Chapter 3: The Hunter in the Blood Mist
The night fog was thick, clinging to the land like a shroud of death. Selena moved like a ghost through the dense forests on the border of the Victoria Empire. Her black cloak, now tattered from the branches, billowed behind her as she gripped the bloodstained sword taken from Marcus Ironfist.
Behind her, flames devoured the sky—a raging inferno that engulfed Lucien's soldier encampment.
A parting gift.
Three days.
That was all she had to escape the execution written in her fate.
Lucien Windrider—the so-called War God, reborn and armed with his War God System—was closing in on the Nightshade territory. Her death had already been penned in destiny's script, but she refused to march to the gallows like a lamb.
She lowered her voice, eyes flashing coldly in the darkness. "System, scan for nearby threats."
[Detected: Lucien's elite scouting unit.Number: 10.Distance: 300 meters.Armed with crossbows and hunting hounds.Recommendation: Use terrain and abilities to evade pursuit.Current Fortune Value: 400.]
Hunting hounds?
Selena's brows furrowed. Her modern knowledge kicked in instantly.
She had seen enough documentaries to know—hounds track by scent. But scent could be disrupted.
She tore off a piece of her cloak, smeared it with mud and her own blood, and flung it downstream into a rushing creek.
The water would carry her scent away, confusing the hounds.
Without pausing, she vanished into the treetops, activating Shadow Step to reposition herself ten meters away, high above in the forest canopy.
She held her breath, watching below.
The barking of hounds and thudding hooves grew closer. Torchlight flickered through the fog as a black-armored scouting team emerged from the woods.
At the front, a scar-faced captain pulled on his reins, scowling toward the creek.
"The scent is gone," the captain cursed. "Damn it! Split up! She couldn't have gone far!"
Selena smirked, her modern survival tactics giving her the upper hand.
But this was only the beginning.
Lucien's ironclad discipline meant his forces wouldn't stop. If his main army arrived, her current Fortune Value and abilities wouldn't be enough to withstand them.
She needed more power.
"System, give me short-term missions."
[Detected Secondary Target: Scout Captain "Victor Bloodclaw" – Fortune Value: 150.][Objective: Defeat or manipulate him.][Reward: +150 Fortune Value and a random ability.]
Selena licked her lips. "150? That'll keep me alive for the next three days."
She inhaled deeply, modern guerrilla warfare tactics flooding her mind.
Break their rhythm. Pick them off one by one.
Lifting her hand, she whispered: "Dark Magic—Shadow Strike."
A pulse of cold energy coiled around her fingertips.
Below, black tendrils slithered like vipers, wrapping around a scout's ankle and yanking him down.
He screamed as he collapsed, alerting the others.
Victor snapped his head around, drawing his sword. "Who's there?!"
Selena leaped from the tree, activating Shadow Step—
Reappearing behind him.
She didn't attack with her sword.
Instead, she whispered a spell: "Mind Terror."
An invisible force crashed into Victor's mind.
His pupils dilated, his grip slackened, his sword slipping from his fingers.
His voice faltered, lost in a haze. "N-No… Where… is the enemy…?"
Selena leaned in, her voice a cold whisper. "Tell me—how far is Lucien's main force?"
Victor's vacant gaze twitched. His voice came in a monotone:
"The Iron Cavalry… will arrive at dawn… ten miles from here…"
Selena's smirk widened.
"Perfect."
With one swift motion, she brought her sword down on his neck.
Victor's head rolled, blood soaking into the tree roots.
[Ding! Victor Bloodclaw defeated. Fortune Value +150.][New Ability Acquired: "Phantom Veil" – Temporarily alters appearance and aura to deceive enemies.][Current Fortune Value: 550.]
The remaining scouts panicked.
Some shouted "Demon!", while others fled into the forest.
Selena didn't bother pursuing them.
Time was short.
Lucien's main force would arrive at dawn.
She had to find shelter—or better yet, turn this chaos against him.
Her eyes flicked to Victor's fallen insignia and the map in his satchel.
Unfolding it, her gaze locked onto a marked location.
A hidden outpost, an abandoned mine, two miles away.
That will do.
The Abandoned Mine
Deep in the forest, overgrown vines concealed the mine's entrance.
Selena pushed aside the stone slab and slipped into the darkness.
