The hunter's words hung over the camp like a shadow. Whispers spread quickly—of a weapon crafted by the council, designed to hunt and kill the Marked One. The Red Fang warriors prepared with tense urgency, their usual fierce confidence shaken by the unknown.
Reid stood apart from the others, watching the horizon. The Bond's voice came softly, almost contemplative. "A weapon made for you, host. Do you fear it? You should. Fear sharpens the blade."
Kaela approached, her expression unreadable. "The scouts have confirmed movement to the east. Whatever the council is bringing, it's not ordinary troops."
Lira strolled up with her usual grin, though it lacked its usual playfulness. "So, they've got a secret toy just for you. Guess that means you're special."
Mara crossed her arms, eyes narrowing. "Special enough that they're willing to unleash something they've kept hidden until now. That should worry all of us."
Reid tightened his grip on his blade. "Then we find it before it finds us."
System prompt:
[New Quest: Hunt the Weapon]
[Optional Objective: Learn Its Origin]
By nightfall, the scouts came back, pale and shaken. "We saw it," one whispered. "It's… not human. Not beast. Something between. It moves without sound, faster than any hunter. And it killed an entire patrol without leaving a trace."
Kaela's hand tightened on her spear. "They've unleashed an abomination."
The Bond chuckled darkly. "Finally, an enemy worth our full attention."
The scout handed Reid a piece of shattered armor, blackened and warped by some unknown force. "This was all that was left."
Reid examined it, feeling a faint pulse of energy still clinging to the metal. "It's coming this way."
Kaela's eyes met his. "Then we prepare an ambush. If it's hunting you, we'll make it regret stepping into our territory."
Lira leaned on her blade with a grin. "Sounds like fun. I'll make sure it notices me first."
Mara glared at her. "Don't be reckless."
Lira winked. "No promises."
As the moon rose, the Red Fang prepared the battlefield. Traps lined the forest floor, runes etched into the trees to channel energy. Warriors hid in the shadows, ready to strike. Reid stood at the center, Veil Rend glowing faintly, the Bond's energy thrumming beneath his skin.
The Bond spoke with an unsettling calm. "It comes. I can feel its hunger. Do not hesitate, host. Hesitation will kill you."
The night air grew heavy. The sounds of the forest died. Then, from the darkness, two red eyes appeared—low to the ground, moving with predatory grace. A figure emerged, its form shifting like smoke and steel, its body covered in glowing glyphs similar to the Bond's mark.
Kaela whispered, "What is that thing?"
Reid stepped forward. "The council's weapon."
The creature tilted its head, studying him. Then, without warning, it lunged, faster than the eye could follow.
The creature struck like a phantom, its claws tearing through the air where Reid had stood only a heartbeat before. He rolled aside, feeling the wind of its attack slice past his face. The ground split where its strike landed, leaving a smoldering scar that pulsed with faint energy.
Kaela shouted, "Focus on the traps! Lead it through them!"
Reid sprinted toward the nearest rune line, the abomination hot on his heels. The Bond hissed, its tone sharp. "It mirrors you, host. It learns as you move. Do not make the same move twice."
The first trap activated with a burst of light, chains of energy snapping up to bind the creature. For a moment, it writhed, shrieking with a sound that rattled the bones. Lira darted in, her blade flashing as she struck its side, but the creature twisted unnaturally, breaking the bindings with brute force.
Mara's arrows pierced its shifting form, glowing faintly as they struck, but the wounds closed as quickly as they appeared. "It's healing! Keep hitting it!" she shouted.
Reid dashed forward, Veil Rend humming with destructive energy. He struck deep, carving through the glyphs on its chest. The creature screamed, its form destabilizing for a heartbeat before it regenerated, even faster than before.
The Bond's voice grew darker, almost thrilled. "Oh yes… this one is perfect. Strong, adaptive, dangerous. Kill it, and we will be stronger than ever."
