The Stalker's roar shook the ground as the arrow lodged deeper into its glowing eye, sap gushing like a burst vein. Aydar clutched the Batyr's Blade, his side screaming with pain where the spike had grazed him. The figure in furs stood steady, their bowstring taut, another arrow already notched. The crimson light from the Gate bathed the field in a hellish glow, and the air thrummed with that eerie hum—like a storm brewing in the Ural peaks.
"Get up!" the archer barked, loosing the second arrow. It streaked through the air, a silver blur, and punched into the Stalker's chest. The beast staggered, HP dropping to 75/200, but it didn't fall. Its root-arms lashed out, splintered spikes slashing toward the archer. They sidestepped with unnatural grace, the wind rippling their fur cloak.
Aydar forced himself to his feet, ignoring the blood soaking his torn jacket. The Bichura swarm chittered around him, but they held back, their yellow eyes darting between the Stalker and the newcomer. The cops' gunfire had stopped—bodies lay scattered near the wrecked cars, their screams silenced. He was alone with this stranger and the monsters.
The System pinged:
[Quest Update]
Survive the Bichura Swarm: 18/40
Bonus Objective: Assist in Defeating Ural Stalker
Reward: +10 Endurance, Skill Upgrade
He gritted his teeth. Assist? He could barely stand. The Stalker lunged at the archer again, its spikes tearing through the earth. Aydar saw his chance—its back was exposed. He tightened his grip on the sword and charged, each step a jolt of agony. The blade sank into the Stalker's lower roots, cutting deep. Sap sprayed, stinging his face, and the HP ticked down to 60/200.
The beast whirled, its single eye flaring red. A spike swung low, and Aydar ducked, the wind of it ruffling his hair. Too close. The archer fired again, the arrow piercing the Stalker's shoulder. It howled, HP at 45/200, and the Gate behind it pulsed faster, crimson light intensifying.
"Hit the eye again!" the archer shouted, voice cutting through the chaos. Aydar nodded, circling to the Stalker's front. The Bichura skittered closer, testing him, but he ignored them. He needed one good shot. The Stalker reared up, spikes poised, and Aydar roared, "Now!"
The Voice of the Urals erupted, weaker than before but enough to rattle the beast. It flinched, eye exposed. The archer's arrow flew true, burying itself in the glowing orb. The Stalker convulsed, HP plummeting to 10/200, then collapsed into a heap of dissolving roots. Mist rose, thick and acrid.
Aydar's knees buckled, but he caught himself on the blade. The System chimed:
Ural Stalker Defeated
EXP: 50/50
Level Up: E+ → D-
Bonus Reward: +10 Endurance
Skill Upgrade Available
Before he could check it, the archer strode over, bow still in hand. Up close, Aydar saw her face—sharp features, dark hair braided with silver beads, eyes glowing faintly gold. Bashkir patterns adorned her fur cloak, swirling like the wind over the steppes. She looked young, maybe his age, but carried herself like a seasoned hunter.
"You're reckless," she said, voice clipped. "Lucky I was tracking that Gate."
"Who are you?" Aydar rasped, wiping sap from his cheek.
"Kamila," she replied, eyes flicking to the crimson Gate. "Another player. D-rank. You?"
"Aydar. Just hit D-minus." He gestured at the dissolving Stalker. "What's evolving?"
She didn't answer right away. The Gate's hum grew louder, and the Bichura swarm began to retreat, vanishing into the portal. Then it happened—a crack split the Gate's edge, and it widened, doubling in size. The crimson light flared, and a new shape emerged. Massive. Armored. Its body was stone and bone, with six jagged limbs and a skull-like head crowned with antlers. Two blue flames burned in its eye sockets.
The System flashed:
[Azraka, Guardian of the Peaks: C-rank]
HP: 500/500
Aydar's stomach sank. C-rank? He'd barely survived a D-rank. Kamila cursed under her breath, nocking an arrow. "That's what's evolving. The Gates—they're getting stronger."
The Azraka stepped forward, its weight cracking the ground. Each limb ended in a claw that gleamed like obsidian. Aydar raised his blade, but his arms trembled—exhaustion and blood loss catching up. Kamila fired, the arrow striking the Azraka's chest. It bounced off, leaving a faint scratch. HP: 498/500.
"Useless," she muttered. "We need to run."
"No," Aydar snapped, surprising himself. "I'm not leaving more bodies behind." He glanced at the fallen cops, then at the Azraka. The System pinged again:
[Skill Upgrade Options]
1. Voice of the Urals → Roar of the Batyr (Increased range and power)
2. New Skill: Step of the Steppe (Boosted agility for short bursts)
He picked Roar of the Batyr without hesitation. If they couldn't pierce its armor, maybe he could disrupt it. The Azraka charged, claws slashing. Kamila dove aside, rolling to her feet. Aydar planted himself and shouted, "Stop!"
The Roar hit like a thunderclap, a visible wave crashing into the Azraka. It staggered, antlers rattling, HP dropping to 490/500. The ground beneath it cracked further. Kamila seized the moment, firing two arrows at its eye-flames. One missed; the other grazed, shaving off 5 HP.
"It's weak there!" she yelled. The Azraka recovered, roaring—a sound like an avalanche. It swung a claw, and Aydar leaped back, the tip slicing his jacket. Pain flared, but his new endurance kept him standing. HP: 15/60.
Kamila circled, firing again. Another graze—480/500. The Azraka turned on her, claws smashing down. She dodged, but a splinter caught her leg, drawing blood. She gritted her teeth, still moving.
Aydar's mind raced. The Roar could stun it, but they needed more damage. He spotted the tractor wreckage—jagged metal scattered from the Stalker's attack. An idea sparked. "Kamila, distract it!"
She nodded, loosing arrows to keep its attention. Aydar sprinted to the wreckage, grabbing a twisted steel bar. The Azraka's back was to him, focused on Kamila. He hefted the bar, took a breath, and roared again. The wave hit, stunning the beast mid-swing. HP: 475/500.
He charged, leaping onto its back, and drove the bar into its left eye-flame. The Azraka shrieked, thrashing. The flame flickered, HP dropping to 450/500. A solid hit. But it reared up, flinging him off. He crashed into the dirt, rolling, blade skittering away. HP: 8/60.
Kamila fired again, hitting the same eye—425/500. The Azraka turned, its remaining flame blazing brighter. The Gate pulsed once more, and the air grew heavy. A low growl echoed—not from the Azraka, but from the portal. Something else was coming.
Aydar scrambled for his sword, blood dripping into his eyes. The Azraka loomed over him, claw raised. Then the Gate split wider, and a shadow emerged—humanoid, cloaked in black, with a scythe that glinted red. Its presence froze the battlefield.
The System buzzed:
[Unknown Entity Detected: ???-rank]
The cloaked figure raised its scythe, and the Azraka halted, turning toward it. Aydar's vision blurred, but he saw Kamila freeze too, her bow trembling.
"What the hell is that?" she whispered.