"Without warning, nine of the Bloodfang Hyenas broke from the pack, their jaws snapping in hunger as they leapt toward Keon and Stella, their movements swift and precise, almost as if they'd planned the attack in perfect unison.
"Keon!" Stella shouted, raising her plasma gun, ready to fire, but before she could pull the trigger, something strange happened.
The hyenas froze midair, their bodies suspended in space, as if an invisible force had gripped them. They were just moments away from reaching their target, but suddenly, they seemed to vanish, disappearing in an instant.
Stella blinked, her eyes wide with confusion. "What the hell?"
Keon sighed again, his expression calm as ever, though a slight smirk tugged at his lips. "Rift Barrier," he murmured under his breath.
The Rift Barrier, which had been expanding around them, suddenly pulsed with a low hum. Keon could feel the familiar energy swirling, as if something had been caught within its invisible web. The nine hyenas, mid-leap, had been pulled into the barrier and were now trapped within its bounds. Their bodies writhed for a moment, struggling against the force that had ensnared them, but it was futile.
The hyenas were too slow to react to the invisible force, and within seconds, they vanished completely, absorbed into the Rift Barrier.
Stella's jaw dropped as she watched the sudden disappearance. "Did you just—"
Keon raised a hand, giving a slight, reassuring wave. "Yeah, they were considered hostile. The barrier pulls anything that tries to attack me in. They're fine—well, for now. They'll just be stuck inside until I let them go."
Stella looked at him in awe, her gun still raised but now lowered slightly in disbelief. "That's... insane. You can trap them like that?"
"That's one way to handle it," Keon said with a grin. "But don't worry, they're not gone forever. Just not a problem for us right now."
Stella let out a breath, half-relieved, half-shocked. "I don't even know if I should be impressed or terrified right now."
Keon shrugged casually. "Why not both?"
The remaining Bloodfang Hyenas hesitated for only a second after their packmates had vanished, but instinct quickly took over. With enraged howls, they all lunged at once, a wave of fangs and claws coming from every direction.
Keon exhaled, rolling his shoulders. Alright, let's try something fun.
With a flick of his wrist, he released the trapped hyenas from his Rift Barrier—only to send them flying at their own pack.
Nine Bloodfang Hyenas shot out like cannonballs, their bodies twisting in midair as they crashed violently into the incoming ones. Bones cracked, yelps echoed, and the chaotic tangle of fur and limbs turned the battlefield into a mess. Several hyenas were sent tumbling into trees, others slammed into the ground, and a few unlucky ones got headbutted midair by their own allies.
Keon watched the chaos unfold with a small smirk. Yeeting enemies at other enemies? Definitely a viable strategy.
But before he could do it again, a firm hand suddenly grabbed his arm.
"Keon, enough."
Before he could react, the world around him warped.
In the blink of an eye, the sounds of battle vanished, and the scenery shifted. The dense forest filled with snarling beasts was replaced by the dimly lit interior of a ruined structure—stone walls cracked with age, faint moonlight filtering through broken windows.
Stella let go of his arm, her expression serious. "You were playing around too much."
Keon blinked, adjusting to the sudden teleportation. "I was winning."
Stella sighed, crossing her arms. "And if one of them had an ability that countered you? You can't just rely on being untouchable."
Keon gave a lazy shrug. "Worked so far."
She shot him a sharp look. "You're not invincible."
Keon paused at that, but his usual smirk returned quickly. "Guess you'll have to keep saving me, then."
Stella scoffed but didn't deny it. "Just don't make a habit of it."
Keon followed Stella as she ascended the spiral staircase that led to the top of the watchtower. The steps creaked beneath their weight, the old wood groaning with every step they took. Keon's gaze flickered over the rusted remnants of what used to be a guard's post, now just a hollow shell of its former purpose.
"Are you sure this place is safe?" Keon asked, glancing around. "Looks like a great place for an ambush."
Stella laused at the top, peering out over the railing, scanning the horizon. "It's as safe as it's going to get for now," she said, her voice steady but with an edge of caution. "We've got high ground, at least. Nothing should sneak up on us easily."
Keon leaned on the railing beside her, taking in the view. The forest stretched out in all directions, the moonlight giving everything an otherworldly glow. He could hear the distant rustling of leaves, but nothing immediate seemed threatening.
"Alright, but—" He turned to her with a playful smirk. "—what about spending the night here? Seems like we could use a little rest."
Kelly shook her head immediately, her expression hardening. "Sleeping's never an option here."
Keon raised an eyebrow. "Never? Come on, we just escaped a bunch of—"
"No," Kelly cut him off, her voice firm. "This place may look empty, but that doesn't mean it's safe. We don't know who or what's lurking out there, and we definitely don't know what might be inside here." She gestured to the walls, the broken windows, the shadows. "I'm not risking it."
Keon sighed, leaning back against the wall, crossing his arms. "Alright, alright. No sleep. So what's next, then?"
Stella's s gaze remained on the horizon, but she seemed to be weighing something in her mind. "We take a look around. Search for any supplies, traps, or anything that might help us out. Then we leave before we're here longer than we need to be."
Keon gave her a lazy nod. "A night of adventure in a haunted tower. Fun."
Stella smirked. "You can complain all you want, but we're sticking to the plan."
Keon shot her a wink. "Fine. Lead the way, fearless leader."