Rover's breath came in ragged gasps, sweat stinging his burning eyes as the illusionary battlefield shimmered and twisted around him like a cruel mirage. Each step felt heavier, his muscles screaming in silent protest under the weight of exhaustion and relentless attacks. The cycle of combat had stretched on for what felt like a hundred fights — each one more brutal, more unforgiving than the last.
The rift dragon's roars echoed through his mind, claws tearing into the ground and flesh alike. But it wasn't real. It was Valentine's creation, a test designed to break him.
Through the haze of pain and fatigue, Valentine's cold smirk materialized like a specter. His voice, smooth but razor-sharp, sliced through the thick air like a knife.
"I'll let you go for now," Valentine said, stepping forward with effortless grace, his eyes glinting with calculated cruelty. "Take your useless professor with you. But mark my words, Rover… I'll be watching you—from the shadows, always. This isn't over."
Rover blinked, swallowing the bitter taste of defeat mingled with the fire of defiance burning faintly inside him.
"I'm… okay. For now," Rover rasped, muscles trembling as he forced himself to stand upright. "For what it's worth, Valentine… I'm done playing your game. For now."
A flicker of amusement passed across Valentine's face, though his crimson eyes remained cold and dangerous.
"Good," he said softly, stepping back into the swirling illusion as if vanishing into mist. "Because I know you'll slip up eventually. And when you do…" His voice dropped to a menacing whisper, "I'll be waiting."
---
Suddenly, the tense silence shattered.
The distant hum of engines pierced the stillness, followed by sharp bursts of radio chatter that crackled through the fog like gunfire.
Rover's instincts snapped alive.
"They found us," he muttered, voice strained but alert.
Through the swirling mist, armored vehicles emerged—police cruisers, military transports, and specialized Hunter Association units converging rapidly on the coordinates that had become a battlefield of wills.
Before he could gather his strength, rough hands grasped him and the fragile form of Professor Kuroda, pulling them toward a convoy of soldiers and paramedics.
"Rover! We've got you!" a voice shouted with fierce urgency, cutting through the chaos.
---
From the shadows of the hangar, Valentine's expression darkened, twisting from amused confidence to cold fury as he watched the scene unfold.
"So, you called them?" His voice dropped low, venom dripping with each word. "The police? The military?"
Rover met his gaze, exhaustion etched into every line of his face, but defiance still burning fiercely in his eyes.
"They found us on their own. I didn't ask for help."
Valentine's fists clenched, nails digging into his palms.
"This complicates everything," he hissed through gritted teeth. "The Hunter Association will be here soon, crawling all over this mess you've made. You've just painted a target on all our backs."
He took a step forward, the cold fire in his eyes intensifying.
"Do you have any idea what you've done? Do you think this ends with you walking away, unscathed? No, Rover. This war—this war is just beginning. And I swear to you, I will make sure you regret every breath you take."
---
Rover's tired eyes narrowed. He didn't have the energy to argue, but his voice was steel.
"Then let them come."
The hangar grew silent for a heartbeat, the tension crackling in the air like a storm about to break.
Outside, distant sirens wailed, growing louder.
The shadows deepened. The hunt was far from over.
To be continue...