The forest was quiet.
Too quiet.
Dark walked slowly, his boots sinking into the damp earth with each step. The air around him was thick, suffocating, as though the world itself were holding its breath. Twisted trees stretched toward the sky, their bare branches clawing at the darkness above. A faint mist hung low to the ground, swirling lazily around his ankles as if alive.
Dark: (thinking) Keep moving. Don't stop. Don't look back.
His claws flexed at his sides, his crimson eyes scanning the shadows between the trees. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the faint sound of his breathing. Every instinct screamed at him to run, but he didn't know where—or what—from. All he knew was that something was wrong.
Very wrong.
A faint breeze stirred the branches above him, and for a moment, the forest seemed to come alive. Shadows danced across the ground, shifting unnaturally, their movements faster than the swaying of the trees. Dark stopped in his tracks, his breath hitching as he glanced over his shoulder.
Nothing.
Dark: (thinking) It's just the wind. Keep moving.
He pressed forward, his footsteps heavy against the damp earth. The mist thickened as he walked, curling around him like tendrils of smoke. The shadows grew darker, deeper, swallowing the faint moonlight that filtered through the canopy. And then—
It appeared.
No warning. No sound. Just... there.
A towering figure stood several paces ahead, its form barely visible through the swirling mist. The Hunter. Its body was a void, its silhouette broken and jagged, as though reality itself refused to fully acknowledge its existence. Long, thin limbs stretched unnaturally, its head tilted to one side in a way that defied anatomy. Its face—or what should have been its face—was an endless expanse of black, save for two burning embers where eyes might have been.
Dark froze. His heart slammed against his ribs as his claws instinctively flexed, his crimson eyes narrowing. He didn't move, didn't even breathe. The air felt heavy, pressing down on his chest like an invisible weight.
The Hunter tilted its head further, its ember-like eyes narrowing as it seemed to study him.
Dark: (thinking) What... the hell is that?
The silence dragged on, unbearable. And then, the Hunter moved.
A single step.
The ground beneath its feet didn't crack or shift—it simply disappeared, swallowed by the void that clung to its form. It took another step, impossibly slow, the motion deliberate and unrelenting.
Dark stepped back, his claws tensing as his aura flickered faintly around him.
Dark: (low, trembling) Stay back.
The Hunter stopped. Its ember eyes burned brighter for a moment, its head straightening as it seemed to focus on him completely. And then it spoke.
Hunter: (low, guttural) Fear.
The voice wasn't a sound. It was a vibration, a resonance that crawled into Dark's skull and spread through his mind like a sickness. It wasn't just heard—it was felt, deep and invasive, like claws raking through his thoughts.
Dark: (thinking) No. No, this isn't real. It's... it's in my head.
The Hunter took another step, the void around it spreading like a stain across the ground.
Hunter: (coldly) You cannot run... from what you are.
Dark staggered back, his aura flaring instinctively as he clenched his fists.
Dark: (sharply) I'm not afraid of you.
The Hunter tilted its head again, as though amused. Its ember eyes flared brighter, and the mist around it began to twist and writhe, forming shapes—faces. Familiar faces.
Lara. Tier. Leona. Gilmuar.
Their expressions were hollow, lifeless, their eyes locked on Dark with an intensity that made his chest tighten.
Hunter: (mocking) You cannot run... from them.
Dark's breath hitched, his claws digging into his palms as his mind raced. The faces in the mist began to speak, their voices distorted, layered with malice.
Lara: (coldly) You're a monster, Dark.
Tier: (grimly) Chaos follows you everywhere.
Leona: (angrily) You can't protect anyone.
Gilmuar: (firmly) You'll always be alone.
Dark shook his head violently, his aura flaring as he roared into the silence.
Dark: (snarling) Stop it!
The mist dissipated instantly, the faces vanishing as though they had never been there. But the Hunter remained, unmoving, its ember eyes locked onto him.
Hunter: (softly, mocking) Alone.
The word echoed in the air, reverberating through the forest like a cruel taunt. Dark took a shaky step back, his aura flickering erratically as he tried to steady his breathing.
And then... it was gone.
The Hunter disappeared. No sound, no motion—just gone, as though it had never been there. Dark blinked, his crimson eyes darting around the forest as his heart raced.
Dark: (thinking) Where...?
A soft sound came from behind him. A single, deliberate step.
Dark turned sharply, his claws raised, but there was nothing there.
He took a step forward, his senses heightened, scanning every shadow, every shift in the mist. And then he stopped.
The camera pans around him, capturing his realization.
The Hunter was in front of him.
Standing impossibly close.
Its ember eyes burned brighter than ever, the void around it pulsating with raw malice. For the first time, it moved quickly, leaning in until its featureless face was mere inches from Dark's.
