Hunt -II

The boy stayed still, watching as the bandits continued their crude conversation. He was patient, calculating. The virus inside him was itching for release, but he waited, observing how they moved. They were careless, splitting up slightly as they went about their business, leaving gaps between them. The one at the back was the most vulnerable.

His eyes narrowed, and without a second thought, he lunged.

The virus exploded from him as he shot forward, claws forming mid-air, tendrils of biomass writhing along his arms. Before the bandit at the back could react, the boy's claws drove into his chest and stomach, impaling him with brutal force. The man let out a strangled gasp, eyes wide in shock, blood pouring from his wounds.

The others turned, eyes going wide with horror.

What the-he's just a kid!" one of them shouted, voice cracking with disbelief.

Panic surged through the group, but the boy didn't hesitate. He kicked the impaled bandit with a powerful strike, sending the corpse flying into two others with a sickening crash. The lifeless body collided with them, and they tumbled to the ground in a heap, already dead from the impalement.

The boy's focus shifted to the second bandit, who had recovered enough to charge at him with a raised axe. His eyes were wide with fear, but desperation pushed him forward.

The boy moved fluidly, ducking low as the axe swung down, missing by inches. His claws lashed out in response, slicing through the bandit's ankles with a clean swipe. The man screamed in agony as his feet were severed, his body collapsing forward, but the boy didn't stop. He swiped the again, this time across the shoulders, the claws Tearing clean through.

The bandit's head hit the ground before his body did, blood spraying from his severd neck.

The remaining bandits stood frozen in fear, their faces pale as they stared at the boy-- the kid who has just torn through two of their comrades in seconds.

"What the hell... what is this kid?" one of them stammered eyes wide with fear and disbelief.

They couldn't comprehend what they had just encountered. And the boy, standing amidst the carnage, his claws still dripping with blood, smiled coldly, knowing they wouldn't live long enough to figure it out.

The remaining bandits stood in shock, their confidence shattered. They had underestimated this boy, mistaking him for an easy target. But now, as they watched their comrades fall, fear coursed through them.

One bandit, a heavyset man with a wild beard, stumbled backward, fumbling for his weapon. "Get him! We can't let a kid take us down!" He swung a rusty dagger toward the boy, but his movements were clumsy and uncoordinated.

The boy advanced, unfazed. He dodged to the side, easily avoiding the clumsy strike. With a quick movement, he lunged forward, his claws extending. He slashed at the bandit's side, the claws cutting through flesh with sickening ease. The man howled, clutching his wound as blood gushed between his fingers. But the boy wasn't done. He twisted and struck again, driving a claw into the man's throat, silencing him with a gurgle as he collapsed, lifeless.

"Stay together!" another bandit yelled, panic rising in his voice. He gripped a club tightly and took a step toward the boy, eyes wild with fear and fury. "We can take him down if we work together!"

But the boy felt only exhilaration. The virus thrummed within him, fueling his movements. He sidestepped the bandit's swing, then lunged, grabbing the man's wrist and twisting it with a brutal snap. The club fell from the bandit's hand, and before he could react, the boy thrust his claws into the man's stomach, piercing deep.

The bandit's eyes went wide, and he gasped, struggling to breathe as he felt the cold steel within him. The boy twisted his claws, eliciting a choked scream, then withdrew them, letting the man fall to his knees, blood pooling beneath him.

The remaining bandits exchanged frantic glances, their confidence shattered.

"What do we do? He's insane!" one of them shouted, stumbling backward.

"Get the hell out of here!" the last bandit yelled, turning to run, but the boy was faster. He leaped, using the trees for leverage, and landed in front of the fleeing man. Without hesitation, he swiped his claws across the bandit's chest, tearing through leather and flesh.

The man stumbled, shock and pain registering on his face as he fell to the ground. The boy stood over him, the virus surging within him, urging him on. He could feel the power coursing through him, intoxicating and dark.

"Please... don't," the bandit begged, tears mixing with the dirt on his face. "I didn't want any of this!"

The boy leaned closer, eyes narrowing. "Neither did I," he replied coldly. With a swift motion, he plunged his claws into the bandit's chest, ending his plea in an instant. The boy felt the warmth of blood splatter against his skin, a reminder of the life he had just taken.

Breathing heavily, he surveyed the scene. Bodies lay scattered around the clearing, the air thick with the coppery scent of blood. He had done it-he had killed them all, and it felt exhilarating. The virus pulsed within him, feeding off the chaos, awakening something primal.

Standing amidst the carnage, he let out a small, chilling laugh. It wasn't just power he had gained-it was freedom. This was what he had craved, the control he needed to harness the darkness within him. He turned to the trees, ready to disappear into the depths of the forest, already planning his next move.