Inside, rusting minecarts and abandoned pickaxes littered the cold ground. The air was damp and stale, untouched for years.
She leaned against the stone wall, exhaling.
"System, open the exchange panel."
[Current Fortune Value: 550.]
[Available Exchanges:]
Intermediate Dark Magic (Summon shadow entities for combat) – Cost: 200Tactical Awareness (Detect hostile intent and movement within 100 meters) – Cost: 150Enhanced Shadow Step (Double teleportation range) – Cost: 100
Selena tapped her fingers against her sword, weighing the options.
Her modern instincts told her—intel beats brute force.
"Exchange for Tactical Awareness."
[Exchange Successful. Fortune Value -150.][New Ability Acquired: Tactical Awareness.]
She closed her eyes.
Instantly, her mind expanded—a mental map of the mine's surroundings formed in her head.
She sensed wolves prowling nearby, distant scouts still searching, but no immediate threats.
Good.
She relaxed against the stone, allowing herself a brief respite.
And then—
Footsteps.
Selena's eyes snapped open.
Her Tactical Awareness picked up a faint hostility.
She gripped her sword. "Who's there?"
A shadow emerged from the darkness.
A frail-looking woman, dressed in torn black garments, a curved dagger clutched in her trembling hands.
She spoke softly.
"You're Selena Nightshade?"
Selena narrowed her eyes, ready to strike.
The woman took a breath. "My name is Ivy. I was a spy for the Nightshade family."
"I know Lucien is hunting you."
"But I can help you escape."
Selena didn't lower her sword. "Why?"
Ivy's lips curled into a bitter smile.
"Because I want to live. Lucien burned my village to the ground. I hate him more than anyone."
Silence.
Selena studied her.
She activated Tactical Awareness, scanning Ivy's emotions.
No deception.
Only rage.
And a deep, simmering fear.
Selena finally smirked.
"Fine. But if you betray me—"
Her blade pressed against Ivy's neck.
"I'll kill you myself."
Ivy nodded grimly.
"I don't doubt it."
Selena's grip loosened.
"Good."
Selena leaned against the stone wall, her expression indifferent.
"Speak. What can you offer me?"
Ivy hesitated for a moment before pulling out a crumpled piece of parchment from her coat and handing it over.
"This is a map I stole," she whispered. "It marks Lucien's supply points and patrol routes in this area. By tomorrow, his forces will have blocked all escape routes. But tonight, we still have a chance. I know a supply station with light defenses. The man in charge is called 'Thomas Rustchain'—Lucien's quartermaster."
Selena unfolded the rough yet detailed map, examining the marked supply points under the dim firelight. One supply station was less than a mile away from the abandoned mine.
She murmured, "System, analyze Thomas Rustchain."
[Detected Secondary Target: Thomas Rustchain, Lucien's Quartermaster. Fortune Value: 220.][Specialty: Logistics management. Weak in combat, heavily reliant on guards.][Weakness: Greedy, cowardly.][Objective: Defeat or manipulate him. Reward: +220 Fortune Value, random ability.]
"220?" Selena arched an eyebrow, a smirk curling her lips.
"A fat sheep delivered right to me."
She turned to Ivy. "You're coming with me. I want his life… and his fortune."
Ivy nodded, a flicker of determination crossing her face.
"Fine. As long as it weakens Lucien, I'll do whatever it takes."
The Supply Station
The night was pitch-black.
Selena and Ivy moved like shadows, approaching the small encampment.
The station was modest—three tents, several supply crates, and a campfire where five guards lazily chatted, their weapons resting at their sides.
Near the largest tent, a short, overweight man flicked a gold coin between his fingers, the firelight reflecting off his greasy face.
Thomas Rustchain.
Selena crouched behind a tree, whispering to Ivy.
"Circle left. Make noise to draw the guards away."
Ivy nodded, gripping her curved dagger before silently slipping into position.
Moments later—
CRASH!
A wooden crate tumbled over, scattering supplies.
The startled guards sprang to their feet, swearing as they rushed to investigate.
Thomas scowled, shouting, "You idiots! Be careful with Lord Lucien's supplies!"
Selena smirked. Perfect.
She activated Shadow Step, her body flickering behind Thomas in an instant.
Instead of immediately striking, she whispered: "Mind Terror."
An invisible force slammed into his consciousness.
The coin slipped from his fingers. His pupils dilated.
