With Kang-dae eliminated, Hana found herself in a dire situation. Surrounded by In-su and his two Assassins, she knew her only option was to run. The game system had just announced the discovery of another artefact, and based on her team's comms, she knew it was theirs. Team Fire had accumulated four artefacts in total.
"Sang-hee, Soo-jin, get back to base," Hana communicated urgently, hoping her teammates could return without harm or interruption. "I'll keep them busy."
Her mission was clear: buy time. In the rules of Artefact Hunt, collecting five artefacts immediately decided the match victor. But with seven artefacts scattered, the game could end with a 4:3 split, meaning the team who reached four artefacts first would win—no need to get to five. Therefore, Hana had to prevent Aerial from finding the remaining artefacts and gaining the upper hand.
"Don't let her escape. We need to finish this," In-su smirked, his confidence radiating as he commanded his team.
Hana's heart pounded as she darted through the Celestial Gardens, her mind racing with strategies. The serene beauty of the environment was in stark contrast to the intense chase unfolding. She weaved through groves of cherry blossom trees and vaulted over ancient stone bridges, always aware of the three pursuers hot on her heels.
She could hear In-su's spells crackling behind her, the air charged with arcane energy. Dodging another lightning bolt, Hana pushed herself harder. Her agility was her greatest asset, allowing her to stay out of reach.
"Hana, how long can you keep this up?" Soo-jin's voice crackled through the comms.
"As long as it takes," Hana replied breathlessly. "Just get those artefacts back to base."
In-su's Assassins were relentless, their speed and stealth making them formidable hunters. They closed in on Hana, their movements synchronized as they tried to corner her. She used every trick in her arsenal, feinting and doubling back, using the terrain to her advantage.
In-su himself was a constant threat, his spells creating obstacles and hazards. A burst of fire exploded in front of her, forcing Hana to leap to the side. She hit the ground rolling and sprang back to her feet without losing momentum.
"She's leading us in circles," one of the Assassins muttered, frustration evident in his voice.
"Stay focused," In-su commanded. "We can't let her escape."
Hana's thoughts raced as she calculated her next move. If she could lure them into a trap, it might buy her the crucial time needed for Soo-jin and Sang-hee to secure their victory. She glanced around, looking for any natural formations or structures she could use.
Up ahead, she spotted a dense thicket of bamboo. It was perfect. Hana sprinted towards it, her eyes flicking back to gauge her pursuers' distance. They were close, but she had a plan.
Diving into the thicket, Hana moved with the grace of a shadow. The bamboo stalks swayed and rustled, providing cover and confusion. She climbed up one of the sturdier stalks, perching herself silently among the leaves.
In-su and his Assassins crashed into the thicket moments later, their frustration growing as they lost sight of her. They spread out, trying to find any sign of their elusive prey.
Hana held her breath, staying as still as possible. She watched as In-su paused beneath her, his eyes scanning the surroundings. The Assassins moved methodically, but the density of the bamboo slowed their progress.
"She's close," In-su muttered, more to himself than to his teammates. "I can feel it."
Hana knew this was her moment. As In-su took a step forward, she dropped down silently, landing behind him. Without a moment's hesitation, she sprinted away, using the brief confusion to gain distance.
"After her!" In-su spun around, cursing as he realized what had happened.
Hana's heart raced, but she couldn't afford to let up. She had to keep them chasing her, had to keep them distracted. Every second she bought was a second closer to victory for Team Fire.
"Soo-jin, Sang-hee, status?" Hana panted into the comm.
"Almost there," Soo-jin replied. "Just a little longer."
Hana could feel her strength waning, but she pushed herself harder. The finish line was in sight, and she was determined to cross it. In-su and his Assassins were relentless, but Hana's determination burned brighter.
The final stretch was ahead of her. She could see the exit from the Celestial Gardens, the open plains leading back to Team Fire's base. She had done her part; now it was up to her team to secure the win.
Sang-hee and Soo-jin, breathless but determined, sprinted towards their base. Victory was within their grasp. They had the artefact, and all they needed to do was get it to their base.
Just as they were about to break through the last line of trees, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was Chin-hwa.
Sang-hee and Soo-jin halted in their tracks, hearts pounding. Chin-hwa stood calmly, a smirk playing on his lips. His presence was unsettling, and they knew they had to be cautious.
"Why are you here?" Soo-jin demanded, tightening her grip on her weapon.
Chin-hwa chuckled, his eyes glinting with mischief.
"Let me humour you," he began. "If I had gone to find the last artefact, you two would secure your fourth, making Aerial lose the round. So, I decided it's better to disrupt you, eliminate you both, and steal that artefact."
