MTLNOVEL Chapter 10: Chapter 10: The Hunters Strike
Chapter 10: The Hunters Strike
The wind howled through the Obsidian Valley, a place where even the moonlight struggled to penetrate the heavy shroud of shadow. Yuan and Xiao Hua moved silently through the jagged terrain, their senses sharpened by the ever-present feeling that something—or someone—was watching.
Yuan activated Shadow Step, his figure blending seamlessly with the darkness. Each step he took felt natural, as if the shadows welcomed his presence. But despite his new power, his instincts remained on high alert.
Xiao Hua's voice echoed softly through their spiritual link. "The Shadow Hunters shouldn't know we're here yet… but something feels wrong."
Yuan nodded, his eyes scanning the valley's eerie landscape. His new powers gave him an awareness he had never felt before—he could sense the faint stirrings of shadow energy all around them, like distant heartbeats.
Suddenly, the system chimed:
[System Alert: Shadow Hunter Scouts Detected – 500 meters ahead.]
Objective Update: Eliminate or evade the Shadow Hunter patrol.
Yuan's lips curled into a faint smile. "Looks like they're closer than we thought."
Xiao Hua frowned, hovering beside him. "They may only be scouts, but the Shadow Hunters are trained assassins. We should be careful."
Without a word, Yuan extended his hand, summoning the Twilight Blade. The fusion of light and shadow crackled softly, illuminating the darkness around him. With a flick of his wrist, the blade vanished back into his storage ring.
"We'll take them out quietly," he whispered. "Stay close."
The two advanced, their movements swift and silent. As they approached the designated area, Yuan spotted three figures cloaked in black armor, their faces hidden behind dark masks. The air around them trembled with a faint, oppressive aura.
Yuan focused his energy, activating Eclipse Cloak—an ability that allowed him to suppress his presence by blending his aura with the surrounding shadows. In a flash, he appeared behind the nearest scout.
With a quick strike, his blade pierced the scout's back. The figure barely had time to react before collapsing silently to the ground.
[System Alert: Shadow Hunter Scout Eliminated – +500 EXP.]
The other two scouts spun around, sensing the disturbance, but Yuan was faster. With Shadow Step, he closed the distance and struck the second scout with a precise Radiant Eclipse Slash. A blinding arc of energy tore through the darkness, leaving only silence in its wake.
The third scout tried to retreat, but Yuan raised his hand.
"Shadow Bind."
Dark tendrils surged from the ground, wrapping around the scout's legs and pulling him to his knees. Yuan stepped forward, his glowing eyes cold and merciless.
"Who sent you?" he demanded.
The scout struggled against the bindings but refused to speak. Xiao Hua floated closer, her expression sharp. "They're trained to resist interrogation. We won't get much from him."
Yuan's hand glowed with twilight energy. "Then I'll make sure he can't report back."
A single strike of the Twilight Blade ended the scout's resistance.
[System Alert: Shadow Hunter Patrol Eliminated – +1500 EXP.]
Yuan exhaled slowly, his energy still pulsing with the rush of battle. "If scouts are here, their main force isn't far behind."
Xiao Hua's voice turned serious. "We need to move quickly. If the Shadow Hunter Commander is nearby, he won't be as easy to deal with."
Yuan turned his gaze toward the heart of the valley, where the shadows grew darker and the air thickened with malice. This was only the beginning—he could feel a far greater threat lurking just ahead.
With renewed determination, he stepped forward. If the Shadow Hunters wanted to stop him, they would have to face the full force of his Twilight Ascension.
To be continued…