Mark and Kilian advanced through the dense forest, moving cautiously but with purpose. The distant echoes of battle filled the air, a reminder that they weren't alone in this competition. Every shadow could hide a lurking adversary, whether a monster or another duo looking to steal their points.
They had already earned 1,000 points, but that was far from enough. If they wanted to secure a top ranking, they had to aim higher. That meant stronger monsters—and possibly more confrontations with other players.
— "We need to find a high-value target," Kilian muttered, his grip tightening on his sword. "Something that can push us ahead in the rankings."
Mark nodded, his eyes scanning their surroundings. The terrain had shifted from thick woods to an open valley, where towering stone pillars jutted from the earth like the remains of an ancient battlefield. The wind howled between them, carrying an eerie, guttural sound.
— "We're not alone," Mark whispered.
Kilian followed his gaze and spotted it—a hulking creature perched atop one of the rock formations. Its body was covered in plated armor-like scales, its elongated head crowned with jagged horns. It resembled a hybrid between a dragon and a wolf, with razor-sharp claws gripping the stone beneath it.
A notification flashed in their vision:
[[Nightfang Hunter - Level 9]] [[Points Reward: 1,500]]
— "This is it," Kilian smirked. "This thing alone gives more than all our previous kills combined."
— "Yeah," Mark agreed. "But look at it. It's waiting for something."
As if in response, another shape emerged from behind a boulder. A second Nightfang, just as menacing, stepped forward, its eyes glowing faintly in the dim light.
[[Second Nightfang Hunter Detected - Level 9]]
Mark exhaled.
— "Two of them. This just got a lot more interesting."
Kilian grinned. "Let's see who the real hunters are."
The moment they moved, the Nightfangs reacted instantly. The first one lunged from its perch, closing the distance with terrifying speed. Mark barely had time to brace himself before the beast's claws swiped at him, slicing through the air with deadly precision. He dodged, rolling to the side, but the force of the attack sent shards of rock flying.
Kilian charged the second beast, swinging his greatsword with a brutal arc. The Nightfang leaped back, avoiding the initial strike, then countered with a vicious bite aimed at Kilian's side. Kilian twisted his body, barely avoiding the snapping jaws, and retaliated with a precise upward slash, carving a deep gash into the creature's flank. It howled in pain but didn't falter.
Mark, meanwhile, was locked in a fierce struggle. His opponent moved with uncanny agility, attacking in rapid succession, forcing him to stay on the defensive. He absorbed one of the beast's strikes, feeling the impact rattle through his bones, but used the momentum to grab onto its forelimb. With sheer brute force, he lifted the Nightfang off the ground and slammed it into the rock formation.
The ground cracked under the impact. The creature let out a guttural growl, stunned for a brief moment. Mark didn't waste time—he delivered a devastating punch straight into its ribcage, the force shattering its armor-like plating. The Nightfang let out a piercing shriek before collapsing, lifeless.
[[Nightfang Hunter Defeated - +1,500 Points Earned]]
Kilian, still locked in battle, saw the notification flash before him. He smirked.
— "Showoff."
But his moment of distraction cost him. The remaining Nightfang capitalized on it, twisting its body and delivering a powerful back-kick that sent Kilian flying several meters backward. He crashed into a pillar, coughing up blood from the impact.
Mark narrowed his eyes. "Oh, you just made a mistake."
He surged forward at terrifying speed, his fists crackling with raw power. The Nightfang barely had time to react before Mark's punch connected, sending it reeling. Kilian, regaining his footing, saw his opening. He dashed forward, sword in hand, and delivered a precise, decapitating strike.
The second Nightfang collapsed, blood pooling beneath it.
[[Second Nightfang Hunter Defeated - +1,500 Points Earned]]
They stood amidst the wreckage of their battle, breathing heavily. Their combined efforts had earned them an additional 3,000 points, bringing their total to 4,000.
Kilian wiped the blood from his mouth and chuckled. "I think we're getting the hang of this."
Mark cracked his knuckles. "Let's keep moving. We've still got 6,000 points to go."
And with that, they disappeared deeper into the battlefield, ready for whatever came next.
Mark and Kilian pressed deeper into the battlefield, moving with renewed urgency. The scent of blood and steel lingered in the air, a stark reminder of the relentless battles taking place all around them. They had 4,000 points, but that was only a fraction of what they needed.
Everywhere they looked, monstrous creatures prowled the terrain, each more formidable than the last. Some players had formed temporary alliances, while others were locked in brutal combat, eliminating the competition one by one.
As they advanced, Kilian's sharp eyes caught movement among the jagged rocks ahead. He raised a hand, signaling Mark to stop. They crouched low, peering through the mist that clung to the valley floor.
— "Another team?" Kilian whispered.
Mark nodded. Two figures stood atop a crumbled stone structure, their weapons gleaming under the pale light. Their armor was intricately designed, bearing the insignia of an unfamiliar faction. But what caught Mark's attention was the beast lying dead at their feet.
A level 10 monster.
— "They took it down fast," Mark observed. "That means they're strong."
Kilian smirked. "Maybe it's time to test ourselves."
Before Mark could respond, one of the warriors turned in their direction, as if sensing their presence. His eyes locked onto them with an unsettling intensity, and without hesitation, he leaped from the ruins, closing the distance in seconds.
The battle had begun before either of them could speak.
The first warrior moved with an unnatural speed, his blade carving through the air as he aimed straight for Mark. Reacting purely on instinct, Mark raised his arms to block, bracing for impact. The force of the blow sent shockwaves through his bones, pushing him back several feet.
