Restless

The fight against the Lone Hunter of the Wild Hunt went back and forth in a peculiar yet apparent rhythm.

We attempted to hold our ground while finding a way to counter attack, and the Lone Hunter would sometimes perform an unexpected action or attack.

But thanks to its rather grounded nature, we would often foresaw and devise a makeshift plan toward it, unfurling its attempt that would either end in us making progress on defeating it, or back to square one with no damage dealt to both parties.

This cycle however, was not to our benefit.

No matter how much blood that the Lone Hunter spilled, it didn't affect its fighting ability or prowess in the slightest.

Meanwhile, all four of us were getting worn down with every clash and mind-storming the Lone Hunter's next attack.

Lupina was on the brink of breaking down since she kept on pushing her Feral Rage state to ensure the party's safety.

Verina was running out of lifeline.

Tahlia himself was getting so stressed, that it would only be a matter of time until he or one of us made a mistake that would cost us our whole lives.

As for me.

I was getting dragged to the low shore of irritation the more dysphoria I gained from giving 200% effort without any rest.

Not to mention, while the Wraithgrip did strengthen this body's overall physical prowess, it actually drained my energy viscerally the more I relied on the strength it gave.

"It's going back to the mist! Hold your ground!"

On the other hand, one of my hypotheses was proven to be true to a certain extent.

While we were exchanging our aggression, a Calamity Object joined the chaotic fray.

Just before we could do anything about it, the Lone Hunter changed its prioritization and devastated that Calamity Object in front of us. We took that chance to land an attack on it, but it bested us in speed and awareness.

Especially after it had become the victim of our trickery for numerous times.

"It's here!"

This piece of the Wild Hunt possessed the ability to learn and adapt.

And it was probably the first time I had this cold-biting shiver running up on my spine for such a long duration of time.

"Tch!"

Just as when I used the obsidian dagger on my left hand as a feint, this armored hunter saw through my intention and took a rash step forward, swinging both of its weapons.

I managed to parry the sword using my own broadsword but my obsidian dagger was crushed into tiny pieces as the hunter's cudgel chased it around.

In fact, this bastard put all of its strength on destroying the already brittle obsidian dagger! 

The protruding spikes also damaged my forearm into a bleeding mess, something that definitely needs to be tended soon.

"Now!"

My command was given loud and simple, hinting at our kilnalan to timely pull her trigger.

And trigger was what she pulled as her aim was rightful and steady, shooting out the spell chambered inside her musket as the exhaust horns on her head fumed a hot mist 

Verina scored another hit on its neck, embedding an extremely low temperature that spread around the surface of the hunter's body in order to hold it down.

Because even if its skin was transformed into ice, this undying powerhouse would still be able to move and stomp forward.

But while it was more vulnerable, I put both grips on the handle of the broadsword and proceeded to swing this piece of metal onto the frozen part of the Lone Hunter's arm, the obvious intersection of armor between the joint guard and the gauntlet.

The second right arm that was ever gripping the spiked cudgel was finally severed.

It attempted to retaliate with its sword.

"No you won't!"

The Lone Hunter was still partially in a frozen state. Even though there was no sign of freezing nor restrain upon its armor, the skin and flesh behind it should be greatly affected.

Or that was… what I thought.

The knight of the hunt moved its whole body forward as the frozen pieces of skin and flesh were shedded from its body. 

Pitch-black bodily liquid trailed from every crevice of its armor, alongside every part of its body that was influenced by the freezing spell.

With its fiery purple gaze fumed into its sides, a great arc of sweeping blade was unleashed to its whole surrounding.

"Kuh!"

Even with the help of the Wraithgrip's strengthening effect, I was pushed three meters away from where I formerly stood as I blocked the attack using the broadsword pressed to my cursed gauntlet.

I knew not of the Lone Hunter's plan to execute such a bold move all of a sudden.

But anxiety started to crept behind me, as I watched the menacing entity in front of me hurriedly placed the sword back to its sheath.

"Don't attack!"

Was it trying to reason with us peacefully? However, that would oppose the nature of a Qliphoth Object.

[Sanity: 15%]

Was attempting to bait us into close range? It was suddenly able to execute such a deadly move out of nowhere, and Verina's spell didn't seem to be holding it back anymore.

[Sanity: 12%]

Questions upon questions were surfing through my calamitous adrenaline. A single wrong more would cost my own life, and a single beat of hesitation would also cost my own life.

Before I knew it, the Lone Hunter casually picked up one of its severed right hand, still gripping at the spiked cudgel tenaciously.

Would it attempt to try it at us as a distraction, then perform a decisive attack!?

Would it attempt to switch the weapons it had!?

Despite my anticipation for a lot of things, I forgot the one thing that made me afraid of the Ordeals as a whole.

"What the hell…"

The fact that anything could happen, regardless of the improbability.