The winding tunnels of the dungeon seemed to stretch endlessly before them, and the oppressive darkness felt heavier with each step. Aiden followed closely behind Garvey, his senses alert to every subtle shift in the air, every flicker of shadow that moved out of place. The Anomaly Stone in his hand pulsed faintly, a steady warmth against his skin, but it offered little comfort. If anything, it was a reminder of how precarious his situation had become.
"The System's Hunters are on their way."
Garvey's words echoed in Aiden's mind, sharp and ominous. Whoever—or whatever—these Hunters were, they sounded like a far deadlier threat than any dungeon creature he had encountered before.
"What are these Hunters, exactly?" Aiden asked as they moved deeper into the labyrinth. "You've mentioned them, but I need to know what we're up against."
Garvey didn't break his stride as he responded, his voice low and steady. "The Hunters are more than just players. They're part of the System's cleanup crew—elite enforcers sent to eliminate anyone who disrupts the Architect's plans. They're not bound by the same limitations as normal users. Think of them as… the System's immune response."
Aiden's gut twisted. The immune response to him stepping out of line. The more he learned about the Architect, the more it seemed like some omnipotent force was actively controlling the very fabric of this world. But the worst part? The System wasn't going to stop until it had corrected its perceived mistakes—him included.
"How do we stop them?" Aiden asked, his tone hard.
Garvey finally slowed his pace, turning his gaze toward Aiden. "We don't. Not directly. Fighting a Hunter head-on would be suicide for someone at your level. We evade them. For now, at least." He glanced at the Anomaly Stone still clenched in Aiden's fist. "That stone will help, though. It allows you to access parts of the System that the Architect tries to keep hidden."
Aiden stared down at the glowing stone. It was a small, unassuming thing, but it hummed with power, a power that could potentially give him the edge he so desperately needed.
"So, how do I use it?" Aiden asked, holding the stone up.
Garvey smirked slightly, a glint of approval in his eyes. "You've got the will. Good." He stopped and motioned for Aiden to hold the stone toward his System Interface. "Concentrate. Focus on the stone's energy, and think about what you want to unlock. The System will resist at first—it doesn't want you accessing hidden data. But if you push hard enough, you'll break through."
Aiden nodded, taking a steadying breath. He closed his eyes, focusing on the stone. He could feel the power within it, like a live current, crackling just beneath the surface. He reached out with his mind, concentrating on the System—on breaking free from its control. His System Interface flickered before him, almost as if reacting to the stone's presence.
[Attempting to Access Restricted Data...]
For a moment, nothing happened. Aiden gritted his teeth, pushing harder, willing the System to bend to his will. The Interface began to flicker more violently, lines of code flashing erratically across his vision.
[System Override in Progress...]
Suddenly, the Anomaly Stone flared with brilliant light, and a surge of power rushed through Aiden's body. His mind reeled as the System's resistance buckled under the force of the stone's energy, and then—
[Restricted Ability Unlocked: Phase Shift.]
[Ability Description: Allows temporary intangibility, bypassing physical obstacles and avoiding detection by System entities. Duration: 10 seconds. Cooldown: 3 minutes.]
Aiden's eyes snapped open, his heart pounding. The new ability pulsed within him, fresh and unfamiliar, but the possibilities it presented were clear. With Phase Shift, he could pass through solid matter and avoid being tracked by the Hunters. It wasn't much, but it was the edge he needed.
Garvey watched him closely, his expression unreadable. "You felt that, didn't you? The System doesn't like being pushed. It'll fight back harder next time. But for now, you've got a new tool. Use it wisely."
Aiden nodded, still catching his breath. "Phase Shift… I can avoid the Hunters with this."
Garvey's lips curved into a faint smile. "Exactly. But it won't save you from everything. The Hunters will adapt, and they're relentless. This is just the beginning."
Aiden frowned, pocketing the Anomaly Stone. "How long until they find us?"
Garvey's expression darkened. "They're already here."
