The fog was so thick it pressed like a weight on Reid's skin, swallowing every sound until even his breathing felt muted. The Wastes ahead were a skeleton of the old world—shattered buildings leaning at impossible angles, concrete piles scattered like bones, and rusted fences twisting toward the sky. The air reeked of ash and something metallic, a scent that clung to the back of his throat. With every step, the mist coiled tighter, making the ruins seem endless.
Reid moved at the front, knife drawn, senses burning with tension. Behind him, Mara followed with her spear angled low, her eyes scanning every shadow. Jorik kept to the rear, his rifle ready, his silence sharp. The Bond's voice slid into Reid's thoughts, smooth and cold. "It's close. The fog hides it well, but I can smell it."
He ignored it, focusing on the world around him. The silence was unnatural, so deep it felt like the ruins themselves were holding their breath. Occasionally, they passed evidence of the Stalker's presence—deep claw marks raked into concrete, trails of black ichor hardened along walls, bones scattered in patterns that felt deliberate. Mara shuddered at the sight, her grip tightening on the spear.
"This thing… it's playing with its food," she muttered under her breath.
Jorik sneered. "Or setting a trap. Keep moving."
Reid said nothing. Every nerve in his body screamed to stop, to turn back, but he pushed forward. The Bond purred with delight. "Brave little hunter. Or foolish."
The fog shifted suddenly, curling tighter around their legs. A faint scrape echoed overhead, metal against stone. All three froze. Reid scanned the rooftops but saw nothing through the mist. The sound came again, closer this time. His grip on the knife tightened until his knuckles ached.
From the darkness above, two glowing orange eyes blinked to life.
The Stalker crouched high on a wall, its silhouette barely visible. Its limbs were too long, its posture too low, a predator poised to strike. The fog seemed to gather around it, drawn to its corrupted essence. It didn't move, only tilted its head slowly as if studying them.
Text flashed across Reid's vision:
[Warning: Predator Intelligence Detected]
[Quest: Survive the Hunt]
Mara's voice cracked through the silence. "What is that thing?"
Jorik lifted his rifle. "Something that's about to die if it gets close."
The Bond chuckled. "It knows you, little hunter. It smells what you are. This one is curious."
Reid's heart pounded harder. The Stalker moved—one slow step, then another, claws scraping stone with an ear-piercing screech. The fog coiled around its body like living smoke. Every instinct told him to run, yet he stood frozen, knife steady.
Then it lunged.
The blur of motion was so sudden the fog split around it. One moment it crouched on the wall, the next it was a streak of shadow tearing toward them. Jorik's rifle roared, muzzle flashes lighting the mist, bullets sparking uselessly against bone plates. Mara rolled aside just as claws slashed the ground where she'd stood. The impact sent shards of stone flying.
Reid's chest burned. The Bond's voice rose, almost gleeful. "Use me. Use Veil Step, or die here."
The world seemed to warp at the edges. His veins lit faintly, reality bending as he stepped—and vanished. The Stalker's claws tore empty air. He reappeared behind it, knife driving into a seam in its armor. Black ichor sprayed, sizzling on stone. The creature shrieked, spinning with inhuman speed, claws lashing out.
Pain lanced through Reid's arm as the strike grazed him, burning cold. He staggered back, but the Bond roared louder. "More! Again! Show it what we are!"
The fight churned the fog, each movement sharp, desperate. Mara's spear struck again, buying him a heartbeat. Jorik fired, forcing the creature to weave between shots. Reid moved, hiding every surge of unnatural speed beneath chaos. The Stalker hissed, glaring at him with recognition.
The Bond whispered, "It knows you. It sees me."
The mist closed tighter, and the battle was only beginning.
The courtyard erupted into chaos as the Stalker circled them, darting between ruins with impossible speed. Its movements were blurs, there one heartbeat, gone the next, each appearance punctuated by the hiss of claws slicing through air. Mara shouted a warning as it pounced from above. Reid rolled, feeling the rush of air as claws narrowly missed his head. Stone shattered where they struck, sending fragments skittering across the ground.
Jorik's rifle barked repeatedly, muzzle flashes cutting through the mist, but the creature slipped between bursts, every bullet sparking uselessly against armor. Reid moved low, knife ready, his steps guided by the Bond's whispers. "Closer… aim for the joints. Strike where it bleeds."
The Stalker lunged again, this time targeting Jorik. Reid reacted without thought, Veil Stepping through the mist, appearing between the predator and his squadmate. His blade slashed upward, catching the creature's underarm. Black ichor sprayed, sizzling as it hit the ground. The Stalker recoiled with a piercing shriek, spinning to swipe at him. Reid barely escaped, feeling the graze of claws slice his jacket.
