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Chapter 5 - INFAMOUS HUNTER PART 5

Bloodsteel Horizon

Episode 5 — Evolution Trigger

Current Level: 49

Evolutions: 0 / 150

Mods: Target Lock Mk. I, Overcharge Burst, Precision Strike

Currency: $54,500

Opening Clash

The Rift's violet light snapped shut behind them, leaving Kael and his rival in the Steel Wilds. The wind between the massive pillars carried only the sound of their breathing — slow, measured, dangerous.

The man's coat rippled, each stitched insignia marking a clan Kael had either fought against or never heard of. His weapon was a single-edged greatblade, dark steel etched with runes that pulsed in sync with his heartbeat. His silver eyes locked onto Kael's own.

"You're wasting potential," the man said, shifting his stance. "Your guns grow with you, but you're holding them back."

Kael tilted his head. "Funny, I was thinking the same about you."

The man moved first.

A streak of black and silver, the blade came down in a clean vertical arc meant to split Kael in half. Kael sidestepped, but the sheer force of the strike shattered the ground and sent shards of steel into the air like shrapnel.

Kael's Target Lock fired up, marking weak points along the man's armor. He squeezed the triggers — but the rival twisted, the blade sweeping in a horizontal slash that deflected both streams of bullets, the air sparking from the impact.

"You're fast," Kael muttered. "I'll give you that."

Testing Limits

The rival closed the distance again, switching grips to thrust for Kael's chest. Kael pivoted right, firing an Overcharge Burst at point-blank range. The man's coat flared open as he spun, the blast grazing him but not slowing his momentum.

Kael ducked under the next slash, using the steel floor as a springboard to launch himself backward, putting distance between them.

His HUD scrolled alerts:

Threat Level: Above Current Capabilities

Recommendation: Evade

Kael ignored it.

The rival was already on him again, the greatblade moving in a blur. Every swing forced Kael to either block with muzzle fire or roll away, but even then, the shockwaves from each hit rattled his bones.

Kael fired with Precision Strike, but the rival deflected again — not just blocking, but redirecting the bullets mid-flight so they tore harmlessly into the pillars.

"Your guns are chained," the rival said between strikes. "Break the chains, or die here."

First Kill in the Fight

Kael ducked behind a steel pillar, catching his breath — and caught movement in his peripheral vision. A Void Prowler, drawn by the sound of battle, slithered from the shadows.

Kael's instincts flared. Without hesitation, he spun and opened fire, Target Lock marking every one of its many eyes. The creature screeched, half its body turning to vapor under the magic-infused rounds. It lunged, but Kael sidestepped and finished it with a clean Overcharge Burst through the heart.

LEVEL UP!

Current Level: 52

The rival didn't even flinch. "Good. More pressure."

Pushed to the Edge

The man's attacks grew sharper, more precise. His blade nicked Kael's shoulder, tearing through armor and skin. The wound burned — not from heat, but from some kind of magic inside the steel.

Kael's vision tunneled. His HUD flashed WARNING: CRITICAL DAMAGE.

He blocked another overhead slash with both guns crossed, the impact rattling his arms to the bone. Sparks and steel dust rained down. His weapons vibrated violently, like they were about to tear themselves out of his grip.

"Break," the rival growled, pressing down with inhuman strength. "Or be broken."

Evolution Trigger

Something inside Kael snapped — but not in fear. It was hunger.

Not just his own — his guns were screaming in his mind, demanding more power. The etched lines along his arms blazed like molten gold.

SYSTEM ALERT:

Evolution Threshold Reached — Stage 1 Trigger

Evolutions: 1 / 150

Kael's arms felt like they were being reforged in a forge of magic and steel. His guns detached from his forearms, hovering in the air before slamming back with new weight and sharper design — barrels longer, frames etched with jagged runes, muzzles glowing with the pulse of his heartbeat.

NEW MOD UNLOCKED:

Rift Breaker Rounds — Bullets tear through armor and dimensional barriers. Limited 12 per mission.

The rival stepped back, eyes narrowing. "So… you can evolve."

Turning the Tide

Kael squeezed the triggers.

The first Rift Breaker Rounds tore through the man's guard, shattering the protective runes along his blade. The impact forced him a step back — the first sign of retreat Kael had seen.

The man's smirk returned. "Better."

He lunged again, this time meeting Kael's fire head-on. Every shot sent shockwaves through the air, punching craters into the steel floor. The man ducked under one burst, slicing at Kael's side — but Kael twisted, letting the blade graze him while planting a bullet square into the rival's chest armor.

The plating cracked.

Second Kill

Another shadow burst from the Rift — an Ash-Tide Ravager, massive and glowing with embers. It lunged at both of them, molten drool splashing on the steel with a hiss.

Kael reacted first, firing three Rift Breaker Rounds into its vents. The armor split like paper, molten blood spraying as the beast collapsed in a hiss of steam.

LEVEL UP!

Current Level: 55

The rival didn't thank him.

Instead, he came in harder, faster — the fight now a blur of gunfire, steel, and the ringing of metal on metal.

The Stalemate

Kael emptied his remaining Rift Breaker Rounds, each one forcing the rival to block with everything he had. Sparks lit the space between them.

Finally, the man disengaged, blade resting on his shoulder again. "Not bad, hybrid. But this was just the opening dance."

He stepped backward into a forming Rift.

"We'll finish this when you've grown… or when you're worth killing."

The Rift sealed, leaving Kael alone in the Steel Wilds, the silence almost deafening after the chaos.

Aftermath

Levels Gained: +6

Current Level: 55

Evolutions: 1 / 150

Currency Earned: $7,000

Total Funds: $61,500

Kael flexed his arms, feeling the weight of his evolved weapons. They were hungrier now — and so was he.

Somewhere in the distance, another Rift opened. Another hunt waited.

And now, he was ready to break chains.

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