[DAWN – 5:45 AM]
Alex woke up fifteen minutes before the alarm.
Not because of noise. Because of instinct.
The sa instinct that had kept him alive for months of pursuit.
Danger was coming.
Danger was leaving.
Danger was returning.
He got up silently, walked to the window.
The sky was beginning to lighten—orange and pink painting the horizon.
Beautiful.
The last peaceful dawn for a while.
[SYSTEM – FINAL ALERT]
[HUNTERS DETECTED – OUTER PERITER]
[DISTANCE: 2 KM]
[TI UNTIL CONTACT: 15 MINUTES]
[ENEMY COMPOSITION CONFIRD:]
GROUP 1 – VANGUARD:
· Kael Darkwind (Level 54) Black Wyvern (Level 56)
· Thorne Blackwood (Level 52) Iron Golem (Level 54)
GROUP 2 – FLANKS:
· Marcus Venn (Level 51) Infernal Hound (Level 53)
· Lyra Kane (Level 49) Mist Serpent (Level 50)
GROUP 3 – SUPPORT:
· Aria Solis (Level 50) Air Elental (Level 51)
[TOTAL: 10 COMBATANTS]
[TACTICAL RECOMNDATION:]
ELIMINATE SUPPORT FIRST (ARIA)
SEPARATE VANGUARD
USE FRAGNT SYNERGY WHEN ENEMIES ARE GROUPED
Alex read the tactical analysis, morizing.
"Already awake?"
Raven was sitting on the bed, her hair disheveled, looking surprisingly calm for soone minutes away from war.
"Instinct," Alex replied. "Fifteen minutes until contact."
"Then we better dress appropriately."
Raven got up, walked to her wardrobe.
She took out the Fragnt 3 outfit—complete, unmodified.
"If I’m going to fight," she said, holding it up, "I’m going to fight with maximum power. And this outfit... even if I wore sothing else, it cos with the Fragnt for a reason."
"Probably designed for combat," Alex agreed. "Mobility plus enchantnts."
"Exactly, although maybe it’s because my Fragnt is a pervert." Raven looked at him. "Are you going to give privacy, or...?"
Alex blushed furiously. "Of course! Sorry, I—"
"Relax. I was joking." But she smiled. "Though I appreciate the blush. It’s cute."
Alex quickly left, closing the door.
From outside, he heard a soft laugh from Raven.
Even minutes before battle, she found ti to tease him.
---
[LIVING ROOM]
The full team gathered.
Alex:
· Enchanted sword at his waist
· Light leather armor
· Rings of protection and elental resistance
· Brown hair with a white streak tied back
· Serious but determined expression
Raven:
· Full Fragnt 3 attire
· Black hair with crimson highlights loose
· Scythe already materialized, resting on her shoulder
· Eyes with a touch of erald green (Fragnt passively active)
Emily:
· Reinforced healer’s robe
· Staff of light in hand
· Multiple potion pouches on her belt
· Nervous but resolute expression
Grim:
· Awakened form already active (2.5 ters)
· Full bone armor
· Massive scythe ready
· Red lights glowing intensely
"Five minutes," said Alex, checking the system. "They’re approaching from the north. Pincer formation—vanguard in front, flanks on the sides, support in the back."
"Classic hunter tactic," Raven comnted. "They probably expect us to try to flee. The flanks would cut us off."
"But we’re not going to flee."
"No. We’re going to destroy them."
Emily audibly swallowed. "Are we sure about this? Five against five... well, ten counting their companions..."
"We have Grim and your healing plus your unicorn and the advantage they don’t know about," said Alex. "Fragnt Synergy. When Raven and I activate it..."
"We’ll crush them," Raven finished.
"Strategy," said Grim. "What. Is it?"
Alex laid out the ntal map.
"Fight on Main Street—open space, no civilians at this hour. Emily, you stay back, support and heal. Grim, you and Emily’s unicorn intercept the familiars as soon as they appear. Aerial and ground battle—keep them busy."
"Understood."
"Raven and I handle the vanguard—Kael and Thorne. Once we separate them from the group, we activate Fragnt Synergy and take them out quickly."
"And the flanks?" asked Emily. "Marcus and Lyra are assassins. They’ll try to attack ."
"Skeletons," said Raven. "I’ll summon a hundred as soon as it starts. Half protect you, half pressure the flanks."
"And Aria? The support one."
"Priority one," said Alex. "As soon as we see her, we take her out. Without magical support, the others lose their advantage."
A simple plan.
Direct.
It probably wouldn’t survive first contact with the enemy.
But it was the plan.
[SYSTEM – URGENT ALERT]
[ENEMIES IN SIGHT!]
[DISTANCE: 500 TERS]
[CONTACT IN: 2 MINUTES]
"It’s ti," said Alex.