"Who… who's there…?"
Selena's voice was low and chilling, laced with the subtle power of modern negotiation tactics.
"Thomas. How much is Lucien paying you? I'll give you double if you hand over these supplies to the Nightshade family."
Thomas froze, greed flickering in his eyes. "You… you're Selena Nightshade?! But you… you were in the dungeon—"
"The dungeon couldn't hold me."
Selena's smirk deepened. With a slight gesture, tendrils of black magic coiled around his ankles.
"You have two choices: gold… or death."
Thomas gulped, sweat beading on his forehead.
A coward through and through, he immediately crumbled.
"I—I choose gold! The supplies are in that tent! Take the key!"
He shakily handed over a brass key, his hands trembling.
Selena took it but didn't release him.
As a modern strategist, she knew—men like him were never reliable.
"System, does he have any further value?"
[Thomas Rustchain's Fortune Value can be directly absorbed. Cooperation is unnecessary. Recommendation: Eliminate him.]
"Thought so."
A cold gleam flashed in Selena's eyes.
With a flick of her wrist, the shadow tendrils tightened.
CRACK.
His neck snapped.
The corpulent body collapsed like a sack of meat, lifeless.
[Ding! Thomas Rustchain defeated. Fortune Value +220.][New Ability Acquired: "Resource Plunder" – Identify and efficiently utilize enemy resources.][Current Fortune Value: 620.]
The guards, alerted by the noise, rushed back—horrified at the sight of their dead commander.
Selena didn't wait.
She activated Shadow Step—her form flickering like a phantom, weaving through the guards.
Her blade lashed out—blood spraying as bodies fell.
Ivy emerged from the darkness, dagger flashing, slitting the throat of the last soldier.
Silence fell over the camp.
Selena wiped the blood off her blade. "Resource Plunder, activate."
[Ability Activated: Detected supplies—Food, weapons, fire oil.][Recommendation: Take fire oil for sabotage operations.]
Selena rummaged through the tent, finding several barrels of fire oil and a bag of dried provisions.
She tossed a pack to Ivy. "Take this. We need to relocate. Lucien's main force is closing in."
Ivy caught the supplies, her voice low. "I know a place—an old Nightshade hideout, five miles from here. There's a tunnel leading to the outer city."
Selena nodded, but her mind was already calculating.
620 Fortune Value wasn't enough to face Lucien.
She needed more prey.
"System, any other targets nearby?"
[Detected Secondary Target: Patrol Captain 'Gale Ironhoof' – Fortune Value: 190.][Location: 2 miles away, leading a search party.][Objective: Defeat or manipulate. Reward: +190 Fortune Value, random ability.]
Selena narrowed her eyes.
"Another fool walking to his grave. Let's move."
After the Battle
Selena exhaled, wiping her blade clean.
Her Fortune Value had risen to 810, but it still wasn't enough.
Not yet.
Distantly, the thunder of hooves and shouts of Lucien's soldiers echoed through the fog.
Gale Ironhoof's mangled corpse lay trampled under his own patrol's stampede, his face unrecognizable.
Ivy ran up, her voice urgent. "They're in disarray, but Lucien's main force will be here soon. We need to go—now!"
Selena narrowed her eyes, her modern instincts instantly assessing the situation.
Lucien's iron cavalry was vast, well-equipped, and disciplined.
Even after gathering 810 Fortune Value and eliminating several secondary targets, she was still no match for a reborn War God.
She needed space to breathe, to rebuild her power, and recalculate her moves.
"Staying here is death. We need a new hideout."
She turned to Ivy, her voice steady yet urgent.
"Where does the old stronghold's tunnel lead?"
Ivy responded quickly, "South. To Gray Mist City."
"A port city, full of outlaws and mercenaries. Lucien's influence hasn't fully taken root there yet."
"The Nightshade family had old warehouses there. There might still be supplies hidden inside."
Gray Mist City.
Selena's mind flashed through her past life knowledge of the novel.
It was a lawless borderland—far from the imperial capital, beyond noble jurisdiction, and infested with gangs and mercenaries.
The perfect place to hide—and to stage a comeback.
She nodded.
"Alright. We're going to Gray Mist City."
Preparing for the Journey
Selena grabbed Gale's spear, a few gold coins, and a barrel of fire oil from the supply station.
