The Hunter’s Moon
"When the moon turns red, blood will flow," whispered Nyra.
Riven looked up at the sky — a pale, rust-colored moon rising above the jagged Ashvale cliffs. The Hunter's Moon, an ancient omen of pursuit and death.
> "We need shelter," he said. "Tonight's not for wandering."
They'd been walking for two days — sleeping little, feeding on wild herbs and mana roots. Ashvale was still a day away, but the atmosphere had changed.
Too silent. Too still.
⚠️ System Alert: Assassins Detected
> Threat Level: B+
Faction: Echo Blades (Inquisition)
Proximity: < 2.1 km and closing
Objective: Terminate System Host
Riven's eyes sharpened.
> "They found us."
Nyra drew her twin daggers — infused with corrupted mana.
> "Then let's welcome them."
But before they could prepare, the forest around them shifted.
A sudden cold wind. Leaves froze in midair.
The trees darkened, as if soaked in ink.
---
From the shadows emerged three masked assassins — moving like phantoms. Their blades dripped with silence, their eyes emotionless.
> "Target confirmed," one whispered.
"Initiate Phase Alpha."
---
⚙️ System Skill Unlocked
> 🩸 Red Thread – Predictive Counter
Description: Visualizes enemy movements 0.3 seconds into the future.
Cooldown: 15 sec
Mana Cost: 60 MP
Riven smirked.
> "Let's play, then."
Time slowed for him.
He dodged the first assassin before he even moved — slicing his throat with his own blade.
Nyra spun beside him, her cybernetic limbs creating afterimages as she weaved death between the second and third.
> "Target resistance higher than expected," one muttered, bleeding.
> "Switch to Plan Omega."
They threw a black crystal at the ground.
> BOOM.
A dark pulse spread — disrupting mana and momentarily shutting off System functions.
> "Tch — anti-system field," Riven cursed, clutching his head.
> "We're not done yet," Nyra growled.
---
But that's when the Hunter arrived.
A tall figure, wearing a half-mask made of bone. His presence suffocated the air.
> "You're better than expected," the man said calmly.
"But this isn't your game anymore, Riven."
---
🟥 System Restarting… 30%
> Power Suppressed
Skills Disabled
HP Regen Disabled
Riven's body screamed in pain as mana circuits overloaded.
> "Nyra, fall back," he muttered.
"He's too strong with the field active."
> "I don't fall back," she said… just as the Hunter slammed into her with a fist full of corrupted void-energy.
She flew into a tree with a sickening crunch.
> "Nyra!"
---
For a moment, silence.
Then… something clicked inside Riven. A whisper not from the System… but from somewhere deeper.
From the Ashborn Code.
> "Awaken."
---
⚫ Secret Protocol Accessed: Ashborn Seed – Stage 1
> You have survived exposure to anti-system suppression.
Unlocking latent path: [Ashborn Core Mutation]
Temporary Buff: Pain Conversion (20 sec)
— Damage taken becomes Strength
— Movement speed tripled
— No skill required
---
The Hunter turned, confused.
> "What are you—"
Riven's fist shattered the bone mask.
He moved like death incarnate, absorbing every attack and using the pain to fuel his strikes. His eyes were glowing like twin crimson stars.
> "You shouldn't have come for me."
> "You… were supposed to die…" the Hunter gasped.
> "Everyone says that. But I rewrite endings."
Riven crushed his enemy's throat with one final punch, letting the body fall into the dying mana field.
---
The anti-system field collapsed.
✅ System Reboot Complete
> All Skills Restored
New Trait Acquired: [Pain Will Be Weaponized]
Riven picked up the wounded Nyra, her circuits damaged but her eyes still burning.
> "You saved me," she whispered.
> "No," Riven said. "I avenged us."
---
🧭 New Objective Unlocked:
> Reach Ashvale → Infiltrate General Caelis' Gala
Secondary Mission: Retrieve classified data from Imperial Archives
Reward: Memory Shard (Lv.3), Unknown Weapon Blueprint
---
As they walked away under the Hunter's Moon, a new presence stirred in the Empire — watching the scene through crystal mirrors.
> "He awakened Ashborn coding... this early?"
> "Then we must accelerate our plans."
The voice belonged to a woman in gold.
She turned to the kneeling servant beside her.
> "Send word to the Oracle. The Betrayed Genius is no longer dormant."