The aftermath of the battle with the Snake Devil left the team battered, with Mika suffering a grave wound from the demon's venomous tail. Panic set in as they realized the gravity of her injuries.
Gasping for breath, Mika summoned her courage and revealed a hidden secret. "I can use blood... my blood, to heal myself." With a determined glint in her eyes, she turned to Rius. "Give me your hand."
Rius hesitated for a moment but extended his hand to Mika. With a swift motion, she sank her teeth into his palm, drawing a bit of blood. The crimson liquid worked its magic, healing Mika's wound before their eyes.
From that moment, a subtle shift occurred within the team. Rius, once a follower, found himself thrust into a leadership role by circumstance. The responsibility weighed heavy on his shoulders, but he embraced it with determination.
As the hours passed, the team continued their trek through the dense wilderness of Stande Island. Soon, they stumbled upon a peculiar sight – a path littered with the lifeless bodies of ravens, their black feathers contrasting sharply against the earth.
"Who could have done this?" Mika asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I don't know," Rius replied, his eyes scanning the area.
The air was thick with tension as the team followed the macabre trail. Rius, now leading the way, felt an uneasy chill running down his spine. The dense foliage seemed to close in around them, and a sense of foreboding hung in the air.
Crackling sounds in the bushes heightened their senses, and the team readied themselves for an unseen threat. Despite the fear gnawing at their insides, they pressed forward.
In the eerie stillness, Rius heard a whisper of movement, a sound that didn't align with the rustling of leaves or the chirping of unseen creatures. Adrenaline surged through his veins as he lunged at the bushes, ready to face whatever awaited them.
However, before his eyes, a mysterious figure emerged, wielding a blade that gleamed in the dappled sunlight. Time seemed to freeze as the blade found its mark, plunging into Rius's side.
Pain exploded through Rius's body as he staggered back, the wound searing with intensity. The team, caught off guard, turned their gaze to the mysterious assailant who had infiltrated their ranks.
The figure, cloaked in shadows, revealed nothing of their identity. Rius, struggling to maintain his composure, demanded an explanation. "Who are you? Why attack us?"
A haunting chuckle echoed through the air as the mysterious figure remained silent. The team, now on edge, prepared for an imminent confrontation, their journey through Stande Island taking an unexpected turn. The shadows clung to the unknown assailant, concealing their motives and leaving the team to grapple with the enigma that had infiltrated their quest for survival.
"Show yourself!" Mika shouted, her voice shaking with anger and fear.
The figure stepped out of the shadows, revealing a tall, lean figure with piercing blue eyes and a wicked grin. "Well, well, well, what do we have here? A little group of adventurers, lost in the woods," the figure said, tauntingly.
"Who are you?" Rius repeated, gritting his teeth as he struggled to keep standing.
The figure's grin widened. "Me? I'm no one special, just a hunter on the prowl. And you, my dear friends, are my prey."
The team exchanged nervous glances, their hands tightening around their weapons. The hunter's words were laced with danger, and they knew they had to tread carefully.
"What do you want?" Mika asked, her voice trembling with anger.
The hunter shrugged. "Just a little fun, perhaps. And a prize, of course."
"A prize?" Rius echoed, his eyes narrowing.
The hunter chuckled. "Yes, a prize. A little something that I've been hunting for a long time. And I have a feeling that you might just have what I'm looking for."
The team exchanged worried glances, realizing that they were in grave danger. They had to find a way out of this situation, and fast.
"Listen, we don't want any trouble," Rius said, his voice firm. "We'll leave you alone if you just let us go."
The hunter laughed. "Oh, I don't think so. You see, I can't just let you go now. You know too much. And I can't have anyone interfering with my hunt."
The team tensed, their weapons at the ready. They knew that they had to fight their way out of this situation, no matter the cost.
"Then we'll just have to fight," Mika said, her eyes blazing with determination.
The hunter shrugged. "As you wish. But I must warn you, I'm not an easy opponent."
With that, the hunter lunged at the team, his blade flashing in the sunlight. The team fought back with all their might, their hearts pounding with fear and adrenaline.
As they battled, Rius felt a strange sense of clarity wash over him. He knew that they couldn't win this fight, not without a miracle.
And then, as if by divine intervention, the miracle came. A bolt of lightning struck the hunter, sending him sprawling to the ground.
The team exchanged surprised glances, realizing that they had been saved by a stroke of luck.
"Let's go," Rius said, his voice urgent. "We have to get out of here before he wakes up."
The team fled the scene, their hearts racing with fear and excitement. They knew that they had narrowly escaped death, and that their journey through Stande Island was far from over. But they also knew that they had each other, and that was enough to give them hope.
Following them was groups of those hunters, and the team was determined to find what they want, and who almost killed Rius.