Chapter 16 — Thirty Minutes Until Survival
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[Time Remaining: 00:29:58]
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The number hovered in the corner of Aken's vision. Thirty minutes, that was all, not to win, neither was it to kill, but just to survive. Aken stood in the middle of the ruined street, shoulders rising and falling heavily. Dust drifted through the air like ash, cars burned in a distance, windows hung shattered. The city had gone silent around them. Across from him—The Hunter. Its glowing eye locked onto him with something far worse than rage—intent, pure and focused. Miokuo's voice was calm. "Master."
"…Yeah." Aken responded
"This will be the decisive phase." Miokuo completed
Aken rolled his neck slowly. Pain was pulsing through his ribs, his arms felt heavy, his breathing was ragged, but his eyes were steady. "…I don't need to win." He adjusted his grip on the katana. "…I just need to last long enough."
The Hunter moved, not with a charge or a reckless attack. A step, measured and controlled. Then—It vanished, Aken's perception screamed in an instant. He moved but it was too late, the claw slammed into his side. The world flipped, Aken was launched across the street, he crashed through a storefront window, glass exploding around him. His body rolled across the floor, smashing into shelves and metal racks before finally stopping against a wall. For a moment—there was silence, then his ears rang like sirens. Pain erupted within his body. Aken coughed, blood splattering across the floor. Miokuo's voice cut through the haze. "Major impact master, your vitals are extremely low."
"…I see that." Aken coughed
The Hunter didn't wait, it stepped through the shattered storefront. Each footstep was heavy, slow, almost certain. Aken pushed himself up. His legs trembled slightly from the weight, his ribs screamed in protest. But he stood, because he had no choice, dying here wasn't an option. The system flickered into existence.
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[Cursed Energy: 82]
[Time Remaining: 00:28:41]
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That was long, way too long. The Hunter raised its arm, the air warped in an instant. Aken reacted on autopilot, he dove behind a metal counter. The impact hit with an undeniable force. The entire shop exploded, walls tearing apart, furniture disintegrated. The force blasted Aken through the back wall. He rolled across the alley outside, coughing hard, dust filling his lungs. His vision blurred on impact. "…Get up goddann it ."
Miokuo's voice was sharp now. "Master. Please get up."
Aken forced his body to move. He stood again, barely. The Hunter stepped through the wreckage behind him, unstoppable and at the same time relentless. Jae-Min's voice yelled faintly from somewhere far behind. "…Don't die, ass-hole!"
Aken let out a small breath with the same tone. "…I'm working on that shit-head!"
The Hunter moved again, faster than before. Aken sprinted, their bodies collided in the alley. The impact shattered the wall beside them. Aken twisted his body. Miokuo flashed, a clean cut carved across the Hunter's torso. Black blood sprayed across the alley like a water gun. The creature didn't even flinch, it grabbed Aken's shoulder and slammed him straight into the ground. The concrete cracked beneath him. Aken gasped as air left his lungs. The Hunter raised its other arm, a killing blow. Miokuo screamed inside his mind. "MOVE!"
Aken rolled, the claw crashed down where his head had been, the ground exploded as chunks of concrete flew like bombs in the air. Aken pushed himself up again. His breathing was shallow, his body slower, but his eyes were till sharp.
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[Time Remaining: 00:26:12]
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The Hunter's voice dragged through the air, Aken wiped blood from his mouth. "…come faster."
The creature roared, charging towards him like a canon bolt. Aken ran forward, again, they met in the center of the alley. Aken ducked the first swing, blocked the second but the third clipped his stomach, pain ran through his body like a gun shot. Still he didn't stop, Miokuo glowed. Cursed energy surged into the blade. Aken spun—
[Curse Slash]
The attack slammed into the Hunter's chest, the explosion sent the monster crashing through the alley wall. Aken dropped to one knee, breathing hard.
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[Cursed Energy: 71]
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Too much drain, and way too fast. He couldn't keep using it like that. The rubble shifted. The Hunter stood again, still alive, still coming. Aken laughed quietly. "…Of course."
The fight continued, minutes blurred together, run, clash, dodge, strike and repeat. Every second stretched, every movement mattered, and every mistake nearly killed him. The Hunter adapted, movements grew sharper, faster, more precise. It learned constantly. Aken did the same. He stopped wasting energy, stopped forcing attacks and instead began focusing on survival, angles, timing and distance. Miokuo guided him through it all.
"Left."
"Now."
"Jump."
09
Their movements became one, blade and body, mind and instinct.
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[Time Remaining: 00:19:33]
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Aken staggered backward, his breathing was heavy, so heavy it felt like poison. His vision flickered slightly, blood dripping from his arms. His shirt was torn, burned and stained. The Hunter stood across from him. Also damaged, slower, yet undeniably terrifying, capable of ending everything in one hit. Aken tightened his grip. "…Halfway there."
Miokuo responded. "You are enduring well master."
"…Yeah. Doesn't feel like it." Aken gestured
The Hunter moved again, Aken moved with it. Their clash shook the street once more, steel rang as claws tore through air, shockwaves rippling outward. Aken ducked, spun, then slashed it's torso. Black blood sprinkled onto his hands. The Hunter countered, grabbed, then threw him. Aken crashed into a wall, he slid down, struggling to even stand. His legs trembled from the force.
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[Time Remaining: 00:15:02]
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"…I'm not done yet." He whispered
The Hunter stepped closer. "YOU… WILL… FALL."
Aken exhaled slowly. "…Yeah. Maybe someday but not today."
He stood, even as his body screamed in protest for him stop, even as his vision blurred. He stepped forward—again and again, because that was all he could do. Keep going, keep moving and finally survive. The battle continued, minute by minute, second by second. Until—
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[Time Remaining: 00:05:21]
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Aken could barely feel his arms at this moment, his legs moved on instinct, his breathing was as shallow as an oxygen tank trying to keep a dead man alive. The cursed energy flickered bit by bit, but he was still standing. The Hunter roared, much louder than before, more desperate. It charged, Aken raised Miokuo. "…Last stretch."
Their final clashes began, faster, more intense, more desperate. Aken dodged by inches, then countered by his instincts. Every movement pushed him beyond his limit.
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[Time Remaining: 00:02:14]
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The Hunter raised both arms, an energy ball warped violently around it. A massive Spatial Impact, larger than any before, stronger and deadlier. Miokuo shouted. "MASTER—"
Aken ran forward, straight into the attack. He poured everything into one movement, every drop of cursed energy, every ounce of strength.
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[Curse Slash]
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The blade collided with the forming attack, the explosion tore the street apart. Light and dust filled with shockwave. Everything vanished. For a moment—nothing moved. Then, Aken dropped to one knee, his breathing was broken, body barely functioning. Across from him—
The Hunter stood, damaged, shaking, but still alive. The system flickered into existence.
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[Time Remaining: 00:00:12]
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Aken let out a weak laugh. "…That's enough now."
The Hunter tried to move, tried to step forward, but its body faltered. Aken raised his head slowly.
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[Time Remaining: 00:00:03]
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The creature reached toward him—
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[Time Remaining: 00:00:01]
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Silence enveloped the space, the system chimed.
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[Quest Complete]
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Objective: Survive the Hunter
Status: Cleared
Rewards Granted:
+100 Possibility Points
+3 Stat Points
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The Hunter froze, its body trembled, then slowly… It stopped moving. Aken exhaled, and finally—
Collapsed.
END OF CHAPTER 16