They left the apartnt—went down to the street.
Full dawn now. The sun just peeking over the buildings.
Main Street of Coral Port—normally bustling.
Now completely empty.
Sera had discreetly evacuated the area during the night.
Perfect battlefield.
Emily summoned Luna—her unicorn appeared in a flash of silver light. A beautiful creature, the size of a warhorse, shining white coat, silver horn gleaming. Its mane and tail glowed with a soft moonlight, even under the morning sun.
[Luna – Moon Unicorn – Level 32]
[HP: 2,800/2,800]
[Skills: Purification Aura, Lunar Shield, Healing Light]
Alex, Raven, Emily with Luna, and Grim positioned themselves in the center of the street.
Waiting.
And then—they saw them.
---
From the north, five figures advanced.
Walking casually. Confidently.
As if this were routine work.
Kael Darkwind at the front—dark leather armor, twin swords on his back, cold and calculating expression. Previous battle scars visible but healed. Black Wyvern flying above, casting a massive shadow.
Thorne Blackwood to his right—a massive man, nearly two ters tall, full plate armor, a war hamr the size of a normal person’s torso. Iron Golem walking beside him, each step shaking the ground.
Marcus Venn flanking the left—slim, agile, twin knives gleaming, a predatory smile. Infernal Hound at his side, flas dripping from its jaws, leaving scorched marks on the pavent.
Lyra Kane flanking the right—a small woman, hooded, almost invisible in the morning shadows. Mist Serpent coiled around her shoulders, its body semi-translucent, hissing silently.
Aria Solis in the rear—a young woman, magus robe, staff glowing with elental power. Air Elental floating beside her, a humanoid form made of visible wind, its eyes glowing pure white.
Perfect formation. Professional coordination.
Decades of combined experience.
They stopped fifty ters away.
Kael stepped forward.
"Alex Carter," he said, voice magically amplified. "This is your last chance. Surrender peacefully. Co to the Temple. And maybe—maybe—they’ll show rcy."
Alex didn’t respond imdiately.
Instead, he looked at his team.
Raven—smiling coldly, scythe ready.
Emily—scared but determined, her unicorn standing close protectively.
Grim—full Awakened form, waiting for the order.
His family.
Worth fighting for.
He turned back to Kael.
"You know what’s funny?" Alex asked.
Kael tilted his head. "What?"
"That you think you have a chance."
Silence.
Then Kael smiled—not a pleasant expression.
"Confidence. Admirable. But misplaced." He drew his twin swords. "Very well, Carter. I’ll give you a quick death. As a professional courtesy."
"A quick death?" Alex also smiled—a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "No. Today you’ll learn why the Reaper was sealed by seven Gods."
He raised his hand.
"NOW!"
---
Raven struck the scythe against the ground.
"¡RISE!"
The earth exploded—
One hundred skeletons erged simultaneously.
Not normal skeletons.
Level 40 each. Ard. Armored. Organized.
[Summoned Army: 100 Skeletons – Level 40]
The hunters tensed—clearly not expecting that.
"A hundred?" Marcus muttered. "She can control a hundred?"
"Fragnt 3," said Kael, recognizing it. "The Reaper’s Hand. Specializes in armies."
Fifty skeletons ford a protective barrier around Emily and Luna.
Fifty charged toward the flanks—twenty-five toward Marcus, twenty-five toward Lyra.
[Alex – Command]
"Grim! The Wyvern!"
"UNDERSTOOD!"
Grim launched into the sky—his Awakened form flying on wings of dark energy.
The Black Wyvern screeched a challenge, diving to et him.
CLASH.
They collided in the air—scythe versus claws, energy versus scales.
The aerial battle began imdiately.
[Thorne – Charge]
"GOLEM! CRUSH!"
The Iron Golem charged—steps shaking the street, a fist the size of a barrel swinging.
Alex used [Shadow Step]—disappeared.
Reappeared behind the Golem.
[Blood Weapon]—a second sword materialized.
He struck at the Golem’s leg joint—
CLANG.
A re scratch.
"Shit. Level 54. Too tough."
The Golem turned—surprisingly fast for its size.
The fist descended—Alex started to roll—
"LUNAR SHIELD!"
Luna appeared between Alex and the Golem—its horn glowing silver.
A barrier of moonlight materialized.
The Golem’s fist struck the barrier—
BOOM.
The impact shook the street, but the barrier held.
Alex rolled to the side, getting to his feet.
"Thanks, Luna!"
The unicorn neighed—a sound like crystal bells—then charged.
Its glowing horn pierced the Golem’s leg—
CRACK.
Its iron armor cracking where pure light touched.
[Golem HP: 9,000 → 8,400/9,000]
The Golem roared and swung its arm at Luna—
But the unicorn was fast, leaping back gracefully.
