The Imperial Guards close in on Mark, swords flashing in the sunlight as they unleash a flurry of attacks.
Mark dodges and weaves between the blows, his agility surprising given his monstrous appearance.
He leaps over a slashing sword, sidesteps a thrusting spear, and spins away from a swinging mace – all without retaliating.
The guards press their advantage, sensing Mark's restraint as weakness.
Their attacks intensify, forming a relentless barrage that slowly begins to land:
A glancing sword blow strikes Mark's shoulder, tearing his cloak.
A spear butt cracks against his wooden arm, sending shockwaves through his body.
A mace blow glances off his skull, leaving him dazed.
Mark stumbles back, outnumbered and outmatched – his dodges becoming increasingly desperate.
Just as he thinks the guards will overwhelm him, his Instinct skill triggers again:
A warning scream in his mind alerts him to danger from behind.
Mark spins around to see Kai's sword slashing towards his neck – a perfectly aimed killing blow.
He dodges barely in time, the sword whispering past his skin with a faint hiss.
Kai recovers instantly, launching into a flurry of attacks that push Mark back:
* A swift slash at his chest
* A precise thrust at his wooden arm
* A deadly chop aimed at his neck again
Mark dodges and parries each blow, but Kai's speed and power leave him stumbling.
He realizes with growing alarm that Kai's abilities have increased exponentially –
Beyond anything Mark remembered from their past battles together.
Kai's movements are a blur, his sword slicing through air with eerie silence.
Mark's own reflexes, enhanced by his monster instincts, are barely keeping up –
He's forced to focus solely on defense, unable to counterattack...
As Kai keeps attacking,
Mark focuses his mind, summoning his Vine Control skill –
Thick, sturdy vines erupt from the ground, wrapping around his body like natural armor.
The vines weave together into a dense shield, protecting Mark from Kai's deadly sword strikes.
Kai's eyes narrow slightly as he takes a step back, acknowledging Mark's unexpected defense:
"So, you show your true identity, monster..."
Mark tries to speak, his voice straining to convey a crucial message:
"Mmmmmark... *groan*... am... *growl*... Mark..."
His words are barely understandable, a mix of monster snarls and faintly recognizable speech.
Kai's expression remains unreadable, his eyes fixed intensely on Mark's distorted face.
He seems to be searching for any hint of truth behind Mark's barely intelligible words.
Mark continues to struggle with speech, his monster voice grappling with forgotten humanity:
"*Maaaark... was... friend...*growl*... to you..."
Kai's gaze never wavers, his attention fully absorbed by Mark's painful attempt at communication.
Then, suddenly, Kai's right hand flicks outward – a brief, almost imperceptible gesture.
Mark notices the movement, but his instincts don't trigger any warning – he doesn't sense immediate danger.
His focus remains fixed on Kai's face, hoping to convey his true identity...
Mark's Instinct skill triggers abruptly, warning of impending danger aimed straight at his chest.
He tenses, expecting Kai to strike – but Kai remains still, his expression unreadable.
Mark's gaze flicks past Kai's shoulder, scanning the distance behind him...
And his heart sinks:
A slender, deadly projectile comes into view – a piercing arrow soaring through the air.
It's closing in fast, aimed directly at Mark's chest.
With instinctive speed, Mark raises his wooden right arm to block the arrow.
But the impact is catastrophic:
The arrow strikes his arm with incredible force, blowing Mark off his feet.
His body sails backward, wooden arm shattered and splintered – barely attached to his shoulder.
Mark crashes to the ground roughly 20 feet away from his original position,
His vision spinning from the shockwave...
Kai finally moves – walking calmly towards Mark's broken form...
Mark struggles to rise, fearing Kai's impending attack, but Kai's words cut him off:
"Finish him"
The Imperial Guards charge towards Mark, swords raised for the killing blow.
With swift desperation, Mark slams his left hand onto the ground.
His Inferno Flame skill erupts – a wave of intense heat and flames engulfing the earth around him.
The guards recoil, blinded by the sudden inferno and choking smoke.
When the smoke clears, Mark is gone.
The guards stumble forward, confused, only to hear Kai's calm voice:
"Search the perimeter."
Kai himself walks towards the woods, his eyes fixed on the ground...
A trail of dark, black blood leads into the dense foliage – Mark's escape route.
Kai's gaze follows the blood trail, his expression unreadable...
He whispers to himself, barely audible:
"He still bleeds like Mark."
Kai's expression twists into a malevolent smile, as if savoring Mark's desperation.
He turns to the guards:
"Search every inch of these woods. I want him found... barely alive."
The guards scramble to obey, fanning out into the forest with swords and shields.
Kai's gaze lingers on the spot where Mark disappeared, his smile unwavering.
Just then, a figure emerges from behind a nearby tree – Ryan, the archer.
Ryan approaches Kai, his eyes narrowed slightly:
"Did my arrow finish him?"
Kai's sinister grin widens:
"Unfortunately, no. He survived... for now."
Ryan's expression turns intrigued:
"What kind of creature can withstand a 'Powered Shot' arrow?"
Kai's sinister grin still plastered on his face:
"It was Mark."
Ryan's eyes widen slightly, skepticism etched on his face:
"Mark? But that thing... it didn't even resemble him."
Kai's conviction is unwavering:
"Appearance can be deceiving. I'm certain it was him. The way he moved and try to approach me, it was Mark."
Kai's expression twists into pure malevolence:
"We must kill him before Hana and the others meet him. Imagine their reaction if they discovered what he's become."
Ryan's voice drips with sinister amusement:
"You really hate that guy, huh?"
Kai's silence confirms Ryan's suspicion.
Ryan offers:
"I'll search for him and kill him myself."
Kai's evil grin widens:
"No... I will be the one to kill him."
He pauses, savoring the thought, before adding:
"Personally."
Kai and Ryan share a chilling glance before walking towards the forest, ready to hunt down Mark.
The trees seem to loom over them like sentinels, casting long shadows that stretch towards the spot where Mark fled in terror...
Mark remains unaware of Kai and Ryan's pursuit, his feet pounding against the forest earth as he flees deeper into the woods.
His breath comes in ragged gasps, panic fueling his desperate escape.
Finally, he ducks behind a thick cluster of trees and collapses against a trunk, exhausted.
Mark's hands tremble as he assesses his wounds:
* His wooden right arm hangs limp, splintered and cracked – barely attached to his shoulder from the Powered Shot arrow impact.
* The arrow wound on his upper right shoulder, black blood slowly dripping down.
* Various cuts and bruises cover his body from his fall and the guards' earlier attack.
Mark's red eye blurs slightly as dizziness washes over him – he's losing too much blood.
He knows he must tend to these wounds soon or risk collapsing... and being found by Kai.
Mark focuses his mind, summoning his Vine Control skill.
Thick, sturdy vines burst forth from the ground, wrapping around his wounded body:
* Vines cover the arrow wound on his shoulder, stemming the black blood flow.
* Tendrils weave around his splintered wooden arm, partially restoring its structure and granting some mobility.
Mark tests his arm cautiously – it still hurts, but he can move it slightly.
With temporary relief from his wounds, Mark starts walking again, putting distance between himself and Kai.
As he rounds a bend in the forest path, he notices movement ahead:
Deer, rabbits, and birds – all normally fearful creatures – are gathering nearby, watching him calmly.