The courtyard buzzed with tension as the five Hunters loomed in the shadows, their glowing, faceless masks turning toward Aiden and the others. They moved with eerie precision, like specters sent by the Architect to execute its will. The air thrummed with energy, each breath Aiden took heavy with anticipation.
Garvey—the one with the spear—was already moving, his body tense but fluid, a predator ready to strike. The other anomalies spread out, each of them poised to face the threat. The tall woman, blades flashing in the dim light, took a step forward, her eyes narrowed. Mira stood just behind Aiden, clutching her bag tightly, fear etched on her face but undercut with a fierce determination.
"Stay close," Aiden muttered to her, glancing over his shoulder. "We'll keep them off you."
Mira nodded, her eyes flicking to the Hunters. "I won't run."
Aiden felt a surge of pride. Mira was terrified, but she wasn't backing down. That alone gave him the strength to face what was coming.
The Hunters advanced, their movements unsettlingly smooth, their bodies flickering between solid and spectral. The hum of the System echoed through the air, a constant reminder that these weren't ordinary enemies. They were the Architect's enforcers, designed to erase anything that defied the System.
Garvey, with his massive sword, stepped up beside the spear-wielding Garvey, his jaw set. "We'll take the lead. You focus on keeping the group safe."
Aiden nodded, his grip on his dagger tightening. He glanced at the other anomalies, noting how each of them moved with practiced precision. They had clearly fought these creatures before.
The woman with the scar on her cheek gave him a quick nod. "Stick to your strengths, kid. These things adapt fast, but if you can throw them off their pattern, you'll get an opening."
Aiden didn't have time to respond before the first Hunter lunged, its clawed hand slicing through the air with deadly speed. Garvey (the one with the spear) blocked the attack, his weapon colliding with the Hunter's arm in a flash of sparks. He twisted, using the momentum to send the creature stumbling back.
The tall woman darted forward, her twin blades gleaming as she struck at another Hunter. Her movements were fast, precise, and brutal. She slashed at the creature's mask, but it flickered and phased out of her reach, only to rematerialize behind her, claws ready to strike. She rolled out of the way, narrowly avoiding the attack.
Aiden watched for a moment, taking in the way the anomalies fought. Each move was deliberate, calculated. They weren't just trying to defeat the Hunters—they were trying to disrupt them, throwing off the System's rhythm.
But there was no time for further observation. One of the Hunters locked onto Aiden, its hollow eyes glowing with cold malice. It rushed forward, claws raised, aiming for his throat. Aiden ducked and activated Phase Shift, his body shimmering out of existence for a brief moment as the Hunter's claws passed through him harmlessly.
He reappeared behind the creature and struck with his dagger, aiming for its mask. The blade connected, but only briefly—the Hunter flickered, and his strike barely scratched the surface of its mask.
"They're phasing more frequently!" Aiden shouted, realizing how much faster the Hunters were moving compared to the last time he faced them.
Garvey (the one with the massive sword) grunted as he swung his blade in a wide arc, forcing two Hunters back. "The more of us there are, the more aggressive they get. Stick to the plan!"
Aiden's heart pounded as the Hunter he was facing came at him again, moving faster than he expected. He dodged, but barely—its claws grazed his arm, leaving a shallow but burning cut. Too close.
[HP: 75/100]
Mira gasped, her eyes wide with fear as she saw the blood on Aiden's arm. "Aiden!"
"I'm fine!" Aiden replied, forcing himself to focus. He couldn't afford to hesitate. Mira was depending on him, and the others needed him in the fight.
The woman with the scar barked orders to the group, her voice clear and sharp. "Keep them spread out! Don't let them overwhelm us!"
The anomalies were already moving, using hit-and-run tactics to keep the Hunters from getting too close. Garvey (the one with the spear) spun his weapon in a deadly arc, keeping the creatures at bay while the others worked in tandem to create openings.
Aiden glanced at Mira again. She was standing her ground, but the fear in her eyes was growing. He had to protect her, but he also had to help the others. His mind raced, trying to figure out how to balance the two.
Then, a thought struck him—Mira's visions.
"Mira!" Aiden called out, dodging another swipe from a Hunter. "Have you seen anything? Anything from your visions that could help us?"
Mira blinked, caught off guard. "I… I don't know! It's all a blur—"
Another Hunter lunged at them, forcing Aiden to block its attack. The creature's strength was overwhelming, even more so than the ones he had fought before. But Garvey was right—they were becoming more aggressive, adapting faster.
Think, Mira. Aiden's voice was desperate. "Anything! A pattern, a weakness—anything that can give us an edge!"
Mira's brow furrowed in concentration, her breath quick and uneven. The tension was thick, but something in her expression changed. Aiden could see it—she was remembering.
Suddenly, Mira's eyes widened. "The masks!" she shouted, her voice rising with urgency. "It's their masks! They're their weak points, but you have to hit them right when they phase back in!"
Aiden's pulse quickened. The moment they phase in… That was the opening.
He glanced at Garvey, who had heard Mira's shout and gave him a quick nod. "You heard her! Aim for the masks, but wait for them to solidify!"
The group shifted tactics immediately. Aiden moved with precision, watching the flickering form of the Hunter in front of him. The timing had to be perfect. The creature phased in and out, its movements fast and erratic. But just as it began to rematerialize—
"Now!"
Aiden lunged, his dagger slicing through the air. The blade connected with the Hunter's mask at the exact moment it solidified. The creature let out a horrible screech as the mask cracked, and its body convulsed, flickering violently. With a final, distorted wail, the Hunter's form disintegrated into black mist, vanishing from existence.
[Hunter Eliminated. +100 EXP]
The adrenaline surged through Aiden's veins. It worked.
The others followed suit, attacking the Hunters with precise strikes the moment they phased back into solid form. One by one, the creatures fell, their masks shattered, their bodies reduced to nothing more than dark mist.
Within minutes, the courtyard was quiet again. The Hunters were gone.
Aiden stood there, panting, his dagger still gripped tightly in his hand. His body ached from the exertion, but the sense of victory coursed through him. They had won. This time, they had won.
Garvey—the one with the massive sword—let out a deep breath, lowering his weapon. "Not bad," he said, glancing at Aiden. "You caught on quick."
Mira approached, her eyes still wide with shock, but she managed a shaky smile. "I… I didn't think that would work."
Aiden turned to her, a grin breaking across his face. "You saved us, Mira."
Garvey (with the spear) nodded in approval, wiping sweat from his brow. "You've got good instincts. We'll need them in the fights to come."
The tall woman with the scar sheathed her blades, her expression softening slightly as she looked at Mira. "Not bad for someone who's new to all of this."
Mira smiled, though it was a bit strained. "I'm still getting used to… well, all of this."
Aiden couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. Mira's visions were proving to be a key asset, and the more they could tap into them, the better their chances of survival. But even as the rush of victory settled in, he knew the battle was far from over.
Garvey stepped forward, his voice serious again. "We need to move. The Hunters won't stop coming, and the Architect's getting desperate. We have to find the others before the System figures out what we're doing."
Aiden nodded, his resolve hardening. They had won this fight, but the war against the Architect was just beginning. He wasn't sure what the future held, but he knew one thing for certain:
They wouldn't fight alone.