Chapter 3

Lucian smiled at the interface. His grin widened, his pulse quickening as he read the notification. A shiver crawled up his spine, setting his nerves alight. His fingers twitched in eager anticipation, gripping his weapon tighter.

This was it- this was what he had been waiting for. His heart pounded, not with fear but with exhilaration. The mere thought of the hunt ahead sent a rush of energy through his veins.

A low chuckle escaped him as his eyes gleamed with dangerous delight.

"I accept" he said with sheer confidence.

In that moment a notification appeared on every hunter's interface.

_Notice_

The Hunter that Hunts Hunters

has appeared.

All the hunters around the city was struck with fear. The real game had just begun.

Lucian walked the streets, the eerie glow of the system notification fading from his vision. The city had turned into a battlefield, filled with the echoes of distant screams and the sharp scent of blood. He had chosen his prey- other hunters.

The street was foggy and their was something to the atmosphere that Lucian didn't like. Maybe it was the scent of blood or the smell of dead flesh.

Then from the midst of the fog, three figures appeared.

They were hunters.

The first hunter looked like he was in his mid thirties. He had flames forming from his hands bending to his will. The second hunter was a young lady. In her hand was a knife covered in blood. The third was a six foot tall man, build like a tank. His fists was made of iron or steel.

"So you're The Hunter that's suppose to hunt us?" the first hunter asked, scoffing at the sight of Lucian.

The light from the flames in his hand was bright and flashy. It was as if he commanded the flames.

Lucian ignored the question. His eyes scanning his opponents. He had some idea of what abilities the first and third hunter might have. However, the lady was a whole mystery.

She had bloodlust in her eyes. Her breathing was heavy. Her hands shaking but it wasn't from fear. She had an evil grin on her face. Her eyes fixated on Lucian awaiting the first hunter's command.

The fire weilding hunter smirked. "You look too calm. That confidence will get you killed."

Lucian didn't reply.

The second hunter-the woman with the bloodstained knife-moved first. She blurred vanishing into streaks of motion.

She was a speedster. In just a second, she was close to Lucian. Her knife gleamed as it aimed straight for Lucian's throat.

Lucian let out a breath of disappointment.

"Activate Domination Zone"

The street shook.

An unforseen force expanded outwards from him. The air turned viscous, heavy- as if reality itself had bent beneath his will. The atmosphere was tense and sickening.

This was truly a domain of a Tyrant.

The Speedster tried to move.

She couldn't.

Not because she was frozen-but because the space around her was no longer hers.

Lucian owned this space.

Her evil grin slowly fading as she tried desperately to move. Her body trembling. Her hands shaking, this time from fear.

The fire weilding hunter, seeing this, unleashed a wave of flames aiming at Lucian. The flames engulfed everything in its path. It was unstoppable

.

But then- it curved.

The flames twisted, bending against its will. Instead of striking Lucian, they wrapped around the lady speedster.

She cried in agony as she felt the heat from the flames eating her skin alive. The fire was viscous and cruel, and yet she couldn't move. The gravity that surrounded her didn't allow it.

She could only scream in pain untill there was nothing left of her- only ashes.

A notification popped up .

100 system coins earned

LVL: 3 >>4

Skill domination Zone Lvl 2

The third hunter let out a battle cry and lunged at Lucian. His enormous metal fists aiming for Lucian- only to stop inches from his face.

Lucians Limitless Tyrant Abilities meant absolute sovereignty. And right now-

This battlefield belonged to him.

The domination zone had increased in size, even reaching the fire weilding hunter.

Lucian exhaled "Kneel"

There was no command. There was no Tyrant Mandate needed. The gravity in the zone caused the remaining two hunter's heads to smash into the pavement. Blood splurged the ground, leaving their heads in pieces and blood decorating it like sick artwork.

Then a notification popped up on Lucian's interface.

200 system coins earned

LVL: 4>>6

Lucian hadn't drawn his sword. He hadn't even moved a single bit and yet defeated those hunter's like they were child's play.

He turned around, leaving their dead bodies on display.

The city would soon understand

The Tyrant never needed permission to rule.

Lucian drew his sword, it's blade gleaming under the dim light, and strode forward with unhurried purpose. The echoes of distant screams and the scent of blood clung to the air as he moved through the ruined street, his gaze sharp and predatory. Each step was deliberate, his presence was an unspoken challenge to any hunter lurking in the shadows. He wasn't searching for prey. He was searching for hunters.

Hours had passed. Lucian hunted, fought, and emerged victorious, accumulating exp and system coins with each battle. Eventually, dawn arrived and the Event ended. The system pinged and a leaderboard flashed across the screen.

[Leaderboard]

1. Aamon Vesper - 5000 EXP(Prey)

2. Lucian Vale - 3000 EXP(Hunter)

3. Thorne Opheus - 500 Exp (Hunter)

Lucian stared in disbelief. He was second? Second? He had hunted, fought, and triumphed - yet here, in front of him, the name at the top of the leaderboard wasn't his. It was Aamon Vesper.

"Who the hell is Aamon Vesper?" he muttered under his breath, eyes narrowing in shock and confusion. He had never heard of this person, and yet somehow, this individual had outpaced him. How? why?

But then, as his eyes trailed down to the classification, his confusion deepened even further. Aamon was classified as Prey.

Prey? How is it possible for someone classified as prey to be in first place?

"Wait... what?" Lucian was lost in thought.

His voice was a mixture of disbelief and frustration. Aamon wasn't classified as hunter. He was classified as Prey-someone who was suppose to be hunted. And yet, somehow this person had earned more exp than him.

"It doesn't make sense"

"How can someone in a vulnerable position outclassed me ?" Lucian murmured to himself.

His mind raced, questions swirling faster than he could process. But all he knew for sure was that Aamon was a serious anomaly- one that he couldn't afford to ignore.