Amal, Tai, Shi, Sai, and Xei froze for a moment — the name Tokoloshe made the air grow colder.
Amal frowned. "No… Tokoloshe is just a fairy tale. Parents use it to scare kids."
Huntress's tone sharpened. "He's real. And he ruined my life."
The team fell silent as she began to speak. Her words carried both pain and pride.
> You think Tokoloshe is a fairy tale? Then listen well… I was seven when that demon came. He killed my parents while I hid under the dirt, too weak to scream, too small to fight. He looked at me and laughed — said I wasn't even worth the effort. He let me live… maybe to suffer."
"I ran for days. My feet bled, my lungs burned. When I couldn't run anymore, I found a cave. I thought I'd die there. But instead… I met him. A tiger, larger than life. I thought he'd eat me. But he didn't — he licked me, like a father comforting his cub. That beast… became my family."
"Ten years passed. I grew strong under his watch. I hunted beside him. I laughed again. But one night, Tokoloshe came back. My tiger sensed him. He fought to protect me, but that monster… he tore through him like nothing. I saw him fall. I saw everything I had left die in front of me."
"Something broke in me that night. I roared until the sky cracked. I swore my anger would reach him — one day, even if it took a lifetime. He sent me to Hell for it. Thought it'd end me. But he was wrong."
"Down there, I survived. I ate monsters, tore through demons, wore my rage like armor. Even the dead feared me. They called me the Huntress of the Night — the woman who hunts even in Hell's darkness.
One day hell rose a army against me I killed over seven demon that day and he was apart of that army I ate him alive
The group said nothing — her voice alone painted the horror she lived through.
Tai broke the silence with a grin. "You went to hell and hunted demons? That's so badass."
Xei, more serious, lowered his sword. "Huntress… I feel your pain. I've lived something close. But at least I was saved." He looked at Sai with a faint smile.
Huntress's expression changed — for a second, sadness flickered in her eyes. Then anger consumed it. Her voice deepened, beastlike.
> "Saved? I don't need someone to save me."
Her orange eyes lit up, and the ground trembled.
Xei's tone went sharp. "Everyone! Guard up—this is her domain!"
In an instant, the world around them shifted. Trees rose from nothing, vines crawled across their feet, and the sky vanished into endless darkness.
Sai turned slowly. "We're not on the mountain anymore…"
Xei nodded grimly. "We're in her jungle. Her rules."
The Huntress's voice echoed from everywhere — cold and confident.
> "Welcome, prey."
---
Xei picked up his sword, breathing deeply. "Amal, charge your energy. We'll need full strength."
Amal nodded, her ashes already swirling around her hands like black mist.
Suddenly, Huntress appeared — right in front of Xei.
"Move!" Tai shouted, jumping between them, kicking out — but she vanished and reappeared behind him, slashing with her massive claws. Sai caught her strike midair, flames bursting from his hands.
"Alright, lady," he said, grinning. "Let's see how you handle Dì yù zhī huô!"
He punched forward, sending a wave of burning flame. The fire hit her — and disappeared instantly, swallowed by the darkness.
Huntress smirked.
> "In my jungle, even fire burns for me."
She lunged again. Her speed was unreal — faster than Sai could track, faster than Tai's serpent eyes could follow.
Xei swung his sword in perfect timing, the blade sparking against her claws. The impact sent waves of force through the jungle. He slid backward, blood dripping from his palm, but his gaze stayed locked.
> "You're fast," Xei said, smiling slightly. "But I've fought faster."
Amal stepped forward, her ashes flaring.
> "Sai, Tai, buy me time."
Tai lunged, fangs glowing with venom. His tail wrapped around her leg — she grabbed it and slammed him to the ground.
Sai came in hot, punching her side with enough force to crack stone, but she barely flinched. She kicked him away with one sweep of her tail, sending him crashing into a burning tree.
Amal's ashes formed a vast black storm, consuming the illusionary forest. For a omoment, the jungle flickered — the real mountain beneath them visible again.
Huntress stared through the smoke, her eyes glowing.
> "So you are the strongest among them. Show me why."
She dashed forward, her claws clashing with Amal's ash barrier — each strike echoed like thunder. Shi appeared behind her, his martial precision landing a clean hit to her ribs.
Sai, bruised but grinning, yelled, "Now that's what I call teamwork!"
Huntress's growl rose deep from her chest. "Then you'll die together."
She roared — a terrifying, echoing sound that shook the ground. Birds fell from the sky. Even Amal's ashes scattered for a moment.
Amal shouted, "Everyone! Now!"
Xei sprinted, slicing through the air, his sword cutting into her shoulder. Tai struck with venom, Sai unleashed his flames, Amal's ashes wrapped around all of them — binding their powers as one.
They hit her together.
The explosion rocked the jungle, light flooding the night.
Silence.
Then — a deep, dark voice broke through the smoke:
> "You've only seen the hunt. Now… see the predator."
The smoke parted — she stepped out, taller, her true form revealed: a humanoid tiger, fur gleaming with silver stripes, golden eyes burning like fire.
Even the ground seemed to bow to her presence.
Shi, sweat dripping, whispered,
> "She's just getting started…"