Hunter: (low, guttural) Run.
Dark staggered back, his body trembling as the word echoed in his mind. He turned and ran, his movements frantic as he tore through the forest. The camera follows him in a shaky, first-person perspective, capturing his uneven breathing, his pounding footsteps, the relentless whispers of the Hunter chasing him.
But no matter how far he ran, no matter how fast, the Hunter was always there.
Appearing in the corner of his vision. In front of him. Behind him. Beside him.
Its voice echoed everywhere, relentless.
Hunter: (mocking) Run. Run. Run.
Dark's aura flared violently as he roared, slashing at the air around him in a blind frenzy.
Dark: Leave me alone!
The forest fell silent. Dark stood frozen, his chest heaving as he glanced around. The Hunter was gone.
Dark: (thinking) Did I...?
Before the thought could finish, a cold, clawed hand rested on his shoulder. The camera pans to his face, his eyes wide with terror as he slowly turns his head.
The Hunter loomed over him, its ember eyes burning into his soul. And for the first time, its tone softened—not mocking, not cruel, but quiet and almost... understanding.
Hunter: (softly) Why do you run from what you are?
Dark's vision blurred, the world around him fading into darkness as the Hunter's voice consumed his thoughts.
Hunter: (softly) You cannot run forever.
Dark spun around, his claws raised defensively, his aura flaring brighter as he glared at the towering figure before him. The Hunter's ember-like eyes bore into him, their glow piercing through the swirling mist like knives. The weight of the Hunter's presence pressed down on Dark, suffocating, but he refused to falter.
Dark: (sharply) I'm not afraid of you.
The Hunter tilted its head, its dark, shifting form rippling like smoke caught in a violent wind. It didn't move closer, yet its presence grew heavier, more oppressive. The ember eyes narrowed slightly, as if analyzing every word, every twitch of Dark's body.
Hunter: (coldly) A liar.
Dark's claws twitched. He took a step back, his jaw tightening.
Dark: (defensive) I'm not lying. Why would I be afraid of you?
The Hunter's head straightened, its voice dropping to a low, guttural tone.
Hunter: (softly) Why? Because I can see it. Smell it. Your fear lingers in the air like poison. You reek of it.
Dark's aura flared violently, the black and red energy swirling around him as he growled.
Dark: (snarling) I told you, I'm not afraid!
The Hunter moved then—not toward him, but around him, its form shifting and twisting as though it were part of the mist itself. It circled him slowly, its ember eyes locked onto Dark like a predator studying its prey.
Hunter: (calmly) Lies. All lies. You think I can't see through you? Feel the cracks in your voice? Hear the thunder in your chest? You fear me because you fear the truth.
Dark's claws tightened into fists, his crimson eyes narrowing as he forced himself to stand firm.
Dark: (growling) What truth?
The Hunter stopped abruptly, its towering form looming over him. The ember eyes flared brighter, the light casting jagged shadows across Dark's face.
Hunter: (softly) That you are weak. That you are scared. That you've become something even you don't understand.
Dark's aura spiked, the energy crackling like lightning around him as he stepped forward.
Dark: (roaring) I'm not weak!
The Hunter's laugh was low and mocking, a sound that echoed through the mist like a cruel chorus.
Hunter: (mockingly) Shouting doesn't make it true, boy. I despise liars, but I loathe cowards even more.
Dark snarled, his claws glowing faintly as he prepared to strike.
Dark: (defiantly) Then stop talking and do something about it!
The Hunter moved faster than Dark could react. One moment, it was in front of him; the next, its clawed hand was wrapped around his throat, lifting him off the ground with unnerving ease. The ember eyes burned into his, and for the first time, Dark felt truly exposed.
Hunter: (softly) Do not mistake me for a fool, Dark. I understand your pain. I see the weight you carry. But you lie to yourself. You lie to me. And worst of all, you lie to them.
Dark's breath hitched. His claws lashed out instinctively, but the Hunter's grip didn't waver. It tightened, just enough to make Dark feel the weight of his own helplessness.
Dark: (choking) I... I'm not...
The Hunter's voice grew colder, its tone dripping with venom.
Hunter: (snarling) You're afraid they were right. That they left because of you. That the monster they saw is the monster you are. That you don't deserve their forgiveness—or their love.
Dark's eyes widened, his body trembling as the words struck deep. He struggled against the Hunter's grip, his aura flaring wildly, but it wasn't enough.
Dark: (gritting his teeth) Shut... up...
The Hunter tilted its head again, its ember eyes narrowing as it studied him.
Hunter: (softly) Tell me, Dark. Why do you run? Is it because you don't want to face me? Or because you can't face yourself?
