Chapter 18: The Mist Hunter Awakens
The gates of Stonevale slowly disappeared behind him, swallowed by the rolling horizon. With his supplies tucked in a spatial pouch and the newly bought black dragon mask fastened to his hip, Eren tightened the straps on his cloak and walked alone toward the southern edge of the Verdan Range—where the land dipped into the Myrren Wilds, a vast forest bordering the rank 3 country of Valdros.
It was said the Wilds never slept.
Eren's eyes scanned the twisted trees, the chirping of insects echoing unnaturally loud.
"...Something's wrong."
He slowed his pace, his hand drifting toward the hilt of his sword. The uneasy weight that had shadowed him for the past hour grew heavier, thick like a predator's breath on his neck.
Finally, he stopped.
"Come out. I know you've been following me."
The air stilled.
Leaves rustled, and three figures stepped from the underbrush, blades gleaming under the filtered sunlight.
The tallest man, clad in worn gray armor and bearing a long crimson blade, smirked. "If you knew, why didn't you run? Or call for help?"
Eren's lips curled into a smirk of his own, though a flicker of fear sparked in his chest.
"Running? Begging? Not really my style."
(Though inside, his heart pounded—they were strong. Too strong.)
John – Sword Practitioner Lv. 7
Kin – Sword Practitioner Lv. 5
Anis – Sword Practitioner Lv. 4
'They're all at least fifty times stronger than me... One wrong move and I'm dead.'
He subtly shifted his weight—just one step back, enough to—
SHING!
Anis lunged, his blade whistling through the air.
Eren used Mist Step, vanishing in a blur as the blade crashed into the earth. He didn't counter—he ran, legs pumping, cloak trailing like smoke behind him.
'The map showed a natural mist zone ahead. If I can just get there... I can flip this fight.'
The forest grew denser, twisted roots and snarling brambles grabbing at his ankles. Behind him, the attackers cursed and followed, slashing trees and brush aside.
Blades grazed his shoulder and side, warm blood staining his shirt—but they weren't lethal.
Then he reached it.
A veil of mist. Thick. Cold. Endless.
He plunged into it.
And disappeared.
---
A Predator in the Mist
John skidded to a halt, panting. "Where is he?!"
Kin shouted, "He couldn't have gone far—FIND HIM!"
Then—
Silence.
A shape emerged behind Anis.
Too late.
SHHK!
A flash of silver, and Anis's head hit the ground before his body did.
Kin turned, roaring and swinging down at the mist, but only air met his blade. Then—he screamed.
Eren's blade sliced through his thigh, severing his leg cleanly. The scream echoed across the forest.
"AAAAAAAAGGGHHHH! MY LEG! HU-HU-HU—!!"
A heartbeat later, the final blow fell.
"I'll end your pain... with death."
A clean strike through the neck silenced Kin forever.
---
John was shaking. His sword clattered to the ground.
He was trembling so hard it looked like he was standing in the middle of winter. "P-please. I-I'll leave! I won't tell anyone. Please—let me go...!"
Eren's voice echoed all around him. Cold. Deadly.
"If you were in my place... what would you have done?"
John froze. His knees buckled.
Then Eren appeared behind him—mask on, eyes burning like coals in the mist.
"It's your time to meet your friends... in hell."
John screamed, turning and slashing wildly—
But Eren dodged, vanished into the mist again, and reappeared behind him.
"Mist Step."
SHING!
John's head rolled to the forest floor.
---
Silence.
Only the soft wind and the sound of Eren's breathing remained.
He exhaled hard, dropping to one knee.
"Hah... that was too much for me. But this is what it means to survive..."
He looked down at his blood-stained hands. The mist curled gently around his body, not hostile now—but protective.
He searched the bodies, collecting gold, elixirs, two rare spirit-grade swords, and a sealed soul pill.
Then he stood and turned toward the heart of the Wilds.
"This world doesn't care for the weak."
He stepped into the mist once more, alone—but more dangerous than ever.
"Let's see what awaits in Valdros."
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