Chapter 12 — Escape from the Hunter
The moment the monster's eyes locked onto Aken…something in the air changed. Not just fear, not just the danger, but recognition. The creature's cracked lips slowly twisted into something resembling a smile. Aken felt his spine tighten. The system chimed, a sharp metallic sound inside his mind. Then the window appeared.
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[Quest Received]
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Objective: Escape the Hunter
Difficulty: Extreme
Reward: +100 Possibility Points
+3 Stat Points
Warning: If hit, death is guaranteed
Time Remaining: 1 Hour 30 Minutes
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For a moment…
The entire world felt quiet, Aken read the words again.
If hit…
Death.
No second chances, no healing, no regeneration. Miokuo spoke calmly in his mind. "Master."
"Yes."
"I strongly recommend running." Mio finished.
Aken didn't argue, he ran. The marble floor of the Player Union shattered beneath his feet as he pushed forward. Behind him—
BOOM.
The Hunter moved, its first step cracked the floor like glass, people shouted, chairs overturned in a instant, screens shattered. The creature's arm swung, three players were thrown across the hall like plush toys, the impact crushed the reception desk into splinters. The Hunter's voice echoed through the massive chamber.
"WHERE… IS… THE CHOSEN ONE."
Aken vaulted over a fallen table, his mind moved faster than his body. Calculating distance, evaluating exits, predicting movement and pretty much surviving. Jae-Min appeared beside him, breathing hard. "Okay!" He shouted. "This is officially the worst morning of my life!"
Aken didn't respond, he slid beneath a collapsed metal frame, glass rained down around him. The Hunter followed, not slowly, neither clumsily. Just fast, undeniably fast. The creature's claws tore through steel beams like paper, a massive pillar cracked and collapsed behind Aken. Miokuo vibrated in his grip. "Master."
"What is it!"
"You are being hunted."
"I already noticed goddamn it!"
The hallway ahead split into three directions, left, right then the stairs. Aken chose the stairs instantly, he leapt down four steps at a time. Behind him—
CRASH.
The Hunter smashed straight through the railing instead of using the stairs, concrete exploded in a burst, dust filling the air. Jae-Min wheezed beside him. "…This thing… does not believe in architecture."
Aken burst through the stairwell door, the corridor beyond was chaos. Players running, union staff shouting orders, emergency alarms blaring nearby. Aken kept running. The system pinged again.
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[Extreme Threat Detected]
Recommended Action: Continue Escape
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The Hunter burst through the wall behind them, not the door but the wall. A player barely avoided being crushed as the monster stepped through. Jae-Min screamed. "WHY IS IT STILL COMING AFTER US?!"
Aken didn't answer but Miokuo did. "Because it senses you."
They reached the main exit, the massive glass doors had already been shattered by fleeing players. Aken sprinted through them. Cold morning air slammed into his face, outside the Union building… the city was already panicking, most cars where abandoned, people running. Sirens screaming in the distance. Aken didn't slow down because behind him—
BOOM.
The Hunter stepped outside, the pavement cracked beneath its weight. Its glowing eye scanned the street. Then found him again. "THERE."
Jae-Min nearly tripped. "…Oh great."
The chase resumed. Aken sprinted down the street, his lungs burned. His legs screamed but cursed energy flowed through him like fire. Miokuo hummed. "Master."
"Yes."
"Would you like assistance."
"Please do."
The blade pulsed. Cursed energy surged into Aken's legs, his speed increased instantly, each step carried him farther. The Hunter roared behind him, it leapt twenty meters in a single movement. Aken felt the air ripple as the creature landed behind them.
CRASH.
A parked car flattened beneath its foot. Jae-Min glanced back. Aken vaulted over the wreckage of a taxi, glass shattered beneath his shoes. Ahead was a construction scaffolding and a narrow alley, perfect. He turned sharply, the Hunter slammed into the corner of the building behind him, concrete crumbled. The alley was barely wide enough for two people. Aken ran straight through it, the walls rushed past, trash cans, broken pipes and even loose cables. The Hunter forced its way through behind them. Metal screeched with an unforgiving sound, as its shoulders scraped the walls but it kept coming. The system pinged again.
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Time Remaining: 1 Hour 27 Minutes
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Jae-Min gasped looking through Aken's window. "…One hour?"
Aken nodded slightly. "We just need to survive it."
"JUST SURVIVE?!"
They burst out of the alley, the street ahead was packed with abandoned vehicles. Traffic had frozen during the panic, Aken saw opportunity. "Follow me."
He leapt onto the hood of a car, then another, then another. A path above the wreckage. Jae-Min followed clumsily. "…If I die here, I'll never forgive you for it"
The Hunter smashed straight through the vehicles, metal crumpled, engines exploded. Its claws tore through steel like cardboard, Aken reached the end of the street. Then jumped, he grabbed the fire escape ladder of a nearby building and used it to pull himself up. Jae-Min followed seconds later, the Hunter arrived beneath them.
It looked up, then leapt. The entire fire escape shook violently, bolts ripped free from the wall. Aken climbed faster, three floors, four floors then five. The ladder ended, the roof access door was locked. Aken kicked it open, they burst onto the rooftop. Wind rushed across the concrete. Jae-Min collapsed on his knees. "…I hate… cardio."
The Hunter climbed over the edge seconds later. Its massive body emerged onto the roof, its cracked face stared at Aken. "CHOSEN ONE."
Miokuo whispered quietly. "Master, it knows."
Aken slowly exhaled. His cursed energy pulsed, the rooftop was large, open. Nowhere to run, the system window flickered again.
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Escape Route: Continue Movement
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Aken grabbed Jae-Min. "Up."
They sprinted again, across the rooftop. The Hunter followed, each step shaking the building. Aken reached the far edge another building across the street. Three meters away, he jumped, the wind rushed past his ears. He landed hard, rolled and recovered. Jae-Min jumped next, barely made it. "…I'm never doing that again."
Behind them— the Hunter jumped, its landing cracked the roof, concrete split like ice. Aken didn't stop. Rooftop to rooftop, jump, run, slide and climb. The city blurred around him, minutes passed. The system updated.
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Time Remaining: 1 Hour 11 Minutes
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They finally dropped into another street both breathing like their lives depended on it, because it does. Aken leaned briefly against a wall. Jae-Min collapsed beside him. "…I think my lungs are burning up."
Aken closed his eyes, for a moment. Just a moment, there was peace. Then—
THUD.
The Hunter landed at the end of the street, still chasing them, still relentless. Jae-Min stared. "…This thing doesn't give up."
Miokuo spoke calmly. "Master."
"what is it?"
"It will not stop until it kills you."
Aken looked at the Hunter, then at the system timer. Then at the streets around him. His breathing slowed, his mind sharpened. Running forever wasn't the answer but surviving the quest was. Aken adjusted his grip on Miokuo. The black blade shimmered slightly, his cursed energy pulsed again. The Hunter began walking toward him. Slowly, almost confident. Like a predator cornering its prey. Aken's lips moved quietly. "…Alright."
Jae-Min looked at him. "Alright what?"
Aken stepped forward, he sighed.
"…Let's keep running."
END OF CHAPTER 12