The forest trembled with approaching footsteps.
Through the trees, torchlight flared. Ten bounty hunters emerged, their armor gleaming with sect emblems. Each radiated the glow of cultivated Laws — earth, flame, wind, steel.
The leader's eyes locked on Ragnar, burning with greed. "There he is. The Law Thief."
Another spat. "The elder said alive if possible… but dead works too. His Core alone will fetch a fortune."
Selene smirked,her silver eyes glinting even through her pain. "Ten of them. Can you handle that, monster?"
Ragnar flexed his claw, molten shadow and flame writhing along his arm. "Watch me."
The bounty hunters charged.
The first swung a blade of condensed wind. Ragnar stepped into the shadows—
[ Shadowlight Step Activated. ]
vanishing before reappearing behind him.
Shhhk!
The Infernal Claw ripped through the man's spine, his scream cut short.
[ Law Fragment: Wind Blade — Acquired. ]
[ Fusion: Shadowflame + Wind = Scorching Gale. ]
His claw flared hotter, wind and fire twisting together into a blazing storm.
Another bounty hunter lunged from the side, stone spikes bursting from the ground.
"Duck," Selene muttered.
Silver light erupted, slicing through the stone like paper. Her hand glowed, weaving sigils midair, and a beam of pure radiance tore through the man's chest.
He collapsed, eyes wide in disbelief.
"Not bad," Ragnar muttered.
"Don't flatter yourself," Selene shot back. "That one was mine."
The bounty hunters faltered, fear creeping into their eyes. "Impossible… they're working together?"
"Retreat—!"
Too late.
Ragnar leapt into their ranks, claw blazing with Scorching Gale. He spun, a whirlwind of fire and shadow that tore through armor and flesh alike. Silver beams rained beside him, Selene cutting down stragglers with surgical precision.
Screams echoed. Blood sprayed.
Minutes later, silence fell once more.
Ten bounty hunters lay scattered across the ground, their Laws stripped bare, their bodies broken.
Ragnar stood in the center, panting, claws dripping molten shadow. Selene leaned against a tree, pale but smirking.
"Well," she said softly, "maybe you're not useless after all."
Ragnar's gaze hardened. "And maybe you're not as pure as you pretend. You killed as easily as I did."
Her silver eyes glimmered dangerously. "Remember this, Ragnar. You may be shadow-born… but you're not the only one who carries a curse."
The shadow in him stirred with delight. "Secrets. Lies. She's hiding something delicious."
Ragnar ignored it, but unease coiled in his chest.
If Selene wasn't here to kill him… then what exactly did she want?