Hunter in the Shadows

Deep in the forest, Perry stumbled through the underbrush, his breath ragged. He glanced over his shoulder every few seconds, his mind racing with fear. The sounds of his comrades' deaths echoed in his ears.

"Terry's dead... They're all dead," Perry muttered, his voice trembling. He could still feel the shock of seeing Ethan dismantle their entire team with terrifying ease. "This guy isn't just some college kid. He's a killer... a monster..."

Perry winced as pain shot through his body from the injuries Ethan had inflicted. Despite the agony, he knew stopping wasn't an option. Slowing down meant death. Ethan had shown no hesitation, no mercy—and Perry wasn't going to be next.

"Come on, Perry... Just keep moving," he whispered to himself, pushing through the branches and thick foliage. He tried to console himself, convincing his mind that he was finally safe.

But deep down, he knew better.

Miles away, Ged paced furiously in a lavishly furnished room. He held his phone to his ear, listening as Perry's panicked voice crackled through the speaker.

"Ged, we... we failed," Perry gasped. "Terry's gone. Everyone's gone. Ethan's too strong—we couldn't even lay a hand on him. I barely escaped."

Ged's mind went blank for a moment. He stared at his father, Carl, who watched the conversation with narrowed eyes.

"Put it on speaker," Carl ordered. Ged obeyed, placing the phone on the table.

"You're telling me that a single person killed the entire team?" Carl's voice was calm, but there was an undercurrent of disbelief.

"He's... He's not normal," Perry stammered. "His speed, his power... It's beyond anything I've seen. Even my enhanced speed was useless against him. I barely escaped with my life."

"Did he pursue you?" Carl asked.

Perry hesitated, glancing around the dark forest. "I... I think I lost him. I've put a lot of distance between us. There's no way—"

A faint sound interrupted him. Perry froze mid-sentence. His eyes widened as a violet light flickered in the distance, growing brighter by the second.

"No... No, no, no!" Perry gasped, his voice shaking with terror. His pupils dilated as a crackling lightning arrow pierced the night sky.

WHISTLE!

The sound echoed through the forest as the arrow raced toward him with impossible speed. Perry barely had time to register what was happening before it struck.

THUNK!

The arrow tore through his chest with deadly precision. He staggered, his mind racing with disbelief.

"How... How did he...?" Perry's thoughts blurred as he collapsed to the ground. His lifeless body landed with a dull thud, the phone slipping from his hand.

"Perry? Perry!" Ged shouted into the phone, but no response came. He listened to the eerie silence on the other end, his blood running cold.

Carl's face darkened. He grabbed the phone and disconnected the call. "It seems Ethan isn't just a threat—he's a force to be reckoned with."

"Father... What do we do now?" Ged asked, his voice laced with fear and frustration.

Carl didn't answer immediately. Instead, he dialed another number. A moment later, a smooth, calm voice answered on the other end.

"Carl. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Clay, we have a job for you," Carl said, his tone respectful. "The target is... formidable. Terry's entire team was wiped out."

A low chuckle echoed through the speaker. "Interesting. I haven't faced a real challenge in a long time. Prepare the payment, and consider it done."

The call ended abruptly, leaving Ged feeling both hopeful and anxious.

"Clay will handle it," Carl said confidently. "He's not like the others. Before the Awakening, he was already a master of lethal combat. Now, with his A-tier talent, there's no one alive who can survive him."

Ged nodded, clenching his fists. "Good. I want Ethan gone. He's made a fool of me for the last time."

Back in the forest, Ethan stood silently among the trees. He gazed at Perry's body, the lightning arrow still sparking faintly in the corpse's chest. His expression was unreadable.

"One more down," Ethan muttered under his breath. He glanced at the phone on the ground but didn't bother picking it up. He knew exactly who Perry had been reporting to.

"Carl and Ged won't let this go," Ethan thought. "They'll send someone stronger next time."

He turned his gaze to the night sky, his mind racing with possibilities. The battle with Terry's team had revealed the extent of his new abilities, but it also made him realize how much further he had to go. If they were willing to spend billions to kill him, the next threat would be no ordinary assassin.

But Ethan wasn't afraid.

"I'll be ready," he whispered to the wind.

With that, he moved deeper into the forest, disappearing like a shadow in the night.

At the same time, Carl's phone buzzed again. He answered it immediately.

"I'm en route," Clay's voice came through, calm and confident. "This should be... fun."

Carl allowed himself a rare smile. "Make sure he doesn't get back up."

"Oh, I guarantee it," Clay replied with a chuckle. "Ethan won't know what hit him."