Chapter 24: The Hunted

Growl. Growl.

Bark.

Step—step—crack.

A voice rang out behind me.

But I didn't look back.

No—I didn't have that luxury.

Not here. Not now.

One mistake and I'd die.

My boots slammed against the dirt, lungs burning, the trees blurring around me. Pain tore through my side. A deep gash—fresh, wet, raw. Blood streamed through my fingers as I pressed against it, trying to stop the flow.

It didn't stop.

Not even a little.

And with every step, more poured out.

"F-Fuck…" I gasped.

I was a fool.

No, worse. I was cocky.

A month of surviving the Dark Forest had made me arrogant. I thought I could handle it. Thought I could go deeper.

And for a while… it worked.

I mapped trails. Noted monsters. I felt like I had control.

Until they came.

Until the silence snapped—and they attacked from behind.

I didn't even get a proper look. Just shadows and red eyes.

Demonic hounds.

And the weakest of them? D-Rank.

An entire major rank above me.

I ran.

Of course I ran.

Not because I was a coward—

Because staying meant death.

They ambushed from the rear. The path back to the fortress was cut off. So I fled deeper into the forest. Into the dark. Into the unknown.

Because anything was better than being torn apart.

"Fucking luck…" I hissed.

It wasn't just the injury. It wasn't just the hounds.

It was everything.

That damn status screen never warned me. No danger sense. No precognition. Just… bad luck. A cursed trait, etched into me like a joke the world refused to stop telling.

My legs were shaking. My vision blurred. The trees swayed like ghosts.

Then—

Snap.

A growl—louder this time—followed by a vicious bark.

I ducked on instinct.

Something massive soared over me.

A Demonic Hound. Its shadow flew across the forest floor as it missed by inches.

I didn't stop.

I didn't fight.

Because fighting meant dying.

They weren't alone.

They never were.

This was a pack. And packs had leaders.

I didn't even want to see the leader.

So I veered left—

The only path not blocked.

Branches whipped at my face. Roots clawed at my boots. But I kept running.

And still… they chased me.

I knew what they were doing.

And it chilled me to the bone.

They weren't hunting.

They were playing.

I was the prey—wounded, weak, bleeding.

And they were the predators.

They could've ended it. Could've ripped me apart five minutes ago.

But they didn't.

Because this was fun.

A game.

And once they got bored—

They'd kill me.

I ran deeper into the thicket, branches slashing at my face, thorns tearing at my legs. The terrain turned wild — thick underbrush, hidden roots, and twisted vines everywhere. It was good. It would slow them down.

But it was slowing me too.

I didn't stop. I couldn't.

Then — snap!

My foot caught on something beneath the overgrowth — a root, maybe a vine — I didn't get to see. My body pitched forward, and I slammed into the dirt with a grunt.

"Fuck," I hissed, breath ragged as pain flared through my shoulder and ribs.

I tried to push myself up, but it was already too late.

A deep growl echoed above me.

One of the hounds had caught up.

Its black, diseased-looking fur bristled as it bared jagged teeth. Blood dripped from its muzzle — not mine. Someone else's. Maybe something else's.

I yanked my katana free, both hands gripping the hilt — tearing away from the wound on my side. Blood flowed freely now, warm and slick down my waist.

The hound lunged.

I swung.

Steel met claw. The force knocked me back a step, and pain jolted through my arms. Too strong. Its physical strength was leagues above mine. My grip trembled.

Another growl. More footsteps. The others were closing in.

I had to finish this one quickly.

It lunged again. I sidestepped, just barely, and slashed across its flank. My blade hit — but barely cut. A shallow wound. Its skin was like stone. Tough. Hardened.

"Damn it—" I threw my left hand forward, gathering mana in my palm. Fire erupted.

The hound twisted mid-air, avoiding the flame with unnatural agility, and lunged again — faster, more aggressive.

I dodged by a hair.

They're toying with me.

They're not even trying to kill me yet.

If I could just use Aura, even a little… I could cut deeper, injure them, maybe escape. But focusing enough to convert mana into aura — I didn't have that kind of time. Not with death breathing down my neck.

I backed away, breathing heavy, vision blurring slightly from blood loss.

