Void and MiraNight moved swiftly through the dense underbrush of Blightwood Forest, the distant hum of the waterfall fading behind them. The message from the unknown sender had set a fire beneath them. Whoever had found their hideout had the capability to bypass the game's standard security measures, which meant they were dealing with someone dangerous.
The evening light dimmed further as the towering trees closed in above them, casting long shadows on the forest floor. The two of them kept low, eyes constantly scanning the horizon for any sign of pursuit. Every crack of a branch or rustle of leaves made Void's nerves tighten. He glanced at MiraNight, who looked just as tense.
"Think we've got enough of a head start?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Maybe," Void replied. "But we need to be smart. We can't keep running. If they know where we are, they'll track us no matter where we go. We need a place to regroup and plan our counter."
MiraNight glanced around the darkening forest. "What about the Caverns of Shroud? It's a neutral zone, and hardly anyone goes there. We could lose anyone tracking us."
Void considered it. The Caverns of Shroud were a labyrinth of tunnels far to the east, known for being hard to navigate and often filled with dangerous NPCs and environmental hazards. But they were also far enough from any major player hubs that it would be difficult for their pursuers to catch up.
"It's risky," Void said, "but I think it's our best bet."
"Risky is kind of our thing, isn't it?" MiraNight smirked, adjusting the strap of her bag.
Void couldn't argue with that. They had built their reputation on taking calculated risks, and it had gotten them this far. He nodded. "All right, Caverns of Shroud it is. But we need to move quickly. We can't afford to linger."
Without further discussion, the two set off toward the eastern mountains, where the caverns lay hidden beneath jagged cliffs. The journey would take several hours, but with night falling, they'd at least have the cover of darkness on their side.
As they moved through the dense forest, Void pulled up his HUD, quickly scanning the map. He set a waypoint for the Caverns of Shroud and shared it with MiraNight.
"Here," Void said, showing her the route. "We'll need to stick to the southern path until we reach the mountain range."
MiraNight nodded, her eyes scanning their surroundings. "We're going to have to deal with monsters along the way, aren't we?"
Void sighed. "Most likely. But if we keep our heads down and avoid the higher-level zones, we should be able to make it through with minimal trouble."
Of course, things rarely went as planned. About an hour into their trek, as they neared the edge of the forest, a low growl echoed through the trees.
Void froze, his hand instinctively reaching for his weapon. "You hear that?"
MiraNight stopped beside him, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the area. "Yeah. And I don't like it."
The growl grew louder, more menacing, as the foliage ahead began to rustle. Void's grip tightened around his sword as he stepped forward, cautiously parting the branches.
In the clearing ahead, a hulking figure emerged from the shadows—a beast, part wolf, part bear, with glowing red eyes and massive claws that dug deep into the earth. Its fur was matted with blood, and its breath came in low, ragged snarls. A Blightwood Devourer, a rare high-level monster known for being a solo hunter.
"We've got a problem," Void whispered.
MiraNight grimaced. "This thing's way out of our league."
The Devourer sniffed the air, its eyes locking onto Void and MiraNight. With a deafening roar, it lunged forward, closing the distance in seconds.
"Move!" Void shouted, diving to the side as the beast's massive claws swiped at where he had been standing.
MiraNight rolled in the opposite direction, quickly drawing her daggers. "We're going to have to fight it. We can't outrun this thing."
Void cursed under his breath, drawing his sword. "Fine. But we need to be smart about this. Stay out of range of its claws. I'll try to draw its attention. You go for its weak spots."
MiraNight nodded, already moving into position. "Got it."
The Devourer roared again, its eyes locked on Void as he darted to the side, swinging his sword to draw its attention. The beast was fast—too fast for something its size. It lunged at Void, claws slashing through the air with deadly precision.
Void barely managed to parry the attack, the force of the blow sending him skidding backward. His health bar dropped by nearly a third, the impact from the claws leaving him momentarily dazed.
"Damn, this thing hits hard," he muttered, quickly chugging a health potion as he repositioned himself.
MiraNight, meanwhile, had already circled behind the Devourer, moving with the agility and grace of a rogue. She dashed in, slashing at the creature's hind legs with her daggers before quickly retreating. Her attacks were fast and precise, but the Devourer's thick hide absorbed much of the damage.
"We're barely scratching it," MiraNight called out, her frustration evident.
Void gritted his teeth, dodging another swipe from the beast. "We need to find its weak point. Aim for the eyes or the underbelly—those are usually vulnerable on creatures like this."
MiraNight nodded, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the beast's movements. She darted in again, this time aiming for its underbelly. But the Devourer anticipated her move, spinning around with surprising speed and slamming its paw into her side.
MiraNight was thrown backward, crashing into a tree with a sickening thud. Her health bar plummeted, and she groaned as she struggled to get back to her feet.
Void's heart raced. They were in real trouble now.
He quickly cast a healing spell on MiraNight, watching as her health bar began to slowly rise. She gave him a grateful nod, though the pain in her expression was clear.
"We need to end this fast," Void said, his voice tense. "We can't take many more hits like that."
MiraNight gritted her teeth, standing up despite the pain. "What's the plan?"
Void's mind raced. They couldn't keep up a prolonged fight with the Devourer—it was too strong, and their health and stamina were already dangerously low. They needed to end it quickly and decisively.
"Distract it again," Void said, tightening his grip on his sword. "I'll go for the eyes."
MiraNight smirked, wincing as she adjusted her stance. "Always the hero, huh?"
"Just try not to die," Void replied with a half-smile.
MiraNight dashed forward, moving with impressive speed despite her injuries. She threw a flash bomb at the Devourer's face, temporarily blinding it and drawing its attention. The beast roared in frustration, swiping wildly at the air as it tried to locate its attackers.
Void took his chance, sprinting toward the creature. He leaped into the air, his sword gleaming as he aimed for the Devourer's eyes. With a powerful swing, he drove the blade into the creature's left eye, a sickening crunch echoing through the clearing as the blade pierced flesh and bone.
The Devourer howled in agony, thrashing wildly as it tried to dislodge the sword. Void barely managed to hold on, his grip slipping as the beast flailed. But he held firm, driving the blade deeper until the creature's movements slowed.
Finally, with a final, desperate roar, the Devourer collapsed to the ground, its body twitching before going still.
Void let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, pulling his sword free from the beast's skull. He glanced at MiraNight, who was leaning against a tree, breathing heavily but alive.
"Well," she said, a tired grin on her face. "That was fun."
Void chuckled, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Let's not make a habit of this."
MiraNight laughed weakly, her hands resting on her knees. "Agreed."
They both took a moment to catch their breath before moving on. The Caverns of Shroud were still a long way off, and this fight had only reminded them how dangerous the path ahead would be. But if they could survive a battle like this, they could survive whatever else came their way.
With renewed determination, Void and MiraNight continued their journey, knowing that the real challenge was yet to come.
.
.