Dark didn't answer. He couldn't. His mind raced, the weight of the Hunter's words crushing him from within. The faces of his friends flashed through his mind—Lara's tearful eyes, Tier's condemning glare, Leona's furious shout. The image of their backs as they walked away burned itself into his memory, an unyielding reminder of his failure.
The Hunter's grip loosened slightly, and Dark fell to the ground with a thud. He coughed, his claws scraping against the dirt as he struggled to push himself up. The Hunter loomed over him, its voice calm but unrelenting.
Hunter: (coldly) Admit it. Say the words. Face the truth, and I may let you go.
Dark's claws dug into the ground, his body trembling as he glared up at the Hunter.
Dark: (snarling) I... I'm not afraid of you.
The Hunter's ember eyes flared brighter, and the air around them grew colder.
Hunter: (low, furious) Liar.
The forest shifted again, the ground splitting beneath them as darkness poured forth like a living tide. Tendrils of shadow coiled around Dark, wrapping tightly around his limbs and pulling him to his knees. The Hunter stepped closer, its presence suffocating.
Hunter: (softly) You think pride will save you? You think pretending to be unshaken will make me stop? No, Dark. You cannot fool me. You cannot fool yourself.
Dark struggled against the tendrils, his crimson eyes blazing with defiance.
Dark: (growling) You don't know me.
The Hunter leaned down, its face inches from Dark's. Its voice was a low whisper, colder than death.
Hunter: (softly) I know everything about you. I am born from your fear. Your anger. Your shame. You created me.
Dark's breath hitched, his body going still as the words sank in. The Hunter straightened, its ember eyes narrowing.
Hunter: (softly) You cannot run forever. But perhaps... you don't need to.
Dark froze, his eyes flickering with confusion.
Dark: (hesitant) What... what do you mean?
The Hunter turned away slightly, its ember eyes dimming as its voice softened.
Hunter: (calmly) I do not exist to destroy you, Dark. I exist to remind you. To force you to confront what you refuse to see. The lies you tell yourself, the truths you bury, the fear you hide behind your anger.
Dark: (growling) And what if I refuse?
The Hunter's ember eyes flared once more as it turned back to him.
Hunter: (softly) Then I will chase you. I will hunt you. And I will find you, again and again, until you stop running.
Dark's claws trembled, his aura flickering as he stared into the Hunter's unyielding gaze.
Hunter: (firmly) Choose, Dark. Face me, or flee. But know this—you cannot escape yourself.
The mist coiled tighter around them, the forest growing impossibly silent as Dark lowered his head, his breath heavy with exhaustion and uncertainty.
Dark clenched his fists, his claws digging into his palms until blood dripped onto the forest floor. The Hunter's words gnawed at him, sinking into the cracks of his mind like poison. His breath was uneven, each inhale feeling like a struggle against the crushing weight of truth.
Dark: (low, defiant) I'm not running.
The Hunter didn't move, its ember eyes narrowing as though it could see through him, peeling back the layers of his resolve like fragile parchment.
Hunter: (softly) You already are.
Dark forced himself to his feet, his aura flaring briefly before sputtering, unstable. He glared at the towering figure, the fire in his crimson eyes flickering with desperation.
Dark: (growling) You don't know anything about me. About what I've been through. About what I've lost.
The Hunter tilted its head, its form shifting slightly, as though it were melding with the shadows of the forest.
Hunter: (calmly) I know everything. Your rage, your regret, your guilt. I am the part of you you've buried so deeply, you've forgotten I exist. But I am here, Dark. I've always been here.
Dark's jaw tightened, his claws twitching at his sides. His voice came out sharp, but it carried the tremor of doubt.
Dark: (snapping) Then why now? Why show up now? What do you want from me?
The Hunter took a step closer, its form towering over Dark like a living nightmare.
Hunter: (softly) I want nothing from you. I am here because you are broken. Because you are afraid. And because you need me.
Dark's laugh was bitter, filled with disbelief.
Dark: (mocking) Need you? You're nothing but a shadow. A voice. A ghost. You're nothing.
The Hunter's ember eyes flared, and the shadows around it twisted violently, the trees creaking under the pressure of its presence.
Hunter: (coldly) You dare lie again?
Dark's aura surged, his claws glowing faintly as he took a step forward, his voice rising with anger.
Dark: (snarling) I don't need you! I don't need anyone!
The Hunter's form blurred, and before Dark could react, it was in front of him, its hand resting lightly on his chest. The touch was cold, like ice pressing against his skin. Dark froze, his breath catching as he felt something stir deep within him—a hollow, aching emptiness he couldn't ignore.
