The forest held its breath. Morning light bled through the canopy in broken shafts, painting the undergrowth gold and shadow. Every sound—every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig—rang louder than it should. It was as though the forest itself was warning them.
Hunnt walked at the front, his small fists tightening inside his gauntlets. He kept his eyes sharp, scanning for signs of movement. [The air feels heavier… something's watching us.] His heartbeat quickened, but he forced himself to stay calm.
Behind him, Corwin strode silently, his hammer resting on his shoulder. His posture was steady, yet his eyes flicked from shadow to shadow. Pyro darted ahead, tail flicking, ears swiveling, his SnS drawn. "Master… something's close. Nyaah… I can feel it," he whispered.
Hunnt gave a small nod. "Stay sharp. It'll strike soon."
The words had barely left his lips when the silence shattered.
From a cluster of bushes, a blur of black fur lunged—sleek, powerful, and terrifyingly fast. Amber eyes burned in the gloom like molten fire. The Shadowclaw Lynx exploded forward with a roar, claws extended.
"Move!" Hunnt barked.
He vanished with Soru, a blur darting sideways just as the monster's claws shredded the earth where he had stood. Corwin braced, crossing his arms as the tail whipped across his chest. He triggered Tekkai, his body hardening like stone, but still staggered under the sheer force. "Tch… strong…" he hissed.
Pyro slipped under the beast's belly with Kami-e, his flexible body twisting like smoke. His SnS slashed across its flank, sparks flying as blade kissed hide. "Nyaa! Over here, beast!" he taunted, landing lightly and drawing the predator's gaze.
The Lynx spun with frightening agility, claws slicing down toward Pyro. Hunnt surged forward, gauntlet slamming against its shoulder. The impact rattled his bones. [It's like hitting stone!] The Lynx hissed, twisting away, its tail lashing at Hunnt's side.
Hunnt ducked with Kami-e, his body moving fluidly as the spiked tail whistled inches over his head. He countered with an uppercut, the gauntlet smashing into its jaw. The beast recoiled, but only slightly. Its hide absorbed much of the blow.
Corwin roared, swinging his hammer in a wide arc. The weapon connected with the Lynx's ribs, the sound like a tree splitting under an axe. The monster stumbled, snarling, claws tearing trenches into the soil as it regained balance.
"Press it!" Hunnt shouted.
Pyro dashed in with Soru, a streak of gold fur, striking at its legs. His SnS carved shallow cuts, forcing the Lynx to adjust its footing. Corwin seized the moment, activating Tekkai as he absorbed a claw swipe, then retaliated with a heavy downswing that smashed into its side.
The Lynx screeched, its amber eyes narrowing. For the first time, it seemed to regard them not as prey, but as dangerous opponents. Its tail lashed violently, cracking against a boulder and shattering it.
Hunnt's chest heaved, but his eyes never left it. [This thing's tougher than anything we've faced. Its speed, its hide… even with Rokushiki, we're barely holding it back.]
The beast crouched low, muscles coiled like springs. Then it vanished into motion—leaping onto a tree trunk, scrambling up, and rebounding with terrifying force. It came straight at Hunnt.
His instincts screamed. Kami-e triggered, his body going slack, moving with the attack's flow. The claws missed, grazing his tunic instead of ripping through flesh. Hunnt twisted, gauntlet lashing out into the Lynx's ribs mid-flight. The blow landed, staggering it slightly.
Corwin was already in position. "Now!" he roared, swinging his hammer upward as the Lynx landed. The impact sent it crashing into a shallow pit, dirt and debris scattering.
"Nyaa! Keep on it!" Pyro shouted, leaping in and raking its shoulders.
But the Lynx was relentless. With a furious roar, it twisted violently, tail sweeping across the ground. The impact caught Pyro, sending him tumbling through the underbrush. "Nyaagh!" he yowled, rolling back to his feet, fur bristling.
Hunnt darted forward, gauntlet crackling as it slammed into the monster's flank. But the Lynx retaliated instantly, claws slicing across his chest. The gauntlet held, but the force still sent him staggering. He bit back the pain. [I can't slow down…]
Corwin charged, hammer crashing down on the beast's shoulder. This time, the Lynx howled in pain, its leg buckling slightly. "It staggered!" he shouted.
"Don't let it run!" Hunnt yelled.
Together, they pressed forward. Hunnt weaved through its strikes with Soru bursts, striking weak points when he found them. Pyro flanked, darting in and out with Kami-e, distracting and slashing. Corwin held firm, absorbing hits with Tekkai and countering with devastating hammer swings.
The forest echoed with chaos—snarls, shouts, the clang of steel against armored hide.
Finally, the Lynx hissed, blood dripping from shallow wounds along its flank. It crouched low, then bolted into the trees, vanishing in a blur of black fur and shadows.
The three hunters froze, panting heavily. Hunnt dropped to one knee, gauntlet steaming from the strain. "We hurt it… but it's still strong."
Pyro padded up beside him, tail flicking nervously. "Nyaah… it's smart too. Won't be easy prey."
Corwin gripped his hammer, shoulders tense. "It'll be back. Next time, it won't hold back."
Hunnt stared at the blood trail smeared across the dirt and leaves. His fists clenched. [This is just the beginning. Next time, we'll be ready… no matter what.]
The trio regrouped, following the crimson trail deeper into the forest. The Lynx was wounded, but not defeated. And as the shadows thickened, Hunnt knew the real hunt had only just begun.
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