Blood in the Moonlight

Ren sat by the window, staring at the darkened sky. The stars shimmered faintly, barely visible against the heavy clouds drifting over Greyhaven. The distant hum of the town had faded, leaving behind only the occasional creak of wooden beams and the whisper of wind through narrow alleyways.

Then—footsteps.

He tensed, his ears straining. The sound was soft but deliberate, moving through the corridors below. Carefully, he leaned forward, peering out. Two figures slipped out from the building's entrance—Kaito and Mahi. They moved swiftly, their steps purposeful.

Ren hesitated for a moment. They were up to something.

Without thinking, he grabbed his cloak and moved carefully, keeping his distance as he followed Kaito and Mahi through the winding back alleys of Greyhaven. The streets were quiet, the occasional lantern flickering against the stone walls. He made sure to step lightly, avoiding loose gravel and wooden planks that could give him away.

After a few minutes, they reached the town's outskirts, where the buildings gave way to an open dirt path leading into the woods. Ren hesitated for a moment—he had no idea where they were going, but something told him this wasn't just a casual night stroll.

Kaito and Mahi stopped near a clearing. Hidden behind the thick foliage, Ren crouched down, peering through the leaves.

In the faint moonlight, he saw them approaching a group of men. No… not just any men. Merchants. A cart stood nearby, stacked with wooden crates.

Why are they meeting with merchants this late at night?

Ren strained to hear, but before he could catch their conversation, Kaito suddenly moved.

With a swift, brutal motion, Kaito drove a dagger into the nearest merchant's throat. Blood sprayed across the ground as the man crumpled. Mahi lunged forward, slashing through another's chest with deadly precision.

Ren's breath caught in his throat.

They're… killing them?

His legs stiffened, and his mind screamed at him to move. To run. But before he could do anything, his foot pressed down on a dry branch.

Snap.

The sound echoed through the silent night.

Kaito and Mahi's heads snapped toward him instantly.

Mahi: "Who's there?!"

Ren's blood ran cold. He was caught.

Just as Kaito and Mahi locked eyes on his hiding spot, movement erupted from the darkness. Shadows flickered, followed by the gleam of steel—assassins.

The merchants hadn't come unprepared.

The first assassin lunged at Kaito, blades flashing. Another went straight for Mahi. Three more surged toward Ren, mistaking him for part of the ambush.

Ren barely had time to react before the first attacker's sword came down at him.

And then—

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[SYSTEM ALERT]

Adaptive Instinct Skill Activated.

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His muscles tightened, and suddenly, he could read the assassin's movements as if they were in slow motion. His body reacted on its own—ducking, rolling, narrowly avoiding a deadly slash aimed at his throat.

For the first time, he wasn't just reacting—he was fighting.

He dodged another strike, his hand instinctively grabbing a broken wooden staff from the ground. With a swift motion, he slammed it into the assassin's wrist, knocking the blade loose.

But he couldn't kill.

Instead, he twisted his grip, striking the side of the assassin's head. The man crumpled, unconscious.

Kaito and Mahi were locked in combat with their own opponents, their movements sharp and practiced. But these assassins weren't ordinary thugs—they were fast, relentless, and well-trained.

Ren barely had time to breathe before another attacker closed in. This time, his body hesitated.

The assassin's knife grazed his shoulder, pain flaring as warm blood trickled down his arm.

"Damn it!"

Ren gritted his teeth and forced himself to move again, knocking the attacker back just in time for Kaito to drive a blade into his side.

The fight lasted only minutes, but to Ren, it felt like hours.

By the time the last assassin fell, the forest was silent again. The air was thick with the scent of blood and damp earth.

Ren stood there, panting, his heart hammering against his ribs. His hands trembled, but not from fear—from something else. Something deeper.

Kaito wiped his blade on a dead man's cloak, then turned to Ren with a raised brow.

Kaito: "Not bad, rookie."

Mahi, however, was less amused. She stepped forward, her voice cold.

Mahi: "What the hell are you doing here?"

Ren didn't answer immediately. His mind was still reeling from what he had just seen—what they had just done.

Ren: "You… killed them."

Kaito scoffed. "And? What did you expect?"

Ren clenched his fists. "They were just merchants."

Mahi narrowed her eyes. "And? Do you think this world plays by your rules? This isn't some fantasy where good and evil are clear-cut. We work for money, not morals."

Ren gritted his teeth.

Ren: "That's bullshit."

Mahi: "Is it?"

The coldness in her voice cut through him.

Mahi: "If you want to survive, be strong enough to protect yourself. If not… then stay out of the way."

Ren felt something twist inside him.

This world wasn't what he thought it was.

And he wasn't ready for it.

But before he could say another word—

A distant explosion shook the ground.

The three of them turned toward Greyhaven. The sky was glowing red. Smoke billowed into the night as screams filled the air.

Ren's stomach dropped.

Mahi muttered, "Shit."

Kaito's face darkened. "We need to move."

As they rushed toward the burning town, Ren saw them—five figures standing amidst the destruction, their presence radiating something terrifying.

The town was under attack.

And these weren't ordinary enemies.

These were monsters in human form.

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To Be Continued…