As if on cue, the air in the tunnel grew thick with an oppressive presence. Aiden's skin prickled with the sudden shift in the atmosphere. He glanced around, scanning the shadows for movement. The dungeon had been eerily quiet since they'd entered this deeper section, but now… it was different. The feeling was unmistakable—something was coming.
Garvey's eyes narrowed, his hand drifting toward the hilt of the massive sword strapped to his back. "Stay close. When they come, don't engage unless you have to."
Aiden's pulse quickened, and he tightened his grip on his dagger. He was stronger than when he first entered the dungeon, but Garvey was right. He wasn't ready to face the System's Hunters head-on—not yet.
The tunnel ahead twisted into another wide chamber, the ceiling lost to shadow. The space was empty, save for a series of strange, geometric symbols etched into the stone floor, glowing faintly. They stepped cautiously inside, their footsteps echoing off the cold stone walls.
Suddenly, the glow of the symbols intensified, casting an eerie light over the chamber.
"It's a trap, isn't it?" Aiden muttered.
Garvey gave a grim nod. "They've found us."
A low hum reverberated through the air, growing louder and more insistent. The hairs on the back of Aiden's neck stood up. He could feel them—the Hunters—closing in. But where were they?
Garvey drew his sword in one fluid motion, the massive blade gleaming in the strange light. "They like to toy with their prey before moving in for the kill. Be ready."
Aiden's heart pounded as he scanned the room, his eyes darting from shadow to shadow. The tension was suffocating, the oppressive sense of danger growing with each passing second.
Then, without warning, they appeared.
From the far end of the chamber, three figures materialized out of the darkness, their forms flickering as if they were made of shadows themselves. They moved with an unnatural fluidity, their bodies barely solid, yet unmistakably humanoid. Their faces were obscured by featureless masks, but their glowing eyes—pale, white, and cold—betrayed an unsettling intelligence.
The Hunters.
Garvey shifted his stance, his blade at the ready. "Keep your distance. They're faster than they look."
One of the Hunters cocked its head to the side, its gaze locking onto Aiden. The air around it seemed to ripple as it moved, as if it were phasing in and out of existence. Aiden could feel its intent—an overwhelming sense of malice and precision. These things weren't here to toy with them. They were here to erase them.
"Phase Shift," Aiden muttered under his breath, activating his new ability.
Immediately, his body shimmered, and the world around him blurred. For a brief moment, he was untouchable, his form slipping through the physical realm like a ghost. The Hunters' focus on him wavered, their eyes scanning the area, unable to lock onto him directly.
But Garvey wasn't phased. With a roar, he charged forward, his massive sword cleaving through the air toward the first Hunter. The creature dodged with impossible speed, its form flickering as it darted to the side. Garvey's blade missed by a fraction of an inch, but he didn't stop, following up with a second, heavier strike.
Aiden moved to flank the second Hunter, his dagger ready, but the creature moved with blinding agility, slipping past his defenses. He barely had time to react as its shadowy arm lashed out, claws aiming for his throat. He twisted out of the way, the Hunter's claws grazing his shoulder instead of slicing through his neck.
"Damn, they're fast," Aiden hissed through gritted teeth.
Garvey, still engaged with the first Hunter, glanced over his shoulder. "You can't fight them like normal enemies! They're tied to the System. Use Phase Shift when you need to. Strike from the shadows. Don't fight fair."
Aiden nodded, focusing once again. His Phase Shift was on cooldown, but the moment it recharged, he'd use it again to avoid their strikes. But how long could he keep it up? And what about Garvey? The man fought like a force of nature, his sword slicing through the air with deadly precision, but even he couldn't take on all three of them.
The third Hunter, who had been observing from a distance, finally moved. It darted toward Garvey, its form blurring as it sped through the chamber. Aiden's eyes widened. Garvey was too focused on his current opponent to see the attack coming.
Without thinking, Aiden activated Phase Shift just as the cooldown ended. His body shimmered and flickered out of existence for a split second, and he lunged forward, placing himself between Garvey and the incoming Hunter.
