Tap. Tap. Tap.
Her boots hit the ground hard. The sound sharp in the night as she pushed through the forest, branches snapping, dirt flying with every breath burning her chest but she didn't stop.
"Get her!"
The shouts chased her. Crashing through the dark. Too close, too loud.
She didn't look back, just ran faster.
Roots grabbed at her feet as she leapt over them. Hair whipping across her face. Blood dripping from her arm. Each drop leaving a trail behind.
The ground dipped, roots reaching for her feet. She stumbled, caught herself, and pushed on. Her arm burned where blood still dripped, each drop falling fast.
"Faster!" one of them yelled.
"Don't let her get away!"
The trees broke open. She burst out of the forest, almost falling forward.
Ahead—fences, twisted with rust. The gate hung loose. Beyond it, rows of buildings stood broken and empty, glass windows shattered long ago.
A crooked sign leaned to one side, its letters almost gone with age:
[Restricted Zone]
Her eyes flicked to it only once. No time to think. No time to stop. She didn't squeeze through. She jumped. One move and her body lifted from the ground, into the sky and over the fence, landing inside without breaking stride.
The hunters stopped. Just at the edge. One of them sneered.
"Tch. The place is abandoned."
Another growled. "Then she's trapped. Move."
They ran after her.
Inside, her steps echoed on the cracked floors.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Broken machines stared like dead eyes. The walls peeled long ago, groaning like they hated standing this long.
She didn't notice when drops of her blood hit the strange markings on the ground. The lines lit faintly, Spreading fast like fire under skin.
[Unauthorized Access Detected]
[Security Layer Breach]
[Searching for Registered User…]
[Error: No User Found]
[Override Protocol Engaged]
[Forcing Sync…]
[Stability: 1% → 5% → 28%...]
[System Core Linked]
[Binding Complete]
[New Host Acquired]
[User ID: Unknown]
[Designation: Prime User]
[Warning: Compatibility unstable]
She didn't hear any of it, she just kept moving. Heart racing.
"Corner her!"
The men spread out. One raised his hand as dark light coiled in his palm.
BOOM!
The blast tore into the wall beside her, the shock shaking the ground and throwing dust into the air. She stumbled, hit her shoulder, scrambled back to her feet—only to find her back pressed against cold concrete.
Her chest heaved, sweat stung her eyes.
"There's nowhere left to go."
Another man stepped forward, power crackling at his fingertips as he drew it back, ready to strike.
Her eyes widened—
[System Booting…]
[Stability: 47%...]
[Emergency Protocol Engaged]
[Auto Shield: Activated]
WHUMM!
A glowing shield burst out in front of her. the spear smashing into it and shattering sparks across the walls.
"What—?" her voice broke, half at the shield, half at the screen still hovering in front of her.
"She was holding back all along," one of them snarled, eyes blazing.
"Then end it—together!" another barked.
They raised their hands, power building, light sparking, rage crackling through the air.
BOOM. CRASH. WHAM.
The attacks slammed into the shield all at once, shaking the ground, splitting the walls, the night ripping apart with noise.
[Integrity: 42%]
[Warning: Stability Low]
Strike after strike pounded the shield. Light flickered. Cracks spread.
[Integrity: 37%]
[Warning: Stability Low]
She dropped to one knee. Teeth clenched with sweat dripping down her chin. Her scream ripped out as the shield burst.
BOOOOM.
The blast tore across the open ground, hurling bodies through the air.
She hit the dirt, trembling, her breath shallow. The world blurred, shapes twisted, sounds muffled. Her fingers clawed weakly at the ground as if to hold on—then the world faded.
One of the hunters staggered to his feet. Blood dripping down his face. He raised his hand again, dark power sparking.
WHSSSK!
An arrow tore through him before he could strike. He froze, then fell.
SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
Three hooded figures blurred into sight, so fast the air cracked. They stood around her.
"Is it her?" one asked.
Another nodded. "Matches the mark."
The third's voice was flat. "Take her. Quick. Before more come."
One bent, lifting her like she weighed nothing.
Then—
WHOOSH!
They vanished.
Silence swallowed the empty halls again.
Dust drifted down through broken beams, settling over the wreck.
[User Sync: 99% → 100%]
[System Status: Fully Online]
No one noticed. Not the hunters buried under rubble. Not the cloaked figures already gone.
Only the dark, empty halls bore witness as faint light flickered, then faded.
---
To be continued...