The forge glowed warmly as Hunnt finished the final adjustments on the armor sets. Steel reinforced with carefully selected monster materials shimmered in the soft morning light, each piece layered to allow maximum mobility without sacrificing protection. He ran his gauntleted fingers over the plates, checking every curve, every joint.
"These should hold up… whatever we face," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else, eyes narrowing as he surveyed the workbench. [I don't know what's out there yet… but I have to be ready.]
Pyro perched on a nearby workbench, tail flicking impatiently. "Nyaa! Don't forget me, Master! I need to move fast, strike hard, and dodge even faster!"
Hunnt smiled faintly, adjusting the small armor plates for Pyro. "Don't worry. I made sure your armor won't slow you down. Every joint reinforced but flexible. You'll be able to move like the wind."
Corwin stepped forward, testing the feel of his hammer across his shoulder. "Solid work, Hunnt. If this holds, we won't just survive—whatever's out there will regret crossing us."
Hunnt chuckled. "Let's not anger it before we even see it."
The three checked each strap, each clasp, ensuring armor sat tight but allowed full movement. Hunnt's eyes lingered on the reinforced gauntlet, a creation of bone, sinew, and steel that he had painstakingly layered over weeks of work. [If this helps me land the first strike, it could mean the difference between life and death.]
He crouched, inspecting Corwin's reinforced hammer handle. "Balance is key. Too heavy, and you'll tire quickly. Too light, and the impact loses force. You're ready, but keep your movements precise."
Pyro twitched his ears, sniffing the air. "Nyaa… I smell it. Something's out there. Not the usual… something different."
Hunnt nodded, scanning the treeline. The forest was calm, almost unnaturally so, the usual morning birdsong replaced by the soft rustle of leaves. [No hunters in the village. No one else is tracking this. It's up to us. Whatever it is… we'll face it together.]
He tightened the straps on his gauntlet and stood, taking a deep breath. "Alright. We move cautiously. No sudden charges, no assumptions. Keep formation tight. We observe first, strike only if necessary."
Corwin flexed his hands around the hammer handle, muscles coiling. "Observation first… got it. But I won't hold back if it comes close."
Pyro crouched low, tail flicking like a pendulum. [We'll need coordination. Quick strikes, follow Hunnt's lead, protect each other.]
The trio moved silently, leaving the village behind and entering the edge of the forest. Dew clung to the underbrush, dampening footsteps slightly, but Hunnt's senses were sharp. Every snapped twig, every flicker of movement caught his attention.
Minutes passed. Hunnt scanned the terrain carefully. [Tracks… faint, scattered. Not fresh, but recent enough. Whoever—or whatever—it is… it's moving fast. Agile.]
Corwin tilted his head, eyes narrowing. "Hunnt… the trees. Look at the scratches here. Long claws… but not like a bear or wolf. Something… different."
Pyro hissed softly, ears flat. "Nyaa… predator. Cautious… but it's aware we're here."
Hunnt crouched low, tracing the claw marks with his fingers. "It's not hunting yet… it's observing. Testing us. Good… that means we still have a chance to plan."
He gestured to a clearing ahead. "We'll spread out slightly. Corwin, cover the front. Pyro, flank and watch for sudden movement. I'll move midline, scanning for tracks and signs. Keep your senses sharp. Don't make any assumptions."
The forest seemed to grow quieter with each step, the usual sounds of morning wildlife fading as if holding its breath. Hunnt felt a ripple of tension run through his shoulders. [This isn't a normal monster. Its behavior… calculated. Intelligent. We need to be ready for anything.]
Suddenly, movement flickered between the trees. A sleek, black shape slinking along the shadows. Hunnt froze, muscles taut. "There… amber eyes. It sees us now."
Corwin's jaw tightened. "A Lynx?" he muttered, unsure. "Or something else entirely…"
Pyro crouched low, tail lashing. "Nyaa… whatever it is, it's fast. We'll have to coordinate perfectly."
Hunnt raised his gauntlet slightly, eyes locked on the predator. "Positions. Remember what we trained. Tekkai for defense, Suro for positioning, Kami-e to evade. We strike together, we survive together."
The creature stepped into the clearing, its sleek black fur rippling in the sunlight. Amber eyes gleamed with raw intelligence and predatory focus. Its claws scraped against stone and dirt as it advanced cautiously, observing the trio with a mixture of curiosity and aggression.
Hunnt swallowed, feeling adrenaline spike. [This is it. No practice dummies, no theory. Everything we've learned… now.]
Corwin braced, hammer ready. Pyro crouched low, claws flashing. Hunnt's gauntlet flexed, layered bones and steel glinting in the light.
The unknown predator had revealed itself—and the test of everything they had trained for was about to begin.
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✨ Hi amazing readers! ✨
I'm excited to share my brand-new novel with you: Final Fantasy: The Unwritten.
This story dives deep into the multiverse of Final Fantasy—where heroes, destinies, and untold adventures intertwine in ways you've never seen before.
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