Dawn broke across the horizon— as the golden light spilling through the trees as a new day began.
Danir opened his eyes—
Refreshed.
Focused.
Ready.
Beside him, Rigor let out a low breath, rising to his feet as if he too understood— The hunt wasn't over.
"…Let's go."
With the morning sun at their backs— Danir mounted Rigor once more.
And together— They set out again.
Continuing their second solo hunt...
They have been walking for almost three hours in Hunterwood Forest but still haven't yet found any creatures to be hunted in there...
While resting beneath the wide shade of an oak tree, Danir leaned back against the rough bark, letting his body recover.
Rigor stood nearby, quietly chewing, regaining strength.
For a moment— it was peace...
Then— Snap!
A distant sound cut through the stillness.
Danir's eyes opened!
Sharp.
Focused.
Another sound followed— A frantic struggle.
Leaves rustling violently.
A panicked cry.
"…A hunt!"
Not his but from a predator creature.
Danir slowly stood up.
He glanced at Rigor.
"Okay buddy, stay here rest, let me check it."
Then he moved.
Silent.
Controlled.
Step by step, he followed the sound deeper into the forest, blending into the shadows like a true hunter.
A mile ahead— He stopped.
His eyes locked onto the scene before him.
A massive creature stood over its kill.
Six feet tall.
Muscular.
Covered in coarse black fur— And from its back— Jagged, hardened spines protruded like a crown of deadly thorns.
Blood dripped from its jaws as it tore into the carcass beneath it.
Bones cracked.
Flesh ripped.
Danir lowered himself behind a bush, masking his presence completely.
His Amulet of Power pulsed— A steady green glow.
Intermediate level!
"I'm not mistaken…"
His gaze sharpened.
"…Thornbear."
The creature growled low as it fed—territorial, violent, dominant.
Not prey.
Not passive.
A predator.
Danir watched.
Carefully.
Patiently.
"…A carnivorous porcupine…"
A faint smirk formed. "…Now this is more like it."
Because finally— After hours of silence— He found something worth hunting.
And this time— it wouldn't be easy.
The moment Danir shifted his weight forward— Crunch!
A single step.
A single mistake.
Dried leaves cracked beneath his foot like a signal flare in the silence.
The Thornbear froze.
Then—its head snapped toward him.
Danir's eyes widened.
"…Oh shit!"
Too late.
The creature's massive body curled inward, bones grinding, muscles tightening—until it transformed into a rolling mass of thorns.
A living weapon.
A spiked boulder of death.
"Now I've lost my chance…"
And then— BOOM!
It launched.
The ground trembled as the Thornbear barreled toward him, guided not by sight—but by sound.
Danir moved instantly.
He ran.
In zigzag!
Left—right—sharp turns, cutting through bushes, ducking past trees.
"When it to you… just run in zigzag. It can't track properly. Don't make noise…" Yuri's words echoed in his mind— But the forest betrayed him.
Every step— Leaves cracked.
Branches snapped.
His breathing grew louder.
"Damn it! How am I supposed to run without making noise?!"
Behind him— CRASH!!
A tree exploded into splinters as the Thornbear slammed into it at full speed.
Danir didn't look back.
Didn't dare.
Five minutes.
Six.
Seven!
His lungs burned.
His legs screamed.
Still, the monster didn't stop like a nightmare that refused to end.
"Just die already!" he growled, frustration rising with every heartbeat.
The forest around them changed.
Bushes flattened.
Trees shattered.
Their path carved into a violent trail of destruction.
Like a battlefield born from a chase.
Eight minutes in— Even the Thornbear began to lose patience.
Its rolling grew faster.
Heavier.
More violent.
Then— it committed.
With everything it had.
A final, ferocious charge.
The ground shook!
Air screamed!
Danir's eyes sharpened.
"This is it…"
He pivoted— And ran straight toward a towering oak.
At the last second, he slipped aside.
CRASH!!!
The Thornbear slammed into the tree— And stucked!
Its massive, spiked body wedged deep into the trunk.
The forest fell silent.
Danir stood there, breathing hard. "…Got you."
But he didn't move immediately.
Instead— He slowly bent down.
And removed his boots.
Barefoot.
Careful.
Silent.
"This thing won't show its weak point… as long as it hears me."
Step.
Step.
Nothing.
No sound.
As it made the Thornbear trembled— Confused.
Its senses searched...
Aa its s prey… vanished.
Slowly— it uncurled.
Exposing its underside.
Soft.
Unprotected.
Vulnerable.
Danir's eyes gleamed. "Surprise, mother father!"
He moved.
In a flash.
"Ice Shard Daggers!" Magic erupted.
One—two—three—five—
Blades of ice shot forward in rapid succession, piercing deep into its exposed stomach.