The creature's claws passed through Aiden harmlessly as he phased, but the impact knocked him off balance. He stumbled, his form flickering back into solid matter just as he landed in front of Garvey.
Garvey looked down at him, surprised for a split second, but his expression quickly shifted into a smirk. "Not bad, kid."
Aiden grinned, panting. "Don't mention it."
The Hunters circled them, their movements eerily synchronized, like predators sizing up prey. Aiden's heartbeat thundered in his ears, his muscles tense and aching from the effort of dodging their attacks. His Phase Shift had saved him, but it wouldn't last forever. The cooldown was too long, and these creatures were relentless.
Garvey's sword gleamed in the dim light as he adjusted his stance. "They're not going to let up. We need to end this."
Aiden nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. "Do you have a plan?"
Garvey's eyes flickered toward the glowing symbols on the floor—the strange geometric patterns etched into the stone. "This chamber is tied to the System. If we disrupt the symbols, we can destabilize the Hunters' link to the Architect. But it won't be easy."
Aiden glanced at the symbols. He didn't understand their purpose entirely, but he trusted Garvey's instincts. "What do I need to do?"
Garvey's smirk returned. "I'll handle the Hunters. You break the symbols."
Aiden blinked. "Are you sure you can take them on alone?"
Garvey's gaze sharpened, and for the first time, Aiden saw a glimpse of the immense strength and experience hidden beneath the man's calm exterior.
"Just trust me."
Aiden took a breath and nodded. He didn't have time to doubt Garvey. Not now.
As Garvey charged forward to engage the three Hunters at once, Aiden sprinted toward the glowing symbols. His heart raced as he reached the first symbol—a large, intricate design etched into the stone. He wasn't sure how to disrupt it, but if these symbols were part of the System, then maybe…
"Anomaly Stone," Aiden muttered, pulling it from his pocket.
The stone flared to life in his hand, its energy crackling through the air. He placed it against the symbol, willing the stone's power to disrupt the System's control over the chamber.
The moment the stone touched the symbol, the lines of the geometric pattern began to flicker and warp, distorting as if the System itself was rejecting the change. Aiden's breath caught as the stone pulsed violently, sending a shockwave of energy through the room.
[System Disruption Detected.]
The Hunters froze for a split second, their forms flickering erratically. Garvey seized the opportunity, his massive sword swinging in a deadly arc. His blade connected with the first Hunter, and this time, the creature couldn't phase away. The strike cleaved through its shadowy form, and with a guttural hiss, the Hunter disintegrated into a cloud of dark mist.
Aiden didn't waste time celebrating. He moved to the next symbol, repeating the process. The Anomaly Stone flared once more, disrupting the System's hold on the chamber. Another shockwave of energy pulsed through the air, and the remaining two Hunters stumbled, their movements disjointed.
Garvey was a whirlwind of motion, his blade cutting through the second Hunter with brutal efficiency. The third Hunter, realizing the disruption, tried to retreat, but Garvey was faster. With a final, earth-shaking strike, he brought his sword down on the last Hunter, obliterating it in a burst of shadow and light.
The chamber fell silent, the oppressive weight of the Hunters' presence lifting.
Aiden leaned against the wall, panting heavily, his body trembling from the effort. The Anomaly Stone dimmed in his hand, its energy spent for the time being.
Garvey sheathed his sword, turning to Aiden with a nod of approval. "You did good."
Aiden managed a tired grin. "I couldn't have done it without you."
Garvey crossed his arms, his eyes flickering with something deeper, more serious. "Don't get comfortable. That was just the beginning. The Architect won't stop sending Hunters after us."
Aiden nodded, still catching his breath. "So, what now?"
Garvey's gaze darkened. "Now we get ready. The next time the System sends its enforcers, they won't be so easy to take down."
Aiden straightened up, his mind still racing from the battle. "And how do we do that?"
Garvey's expression was grim. "We find the others."