That trial never gave me any power.
All it brought to me were problems.
I never asked for this.
Who the hell is this Silver Streak lady? What on Veloria has compelled her to be so determined that I'm a calamity in need of eliminating?
Is she insane?
Think, Solryn. There has to be something. Some kind of mark or sign that I've done something wrong...
Wait, mark?
The sigil!
That has to be it! That's the only outlying feature! Maybe the mark bears a terrible connotation that I know nothing of... But how? How did I end up with this mark on my dagger? Was there even any chance for her to see it? Our first encounter was determined all the way from the rooftop...
'Damn it. I can't figure any of this out. Why don't I know the answer..?'
I guess my only option is to try. This better work, otherwise I'm just going to be broadcasting my exact location and giving myself the death penalty early. I have to be prepared...
Picking up the strongest looking item I could possibly find in this tornado of ash, I continued sprinting away from my executioner and braced for impact.
"Hey, I don't know anything about this damn sigil anyway! It just appeared one day on the bottom of my dagger, I swear!"
Shit.
Why would I word it like that? I wouldn't have believed myself for a second either.
Now certain that impact was near, I tried my best to brace my side for another spinning attack. I doubt she would attempt a direct lash of the chain at this distance since there is no way she could clearly locate me.
Clang!
'Damn it! Why are her attacks so strong?'
The sterling chain connected with the mediocre piece of body armor, denting it and whipping the front of my body with the remaining force. The pain stung harshly throughout my whole body and left a mark to prove it.
"Sigil? What the hell kind of scare tactic is that? Do you think I would be scared of a symbol? You can do better than that, little bunny."
'What? She doesn't even know about the sigil? So this lady really is just a maniac.'
I traded the dented armor for a fresh one and continued sprinting as hard as I could away from the psycho.
"Why don't you come out to play? This fox is getting hungry..."
Her footsteps chasing after the speed of mine, I had to push myself harder.
'She is adapting to the ash faster than I thought, I have to adapt too or this footrace won't last much longer.'
My feet kept slipping on the ashen ground with every stride, snatching my momentum with it. This isn't going to work.
'Just how can I possibly prevent that from happening...'
I kept pushing harder, but all I was doing was kicking up more powder. Sending smoke clouds straight into the enemy was great and all, but it'll never be useful if I don't cover enough ground to escape.
'Damn it, the floor is right below this, if only I could just step straight onto it instead of the surface...'
Defeated, I kept forcing myself to run harder. I couldn't just let myself die.
I kept slipping, my foot sinking just a little bit, and then sliding right off the ground.
Clang!
The chain snapped me in the side again, denting into the armor and smacking against my chest. Feeling a huge burning sensation in my midsection, I lost focus and let my foot sink too far into the ash, and then tried to run again.
I launched forward, covering way more ground than before.
'Wait, are we serious?'
I regained my balance on my next stride, allowed my foot to sink in until I felt firm ground under my feet. I pushed, and sprung forward.
'That's all it took? Seriously? That should've been obvious. Let my foot sink under the ash, find the ground, and use it to propel yourself forward.'
I can't be that stupid.
Now covering much more ground, my goal felt tangible again.
Next up comes the hardest part. This dust cloud trick won't last forever, and we're about to enter the most spacious, wide open plaza. How the hell am I going to avoid imminent death? Fantastic question.
First:
Darting straight ahead, I knocked down any loose planks, items, and anything I could possibly use to impede her movement, keeping only one meager shield. Sinking into the grit before shooting off, I surged forward.
"Is this all you got? Must have been a one-trick pony after all. I'm disappointed."
The thudding from her jumping and avoiding the objects was getting closer and closer as I reached the opening of the plaza.
My heart started to beat faster.
This was make or break.
One wrong move could easily cost me my life.
Second:
Finally reaching the opening, I waited no time to sink, tossing up everything I could. Powder, grit, anything potentially blinding. Thus creating a huge, deep black, dust cloud. Using the cloud and the remainders of the markets as cover, I crouched off to the side and waited.
'Heavens I hope I'm right.'
"I'm getting sick of your games little bunny! Let's make this quick!"
'Lets.'
Third:
Badump. Badump. Badump.
My heart is racing and beating out of my chest.
Sweat is beading up all over my body.
I can't mess this up.
This is the best I've got.
Please don't let me die here.
Badump. Badump. Badump.
The footsteps are getting closer.
Distant thudding.
Crack!
The chains slashed through the air, destroying everything in their path. As a result, the smoke cloud started to clear. I couldn't toss up more or she would easily tell where it's coming from. I just have to hope that it lasts.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Footsteps are approaching...
"Where the hell are you little bunny?"
Crack!
Wreaking havoc and swiping just over my head, chains sliced cuts through the wind.
Badump. Badump. Badump.
I began clutching the shield and gripping it tighter, hands dripping with sweat.
Footsteps crushing through the ash in front of me.
'Now!'
I pulled back, swinging as hard as I could.
Everything slowed to a halt.
Her porcelain skin contrasted the black cloud surrounding it. Her wild hair was reflective, and almost mercury-like.
You felt with just a glance that her body was pulsing with energy and ready to pounce.
Her face was sculpted. Immediately striking.
Distracting.
Enamored in her beauty, I nearly lost sight of my plan.
The shield bashed into her body, throwing her entire top half off balance and causing her to slip backwards.
"I'm sorry, pretty fox, but this 'little bunny' has somewhere to be."
That slipped.
'Now, I just have to pray to the Heavens that Predator's Claim does what it sounds like it does.'
I saw it. The stalker-demon was never dead. It was watching... and waiting for an opportunity to strike. Bloodied, it should be filled to the brim with anger. There is no better time to strike than now.
Please.
I took off, sprinting as fast as I could across the ashen ground with my new method.
[You are caught - Domain of the Hunter.]
[You're not the only one with tricks up their sleeve.]
'What?'