Veil of Sparks

The world came into focus slowly, the dazzling light of the Thread platform fading into the muted glow of the forest. Kael blinked, his breath catching as he took in his surroundings.

Towering trees stretched high above, their bark dark and gnarled, twisting unnaturally toward the sky. Faint beams of light pierced the canopy, illuminating patches of moss-covered ground and scattered stones. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and something faintly metallic, like the charge left after a lightning strike.

Kael flexed his fingers, the faint crackle of his Spark flickering along his knuckles. His chest was tight, his pulse quickening as the eerie silence of the forest pressed in around him.

He wasn't alone—he could hear the faint rustling of other recruits nearby, their movements careful, cautious. But no one spoke.

Above him, the sky was a murky gray, shifting faintly as if caught between day and night. The forest felt alive, but not in the way of a thriving ecosystem. This place was unnatural, the energy in the air sharp and heavy, making Kael's Spark hum faintly in response.

A familiar voice broke the silence, echoing through the forest with cold detachment.

"Trial Four: The Hunt."

Kael's chest tightened as the voice continued.

"Objective: Evade pursuit and reach the extraction point. Time limit: 45 minutes."

A faint chime sounded, its tone low and ominous.

"The hunters are active. Good luck."

Kael's stomach dropped as the words settled over him.

The hunters.

The memory of this trial from the game flashed in his mind. In Rise of Arclight, The Hunt had been a brutal event, designed to test a player's ability to think on their feet and react under pressure. The hunters—powerful constructs designed to relentlessly track and eliminate participants—were the primary threat. They moved in silence, their glowing eyes scanning for movement, and they didn't stop until their targets were incapacitated or disqualified.

Kael's grip tightened on his dagger as the first sound reached his ears: a faint, rhythmic thudding, like heavy footsteps on the forest floor.

He didn't wait.

Kael darted into the shadows of the trees, his movements careful and deliberate as he kept low to the ground. The air around him felt heavier now, the distant hum of the hunters growing louder with each passing second.

The forest was a maze of twisting paths, uneven ground, and tangled undergrowth. Kael's boots crunched softly against the mossy ground as he moved, his senses on high alert.

The first rule of The Hunt was simple: keep moving.

Kael glanced over his shoulder, his heart pounding as the sound of footsteps grew louder. He couldn't see the hunter yet, but he could feel its presence—a cold, oppressive weight that pressed against his chest.

He ducked behind a wide tree, pressing his back against the rough bark as he tried to steady his breathing.

The silence was deafening.

Then, a faint glow caught his eye.

Kael peeked around the tree, his stomach twisting as he spotted it: a hulking construct, its metallic body glinting faintly in the dim light. Its head turned slowly, glowing red eyes scanning the forest with a deliberate, mechanical precision.

Kael held his breath, his heart hammering against his ribs as the construct's gaze passed over his hiding spot. The sound of its footsteps echoed in his ears, heavy and deliberate as it moved closer.

Stay still. Don't make a sound.

The construct paused, its head tilting slightly as if it had caught a hint of movement. Kael gritted his teeth, forcing himself to remain motionless even as every instinct screamed at him to run.

The hunter lingered for what felt like an eternity before turning sharply and stalking off in the opposite direction.

Kael exhaled shakily, his hands trembling as he pushed away from the tree.

The minutes dragged on as Kael made his way deeper into the forest, his movements careful and deliberate. The oppressive atmosphere of the trial weighed heavily on him, every rustle of leaves or snap of a twig sending his pulse racing.

He wasn't alone.

Kael caught glimpses of other recruits through the trees—figures darting between the shadows, their faces pale and tense. Some moved quietly, sticking to cover, while others sprinted recklessly, their panic evident in their movements.

One recruit—a boy with a glowing shield strapped to his arm—crossed Kael's path briefly, their eyes meeting for a split second before the boy darted off in another direction.

Kael's mind raced as he considered his options. The extraction point was the goal, but getting there wasn't just about avoiding the hunters. The forest itself was a trap, its uneven terrain and hidden hazards designed to trip up anyone who wasn't paying attention.

Kael crouched near a small cluster of rocks, his eyes scanning the area ahead.

The faint glow of a rune caught his attention, etched into the base of a tree a few feet away. Kael's heart leapt—he recognized it immediately.

Thread Seal.

In the game, these seals had been scattered throughout the trial area, hidden in difficult-to-reach spots. Activating one would create a temporary barrier, shielding the user from the hunters for a brief period. It wasn't a perfect solution, but it could buy valuable time.

Kael glanced around, his pulse quickening as he weighed the risk. The seal was in an open clearing, leaving him exposed if a hunter appeared. But if he activated it, he'd have a chance to rest, even if only for a moment.

Do it.

Kael darted forward, keeping low as he reached the tree. His Spark flared faintly as he pressed his hand against the glowing rune, the energy surging to life beneath his touch.

A shimmering barrier formed around him, the faint hum of Thread energy filling the air. Kael exhaled slowly, his body sagging with relief as the oppressive weight of the trial eased slightly.

The barrier would hold for a minute—two at most. It wasn't much, but it was enough to catch his breath and plan his next move.

Kael's thoughts drifted to the extraction point. If the trial followed the same layout as the game, it would be located near the eastern edge of the forest, marked by a faint glow visible through the trees.

But between him and the goal lay an army of hunters, each one faster and stronger than anything he'd faced before.

The sound of heavy footsteps snapped Kael out of his thoughts.

He turned sharply, his stomach twisting as he saw the faint glow of a hunter's eyes in the distance. The barrier flickered faintly, its energy already beginning to wane.

Kael's grip tightened on his dagger as the hunter's steps grew louder, its gaze fixed on his position.

The barrier wouldn't last.

And Kael wasn't ready to face what was coming.