The Thornbear let out a distorted, guttural cry— Too late!
Its body froze solid.
Encased in ice.
Helpless.
Danir didn't hesitate.
He dashed forward— Katana raised.
And with a single, decisive strike— SHATTER!!
The frozen body exploded into countless shards.
Ice scattered through the air like shattered glass— Glittering under the forest light.
Silence returned.
Only the remains of its thorn-covered armor lay on the ground.
Danir stood still.
Chest rising.
Blood pumping.
"…That took longer than expected."
But his eyes—
Sharp.
Focused.
Alive.
Danir dropped to one knee, chest rising and falling as he caught his breath. Sweat clung to his skin, mixing with dust and streaks of blood.
The forest around him was a mess—broken branches, crushed undergrowth, and deep gouges carved into the earth from the Thornbear's relentless charge.
"...That thing was insane," he muttered under his breath.
His eyes shifted toward the remains.
The Thornbear's body had long since shattered into frozen fragments—but its thorn-covered back armor remained intact, lying heavily on the ground like a discarded relic of war.
Danir stood and walked toward it, nudging it slightly with his foot.
"Yeah… this'll definitely sell."
A faint grin appeared on his face. Even in exhaustion, the thought of profit gave him a small sense of victory.
He bent down, gripping the massive thorny shell with both hands—and pulled.
"…Tch—heavy."
With effort, he dragged it across the forest floor. The thorns scraped against dirt and roots, leaving a jagged trail behind him.
Step.
Drag.
Step.
Drag.
But after a few moments… he stopped.
His brows slowly furrowed.
"…Wait."
Silence...
The forest felt… different.
Too quiet.
Danir turned his head left— Then right.
Nothing but endless trees.
No hoofprints.
No broken branches he recognized.
No Rigor.
"…Don't tell me…"
His grip loosened on the Thornbear armor as realization hit him.
"I'm lost."
A deep sigh escaped his lips as he ran a hand through his hair.
"I should've brought the damn map…"
For the first time since the fight ended, tension crept back into his chest—not from battle…
…but from uncertainty.
All around him were the same sights: fallen leaves, shattered bushes, clawed trees.
Everything looked identical.
Everything looked unfamiliar.
"…Great. Just great."
Still, he didn't panic.
Instead, Danir closed his eyes for a moment—steadying himself.
"Think… What would Yuri do…" He opened his eyes again—sharper now.
Determined.
Using the trail of destruction left behind by the Thornbear's rampage, Danir began retracing his steps. Every broken branch, every crushed bush—it became his guide.
Time passed.
Minutes turned to hours.
The sun shifted slowly above the canopy, its light dimming into a golden hue.
Fatigue crept back into his legs.
But he kept moving.
Step by step.
Dragging the heavy armor behind him.
Until— A familiar sound reached his ears.
A soft, pained whinny.
Danir froze.
"…Rigor?"
He turned toward the sound— And there.
Under the shade of a tree…
Rigor stood.
Waiting.
Alive.
Relief hit him instantly.
"Rigor!"
He dropped the Thornbear armor without hesitation and ran forward.
"I missed you, buddy!"
He wrapped his arms around the horse's neck, holding him tightly.
Rigor let out a low, gentle neigh, nudging him slightly in response.
For a moment— All the danger, exhaustion, and tension faded away.
It was just them.
Man and companion.
Still alive.
Still moving forward.
The sun slowly dipped beneath the horizon, painting the forest in fading gold and deepening shadows.
Danir let out a long breath.
"…That's enough for today."
His body ached.
From the chase.
From the fight.
From everything...
Rigor stood beside him, just as worn, his movements slower but steady.
They had pushed far enough.
"We camp here."
Danir guided Rigor deeper into Hunterwood, searching for a suitable place—not too open, not too cramped.
A spot they could rest.
Recover.
After a short walk, they found it— A quiet clearing tucked between tall trees, the ground relatively even, the surroundings calm.
Which Danir think it's safe enough...
Danir dropped the Thornbear armor with a dull thud and stretched his arms, wincing slightly at the lingering fatigue.
"…This will do."
He got to work immediately—
Gathering dry wood.
Clearing the ground.
Setting up his small tent.
Then— click… scratch…
Sparks flickered from the flint and steel—
Until a small flame caught as the bonfire slowly came to life.
Warmth spread through the clearing, pushing back the chill of the approaching night.
Danir sat down beside it, resting his arms over his knees.
For a moment— He said nothing.
Just listening to the crackle of fire.
Feeling the quiet.
Rigor settled nearby, finally at ease.
"…We made it through."
No pride.
No excitement.
Just a simple truth.
Another day survived.
And with that— Danir began preparing for the night ahead...