The city's eastern district was lively in the early morning, merchants setting up stalls while adventurers gathered at the guild to claim their daily assignments. For Shadow, it was the first time in weeks that life felt… ordinary. He walked beside Ryn, Sera, and Lena, blending into the crowd as just another adventurer instead of the mysterious fighter who had clashed with Rena in the arena.
Their quest for the day was simple: investigate strange monster sightings along the outskirts of the eastern wall. It wasn't glamorous, but the trio welcomed the routine after the chaos of recent battles.
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"Not exactly the most exciting job, huh?" Ryn stretched her arms lazily as they left the guild.
"Better than getting torn apart by beasts twice our level," Lena muttered, checking her bowstring.
Sera glanced at Shadow. "Still, for someone like you… this must feel boring."
Shadow shook his head. "Not every day needs bloodshed. Besides, even simple quests can hide answers." His calm tone carried an edge of intent. He wasn't here just for the monsters—he wanted to see what the eastern side of the city concealed.
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On the Outskirts
Hours later, the group reached a stretch of farmland where the fields had been abandoned. The earth was clawed apart, gouges in the dirt suggesting more than one type of beast had passed through.
Lena crouched low, touching the ground. "Wolf tracks… but these are too deep. Something heavier followed them."
"Maybe a troll?" Ryn guessed.
Sera's eyes narrowed. "No, look at the pattern. The wolves weren't running—they were being chased."
Shadow knelt, placing his gloved hand against the soil. The gauntlet pulsed faintly, reacting to the residual mana in the tracks. His senses sharpened. "Not just monsters. There's human presence, faint but recent."
The trio stiffened. "Bandits?"
Shadow didn't answer. His eyes scanned the tree line, where the wind carried more than just the rustle of leaves. There was a rhythm—too controlled, too deliberate. Someone was watching.
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The Encounter
The patrol led them deeper, and soon they found the culprits: a mixed pack of beasts, all hovering around level 27–28. Wolves, scaled hounds, and even a one-eyed troll scavenged the remains of what looked like a merchant wagon.
"Stay sharp," Shadow murmured.
The trio moved with practiced coordination. Ryn dashed forward, her blades flashing to distract the wolves. Lena perched on a rock, firing arrows with precise timing, while Sera chanted supportive magic, strengthening their agility.
Shadow hung back at first, watching their rhythm. He wanted to see how they handled themselves before stepping in. When the troll bellowed and charged at Ryn, Shadow finally moved—appearing in front of the beast with a blur of motion. His gauntlets flared, catching the troll's club mid-swing, diverting the blow into the ground.
"Your flank," he called to Lena.
The archer didn't waste a second. Her arrow flew straight into the troll's eye, staggering it. Ryn followed up with a slash to its exposed throat. The beast crumbled, and the rest of the monsters broke under their combined assault.
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After the Battle
Breathing heavy but victorious, the trio regrouped.
"That… went smoother than expected," Sera said with a tired smile.
"Thanks to him," Ryn admitted, eyeing Shadow. "You don't even feel like part of the party—you're the anchor."
Shadow only gave a faint shrug. Yet his eyes weren't on the battlefield anymore. He scanned the treeline again.
For a heartbeat, he thought he saw it—a figure masked in shadow, standing among the branches. The air grew cold, and the faintest whisper brushed his mind. Still too weak… but worth watching.
He blinked, and the figure was gone.
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Back in the City
They returned with proof of their kills, earning modest pay from the guild. To the trio, it was just another quest. But Shadow's thoughts were elsewhere. Someone had been observing, their presence unmistakable. And their intent wasn't random curiosity.
As night fell, he lingered outside the inn, staring at the eastern horizon. The city bustled behind him, unaware of the silent predator stalking its streets.
Shadow flexed his repaired gauntlets, feeling their weight. "So… the game begins."
The whispers of the eastern district would not be ignored for long.