Pain burned through his side, but adrenaline kept him moving. Mara thrust her spear, landing another strike, and the creature staggered. It turned on her instantly, eyes glowing brighter. Reid lunged, grabbing its arm, forcing it away. The strength of it nearly tore him from his feet, and the Bond hissed in delight. "Yes, push me further! Let me in and I'll end this quickly."
The fight dragged across the courtyard, into narrow alleys where mist suffocated visibility. Reid lost track of time. His muscles screamed with each Veil Step, his breath ragged, but he pressed on. Jorik barked orders that were swallowed by the fog. Mara moved like a shadow, striking when openings appeared. The Stalker adapted with every exchange, its attacks growing more cunning, more deliberate.
At one point, it vanished completely. Silence stretched, every second a razor's edge. Reid's eyes darted across the shadows. The Bond whispered, almost giddy. "It stalks you as you stalk it. Predator meets predator." The tension snapped as the Stalker dropped from above, claws sweeping. Reid twisted aside, barely avoiding death, then countered with a desperate slash that bit deep into its chest seam. The creature shrieked, staggering back.
Black ichor oozed from the wound, its movements slower now. Reid's vision blurred, exhaustion dragging at him. The Bond's voice rose. "Give me control. Just once. Let me show you how strong we are."
"No," Reid growled aloud, forcing himself forward. He struck again, blade meeting flesh, but the effort cost him. The Stalker slammed him against a wall, claws scraping inches from his throat. Pain exploded in his ribs. Mara screamed his name, charging to strike its side. The distraction saved him. With the last of his strength, Reid drove his knife into its neck seam.
The Stalker hissed, wrenching back with a screech that shook the ruins. It released him and retreated into the mist, vanishing like smoke.
Text burned across his vision:
[Objective Updated: Stalker Driven Off – Final Hunt Pending]
[Essence Absorbed: +1]
Reid collapsed to his knees, gasping. The Bond purred with satisfaction. "It's not over. It will return, stronger. And so will you."
Mara knelt beside him, eyes wide. "Reid… what was that? You moved like—"
"Don't," he cut her off, voice shaking. Jorik's glare was cold, silent accusations clear.
The fog swirled ominously. The hunt wasn't finished.
The fog was still thick when they began their retreat, the silence broken only by their labored breathing and the distant creaks of the ruins settling. The path back to the factory seemed longer, each step dragging under the weight of exhaustion. Reid kept to the middle of the group, clutching his side where bruises throbbed under his armor. His arm ached from the cut, the sleeve sticky with blood. The Bond's presence was quiet now, a soft hum of satisfaction under his skin. "You survived. Barely. I saved you more than once."
"Shut up," he muttered under his breath, earning a glance from Mara.
"What?" she asked softly.
"Nothing." He forced a tired smile. She didn't look convinced but said nothing more.
Jorik walked behind them, rifle slung but his glare sharp. He stayed silent, but the suspicion in his eyes burned hotter than any words. Every time Reid stumbled, Jorik's hand twitched toward his weapon, as if ready to end a threat before it became one.
The mist thinned as the factory's silhouette emerged, standing like a lone survivor in a sea of gray. By the time they reached the gate, Holt was waiting. Her visor glowed faintly, unreadable. She scanned each of them as they entered, her gaze lingering on Reid.
Inside, the atmosphere was tense. Initiates whispered in corners, voices rising in speculation. Mara helped Reid sit near a fire, her hands trembling as she checked his wound. "You need this cleaned," she said firmly.
"I'll be fine," he replied, pulling away gently. "Save the supplies."
"You're not fine," she shot back, but stopped when Holt approached.
The commander's shadow fell across him. "Report," she ordered. They gave her the details, each word heavy. When the others stepped away, Holt crouched to meet his eyes. "You're hiding something," she said quietly, coldly. "Whatever it is, control it—or I'll put you down myself."
Reid's mouth went dry. He nodded slowly. Holt stood and walked away without another word.
When night fell, the factory lights flickered, casting weak halos that barely pierced the mist. Reid stood outside alone, knife in hand, scanning the perimeter. The fog shifted strangely, curling upward like smoke. The Bond stirred, voice low and pleased. "They fear you. They should."
Beyond the perimeter, the darkness thickened. Dozens of faint orange eyes blinked to life in the mist, surrounding him in a silent circle. They didn't move closer, only watched, their glow pulsing faintly like embers.
Reid's breath caught. The Bond laughed softly. "They're here to witness what you will become."
A new message burned across his vision:
[Quest Updated: Final Hunt – Kill the Stalker to Claim Its Core]
Time Limit: 48 Hours.
Failure: Bond Influence Will Grow Unchecked.
His grip on the knife tightened. The night around him pulsed with the eyes of hunters waiting for their champion to fall—or rise.