Arknightcraft Modpack (Steve in Terra) (Minecraft x Arknight)

Next to Iberia's Sea Breeze Village stands an old, dilapidated church.

The sea winds and time have left their mark on the structure. Ever since the catastrophe that engulfed all of Iberia, this place has been almost entirely abandoned.

When survival itself becomes a luxury, faith tends to lose its value.

The interior has been stripped bare, moss creeping across nearly half of the crumbling walls. The church exudes a desolate, post-apocalyptic atmosphere.

Local villagers rarely visit such places anymore; everyone knows that when starving, begging the gods is far less effective than lying down to conserve energy.

But on this otherwise ordinary day, this long-abandoned church welcomed a new guest.

A figure cloaked entirely in black stumbled through the broken and wide-open doors, gasping for breath as they leaned against a toppled pillar.

The black-robed figure hadn't expected such a startling discovery when they followed the Sea Terror to the nearby village, intrigued by the ocean's unusual changes.

The Sea Terror had gone berserk because an Abyssal Hunter had appeared in the village. The scent was unmistakable, and the cloaked figure was certain of it.

The news that another Abyssal Hunter still lived needed to reach their companions, even if this one seemed... a bit off.

As for that monster-like boy? He was a phenomenon worth investigating. If they could study him, it might greatly advance their research.

For now, though, it was clear that this hiding spot was no longer safe. They needed to relocate their vital research materials.

Of course, any unexpected gains along the way would be welcome.

The black-robed figure glanced back nervously. Their frantic escape was entirely due to the relentless pursuit of a girl who was tracking them like a bloodhound.

She had uncanny tracking skills. After just one glance at her while mingling with the Sea Terror, she'd sensed their presence. Then she began chasing them as if to force them into revealing their base.

The cloaked figure was certain that, with her speed, she could have caught up easily. The only reason she hadn't was that she wanted him to lead her somewhere—likely to her real target: his base of operations.

And that suited him perfectly.

If the plan went well, the roles of hunter and prey could be reversed at any moment.

Especially since the pursuing hunter seemed to be in an unbalanced state. That imbalance might give him the upper hand.

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As expected, not long after the black-robed figure stopped to catch his breath, a white-haired girl in coarse linen clothing appeared at the broken entrance to the church.

Her crimson eyes shimmered with a hint of confusion as she scanned her surroundings without trying to conceal her movements. She appeared to be searching for something or confirming her location.

In truth, she didn't fully understand why she had come here—or even why she had pursued the black-robed figure.

But the moment she caught the familiar scent of "companionship" on him, her body moved instinctively.

There must be something hidden in him—something crucial to her.

Driven by this thought, Gladiia had subconsciously herded him to this location. But now that she was here, a sense of uncertainty washed over her.

What was she supposed to do next?

A thin fog of confusion clouded her gaze. Gladiia clutched her forehead, as if trying to remember something incredibly important.

This wasn't the first time she'd felt like this. But back then, her "father" had been with her.

With him around, there was no need for her to think too hard. She could simply stand behind him, and he would handle all the troublesome matters.

That was why Gladiia had clung so closely to the boy—standing behind him and being protected was an entirely new and comforting experience for her.

But this time, her impulsive actions had taken her far from her "father."

Like a lost cub, the sharpness in her eyes began to fade, replaced by a growing sense of helplessness.

She had only pursued him because of the lingering, instinct-like memories within her. Once she broke free from that state, she found herself completely at a loss for what to do next.

The tall Aegir girl clutched herself tightly, curling up on the ground like an infant.

This scene was fully observed by the black-robed figure hidden in the church's shadows.

Was this truly the Abyssal Hunter he knew—the humanoid monster that had ruthlessly hunted his kind? How could such a cruel and fearsome predator display such vulnerability?

Or was this some kind of elaborate ruse or trap on her part?

After all, she had tracked him all the way to this location. Why would she suddenly become defenseless, like a little girl?

Questions filled the black-robed man's mind, causing him to pause his original plan to subdue the girl.

The more bizarre and illogical her actions seemed, the more likely they were part of a trap. Abyssal Hunters weren't just physically formidable; their cunning was equally deadly.

Yet, the longer he observed Gladiia's behavior, the more convinced he became that her current state wasn't feigned.

Her actions bore an uncanny resemblance to another Abyssal Hunter he had once encountered—a subject of their experiments who had been tortured until they lost their memory. The similarities in their demeanor were striking.

The only difference was that Gladiia's eyes lacked the madness borne of suffering. Instead, her gaze radiated a deep, unmistakable confusion.

"Could today really be my lucky day? The last subject was taken from us, and now another one walks straight into my hands?"

Narrowing his eyes slightly, the black-robed figure silently thanked the heavens for this unexpected gift.

Regardless of whether there was something wrong with Gladiia's state, he had no intention of letting her go. Now that he was back in his lair, he felt confident in his ability to take her down.

Raising a hand, he gestured toward the shadows behind him.

A heavy, rusted door to the church's underground chamber creaked open. From within emerged a group of grotesque, half-human, half-fish monstrosities, their bodies covered in strange crystalline growths.

"Go," he murmured to them. "Bring that girl to me."

Pointing a finger in Gladiia's direction, the black-robed man commanded his abominable creations to act.

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