Kilian, meanwhile, engaged the second opponent—a towering figure wielding a war axe. The sheer power behind the warrior's swings forced Kilian on the defensive, dodging and parrying in quick succession.
Mark retaliated with a counterpunch, his fist igniting with raw energy as he struck his opponent's chest. The warrior staggered but didn't fall. Instead, he twisted his blade, aiming a precise slash at Mark's ribs. Mark barely evaded, feeling the blade graze his skin as he rolled away.
Kilian took advantage of an opening and drove his sword forward, aiming for his opponent's exposed side. But the warrior twisted impossibly fast, bringing his axe down in a brutal arc. Kilian barely managed to sidestep, but the sheer force of the attack sent debris flying in all directions.
— "They're more skilled than the others," Kilian noted through gritted teeth.
— "No kidding," Mark muttered, wiping a streak of blood from his arm.
The warriors didn't waste time. They attacked again, their strikes relentless, pushing Mark and Kilian to their limits. It wasn't just brute strength—they were fighting opponents with genuine combat experience, warriors who had seen countless battles before this.
But Mark and Kilian weren't just ordinary fighters either.
With a sudden surge of energy, Mark stepped into his opponent's guard, delivering a devastating uppercut that sent the warrior soaring backward. At the same time, Kilian locked swords with his enemy, forcing a power struggle. Gritting his teeth, he channeled every ounce of strength he had, pushing forward until he overpowered his opponent and drove his sword through his shoulder.
The warrior let out a guttural growl but didn't scream. Instead, he stepped back, breathing heavily, and studied them both with something that almost resembled admiration.
— "You're strong," the first warrior admitted, finally breaking the silence. "Stronger than we expected."
Mark exhaled, keeping his stance ready. "Who are you?"
The warrior sheathed his blade. "You'll find out soon enough. But not here."
With that, both warriors retreated, vanishing into the mist as quickly as they had appeared.
Kilian let out a breath and leaned on his sword. "What the hell was that?"
Mark shook his head. "A warning. We're not the only ones getting stronger."
As they stood amidst the wreckage of their battle, a notification flashed before them.
[[1,000 Points Earned]]
Their total now stood at 5,000. They were halfway there.
And the real battles were only just beginning.
Mark and Kilian barely had time to catch their breath before another distant roar shattered the eerie silence. The weight of their last battle still clung to them, their muscles aching from the strain. But there was no time to hesitate. If they wanted to stay ahead in this competition, they had to keep moving.
— "We need to reach 10,000 points before the last day," Kilian said, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. "Otherwise, we'll be forced into fights we might not be ready for."
Mark nodded. "Agreed. We have half the points now, but we need to target something bigger. Something worth at least 2,000 or more."
As if in answer to his words, the ground beneath them trembled slightly. The rumbling grew louder, a rhythmic pounding that sent vibrations through their bodies. Both warriors tensed, turning their gaze toward the horizon.
Emerging from the mists of the battlefield, a monstrous figure loomed. It was at least four meters tall, with obsidian-black skin that reflected no light. Jagged spikes jutted from its spine, and its elongated arms ended in razor-sharp claws. Its eyes burned a deep crimson, locking onto them with a predator's hunger.
[[Abyssal Titan - Level 11]] [[Points Reward: 2,500]]
Kilian whistled. "Now that's what I call a worthy target."
Mark rolled his shoulders. "Then let's not waste time."
The Abyssal Titan let out a guttural snarl and lunged forward, the sheer force of its movement shaking the ground. Mark and Kilian split apart, dodging its initial strike as a massive clawed hand slammed into the earth, leaving a crater where they had just stood.
Mark was the first to counterattack, his fists igniting with power as he struck at the beast's knee. The impact was enough to make the Titan stagger, but not enough to cripple it. Kilian seized the opportunity, darting in from the opposite side and slashing at its exposed flank. His sword bit into its flesh, but the wound was shallow. The Titan roared in defiance.
Then it retaliated.
A massive swing sent Kilian flying backward, his body crashing into a boulder with a sickening crack. Mark barely had time to react before the Titan turned its burning gaze on him. It lashed out again, faster than something of its size should have been able to move.
Mark braced himself and met the strike head-on, his arms crossing in a defensive stance. The force was immense, driving him several meters back, his feet gouging trenches into the earth. Pain flared in his muscles, but he gritted his teeth and pushed forward.
Kilian coughed, pulling himself from the debris. "I think it doesn't like us."
"Good," Mark growled. "That means we're pissing it off."
The Titan charged again, but this time, they were ready. Kilian feinted to the left while Mark vaulted over the beast's arm, landing on its shoulder. He wasted no time, driving his fist into the back of its skull with a thunderous impact. The Titan reeled, disoriented, and Kilian seized the moment to drive his sword deep into its chest.
The beast let out one last, ear-splitting roar before collapsing to its knees. Mark jumped off as Kilian twisted the blade inside the Titan's body, ensuring the final blow.
A notification appeared before them.
[[Abyssal Titan Defeated - +2,500 Points Earned]]
Panting, they stood over the corpse, exhaustion setting in. Their total had now risen to 7,500 points. Just a few more kills, and they would secure their place in the rankings.
But before they could celebrate, Mark's instincts flared. He turned sharply, sensing something—someone—watching them.
Hidden among the shadows of the battlefield, a pair of golden eyes gleamed. And then, just as quickly as they had appeared, they vanished.
Kilian followed his gaze. "What was that?"
Mark frowned. "Something worse than the monsters."
They had earned their points. But they weren't alone in this hunt. And the real threats were only beginning to reveal themselves.