Nyxfall 7: The Veilbreakers

Kai could see somewhat in the clear moonlight, but many places were still hidden in the shadows of trees and hills. He could learn Tracking.. but Kai felt it was too soon for that. If he absolutely needed the skill, he would learn it, but for now, he just wanted to rely on his techniques without any aid. 

He recalled what he had learned that morning. His mind was on full alert, picking up even the smallest sounds in the dark forest, his eyes tracing prints and anomalies in the surrounding environment. Of course, he wasn't a professional yet, and maybe he had missed many details.

Still, a few signs guided him forward—a pile of leaves pressed down unnaturally, an abrupt silence where there had been constant noise before, distant rustling of plants and leaves alike.

At last, Kai heard the gurgling breath of a monster—the same sound one of the creatures had made earlier that morning. With silent steps and utmost control over his breathing, Kai stealthily moved toward the source of the sound, positioning himself behind a thick bluish tree with glowing pink leaves. 

A pig-like creature with massive tusks and sharp horns was foraging for food in the night. Slowly, Kai drew his bow, ensuring it made no sound. He controlled his breathing, steadied his hands. The night was cold, making him shiver, but he could manage.

With utmost focus, Kai aimed at the creature's chest and released an arrow. It was too shallow. Quickly, he dashed behind it and fired two more arrows in succession, piercing its stomach and back. After bleeding for a few seconds, the monster finally collapsed. Dead.

[Loot Available:

Charred Snout (Common)

Blazing Fat (Uncommon)

Brimstone Tusks (Uncommon)]

Gathering the loot, Kai continued his hunt. He would figure out later which materials were useful and which were not. 

Slowly, and sometimes running for his life from them, Kai killed monsters while avoiding those far beyond his level. But he found no Chwinpakas. Instead, he encountered the same pig monsters occasionally, rabbit-like creatures with black skin and purple eyes, and—most terrifyingly—a deer with luminous white antlers. 

When he missed an arrow, the thing went wild, phasing through trees and stone boulders like they weren't even there. His arrows also passed straight through it, as if it were a ghost. Only when Kai climbed a tree and stayed there for a few minutes did the monster—whatever it was—finally lose interest and leave. He exhaled a sigh of relief.

"Fuck! What the hell was that thing…" he muttered, jumping down from the tree branch. 

But the moment he landed, bright white shapes began emerging from the ground, accompanied by menacing red eyes. Kai's face paled. Instinctively, he brought up his toy wooden sword in a panic. 

Of course, it did nothing. Just inches from him, a bright green blast of some strange energy wave struck the deer and sent it flying. Both Kai and the creature turned to look at the source of the attack.

A girl stood there—black-skinned, green-eyed, clad in simple villager clothes. Deimos Emperium was her gaming tag. She held a dagger in one hand, while her other hand clenched into a fist. The deer ignored Kai and lunged at her instead. But she didn't move. Instead, another pulse of green energy erupted from her body—she exhaled it, almost like it was part of a breathing technique.

The breathing technique! Of course—how had Kai overlooked that? He made a mental note to find the woman later; maybe she'd be willing to teach him. But why was she helping him? He had seen that figure before, clad in pitch-black armor, cutting down innocent people without hesitation. There was no way she was acting out of kindness.

The deer was hurled back once more, but this time, it seemed to learn its lesson and swiftly retreated into the shadows. Running away. 

Kai remained on guard, his bow raised toward the girl. She looked at him, seemingly baffled by his reaction. But her dagger was still at the ready.

"I just saved you!" she said, the default neural thought projection voice coming from her mouth. "Is that how you repay a favor?"

"Why were you following me, then?" Kai shot back. "Did you dream I'd be in trouble?"

A smirk crossed her face. "Smarter than you look.."

"I look just fine!" Kai protested, though he had no idea what he actually looked like.

"Ah, whatever.. Who am I to judge insects?" she said nonchalantly, though her stance was tense—like a crouching tiger, ready to strike.

Kai's eyes widened at her words. Insects. That was what the Deimos Imperium called humans. It was definitely her.

"Leave, then," Kai said at last, trying his hardest not to act like he recognized her.

"Not without that.." Her sharp emerald eyes fixated on something beside him. Kai followed her gaze—huh? His small wooden toy sword was glowing a luminous blue. When did that happen? Not before the deer attacked, that was for sure. He distinctly remembered it being just a normal wooden sword. Had he triggered a hidden quest already?

Staying cautious, Kai grabbed it and checked its item stats.

[Name: Worn Wooden Sword

Type: A replica of the legendary weapon of Great Maeka—the First Blade.

Durability: 13/15

Effect: Guides the wielder to the Trial of Maeka.

Description: A simple wooden sword, roughly carved and small enough for a child to wield. However, something about it feels… off.]

Kai couldn't help but smile. A hidden dungeon key—what luck! But then he abruptly remembered who was standing nearby. His gaze snapped back to her as he instinctively angled the status screen away from view.

"I can't read it, idiot. It's too far," she said, unimpressed. "Now hand it over—unless you want to die and wake up in whatever hellhole you crawled out of."

Kai narrowed his eyes, slipping the sword into his inventory. Without hesitation, he drew his bow, pulling the string taut.

"I could kill five of you in a single day," he declared, his aim steady, ready to fire at a moment's notice.