"Emily has a very good partner," Alex muttered, impressed.
Kael appeared—with supernatural speed.
Twin swords cutting in a deadly pattern.
Alex blocked the first—
The second cut his shoulder.
SLASH.
[Alex HP: 1,020 → 950/1,020]
"First blood," said Kael coldly. "Like last ti."
Alex retreated, gripping his bleeding shoulder.
[Battle Flow] activated passively—stats beginning to increase gradually.
"Raven," he called ntally (they hadn’t activated Fragnt Synergy yet—saving it).
"Yeah?"
"I need help with these two. Kael and Thorne together are too much."
"Give thirty seconds."
---
Marcus had already eliminated fifteen skeletons—his level 51 assassin speed and precision.
The Infernal Hound burned another ten with its fire breath.
But there were still twenty-five pressuring him.
"Pests!" Marcus shouted, throwing a knife.
The knife pierced a skeleton’s skull—it crumbled.
Then Raven appeared behind him.
[Shadow Step]—a shared skill from Alex.
"Surprise," she murmured.
The scythe cut in a horizontal arc.
Marcus spun—blocked with his knife.
CLANG.
The impact sent him sliding three ters back.
"Level 56?" His eyes widened. "You’re level 56?"
"Problem?" Raven smiled.
Marcus whistled—the Hound charged.
Raven summoned twenty more skeletons—they intercepted.
The battle of attrition began.
---
Lyra was a problem.
A level 49 assassin specialized in stealth.
She’d eliminated ten skeletons without being seen—appearing, killing, disappearing.
Her Mist Serpent was worse—its semi-ethereal form made physical attacks useless.
She was already twenty ters from Emily.
Fifteen ters.
Ten.
Emily saw her—barely.
"HOLY BARRIER!"
A barrier of light exploded around Emily.
Lyra hit the barrier—bounced off.
"Healer," Lyra hissed. "We always take out the support first."
She threw a poisoned dagger—
The barrier blocked it.
But cracks appeared on its surface.
Luna neighed—[Purification Aura] activating.
A silver aura expanded, touching the Mist Serpent—
The serpent hissed in pain, its semi-ethereal body partially solidifying under the pure light.
The skeletons capitalized—they attacked the now-vulnerable serpent.
"I can’t maintain this indefinitely," Emily murmured. "But with Luna... maybe."
---
While the individual battles unfolded, Aria worked.
Her hands glowing, staff channeling mana.
[Wind’s Blessing]—all hunters’ speed 15%.
[Elental Shield]—magic defense 20%.
[Mana Regeneration]—MP recovery increased.
Massive buffs applying to all her allies.
"This is a problem," Alex muttered, noticing.
He could feel the difference—Kael moving faster, hitting harder.
"We need to take out Aria," he said ntally to Raven.
"Agreed. But she’s protected. The Air Elental will block a direct approach."
"Then an indirect approach."
Alex dodged Kael’s attack, created distance.
"Emily! PURIFICATION STRIKE on my signal!"
"What? That requires you to charge Necrotic Burst! It’ll leave you vulnerable!"
"I know! Just do it!"
---
Alex planted his feet, began to channel.
[Necrotic Burst]—charging in his right hand.
Dark energy condensing, glowing, growing.
Kael noticed imdiately.
"He’s vulnerable! Thorne!"
The Golem charged—its fist swinging.
Alex didn’t move—trusting his team.
"NO. YOU. WON’T!"
Grim appeared—he’d left the battle with the Wyvern temporarily.
He intercepted the Golem’s fist with his scythe.
CLANG.
The impact created a shockwave.
[Grim HP: 2,400 → 2,100/2,400]
But he held.
Kael attacked from another angle—
Raven appeared and blocked with her scythe.
"Your fight is with ," she said.
Alex continued charging.
Five seconds.
Ten seconds.
[Necrotic Burst – 75% Charged]
Emily began her part.
[Purification]—channeling towards the sa spot Alex was aiming at.
Holy energy and dark energy—
Converging on a single point.
Aria.
"What—?" Aria noticed too late.
She tried to create a barrier—
"NOW!" Alex shouted.
He released [Necrotic Burst]—a massive sphere of dark energy.
Emily released [Purification]—a beam of holy light.
Their energies collided—
They didn’t cancel.
They FUSED.
An explosion of contradictory power—light and darkness mixing impossibly.
BOOOOM.
The 10-ter area around Aria EXPLODED.
The Air Elental disintegrated instantly.
Aria was thrown twenty ters, crashing into a building.
[Aria HP: 1,800 → 400/1,800]
Critical. Not dead, but out of the fight.
"ARIA!" Kael shouted.
Support eliminated.
The buffs disappeared from all the hunters.
Montum shifted.
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