The moon stood high in the dark sky, veiled by thick clouds that made threatening shadows dance across the forest floor. Kenzo walked with heavy steps, his steady breath forming small clouds that vanished instantly into the night air. Each step brought him closer to that cursed cave where he had stopped earlier in the evening with old William. But William was gone.
He felt empty. Like a black abyss in his chest, impossible to fill. Hatred still burned inside him. Hatred for the Guardian. And even stronger, hatred for the Nightmare Viper. That vile creature whose stench clung to his skin like icy sweat.
He soon reached the small cave. His gaze drifted toward the nearby water source. – « We were supposed to meet here, William… » he thought, clenching his fists. He had never truly had a friend in his world. Genuine bonds were foreign to him… except for the brief but intense connection he had shared with Yareth, just before the Awakening. But whether in this infernal test or in the real world, William was the closest thing he had ever had to that.
He knelt by the water and drank, the taste of iron and humus snapping him back to brutal reality. Then, resolute, he stood and headed toward the exact spot where the Warden had killed the two prisoners, without a trace of emotion. But the place was empty. Gone. And yet, a little farther ahead, a flickering glow caught his attention. A fire.
Kenzo narrowed his eyes, his heart pounding harder. Who else but the Warden would dare light a fire on this cursed island? In this hunt, where the slightest spark could mean death? No… there was only one answer. – « I found you, bastard… I swear you won't see daylight again. I will kill you. » The words hissed through clenched teeth like an irreversible oath.
Stopping at a safe distance from the camp where the Guardian had clearly settled, Kenzo lifted his head toward the sky and let out a savage, hoarse cry filled with hatred. – « Come here, cursed serpent… Cooome… » His voice tore through the night, disturbing the sinister shadows of the trees. Again and again he repeated his call, his eyes frantically searching for movement, for a glint, for a silhouette.
And suddenly… he saw it. A yellow glow pierced the darkness. Two eyes, shining like those of a damned beast. The Nightmare Viper.
Without thinking, driven by blind rage, Kenzo began to run. Toward the fire. Toward the Warden. – « I'm going to kill you! » he screamed at the top of his lungs. – « I swear I'll avenge you, William… » he thought, every heartbeat echoing that single vow. He ran again and again, breath ragged, spear trembling in his hands, until he finally saw the Guardian's small camp.
And there he was. The Warden stood relaxed, a mocking grin stretching his lips. His immaculate white tunic fluttered softly in the night breeze. His sword rested neatly at his leather belt. But it was that smell… that smell, the same one Kenzo had sensed so many times before. The same one that had frozen his blood the very first time he encountered the Nightmare Viper.
Blinded by rage, thinking of William, Kenzo charged. – « I'm going to kill you! » he shouted, raising his miserable spear, ready to shatter under the slightest pressure. But the Guardian simply raised a hand, his eyes shining with cruel pity. – « Stop. » The power crashed down on Kenzo instantly, crushing him under an invisible force. – « Kneel. » His body obeyed those merciless commands. He dropped to his knees in the cold earth, teeth clenched until they cracked.
The Warden stepped closer, his shadow spilling over him. – « Usually… prey runs from the predator, you filthy little rat… » he said, crouching in front of Kenzo with a smile.
But Kenzo wasn't done.
In a desperate surge of will, he grabbed his spear and aimed at the Warden. The man dodged swiftly… but the strike wasn't meant for his heart. No. It was aimed at the armband. The fabric tore with a sharp rip.
Since his first encounter with the Nightmare Viper and the Warden Kenzo had kept noticing something disturbing: their smell… it was the same. Especially around the Guardian's armband. A familiar, persistent stench. The alchemists who had experimented on him carried the same odor. In his world, he had never heard of Awakened capable of controlling Void Creatures. Never… until this Hunt.
On the day everything began, when the Warden approached him to remove his chains in the dungeon… that was when he first sensed it. That smell. The same one that had made him shiver in terror during his first encounter with the Nightmare Viper in the dark prison corridor.
A few moments earlier…
Beneath the trembling dark branches, Kenzo moved forward slowly, his thoughts heavy with pain and rage. William had just sacrificed himself. And he… now had only one goal: to avenge him.
As he walked, he stumbled upon corpses. Lifeless bodies sprawled in the mud. – « Another rotten hound… and three more prisoners. They must've fought to the death… » he thought, crouching beside them. He suspected that if William and he had managed to kill one of those beasts with such difficulty, other groups might have done the same.
He searched the bodies. No proper weapons… except for a small rusty dagger, its blade dulled by dried blood. As he stared at it, an idea formed in his mind. – « I need to get close to him… but how do I do that without his power affecting me… » His eyes gleamed darkly. He studied the dagger, his hand trembling slightly. – « This idea is going to hurt. A lot. »
The forest wind blew, damp and icy, brushing against his sweat-soaked skin. But he paid it no mind. His gaze remained fixed on the blade. He knew. He had seen it. The two prisoners… they had fallen without understanding. Just one word. One sentence. Nothingness.
He had no choice.
He drew a deep breath, slowly raising his hand to his right ear. – « It's this… or die without fighting… » The sharp edge grazed the soft skin of his ear. Pain exploded instantly, a blade of fire stabbing into his skull. Blood beaded, then spilled in hot streams. Kenzo clenched his teeth, his jaw grinding. But he kept going. The blade pushed deeper. He felt a dull crack. His eardrum had ruptured.
Burning heat surged into his head. His balance wavered. His vision blurred, painted in pulsing red. But he held on. He repeated the motion on his other ear, showing himself no mercy. – « Nothing anymore… I mustn't hear anything anymore… »
Finally, he dropped to his knees, panting, his temples hammered by silent drums. Fresh blood ran from his ears, staining his neck and chest. And he smiled. A wicked, bloody, defiant smile.
– « Speak all you want, Warden… your voice will never find its way to me again… »
He rose slowly, tossing the bloodied dagger aside. He picked up his miserable spear once more, the weapon that had followed him through this impossible struggle.
Ready.
Ready to face the Warden.