Chapter 4: The Hunt Begins (1,2,3)
Chapter 4 (Part 1): The Hunt Begins (Intro Start)
The cursed fog thickened beyond the city's broken gates, a poisonous mist that gnawed at sanity and flesh alike.
Nightreach City loomed behind Shen, its fractured towers casting jagged shadows under the blood-colored moon. The mortal survivors whispered of "the Howler" — a cursed entity stalking the outskirts, slaughtering anyone who dared leave the walls.
Shen adjusted the strap of his Voidweave Cloak, his golden eyes narrowed in focus.He could feel it — the system's silent pulse, urging him forward.
[Quest Updated!]➔ Hunt and eliminate: The Howler➔ Rewards: Unknown (Bonus reward for flawless kill)
The chilling wind tugged at his cloak as he stepped into the mist, each footfall erasing itself behind him like a ghost. His new skill, [Chaotic Slayer], hummed beneath his skin — eager, hungry.
Somewhere in the fog, a low growl answered.
The hunt had begun.
Chapter 4 (Part 2): The Howler's ScentNightreach's outskirts — an hour before midnight
A pale mist clung to the outskirts of Nightreach like a second skin, whispering secrets into the wind. The further Shen stepped from the broken city gates, the quieter the world became — as if the trees themselves were holding their breath.
He moved through the ruins of an old watchtower, boots silent on cracked stone. His senses were sharpened, Void Sense pulsing faintly. The cursed aura was close. Too close.
[Tracking: Cursed Entity – Status: Nearby][Warning: Entity classified as "Phase-Twisted Aberration"][Suggested Action: Engage only when prepared.]
He narrowed his eyes.
The cursed trail wasn't just power — it was sorrow. Rage. A fragmented soul torn apart by something unnatural. Shen clenched his hand. The mark on his palm, left by the system, faintly pulsed.
In the distance, a distorted howl echoed.
Not like a beast. Not like a man.
Something in between.
And it was hunting too.
Chapter 4 (Part 3): Howl of the Damned
The fog thickened as the air grew colder—like the breath of something ancient and wrong pressing against Shen's skin.
The Cursed Howler had revealed its true form: a towering amalgamation of fur, bone, and spectral flame. Its antlers split like withered branches, and its mouth opened wider than its skull should allow—dripping an iridescent black mist that sizzled on contact with the ground.
Its name hovered above it, flickering erratically:
[ Cursed Howler – Elite Beast ]
Corruption Level: 83%
Tier: High Rare (Near-Epic)
Status: Unstable, Aggressive
Shen took a breath.
The Voidbrand Sigil on his chest pulsed, syncing with his heartbeat. He tightened his grip on [Chaotic Slayer].
[System Alert]
Active Quest Objective: Eliminate the Source of Nightreach's Curse
Recommended: Use fusion skills or suppression-type techniques
The beast let out a reality-warping screech. Buildings shook. Glass shattered. The fog surged.
But Shen moved first.
「Voidstep」 — Activated.
He vanished—reappearing directly beneath the Howler's massive claw.
CLANG!
Steel met corrupted bone. Sparks danced. The beast reeled, but its other arm slammed toward him—too fast.
Shen's hand moved without hesitation.
[Skill: Flickering Mirage — Lv.1]
Creates an afterimage that absorbs one attack within 0.5 seconds.
The claw passed through him.
The illusion dispersed like smoke—and Shen had already leapt onto the Howler's back.
He whispered:
「Dark Fang: Severing Vein」
A black streak of energy slashed down the creature's spine. It roared—twisting violently—and slammed itself into a broken fountain to throw him off.
[HP: 87% → 64%]
Target bleeding. Vitality Decay applied.
[System Notice: Adaptive Mutation detected. Boss initiating Phase 2.]
The Howler's bones cracked. Flesh shifted. One of its antlers broke off—and stabbed itself into its own chest.
The blood that poured was not red, but silver—and the creature's aura exploded.
[Howl of the Forgotten – Active]
+60% Damage | Fog Radius Expanded | Lesser Mindbreak Chance (Continuous Aura)
Shen staggered as the world spun. The whispering returned. Laughter. Screams. His thoughts spiraled.
But the Void rejected it.
[System Override: Mindbreak Negated by Void Protocol]
[New Passive Unlocked: Null Mind – Immune to mental-type debuffs below Epic Rank.]
"…So this is what fear really feels like," Shen whispered. His voice was calm. Almost amused.
He raised [Chaotic Slayer] and focused.
[Skill Fusion: Shadow Spear + Chaotic Slash → New Fusion Activated]
[Black Spiral Execution]
A twisted lance of dark energy formed—spinning violently.
He hurled it.
BOOM!
The explosion tore through the Howler's core. The creature shrieked one last time before collapsing in a cloud of dust and curse remnants.
[BOSS DEFEATED – Elite-Class]
Rewards:
• Random Epic Skill Chest (Unopened)
• Unique Material: Howler Boneheart
• Passive Fragment: Unknown (??? Tier)
• Curse Clearance: 47% Complete
Shen stood alone in the crumbling square. Fog began to lift. The city stirred.
From the shadows, someone watched him.
A girl with pale hair and strange eyes, holding a staff and a satchel full of glowing herbs.
She whispered:
"…He's not from this world, is he?"