The First Men Chronicles

Chapter 42: The Hunt Begins

The air in the underground facility was thick with tension as Huey and Papa Tunde descended gracefully to meet Draven and his newly formed team. The dim light from the cavern walls cast eerie shadows over their figures, amplifying the weight of what was to come. Huey, ever the showman, dusted off his cloak theatrically and smiled.

"I trust you three can handle this mission without making a mess of things," he said, glancing at Draven, Gansu, and Kenzy.

Draven, standing tall with his arms crossed, narrowed his eyes. "Of course. But let's make something clear—I don't intend to remain with The Ten forever. Once this is all done, I'm moving on with my life." His voice was sharp, decisive.

Kenzy smirked at his boldness, while Gansu chuckled. "And if we don't make it out alive?" Kenzy asked, his tone teasing.

Draven exhaled, his All-Creation Eyes flickering faintly. "Then I guess you weren't meant to stand beside me."

Huey grinned, intrigued by the conviction in his voice. "Oh? So you're forming your own little charade of a team now?"

Draven turned slightly, staring into the dark abyss beyond the chamber. "Maybe. But I'll figure that out after this hunt."

Papa Tunde, standing beside Huey, raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly do you plan on reaching Russia? You're aware the Hybrid Beasts are heavily guarded in each nation's secret facilities, right? It's not exactly a walk in the park."

Draven sighed, annoyed that the logistics hadn't been explained to him earlier. He turned back to Huey with a deadpan expression. "And? How are we getting there?"

Huey snapped his fingers, and from his body, a wooden duplicate detached itself, standing as an exact replica of him. It stepped forward, its expression identical to Huey's usual mischievous demeanor.

"This is my Wood Clone, and it'll be your ride," Huey announced. "It will take you directly to Russia, straight to the facility where the next Hybrid Beast is stored."

Papa Tunde chuckled, shaking his head. "Ah, yes. God Tree Network Technique—one of your finest creations." He then turned to Draven. "You don't seem impressed, but let me enlighten you, young one. This ability connects all the roots in the world, allowing Huey's clones to transport people at speeds far beyond sound."

Draven didn't respond, though he did internally acknowledge the usefulness of the ability. The idea of instant travel was efficient—he didn't care how it worked, as long as it got him to the mission.

Huey, suddenly serious, took a step closer. His usual playful tone vanished as he lowered his voice. "Draven, I expect nothing less than absolute success from you. The Hybrid Beasts are no joke. Do not underestimate what you're walking into."

Draven's expression didn't waver. "And I expect you to keep your promise about delivering me Shiki when all of this is done."

A moment of silence passed between them before Huey's lips curled into a smirk. "Very well then."

With that, Huey and Papa Tunde phased into the ground, vanishing completely.

Now, it was just Draven, Gansu, Kenzy, and the clone. The air was eerily still.

"Alright," the clone said, cracking its wooden knuckles. "Let's get moving."

Thin, -like roots slithered from the ground, attaching themselves to the trio—wrapping around Draven's right arm, Kenzy's legs, and Gansu's waist. The moment the connection was complete, their bodies were yanked downward, swallowed by the earth.

And just like that, they disappeared, traveling through an intricate network of underground roots, moving faster than the speed of sound toward Russia.

Seoul, Hunter Association Headquarters

A wounded, exhausted figure staggered toward the massive headquarters building. Gong, bloodied and barely holding himself together, took shaky steps toward the front entrance, his vision blurring.

Each breath he took felt like fire. His entire body ached from the injuries he had sustained. The weight of Feng's death was still fresh in his mind, and the sheer fear of what he had witnessed back in the mountains clawed at his chest.

As he collapsed to his knees, the sound of rushing footsteps filled the air.

"It's Gong!" a Hunter Association officer shouted.

Several guards and medics rushed forward, catching his falling body before he could hit the pavement. The moment they saw his wounded state, panic spread through the group.

"What the hell happened to him?!" one of the guards yelled.

"He's been traveling nonstop," another medic noted, scanning his vitals. "His body is running on fumes."

Gong's lips trembled as he forced out the words. His voice was hoarse, weak—yet filled with terror.

"Draven…."

His bloodshot eyes widened as he gasped for air. The memory of Sitra Achra's arrow piercing through Feng's body haunted him.

"They… they have to be stopped," he rasped.

And with that, Gong lost consciousness.