[GLOBAL HOST POPULATION: 965,930]
The Slaughter Begins
In mere seconds, the battlefield turned into a bloodbath.
The mysterious Host moved like a phantom—blurring through the ranks of soldiers, his machete carving through flesh and armor with equal ease. Gunfire erupted, but bullets passed through afterimages as he danced between the shots.
"FALL BACK! FALL BACK NOW!" Aya's voice cut through the chaos.
From his sniper perch, Jax cursed, his scope tracking the killer's movements. "I can't get a clean shot—he's too damn fast!"
Aya's Counterattack
Aya's katana flashed as she activated her abilities in rapid succession:
[GALE STEP] – Triples movement speed for 10 seconds
[PHANTOM EDGE] – Coats blade in energy; slashes create shockwaves that cut through steel
She became a whirlwind of steel, her attacks so fast they left afterimages in the air. Shockwaves tore through concrete, cars, and debris—but the mysterious Host parried every single strike, his machete humming with dark energy.
"You're skilled," the killer mused, his voice distorted behind his visor. "But not enough."
Jax's Intervention
A gunshot rang out.
Jax's bullet—enhanced by his Hunter-class abilities—streaked toward the killer's skull... only for the Host to vanish mid-air.
"JAX, BEHIND YOU!" Aya screamed.
Too late.
The machete plunged into Jax's back, the blade erupting from his chest in a spray of blood.
[HOST JAX - CRITICAL CONDITION]
Aya's Desperate Move
Aya's vision turned red. She had one last option—an ability she swore never to use.
"[CELESTIAL BANISHMENT]"
Her katana glowed white-hot as she raised it skyward. The clouds parted, and a pillar of divine light slammed down onto the killer, engulfing him in blinding radiance. When the light faded—he was gone.
But the cost was steep.
Aya collapsed to one knee, gasping as her hair turned stark white at the roots. The ability had burned 50% of her lifespan.
Aftermath
Mira rushed to Jax's side, her healing glow flickering as she stabilized him. "He'll live... but he's out of commission for weeks."
Aya panted, her body trembling from exhaustion.
Aya (mentally): Who the hell was that?!
Ryujin: "I do not know his name... but his patron is Vortis, the World Ender—a veteran god who survives every Royale. His Hosts are always monsters."
Aya: "Level 8 already? How?!"
Ryujin: "By doing exactly what you just saw. He's not hunting monsters... he's hunting us."
Aya's blood ran cold.
Mira helped Aya to her feet, her voice shaking. "We need to warn the General. If there are more like him out there..."
Aya stared at the carnage around them—dozens of dead soldiers, the pile of decapitated Hosts, Jax barely clinging to life.
"No," she said quietly. "We need to run."
[GLOBAL HOST POPULATION: 965,912]