Dune steadied his breathing, allowing the healing to take effect. But before he could fully regain control, a sudden wave of dizziness overtook him, and everything went black.
When he finally woke up, he felt… different. His body, though still aching, had begun to heal. His Neba had continued its work even while he was unconscious. The pain lingered, deep and persistent, but he paid it no mind. For now, that didn't matter.
[ Zetens 92/100 ]
"Damn it…" Dune muttered, tightening his grip on his blade. "Eight Zetens died from the fall alone? This is insane." He exhaled sharply, his mind racing…Atlas, Ned, I hope you're both alive."
He pushed forward, stepping cautiously into the eerie forest.
The forest loomed in shades of black, gray, and white, its twisted trees stretching like skeletal fingers toward a sky choked with swirling mist.
The ground was slick with shadows, broken only by the occasional smear of deep crimson, whether fallen leaves or something else, Dune couldn't tell. A cold, unnatural silence clung to the air as he walked, each step swallowed by the void-like stillness.
[ Zetens 85/100 ]
"They're dying too fast…" he murmured.
The silence was oppressive. Every sound Dune made seemed swallowed by the unnatural stillness. Then, suddenly, the bushes nearby rustled.
A guy burst out, sprinting like his life depended on it.
"Run!" He shouted as he flew past Dune, his face pale with terror. "That guy is insane! He's killing everyone!"
Dune's eyes narrowed as he leapt into the air with Nebastep, landing on a sturdy tree branch to get a better look.
[ Zetens 80/100 ]
"People are dying way too quickly…" he muttered. "This island must be small if we're running into each other so soon."
A sudden chill ran down his spine. He froze.
Someone was behind him. Before he could react, something sharp pressed against his back.
"Move, and you die," a calm voice whispered.
"What do you want?" Dune asked, his voice steady despite the tension. "What's the point of keeping me alive? Just do it."
The man chuckled softly. "Oh, you've got guts. That's good. I'll keep it simple, down there, a group of four will pass by soon. You and I are going to slaughter them. Sound fun?"
Dune frowned. "If you want them dead, kill them yourself."
The man laughed again. "It's a group of four, and I don't have enough information about them. I need an extra pair of hands. I've already killed twelve Zetens on my way here."
Dune's stomach churned. "So this is the guy everyone's running from…"
"And if I refuse?" Dune asked carefully.
The blade pressed harder. "Then you die. But if you team up with me, you might survive. After we kill that group, I'll even give you a ten-second head start before I chase you. Generous, isn't it?"
Dune gritted his teeth. "This guy is insane," he thought. But he didn't have a choice.
"Fine," Dune said reluctantly. "I'm Dune. Let's work together." The blade eased away, and the man stepped forward.
"I'm Elijah," he said with a grin. "Good luck, Dune."
Elijah was unnervingly handsome, with dark blue hair and piercing blue eyes that seemed to see right through you. He wore black battle gear similar to Dune with a flowing jacket and a blue scarf that matched his hair.
Annoyed, Dune asked, "So, what's your plan?"
Elijah smirked. "Simple. You'll be the decoy. Go down there and distract them. Once their guard is down and we figure out their abilities, I'll swoop in and save you. Then we kill them together. Perfect, right?"
Before Dune could respond, he noticed movement below. The group of four was already approaching.
"They're here," Dune whispered.
Without warning, Elijah shoved him off the branch.
"Good luck, Dune!" Elijah called, his grin widening.
Dune gritted his teeth, using Nebastep to slow his fall. He landed in front of the group, blade drawn.
The four froze, their eyes locking on him.
At front stood a tall man with short black hair and piercing green eyes, he immediately stepped forward. His broad shoulders and the massive broadsword strapped to his back exuded confidence and authority.
*He should be the leader.*
Beside him stood a wiry man with a blonde hair, sharp blue eyes behind thin glasses, and a calculating expression. He carried no visible weapon, but his intense gaze suggested he didn't need one.
A hulking figure loomed behind them, a red-haired man with wild eyes and a massive axe resting casually on his shoulder. He wore a manic grin that screamed he was ready for a fight.