I wasn't just the hunted now.

I was bleeding out — one wrong move from dying.

And they knew it.

I had to do something.

I couldn't kill them. Not now. Not like this.

And more hounds were closing in.

My mind raced. One thought surfaced—fire.

I focused. Mana surged into my palm. A flicker of flame danced to life.

Not enough.

I poured in more—deeper, hotter. The fire grew. From the size of a marble to a fist… then a football. My skin stung from the heat. Sweat dripped down my forehead, but I didn't stop.

Compress. Refine. Burn.

The lead hound growled, wary of the growing blaze. It stepped back, but only for a second—then lunged forward again.

Too late.

I didn't throw the fire at the beast.

I threw it at the ground—right in front of me.

Then I jumped back.

BOOM!

The explosion roared like thunder, flames bursting in every direction. The shockwave slammed into me, launching me backwards.

Pain flared in my shoulder, but I landed hard and rolled, coughing smoke.

Not fatal.

I planned for this.

Now, between me and the hounds—a wall of fire.

The beasts halted, snarling, hesitant. I forced myself to my feet, legs trembling.

I turned and ran.

Every step was a scream through the wound on my side. Blood leaked freely, my vision blurring.

Please let the fire hold them back…

But fate wasn't listening.

With a snarl, one hound leapt through the flames. The others followed, vaulting over the wall of fire like demons chasing their prey.

My heart sank.

This was it.

I was tired. Bleeding. Beaten. My strength was gone, mana nearly drained.

I could barely breathe. My legs dragged. I couldn't fight anymore.

And yet—

I didn't stop.

I couldn't.

If I died here… Liana would cry.

I promised her.

Told her nothing would happen to me. That I'd come back.

And I wasn't going to break that promise.

Not now.

Not yet.

Now more than ten hounds were chasing me.

They moved like shadows, closing the gap one step at a time. From time to time, one got too close—I'd swing my katana just enough to make it hesitate, but I never stopped running.

Never stopped praying for a miracle.

Each of them was stronger than me. The weakest hound here was D-rank… some were even D+. I couldn't fight them. Not now. Not like this.

I didn't know how far I'd run—how deep I was in the maze of this cursed place. Time blurred. Pain pulsed in every breath, and the sound of claws scraping stone echoed behind me like death itself chasing my heels.

Another hound lunged from behind.

I twisted, katana swinging. Steel clashed against hide. It screeched and fell back.

Another charged.

I barely had time to compress mana in my hand—just enough for a flicker of flame. I hurled it. The hound dodged.

But I wasn't ready for the real threat.

Something rammed into me from the side. Sharp fangs sank into my arm. The force of it knocked me off balance.

I screamed.

The other hounds stopped, watching. Their red eyes glowed in the dark like a judgment.

I tried to pull my arm free, but the beast wouldn't let go. Its jaws clamped tighter. Pain exploded in waves, ripping through flesh, cracking bone.

I raised my katana with my other hand and slammed it down on its head.

It didn't even flinch.

The blade barely scratched it.

This one was different.

Stronger. Bigger. A predator among predators.

My katana slipped from my hand. In blind desperation, I punched at its face—again and again—but nothing worked. It kept chewing, tearing at my arm like it was nothing but meat.

Screaming in agony, I did the unthinkable.

I lunged at its eye… and bit down.

The taste of blood and rot filled my mouth. My teeth sank into something soft and wet.

The beast shrieked.

Its jaw loosened for a second. I yanked my arm free, stumbling back, spitting out the eye.

The hound thrashed in pain, roaring in rage and confusion. Its one remaining eye locked onto me.

It was the leader. I could feel it in its presence. A C-rank… maybe stronger.

I looked down at my arm.

The armor was shredded. Flesh torn away. Blood poured freely. Bone showed through.

The limb dangled uselessly at my side.

And still… I stood.

Still breathing.

Still alive.

I reached down and picked up my katana again.

The alpha hound snarled. One eye missing, his fury burning hotter than ever.

He couldn't understand. How could prey hurt him? How could someone so weak… still be alive?

But I wasn't prey.

Not anymore.

Not tonight.