Chapter 27: The Hunt.

The Awakened stood before Rek and the guards, their glances darting nervously among one another, each silently wondering who would dare to step forward first. 

It seemed that no one was eager to volunteer, not even Mason and Blaise, who had been brimming with energy at the start. The two boys appeared to have had their fill of the training and now yearned for nothing more than rest.

At that moment, Dawn noticed Aella out of the corner of his eye, striding towards the veil of darkness. It appeared she was about to take the lead and head in first, as she usually did.

'Thank God-'

But Dawn's relief was short-lived. His thoughts were abruptly interrupted when Rek's voice rang out.

"Number 350."

Dawn flinched, while Aella halted in her tracks.

"You were the only one to unlock the condition. Therefore, you shall be the first to tackle this training. Step forward." 

'What does this guy have against me…!?' Dawn grumbled inwardly.

"Do I have a choice?" Dawn asked, forcing a nervous smile onto his face.

"No," Rek responded coldly.

With no other option, Dawn complied, his body trembling as he cautiously made his way towards Rek. As he walked past the other Awakened, he could feel their gazes piercing him. Despite his slow pace, it didn't take long to reach Rek and the other guards at the end of the path.

Upon his arrival, Rek and the guards stepped aside, revealing the ominous dark veil that had been obscured behind them.

Dawn took a deep breath, exhaling slowly as he noticed the guards grinning at him. No one spoke, but their expectations were clear: they wanted him to hurry up and plunge into the unknown.

"..."

Without uttering a word, Dawn stepped decisively into the veil of darkness.

Darkness. It was all-encompassing, swirling around him like a tangible entity. Dawn glanced back, only to find that he could no longer see the path from which he'd come. It was as if he'd stepped into an entirely different realm.

But it wasn't only his sight that was compromised—his hearing was equally affected. It was as if he was submerged underwater, the silence unnerving. If not for the ground under his feet, which felt unsettlingly fragile, he would have been completely disoriented.

'Ugh… this feels terrible,' he thought to himself as he began to move forward.

According to Rek, the challenge was straightforward: traverse the path and reach the end. Dawn had no desire to linger in this unsettling environment any longer than necessary.

Thus, he walked—quickly, in fact. His sight and hearing might have been compromised, but Dawn could still sense the ominous energy flowing around him. 

Unfortunately, it seemed to be radiating from all directions, sending his danger instincts into overdrive. He felt like a cornered prey in the midst of a hunt.

After a few more steps, Dawn abruptly halted. He could sense the unsettling energy currents shifting around him, and alarmingly, one was heading straight for him.

Reacting swiftly, Dawn launched himself forward. In that split second, he felt it—something whizzed past him from behind, barely missing him. However, it managed to graze his back.

From that brief contact, Dawn could tell it was sharp—so sharp that it likely drew blood from the mere graze.

'Ow! What on earth was that?' Dawn wondered, quickening his pace until he was sprinting.

He didn't know what it was, but one thing was clear: it moved much faster than he did. If it had struck him directly, he would have been taken out instantly.

With that unnerving thought in mind, Dawn ran as fast as his vulnerable body would allow, deeply regretting his life choices.

'Nope, I'm not taking any chances, especially when I can't even circulate my energy!' Dawn yelled inwardly, extracting the crimson feather from beneath his clothes.

Upon exposure, the crimson feather cast a faint light, revealing the narrow rocky path beneath his feet. The path was just wide enough for two people to walk abreast. If Dawn slipped or missed a step, he risked falling off. 

Even as he ran, shining the feather's light down into the abyss, he couldn't make out the bottom.

[Would you like to consume the Phoenix Feather?]

'I don't know what's down there, but I have a feeling even the Phoenix Feather won't save me if I slip off this ledge—'

Dawn's thoughts were abruptly cut off as he sensed two of those 'things' hurtling towards him. He could faintly feel their presence closing in, their speed increasing as they neared.

*Fwoosh!*

Dawn avoided the first one by leaping upwards, but it was impossible to entirely evade the second. 

It sliced through his leg, taking out a chunk of flesh before zooming past him. During the brief moment it attacked, Dawn's light illuminated the creature. The sight sent chills down his spine.

It was a small, swift creature with scales shimmering in an array of dark hues. Its eyes glowed like two orbs, and its elongated body ended in a sharp, spear-like tail. From its open mouth protruded razor-sharp teeth.

'Was that a spearfish? No, it merely resembled one, but it was something entirely different... and terrifying. What the hell was that?'

But Dawn wasn't given much time to ponder. The attacks were far from over; in fact, they were just beginning. The creatures seemed to swoop around for another attack, and three more joined them, all charging at Dawn simultaneously.

'Yeah, now would be a good time to consume it!' He thought frantically, breaking into a sprint.

[Would you like to consum-]

With his demise looming, Dawn didn't even wait for the system to finish its notification before he blurted out his response.

"Consume it, quick!"

In that very instant, the crimson feather in his grip shone brightly before its energy surged into him and it vanished. Simultaneously, Dawn's injuries disappeared.

[You have consumed a Phoenix Feather!]

Following the notification, Dawn found himself completely healed. However, he wasn't given a moment to appreciate it, as the five creatures reached him a split second later, attacking him all at once.

Dawn suddenly channeled his energy and narrowly dodged the first creature by dropping down, sliding along the path. He then vaulted over the second one and kicked off the third to dart past the following two.

*Fwoosh!*

His movements were so swift and agile that it surprised even him. But he didn't stop to contemplate it. Instead, he continued to channel his energy.

Something felt different within him. His body felt warmer, and his heart throbbed rhythmically. The energy he channeled felt unlike anything he had experienced before.

However, Dawn wasn't given the time to fully comprehend it, as more of the 'creatures' pursued him relentlessly, zooming past him one after another.

It was like playing dodgeball, except a single mistake could cost him his life. He had to not only evade the creatures but also ensure he stayed on the narrow path.

His instincts were screaming at him as he focused solely on survival, never stopping for even a second. He pulled off maneuvers he never thought his body could handle.

[You sense an increase in your agility.]

[Your senses sharpen, expanding your perception.]

'That's good to know! I sense that I'm about to have a panic attack too!'

[New Emergency Quest Unlocked]

[Emergency Quest: The Hunt.]

[Objective: Do not get 'hunted' and endure the onslaught of the 'Nightmare Fishes'.]