She whispered, "System, open exchange panel."
[Current Fortune Value: 810.][Available Abilities:]
1.Intermediate Dark Magic – Summon shadow entities for combat (Cost: 300 Fortune)Enhanced 2.Shadow Step – Double teleportation range (Cost: 100 Fortune)Master of Disguise – Enhances 3.Phantom Veil, extending duration and improving effect (Cost: 200 Fortune)
"Master of Disguise."
Selena didn't hesitate. "Survival depends on deception. If I can't win… I'll vanish."
[Exchange Successful! Fortune -200.][Phantom Veil has upgraded to Master of Disguise: Change appearance and aura for 30 minutes.]
She activated Master of Disguise, her form shifting.
Her features roughened, her body bulked, her voice deepened and became raspy.
A mercenary's face stared back at Ivy.
She tossed Ivy a stolen guard's cloak.
"Wear this. Follow me."
"Lucien won't stop hunting tonight."
The Escape to Gray Mist City
The two traveled through the night, reaching an abandoned estate—an old Nightshade hideout.
Selena pushed aside a stone slab, revealing a hidden tunnel.
Damp air rushed up from below. The narrow passage reeked of mildew and decay, but her Tactical Awareness detected no pursuers—yet.
They walked for nearly two hours before emerging into the open night air.
Before them stretched a foggy coastline.
They had arrived.
Gray Mist City.
A City of Shadows
The smell of salt and fish mixed with the stench of crime.
Dockworkers shouted drunkenly, mercenaries haggled for contracts, and pirate ships unloaded contraband.
Dim lanterns cast shaky, flickering light over the lawless port town.
Selena inhaled, then muttered: "System, scan for secondary targets."
[Detected High-Priority Targets in Gray Mist City:]
"Sharktooth Jack" – Gang Boss (Fortune Value: 280). Controls port smuggling."Redblade Catherine" – Mercenary Captain (Fortune Value: 230). Handles city security contracts.
[Recommendation: Select a target. Establish influence while in hiding.]
Selena narrowed her eyes.
Her modern reasoning told her not to act rashly.
This city was a new beginning, but carelessness would expose her.
She needed a base of operations first.
"Ivy, where's the old Nightshade warehouse?"
"Dockside, Warehouse #3," Ivy pointed. "But Sharktooth Jack's men took it over."
Selena chuckled darkly.
"Then we'll take it back."
Taking Back What's Hers
Under the cover of darkness, Selena and Ivy crept toward the warehouse district.
Warehouse #3 stood heavily guarded.
At the entrance, several large thugs leaned on their weapons, talking and laughing crudely.
Selena signaled Ivy to hide.
She whispered: "System, analyze the guards."
[Analysis Complete: Low-level thugs. No Fortune Value. Poor combat skills. Low awareness.][Recommendation: Use Dark Magic for silent elimination.]
Selena raised a hand, murmuring: "Dark Magic."
Shadow tendrils erupted from the ground, impaling the men before they could react.
Blood splattered.
They died without a sound.
Selena pushed open the warehouse door.
Inside—
Stacks of crates. Old weapons. Sacks of coins.
She smirked.
"Step one, complete."
She grabbed a handful of gold, tossing some to Ivy.
"Find me people. Loyal ones. I need manpower."
Ivy nodded. "I know old Nightshade loyalists. They hate Lucien. They'll fight for you."
Selena sat on a crate, cold determination in her eyes.
"Sharktooth Jack. 280 Fortune Value.
Once I establish myself—you're next."
Setting Up a Power Base
Selena closed her eyes, activating Tactical Awareness.
The city's map slowly unfolded in her mind—
The bustling docks.Gang hideouts.Mercenary patrols.
She had found her new battlefield.
"System, does the Nightshade family have hidden resources here?"
[Detected: Hidden supply cache beneath Warehouse #3.][Contains: Gold, weapons, and old records of secret trade networks.]
Selena opened her eyes, intrigued.
She tapped her boot against the wooden floor, listening.
Hollow.
She pried up a loose floorboard—
Revealing a hidden compartment filled with:
Gold pouches.A finely-crafted dagger.A worn ledger.
She flipped through the ledger, smirking.
Secret trade routes. Old contacts. Names of powerful allies and enemies.
"With this…"
Her fingers traced the inked pages.
"Gray Mist City… belongs to me now."