Aldoria: Am I a hero...or not?

The Hunter Has Arrived

Jin's heart pounded as he saw Tristan standing there, frozen in fear.

Draven Voss smirked and began chanting. Dark energy swirled around him, his deep voice weaving a spell that seeped into the very air.

The forest darkened.

A shadowy dome formed around them, swallowing the light.

Draven laughed.

A low, chilling sound that sent shivers down Jin's spine.

"You won't be leaving," he said, his red eyes gleaming. "Not anymore."

Jin clenched his fists.

The thought unsettled him, but he had no time to dwell on it.

"Tristan, run!" Jin ordered.

Tristan snapped out of her daze and sprinted toward the dome's edge. She reached out..

Thud!

She slammed into an invisible barrier.

She staggered back, clutching her arm, eyes wide in shock.

"No…" she whispered.

Mana flared around her hands as she quickly cast a powerful fire spell. Flames roared to life and shot forward..

BOOM!

The fire vanished.

As if it had been swallowed whole.

Tristan's body tensed. A cold sweat ran down her forehead as she realized the truth.

There was no escape.

Jin's jaw tightened. His red aura flared as he stepped forward, gripping his bladeless sword. The energy around it ignited, forming a sharp, crimson edge.

With a powerful swing, he slashed at the barrier..

CLANG!

His aura rebounded. The energy of his blade scattered like sparks against a steel wall.

Draven laughed.

"No one will hear you scream here," he said, grinning. "And no one can escape with the puny power you have."

Then—

He moved.

A blur.

Jin's System Perception flared, but—

Too fast!

Draven's greatsword was already mid-swing, aimed at Tristan.

Jin reacted instantly.

CLANG!

His sword met Draven's with a thunderous crash.

His mind raced.

Then.

A fist slammed into his stomach.

THUD!

Pain exploded through his ribs as his body was hurled backward.

CRASH!

Jin slammed into the dome's wall.

A sharp, metallic taste filled his mouth. He coughed, blood splattering onto the ground.

Draven approached, his boots crunching against the dirt.

"Hey, kid." He smirked. "A Platinum Medallion adventurer, huh?"

His voice was laced with amusement.

"Even you can't defeat me."

Jin struggled to his feet.

Draven tilted his head.

"Why are you protecting that woman?" His smirk widened. "You're just wasting your life for a puny, scared, weak girl who stands alone."

His red eyes gleamed.

"I'll give you a chance, surrender her to me, and I'll let you live."

Tristan gasped, her breath catching in her throat.

She turned to Jin.

He was wounded, bleeding. His body trembled, but his grip on his sword never wavered.

Tears welled in her eyes.

"Jin…" her voice cracked. "Just leave me here."

Jin wiped the blood from his lips.

His voice was firm.

"No."

Then.

He charged.

His red aura flared, blazing like fire.

He struck.

Draven parried effortlessly.

Jin attacked again—CLANG!—another block.

And another.

And another.

Draven barely moved.

"Weak."

Jin pushed forward.

"Puny."

Another strike.

"Is this all a Platinum Medallion adventurer amounts to?"

Then.

Draven's hand wrapped around Jin's throat.

He lifted him off the ground, fingers tightening.

Jin gasped, struggling to breathe.

Draven chuckled.

"Why are you wearing a mask?" His grip tightened. "Afraid we'll see your weak, scared little face?"

His eyes flicked to Jin's sword.

"And this?" He scoffed. "A puny aura blade? A bladeless sword? You think that's enough?"

Jin's vision blurred.

His fingers twitched.

Then.

His fist ignited with aura.

BOOM!

A punch.

Jin's fist connected with Draven's face.

The impact sent blood flying from Draven's nose.

For the first time

Draven staggered.

Silence.

Then.

A dark chuckle.

Draven licked the blood from his lips.

"I'm impressed, little man."

Then.

He threw Jin toward Tristan.

Jin crashed into her, and they tumbled backward.

They hit the dome's wall.

Tristan gasped, catching him in her arms.

Draven approached.

Slow.

Methodical.

A predator closing in.

His blood-red eyes gleamed.

He raised his greatsword high.

His voice was calm.

"But that won't be enough."

Then...

Slash—