Sang-hee and Soo-jin exchanged a glance. They understood the gravity of the situation. They had to reach their base to secure the artefact, but one wrong move could cost them everything.
Chin-hwa's unique strength was his speed—not just in shooting but in moving. His speed put any Assassins, who prided themselves on agility, to shame. They needed to be strategic. Sang-hee, as a Mage, and Soo-jin, as a Fighter, had to coordinate their efforts carefully.
Chin-hwa moved first, a blur of motion. He closed the distance between them in the blink of an eye, his movements almost too fast to track. Soo-jin swung her weapon in a wide arc, trying to anticipate his path. Chin-hwa easily sidestepped her attack, his speed making her look sluggish.
Sang-hee began casting a spell, her hands glowing with arcane energy. She aimed to slow Chin-hwa down, knowing that their best chance lay in reducing his speed advantage. But Chin-hwa was already on her, his gun aimed directly at her.
A shot rang out, and Sang-hee's spell fizzled as she was forced to dodge. The bullet grazed her arm, drawing a thin line of blood. Soo-jin charged at Chin-hwa, using the distraction to try and land a hit. But Chin-hwa anticipated her move, spinning out of the way and firing another shot. This one clipped Soo-jin's leg, causing her to stumble.
"You're not going to make this easy, are you?" Soo-jin grunted, regaining her balance.
"I wouldn't be the second-best Marksman in Korea if I did," Chin-hwa shrugged, his expression almost bored.
Sang-hee took advantage of the brief exchange to cast another spell. This time, a wall of fire erupted between Chin-hwa and Soo-jin, forcing him to retreat. Chin-hwa's eyes narrowed, realizing he needed to change his approach.
He dashed to the side, his speed making him a difficult target. Sang-hee tried to track him, but he was too fast. He circled them, looking for an opening. Soo-jin stayed close to Sang-hee, protecting her from any sudden attacks.
Chin-hwa suddenly feinted to the left, drawing their attention. In that split second, he dashed to the right, firing a series of rapid shots. Sang-hee barely managed to conjure a shield, deflecting most of the bullets, but one slipped through, hitting her shoulder.
Soo-jin roared, charging at Chin-hwa with renewed fury. She swung her weapon in a powerful overhead strike. Chin-hwa sidestepped, but this time Soo-jin anticipated his move. She twisted her body, bringing her weapon around in a sweeping motion. The edge of her blade caught Chin-hwa's arm, slicing through his sleeve and drawing blood.
Chin-hwa hissed in pain but didn't slow down. He fired point-blank at Soo-jin, forcing her to back off. Sang-hee, despite her injury, cast another spell, this one a bolt of lightning aimed at Chin-hwa. He narrowly avoided it, but the lightning struck the ground near his feet, momentarily stunning him.
Seizing the moment, Soo-jin lunged forward, aiming to land a decisive blow. But Chin-hwa recovered quickly, his speed allowing him to dodge and retaliate. He fired another shot, this one hitting Soo-jin in the side. She gasped, staggering back but refusing to fall.
Sang-hee, seeing her friend in danger, summoned her remaining strength. She cast a powerful spell, a barrage of icy shards aimed directly at Chin-hwa. He dodged most of them, but one shard struck his leg, slowing him down.
Chin-hwa gritted his teeth, realizing he was running out of time. He needed to end this quickly. He glanced at the artefact in Sang-hee's hand, knowing that was his ultimate target. He made a split-second decision, using his remaining speed to dash towards her.
Soo-jin intercepted him, blocking his path. Their weapons clashed, a fierce struggle for dominance. Sang-hee, clutching the artefact tightly, began to retreat towards their base. But Chin-hwa was relentless. He broke through Soo-jin's defence, delivering a powerful strike that sent her sprawling.
With Soo-jin down, Chin-hwa focused on Sang-hee. He charged at her, intent on taking the artefact. Sang-hee stood her ground, her eyes blazing with determination. She unleashed a final, desperate spell, a wave of energy that surged towards Chin-hwa.
The impact was immense, knocking him off his feet. Sang-hee took the opportunity to make a break for the base, but Chin-hwa wasn't done yet. He pushed himself up, his body aching but his resolve unbroken. He fired one last shot, aimed perfectly at the artefact in Sang-hee's hand.
The bullet struck true, knocking the artefact from her grasp. Sang-hee cried out, diving to retrieve it. But Chin-hwa was already there, his speed once again proving decisive. He grabbed the artefact, a triumphant grin on his face.
Sang-hee and Soo-jin looked on in disbelief as Chin-hwa vanished into the shadows, the artefact stolen. The tide had turned once more, and the battle was far from over.