Chapter 24: Stories and Shadows
1. Questions Over the Fire
The fire crackled softly, its warm glow flickering against the crumbling ruins of their camp. Ethan leaned against the wall, his face pale but calm as he stared into the flames. Across from him, Lila sharpened her dagger, her eyes occasionally darting toward the stranger. Alex sat nearby, his spear balanced across his knees.
"All right, Ethan," Alex began, breaking the silence. "Now that you're stable, let's talk. Who are you, and what do you know about this world?"
Ethan sighed, wincing as he adjusted his position. "Figured this was coming. My name's Ethan. I'm a Hunter—like your system probably told you. Been surviving out here for... I don't even know how long. Weeks? Months? Hard to say."
"And before that?" Lila pressed, her tone sharp.
Ethan's gaze darkened. "Before that, I was normal. Just a guy, living my life on Earth. Then one day, I wake up here, dropped into the middle of nowhere with this system in my head. Sound familiar?"
Alex and Lila exchanged a glance. "Exactly the same," Alex muttered.
"So you're like us," Lila said. "But I thought..." She hesitated, then frowned. "I thought we were the only ones."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "What gave you that idea?"
"We haven't seen anyone," Alex explained. "Not a single person. Just ruins and monsters. I figured if there were others out there, we'd have run into them by now."
Ethan snorted. "Not unless you're looking in the wrong places—or you're dead before you can meet anyone."
"You're saying there are others?" Lila asked, her tone skeptical.
Ethan nodded. "I've come across a few. Not many, but enough to know we're not alone. Most of them are like us—dropped here without a clue. A lot don't last long."
"Why not?" Alex asked.
"Because this world doesn't give you time to figure things out," Ethan replied grimly. "You don't learn fast, you die. And even if you survive, the monsters keep coming, stronger every time. Some people snap. Others just... vanish."
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2. What Lies Ahead
Alex leaned back, his mind racing. "If there are others out there, where are they? Why haven't we seen them?"
"Most stick to what they know," Ethan said. "They find a safe spot, hole up, and hope the monsters don't find them. The brave ones—or the desperate ones—go looking for supplies, exploring ruins, trying to level up. That's how I ended up out there, bleeding in a crater."
Lila frowned, glancing at the fire. "And what about civilization? Have you seen any actual towns or settlements? Anything that proves people lived here before?"
"Ruins are all I've found," Ethan admitted. "Old weapons, scraps of armor, sometimes a bit of food that hasn't gone bad. But actual towns, villages, living people? Nothing."
"It's like something wiped them out," Alex said quietly.
"Maybe it did," Ethan replied. "This world isn't natural. The monsters, the system—it's all connected somehow. And those Hivestalkers? They're proof of that."
"Hivestalkers," Lila repeated, her brow furrowing.
Ethan nodded. "That's what I call them. They're not like regular animals. They're controlled by the cores, and they don't act alone. They hunt in groups, and they're relentless. If you see one, there's more nearby."
"And the cores?" Alex asked.
Ethan's expression darkened. "They're dangerous. Powerful, but dangerous. I've seen people try to use them—infuse weapons, enhance themselves, even experiment on summons. Sometimes it works. Most of the time, it doesn't."
"What happens when it doesn't?" Lila asked.
Ethan hesitated. "They lose control. Either the core burns them out, or it turns whatever they were working on against them. Either way, they don't last long."
Alex glanced at Sentinel, its glowing eyes reflecting the firelight. "I've used a core to enhance my summon," he said slowly. "It worked."
"For now," Ethan said. "Just be careful. Those things are as much a curse as they are a tool."
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3. The Attack Begins
Before Ethan could elaborate, a low hum filled the air. It was faint at first, almost imperceptible, but it grew louder with every passing second.
"What is that?" Lila asked, standing and drawing her dagger.
Ethan's face paled. "Hivestalkers. They've found us."
Sentinel shifted, its glowing eyes locking onto the darkness beyond the firelight.
"How many?" Alex asked, his grip tightening on his spear.
Ethan shook his head. "If you can hear them, there's more than one."
The hum grew louder, joined by the skittering of claws on stone. Moments later, two large Hivestalkers emerged from the shadows, their twisted forms glowing faintly with the pulsing light of the Parasite Cores embedded in their chests.
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4. Fighting the Hivestalkers
"Sentinel, intercept!" Alex shouted, pointing his spear toward the advancing creatures.
The armored skeleton moved instantly, clashing with the first Hivestalker in a flurry of strikes. Its rusted sword scraped against the creature's hardened exoskeleton, sparks flying as it drove the beast back.
The second Hivestalker darted toward the campfire, its glowing core pulsing rapidly as it lunged at Lila. She dodged to the side, her dagger slicing into the creature's leg as it passed.
"They're fast!" Lila called, circling the beast.
"Focus on the cores!" Alex shouted, thrusting his spear at the first Hivestalker. The weapon struck true, cracking the glowing orb in its chest. The creature convulsed violently, screeching as Sentinel delivered the killing blow.
Ethan watched helplessly from the sidelines, his voice hoarse. "Careful! If they think they're losing, they'll detonate the cores!"
"Noted!" Alex yelled, pulling his spear free.
The second Hivestalker charged at him, its claws slashing wildly. Alex sidestepped the attack, driving his spear into its chest. The core began to glow brighter, cracks spreading across its surface.
"It's going to blow!" Lila shouted, retreating.
"Sentinel, finish it!" Alex commanded.
The skeleton stepped forward, delivering a precise strike to the core. The orb shattered with a burst of light, and the creature collapsed, its body disintegrating into ash.
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5. New Resolve
As the dust settled, Alex knelt beside one of the fallen Hivestalkers, prying the intact core from its chest. Its surface pulsed faintly, a reminder of the danger it held.
"These things are a problem," Lila said, wiping blood from her dagger.
"They're also an opportunity," Alex replied, holding up the core. "If we use them right, they could give us an edge."
Ethan shook his head. "Just don't get too comfortable with them. Cores have a way of turning on you."
Alex glanced at Sentinel, its glowing eyes unwavering. "Then we'll just have to stay in control."
As the group settled in for the night, the faint hum of the salvaged cores echoed softly in Alex's satchel. The fight had reminded him of the dangers of this world—but it had also fueled his resolve to survive.