The last was a petite girl with short silver hair and bright violet eyes. Twin daggers spun in her hands.
Dune tightened his grip on his blade, his mind racing. "Damn it, Elijah… I'm going to make you pay for this."
Before Dune could make a move, the leader roared, unleashing a green blast of Neba from his mouth. The explosion ripped through the ground, tearing up trees and earth. Dune used Nebastep to launch himself upward, the explosive platform beneath his feet pushing him out of harm's way.
"That's some serious firepower," Dune thought, landing on a tree branch. "I can't take a direct hit from that."
Before he could recover, the silver-haired girl lunged at him. Her movements were swift and fluid, and her daggers gleamed dangerously. Dune dropped from the branch, swinging his sword to meet her strike, but she threw one of her daggers midair.
In a flash, she teleported to the dagger's location, reappearing behind him.
"Not bad," Dune muttered, twisting to block her attack just in time. "But" He gritted his teeth and activated Nebastep, exploding forward with a burst of speed. His blade gleamed as he closed in, ready to drive it into her chest.
But before he could land the blow, a green shield appeared out of nowhere, blocking his strike.
"What—?" …this ability, it's similar to… Dune growled, staggering back as his blade clanged against the shield.
The red-haired man chuckled darkly from a distance, lowering his axe slightly. "You're gonna have to try harder than that, kid."
Dune scowled and turned his attention to the wiry blonde, who was already on the move.
Spikes erupted from the man's body as he rolled toward Dune at a blinding speed, tearing through the ground like a spinning buzzsaw.
Dune leapt aside, creating another Nebastep to propel himself toward the blonde mid-spin. He angled his blade, ready to slice through the man's torso, but once again, the green shield materialized, blocking his strike effortlessly.
The red-haired man grinned.
"Damn it!" Dune cursed, retreating to a safe distance as the shield vanished.
He analyzed the battlefield, his mind racing. "The shields. They only appear when someone's about to get hit. And they're all coming from him… the red-haired guy."
He dodged another green blast from the leader and narrowly avoided the spinning blonde, his frustration mounting. "I can't land a single hit because of him. That shield is perfect. If I don't deal with him first, I won't stand a chance."
Dune steeled himself, focusing on the red-haired man. "He's the problem. He has to go first."
Before Dune could make his move, Elijah dropped silently from above.
"What the—" Dune started, but Elijah was already in motion.
With lightning speed, Elijah's blade sliced through the red-haired man's head. The giant froze mid-laugh, the shield flickering and vanishing before he crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
The rest of the group erupted in fury.
"You bastard!" the leader roared, charging forward with his broadsword raised. He unleashed another blast of green Neba, but Elijah sidestepped it effortlessly, closing the distance in the blink of an eye. With a single, precise strike, Elijah decapitated him, the leader's body collapsing to the ground in a heap.
The blonde spun toward Elijah, spikes tearing through the ground, but it was no use. Elijah's blade cut through him with a clean, efficient motion, severing him in two.
Dune watched in stunned silence. "He's… unbelievably fast..his ability gotta be something connected to speed. he thought. "I couldn't even see him move."
The silver-haired girl screamed in panic, throwing her remaining dagger to teleport away. But Elijah didn't hesitate. He waited calmly, tracking her movements. The moment she reappeared, Elijah was already there, his blade driving into her chest before she could react.
Her violet eyes widened in disbelief as blood spilled from her lips. She crumpled to the ground, lifeless like the others.
Elijah straightened, his blade dripping with blood. He looked up at the sky and breathed deeply, as though savoring the moment. Then, with a slow, almost predatory smile, he turned his gaze to Dune.
"Well," Elijah said softly, his voice carrying through the still air. "Ten…"
Dune's breath caught in his throat.
"Nine…"
"Damn it," Dune muttered, his legs already moving. He activated Nebastep, explosive platforms propelling him forward as he dashed into the forest at breakneck speed, the sound of Elijah's countdown echoing behind him.