The abomination vanished into the shadows, reappearing behind Kaela. She barely blocked its strike, sparks flying as her spear clashed with its claws. Reid moved without thinking, teleporting with Veil Step to intercept, his blade cutting into its arm. For the first time, the creature recoiled, hissing.
System prompt:
[Weakness Detected – Glyphs on the Spine Disrupt Regeneration]
Reid shouted, "The glyphs on its back! Hit them hard!"
Kaela, Lira, and Mara coordinated their attacks, driving the creature toward the final trap. As it leapt to strike, Reid channeled every ounce of power into Veil Rend and launched himself upward, slashing across its spine with a devastating blow.
The abomination howled, its body fracturing as the glyphs shattered. With a final surge of energy, it collapsed into ash, leaving only a glowing shard behind.
System prompt:
[Objective Complete – Abomination Defeated]
[Loot Acquired: Shard of Council Experimentation]
[Hidden Effect: Bond Reacts to the Shard]
The Bond whispered, almost reverent. "Take it, host. This shard sings with power. Feed it to me, and I will show you new strength."
Reid picked up the shard, its energy pulsing in his hand. He looked at Kaela, Mara, and Lira—each watching him with a mix of awe and concern.
Kaela spoke first, her voice low. "We won, but what did they unleash?"
Reid stared at the shard, the Bond humming dangerously in his mind. "Something the council should never have made."
The shard pulsed faintly in Reid's grip, its glow shifting between deep crimson and pale silver. It felt alive, its energy thrumming in time with his heartbeat. The Bond's voice coiled through his thoughts, smooth and intoxicating. "Feed it to me, host. Let me consume its essence, and you will rise beyond their understanding."
Kaela stepped closer, her eyes narrowing. "That thing isn't natural. Whatever power it holds, it's dangerous."
Lira tilted her head, her grin laced with curiosity. "Dangerous, sure. But look at it… that's not just some trophy. That's power begging to be used."
Mara folded her arms, her voice firm. "Don't. You don't know what it will do to you."
Reid tightened his grip, feeling the shard's energy pulse harder, as if responding to their voices. "Then we find out what it is—on our terms."
That night, while the camp rested, Reid sat alone by the fire with the shard. The Bond whispered constantly, weaving promises with threats. "With this, you could crush them all. The council's hunters, their armies, even the Maw itself. Feed it to me, and you will never fear again."
Reid glared into the flames. "You just want more control."
"Control? No, host. I want victory. You want it too. Stop pretending otherwise."
The shard warmed in his palm, as if urging him to decide. He wrapped it in cloth, hiding it from sight. "Not yet."
The Bond chuckled softly. "You delay the inevitable. But soon, you'll see… you need me."
The next morning, the Red Fang leader summoned Reid. Her eyes were sharp as she gestured to the shard. "That fragment reeks of corruption. I have seen warriors fall to lesser things. Destroy it before it destroys you."
Reid met her gaze evenly. "If the council made it, it's a weapon. And weapons can be turned against their makers."
She frowned but said nothing, only turning away with a curt nod. "Do not let it consume you, Marked One. We need you."
System prompt:
[Quest Updated: Unravel the Shard's Origin]
[Optional Objective: Resist Bond Influence]
Far away, in the council's war chamber, Selene stood over a map marked with Red Fang territory. A courier knelt before her, delivering a report of the weapon's destruction.
Selene's lips curved into a cold smile. "Good. If he killed it, he carries what we need."
Commander Ryn raised an eyebrow. "You wanted him to take the shard?"
"Of course," Selene said. "Now it's only a matter of time before it changes him. And when it does, we will be ready to claim him—or end him."
As the Red Fang camp prepared to move, Kaela approached Reid quietly. "Whatever that shard is, it's changing things. You're changing."
Reid glanced at her, then at the shard hidden in his pack. "Good. Because we're going to need every edge we can get."
The Bond purred, pleased. "That's it, host. Embrace it. You are not like them anymore."
The path ahead was dark, lined with enemies both seen and unseen—but Reid walked it with unshakable resolve.