Adrián sliced through the air between the trees, his white wings cutting the wind with lethal precision. His red eyes were fixed on Duke, calculating every movement, every possible twist, every leap that might give him an advantage. The white bat ascended and descended with agility, weaving through the forest, searching for the exact moment to pounce on his prey.
Below, Duke ran at full speed, feeling every muscle tense and adrenaline surge through his body. Every branch and root he encountered became both an obstacle and an opportunity. His heart raced with excitement, not just from the chase, but from the challenge itself. Adrián's shadow cast on the ground immediately told him he was being hunted—a silent, deadly predator that heightened his thrill. A fleeting smile crossed his lips as he accelerated, savoring the tension, the risk, and the need to calculate every move with precision.
The forest seemed to compress around him. The wind whipped up by Adrián's wings stirred the leaves, creating shifting shadows and clearings that Duke had to use to evade and advance. With a quick pivot, he slipped toward a leafy tree, disappearing momentarily from aerial view. His footsteps became silent as he hid beneath the foliage, every fiber of his body vibrating with anticipation.
From above, Adrián sensed something different. His red eyes caught a faint movement among the leaves of the tree. At first, he thought it was just the wind, but something in the vibration drew his attention. And then he saw it: the branches parted violently, and Duke burst forth like a projectile shot from a cannon, cutting through the air at impossible speed straight toward him. The surprise left him momentarily frozen, his hunter's instinct confronted with a move he hadn't anticipated.
Duke reached Adrián's height with explosive energy. Then he threw a punch, aiming straight for the bat-like creature's torso.
Adrián was extraordinarily agile. With a fluid, spinning motion, he arced over Duke, evading the punch and using the momentum to strike back. His claws sank into Duke's back, leaving deep, burning marks. The pain hit Duke, but his thrill for the fight only grew, intensifying his focus and adrenaline.
Reacting instantly, Duke twisted violently mid-air, using the momentum from the strike to swing around. His eyes locked on a vulnerable point: Adrián's ankle. With a precise, explosive movement, he grabbed it, anchoring himself while remaining airborne.
Using every ounce of his strength and momentum, he hurled the white-winged creature downward toward the forest floor.
Adrián flailed, wings and claws slicing through the air in a desperate attempt to soften the landing. He partially absorbed the impact, but the force still jolted his body, sending a shockwave through his limbs.
As Duke descended, his weight threatened to crush Adrián if he landed directly above him. Adrián reacted instantly, leaping backward mid-air, twisting to evade the pressure of Duke's falling body. His claws flared, slicing the air as he regained control and repositioned himself with fluid grace.
Duke followed with a swift, forceful right-hand punch, aimed at Adrián's head. The strike was fast, precise, and meant to dominate the encounter. Adrián barely had time to react—he twisted, letting the punch sail past harmlessly.
At the same time, his hand morphed into a blade-like form, claws extending, sharp and deadly. With a sudden, fluid motion, he thrust it forward, sinking the clawed hand into Duke's chest with brutal precision.
The knee strike slammed into Adrian, sending him floating backward, but Duke showed no sign of weakness. His right forearm hung uselessly, yet that didn't slow him down for a second. With a wild, precise movement, he tore off the forearm and kicked it with force toward John, like an unstoppable projectile. Every gesture of his radiated raw aggression; each leap and twist proved he was completely unhinged, yet perfectly lethal.
Adrian, suspended in the air, tracked his movements with senses on high alert. Duke was fast, brutal, and brutally clever in his violence; he left no openings, offered no mercy. John barely had time to react—the flying arm was heading straight for him, an attack that combined force and surprise.
Without wasting a second, Duke exploited a gap in the trees and vanished into the underbrush. His speed and aggression made it clear that even wounded, he remained an unstoppable threat. Neither Adrian nor John could reach him. They had let him escape, but the certainty that Duke could return at any moment—brutal and savage as ever—hung heavy in the air.
Jon stepped out from the trees, his massive monstrous form towering, but he moved with a casual, almost lazy grace. He walked up to Adrian, a crooked grin spreading across his face.
—Hey, you okay, man?
Adrian gave a slight nod, showing he was exhausted but still holding himself together. Jon chuckled and shrugged.
He glanced toward the direction Duke had disappeared, shaking his head with a smirk.
—And that Duke… tearing off his forearm and kicking it like it's nothing… seriously, who even thinks of doing that? Absolute madman.
Adrian turned his head slightly, silently acknowledging Jon's words. Jon leaned casually on his rifle, grinning, clearly enjoying the chaos around them, but his eyes remained sharp, scanning the forest in case that wild man decided to pop up again.
Day 18
Victoria moved carefully through the forest, her steps light but purposeful. Every shadow, every rustle of leaves, kept her senses alert. Anger burned beneath her calm exterior—her team had been humiliated, scattered by Marcus and his group. Revenge wasn't just a desire; it was a necessity.
Her target was clear: Ryunosuke Fujiwara. Not just any ally—he was strong, unpredictable, and perfect for the plan she needed.
She slipped between the trees, her hand brushing the hilt of her weapon. The forest seemed to close in around her, every step echoing her determination.
Suddenly, movement behind her—a shadow. In a heartbeat, a saber pressed against the back of her neck.
Victoria's instincts flared. Calmly, she twisted her head slightly, meeting the eyes of the figure behind her.
"Don't move," Ryunosuke said, his voice steady, sharp, carrying the weight of a fighter who had faced countless challenges. Victoria could sense his power, the lethal precision in his stance.
"How did you find me?" Ryunosuke asked, glancing over his shoulder, eyes sharp.
Victoria smirked slightly. "Seriously?You know you shouldn't underestimate my intelligence."
Ryun tilted his head, studying her. "Judging by how you came—unarmed—I take it you're here to ask for something."
"Revenge." The word came out sharp. "A team wiped out most of mine. I'm not letting that slide."
Ryun finally turned, eyes razor-sharp. "And you came to me. Interesting choice."
"Not interesting," she corrected. "Logical. You're the strongest. Stronger than the ones who took down my people."
He gave a small, amused smirk, full of quiet arrogance. "Flattery doesn't suit you, Victoria."
"It's not flattery. It's a fact."
Ryun stepped a bit closer, not threatening, just measuring her. "Why assume I'd join you? I don't care about your grudge."
"No," she admitted. "But you care about strong opponents. You care about fights that actually mean something. And these guys? They're strong. You know they are if I'm here."
Ryun stayed silent for a moment, something sharp flickering behind his eyes.
Ryun's lips curved into a brief, amused smirk. "I see".
Ryun sheathed his sword with a fluid motion, the metal sliding silently into its scabbard.
Victoria, sensing movement, turned—and there he was. Standing tall and poised, Ryunosuke met her gaze without a flicker of hesitation.
Every detail of him spoke of precision and lethal grace. His long black hair fell across his shoulders, catching the dappled light filtering through the trees. The delicate contours of his Asian features seemed almost feminine, yet there was a latent power in the lean muscles beneath his smooth skin.
He shifted slightly, light on his feet, every movement controlled, agile—a predator contained within elegance. The presence he carried wasn't loud, but it pressed in on her awareness: confident, dangerous, and utterly unyielding.
Victoria's eyes narrowed slightly, assessing him, understanding immediately why she had come. Strength, skill, and that rare spark of arrogance that refused to bow—Ryun had it all, and she needed it.