The tunnel stretched before them, its oppressive darkness thick with an unseen weight. The scent of blood and decay lingered in the stagnant air, a grim reminder of the creatures lurking beyond. Ash led the group forward, his steps measured, his Observation Haki reaching outward.
He wasn't alone in sensing something was off.
One of the Awakened, a woman with short auburn hair and a wary expression, whispered, "Something's watching us."
Ash didn't reply, but he agreed.
His enhanced perception detected faint movements beyond their field of vision—shadows shifting unnaturally, footsteps too light to belong to anything human.
They were being hunted.
And this time, it wasn't just a few Nightmares.
---
A Coordinated Attack
The first strike came without warning.
A monstrous shape burst from the left, claws extended.
A lesser Awakened barely had time to react before Ash's blade severed the creature's arm mid-swing. The beast shrieked, its wound hissing with black mist, before another Awakened finished it off with a well-placed spear thrust.
But the real threat was behind them.
"MOVE!" Ash barked, twisting around as more creatures surged from the tunnels.
These weren't the same Striker-Class Nightmares he had just fought.
They were larger. Faster. Smarter.
Pack Hunters.
And there were dozens of them.
---
Forced Cooperation
Chaos erupted.
Ash cut down a lunging Nightmare in a single precise stroke, but he could already see that sheer strength alone wouldn't be enough this time.
The Awakened were outnumbered.
And worse—the Nightmares were coordinating.
He watched as two beasts intentionally feinted toward an injured Awakened, forcing him into the path of a third attacker. The man screamed as claws raked across his back, sending him tumbling.
Another Awakened tried to break through, but the Nightmares boxed her in.
If they didn't work together, they would be wiped out.
Ash gritted his teeth. He hated relying on others.
But in this moment, it wasn't about preference.
It was about survival.
---
Commanding the Battlefield
He moved without hesitation, grabbing the injured Awakened and shoving him toward the center of the group.
"Form a tight defensive line! Don't let them separate us!" His voice was sharp, cutting through the panic.
To his surprise, they listened.
The stronger Awakened shifted forward, shielding the injured. Those with long-range weapons positioned themselves behind them, forming a crude, yet functional formation.
For a brief moment, the Nightmares hesitated.
Ash didn't waste the opportunity.
"Focus on the ones flanking us first. If they cut us off, we're dead."
One of the Awakened, a man with a greatsword, nodded. "Understood."
He lunged forward, cleaving through an approaching Nightmare.
Another fighter, wielding twin daggers, used the opening to finish off a second creature.
The coordination worked.
They were holding their ground.
But for how long?
---
Ash's Evolution Mid-Battle
Even as he fought, Ash felt something stirring deep within him.
His Observation Haki was no longer just reacting to attacks.
It was starting to anticipate them before they even happened.
A flicker of movement—his mind registered it instantly.
A Nightmare leaped from the ceiling, aiming for his blind spot.
Before anyone else could react, he was already turning.
His sword met the creature mid-air.
SLASH!
The beast hit the ground in two halves.
The others barely even saw him move.
Ash exhaled, a realization settling in.
He wasn't just adapting to the battle.
He was growing stronger with every kill.
And the Nightmares were starting to realize it.
---
A Nightmare's Last Resort
The creatures began shifting tactics.
Instead of reckless assaults, they started focusing their attacks—forcing the Awakened into tighter spaces, limiting their movement.
Then, Ash saw it.
A leader.
Unlike the others, this Nightmare didn't engage.
It observed. It waited.
And when it finally moved, it did so with terrifying precision.
It wasn't just hunting.
It was orchestrating a kill.
Ash's breath slowed.
This was the true enemy.
And he would cut it down himself. Ash's sharp gaze locked onto the Nightmare Leader—a hulking figure that loomed in the shadows, its glowing crimson eyes studying the battlefield. Unlike its frenzied kin, this one didn't attack mindlessly.
It waited. It analyzed.
And when it finally moved, it did so with chilling precision.
The moment one of the Awakened faltered in their stance, the Leader acted.
SHRRK!
In a blink, it dashed forward, its claws gleaming like curved obsidian blades. The Awakened barely had time to scream before the creature's hand pierced through his chest, lifting him off the ground.
Then, with a sickening CRACK, it hurled the lifeless body aside—like a broken doll.
The battlefield froze.
The remaining Awakened stared in horror.
This wasn't just another mindless Nightmare.
This was a Tyrant-Class Nightmare.
And it had just declared war.
---
Ash Steps Forward
The air thickened with an oppressive aura.
The Awakened instinctively stepped back, their survival instincts screaming at them to flee. But Ash?
He stepped forward.
His grip on his sword tightened. His blood burned with anticipation.
A part of him—deep, primal—wasn't just prepared for this battle.
It hungered for it.
The Nightmare Leader cocked its head, as if intrigued.
Then, it vanished.
---
A Battle Beyond Limits
BOOM!
The ground shattered as the Nightmare Leader reappeared behind Ash, claws slicing toward his spine.
But Ash was already moving.
He twisted mid-step, his sword flashing.
CLANG!
Sparks erupted as metal met claw. The sheer force of the impact sent a shockwave rippling through the tunnel, knocking loose debris from the cavern walls.
Ash's feet skidded backward.
The Nightmare didn't relent.
It lunged again—faster this time.
Ash barely dodged, feeling the rush of death as the creature's claws carved through the air inches from his face.
His Observation Haki flared, his senses stretching outward.
And then he saw it.
A pattern.
The Nightmare wasn't just fast—it had a rhythm to its attacks.
And Ash was going to exploit it.
---
Phantom Rend – A Strike Faster Than Death
Ash lowered his stance.
The Nightmare lunged.
Time seemed to slow.
Ash's grip tightened. His energy surged, flowing into his blade.
The Nightmare's claws came mere inches from his throat.
Then—
SHING!
A crimson arc split the darkness.
For a brief moment, the Nightmare Leader stood still.
Then—its arm fell to the ground.
A clean, perfect amputation.
The creature reeled back, unleashing a guttural howl of agony.
But Ash wasn't done.
---
A True Predator Never Fights Alone
The Nightmare staggered, its monstrous frame twitching in rage. But instead of blindly attacking again, it did something unexpected.
It howled.
A piercing, unnatural screech echoed through the tunnels.
Ash's stomach dropped.
Something responded.
The walls rumbled.
Then—a second pair of glowing eyes opened within the darkness.
Another Tyrant-Class Nightmare.
Ash exhaled.
"So that's how it is."
One Nightmare was deadly enough.
Two?
That was a death sentence.
And yet—his lips curled into a sharp grin.
The thrill of the battle only made his blood burn hotter.