The Hunt Begins

A loud crash echoed from above.

Kalen's pulse pounded in his ears. The orphanage had always been his prison, but now, it was about to become his execution ground.

[Mission: Prove Your Strength]

Task: Survive against a real enemy.

Reward: Shadow Cloak (Basic), +10 EXP

Failure Penalty: Capture by the Temple Guards.

"Capture by the Temple Guards."

Everyone knew what that meant. Death. Or worse.

Renna grabbed his arm. "Kalen, we need to go. Now."

Another crash.

The front doors of the orphanage had been kicked open.

Heavy boots stormed through the halls, their voices barking commands.

"Find him!"

"Search every room!"

Kalen's breath caught in his throat. They were already inside.

He turned to Renna. "There's no way out through the main halls. We'll have to take the back exit."

Renna cursed under her breath. "That door's locked from the outside. We'll be trapped."

Kalen didn't hesitate.

"I have a way."

He closed his eyes, focusing on the power surging within him. Shadows curled around his fingertips, responding to his will.

[Shadow Veil (Basic) Activated]

- Conceals the user's presence in low-light environments.

- Reduces detection chance by 30%.

The room darkened slightly as his body blended into the shadows.

Renna gasped. "What the hell—"

Kalen grabbed her hand. "Stay close. Move when I move."

Footsteps pounded against the wooden floor above them. Dust rained down from the ceiling as the guards moved through the orphanage like hunting dogs.

Then—a voice, directly above them.

"He's here. The cursed one."

A pause. Then another voice, deep and commanding:

"Burn it down."

Kalen's blood ran cold.

"They're going to burn the orphanage?"

Renna's face went pale. "We need to get out right now."

Kalen didn't waste another second. He bolted for the back door, pulling Renna along. Shadows curled around them, making their movements harder to track.

Boom!

The sound of breaking wood echoed through the halls. The guards were breaking down doors, searching.

But Kalen and Renna reached the back exit just in time.

Kalen reached for the rusted handle—locked.

He clenched his jaw. "Stay back."

Summoning his Shadow Dagger, he drove the blade into the door's lock. The metal hissed as dark energy corroded it instantly.

The lock snapped. The door swung open.

Renna gaped at him. "How the hell—"

"No time. Go."

The two of them raced into the alleyway.

Cold night air greeted them, carrying the scent of damp stone and rotting wood.

Then—a shout behind them.

"There he is!"

Kalen spun just in time to see three Temple Guards burst through the doorway.

They were clad in dark armor, bearing the insignia of the High Temple—a silver sun with a single eye at its center.

Their leader, a tall man with a scarred face, pointed a sword at Kalen. "Surrender, Shadowborn. You are a threat to the Order."

Kalen didn't hesitate.

He grabbed Renna's hand and ran.

The Chase

The alleys of the lower district were a maze of narrow streets and crumbling buildings. Kalen moved through them like a shadow, his body adapting to the darkness.

Renna, though fast, was struggling to keep up.

"Where the hell are we going?" she hissed.

"Somewhere they can't find us."

Behind them, the guards were gaining. Their heavy armor slowed them down, but they knew the streets better.

Kalen took a sharp turn, vaulting over a stack of crates. Renna followed, barely keeping pace.

Then—an arrow whizzed past his head.

Shit.

The guards weren't just chasing. They were trying to kill him.

[New Mission Update]

Task: Evade the Temple Guards or eliminate them.

Bonus Reward: Shadow Step (Unlocked at Level 5).

Kalen gritted his teeth.

"Level 5? I'm only Level 3!"

If he wanted that ability, he'd have to fight.

The First Kill

Kalen stopped running.

Renna skidded to a halt. "What the hell are you doing?"

He turned to face the guards. "We can't outrun them forever."

The scarred leader smirked. "Good. You finally understand."

Kalen summoned his dagger.

[Shadow Dagger (Basic) Equipped]

- Attack Power: +3

- Effect: Corrodes enemy armor upon impact.

The first guard lunged. Kalen ducked, twisting his body as he drove the dagger straight into the man's ribs.

The guard choked, staggering as dark energy spread through his body.

Then—he collapsed.

Kalen's chest heaved.

His first kill.

Renna stared at him, eyes wide. But before she could say anything—

The second guard attacked.

Kalen reacted instinctively.

Shadows surged around him, slowing time just enough for him to dodge the incoming strike. He pivoted behind the guard and slashed his throat.

A wet gurgle. Then silence.

The last guard took a step back, suddenly uncertain.

Kalen grinned.

He lunged forward—faster than before. The guard tried to parry, but Kalen's dagger melted through his weapon like butter.

A final slash.

And the battle was over.

[Mission Complete: Prove Your Strength]

[+10 EXP]

[Shadow Cloak (Basic) Unlocked]

A wave of power flooded Kalen's body.

[Level Up: 3 → 4]

+3 Strength

+2 Agility

+1 Shadow Mastery

Kalen exhaled slowly. His hands no longer trembled.

Renna was staring at him.

"You just… you just killed them."

Kalen turned to face her. His expression was calm.

"They were going to kill us."

Renna swallowed. For a moment, she looked like she wanted to argue. But then she glanced at the corpses—at the Temple Guards who had been hunting them.

She took a shaky breath. "What now?"

Kalen glanced up at the full moon above.

He knew one thing for certain.

He could never go back to the orphanage.

The city was no longer his home.

He had to disappear.

For now.

Because soon, he wouldn't be the hunted anymore.

He would be the hunter.

And the Temple?

They had just made a powerful enemy.

End of Chapter 4