Hunter: (softly) You can lie to me, but you cannot lie to yourself. I feel it. The void inside you. The fear that festers, feeding on your failures. You carry it with you, no matter how far you run.
Dark's claws twitched, his aura flickering weakly as he struggled to respond.
Dark: (quietly) I... I can fix it. I can make it right.
The Hunter tilted its head, its ember eyes narrowing as it studied him.
Hunter: (softly) Fix it? You cannot fix what you refuse to confront. You cannot rebuild what you continue to destroy.
Dark's knees buckled slightly, but he forced himself to stay upright, his voice trembling as he spoke.
Dark: (whispering) I don't want to be this... this monster.
The Hunter's hand moved, its clawed finger tilting Dark's chin upward until their gazes met. Its voice softened, no longer cold but almost understanding.
Hunter: (calmly) Then stop pretending you're not afraid. Stop lying to yourself. Face the truth, Dark. Only then can you begin to change.
Dark's breath hitched, his crimson eyes glistening faintly as he stared into the Hunter's unyielding gaze. The weight of its words pressed down on him like an avalanche, crushing the walls he had built around himself.
Dark: (barely audible) I'm scared.
The Hunter stepped back slightly, its ember eyes dimming as though in approval.
Hunter: (softly)
Hunter: (softly) That is the first truth you've spoken tonight.
Dark's shoulders sagged, his claws lowering to his sides as the tension drained from his body. The words felt foreign on his tongue, yet releasing them brought a fleeting sense of relief—a crack of light in the oppressive darkness that surrounded him.
Dark: (quietly) I didn't want to admit it. Not to you, not to anyone. If I'm afraid... it means they were right. That I'm not strong enough. That I'm not who I thought I was.
The Hunter's form shifted again, melting into the mist only to reappear a few paces away, as though giving Dark space to breathe. Its voice remained calm, steady, yet its presence was as imposing as ever.
Hunter: (softly) Fear does not make you weak, Dark. It is what you do with that fear that defines you. To run from it is to surrender. To face it... is to overcome.
Dark's jaw tightened, his fists trembling as he stared at the ground. The memories of his friends, their backs turned to him, their voices filled with anger and disappointment, played in his mind like a relentless loop.
Dark: (whispering) They left because of me. Because I couldn't control myself. Because I hurt them.
The Hunter's ember eyes flared slightly, its voice taking on a sharper edge.
Hunter: (coldly) And yet you lie to me. To yourself. Did they leave because of what you are? Or did they leave because you refuse to face what you've become?
Dark flinched, the words cutting deeper than any blade. His claws dug into his palms again, but this time, he didn't lash out. He stood there, silent, the weight of the Hunter's question sinking in.
Hunter: (firmly) Tell me, Dark. What do you truly fear? Is it them? Is it yourself? Or is it the truth you've buried so deep, you've forgotten it exists?
Dark's voice cracked as he replied, his tone raw and unsteady.
Dark: (quietly) I'm afraid they're better off without me.
The Hunter moved closer again, its form towering over Dark like a shadow cast by an unrelenting flame.
Hunter: (softly) Then prove yourself wrong. Fear can guide you, but it must not control you. Face what you've become, and become something more.
Dark looked up, his crimson eyes locking with the Hunter's ember gaze. For a moment, the fear that had gripped him loosened its hold, replaced by a flicker of determination.
Dark: (low, steady) You said I can't run forever. Fine. I'm done running. I'll face it. All of it.
The Hunter's ember eyes dimmed slightly, its form seeming to relax as it took a step back.
Hunter: (softly) Good. Then perhaps you are not beyond saving.
Dark took a deep breath, his claws retracting as he steadied himself. The fear still lingered, a shadow at the edge of his mind, but he no longer felt suffocated by it. He turned to the Hunter, his voice firm.
Dark: (quietly) What happens now?
The Hunter's form began to dissolve, its ember eyes the last to fade as its voice echoed through the mist.
Hunter: (softly) That is up to you, Dark. Face the truth, and find your path. But know this—I will always be watching. Should you falter, I will return.
The mist around Dark began to thin, the oppressive weight lifting as the Hunter's presence vanished completely. For the first time in what felt like hours, Dark was alone. He looked down at his trembling hands, the faint remnants of his aura flickering around them.
Dark: (thinking) No more running. No more lying. I'll face this... and I'll prove them wrong.
The camera panned upward, the forest clearing as the first rays of light broke through the darkness, illuminating Dark's face. His expression was resolute, his crimson eyes burning with renewed purpose. The shadows of the forest receded, but the echoes of the Hunter's words lingered in the air, a reminder of the truth he could no longer deny.
End Of Arc 4 Chapter 18.