that the upcoming battle would bring him an enormous amount of experience.
The giant mushroom stared at him with its illuminated eyes.
It moved.