The Trial of the Night Hunter

The darkness inside the canyon felt heavier than before.

The faint blue light from Serdihun 2’s crystal flickered, as if it was afraid to shine. Shadows moved along the stone walls, stretching and twisting into unnatural shapes.

Then—

Footsteps.

Slow.

Deliberate.

Crunching against sand and stone.

The Hollow Ones who had guided them earlier suddenly backed away, disappearing into the darkness without a word.

Kemp felt his chest tighten.

Kemp:
“…Something’s wrong.”

From the shadows ahead, a tall figure stepped forward.

It was the Creature Leader.

But this time, his presence felt different.

Stronger.

Sharper.

More dangerous.

His glowing eyes burned brighter, and strange dark energy flowed around his body like smoke.

Behind him—

The air itself tore open.

A cold wind rushed through the canyon, and the temperature dropped instantly.

A second figure emerged.

Tall.

Armored in dark metal.

A long sword rested in his hand, its blade covered in strange markings.

His eyes glowed like the night sky.

The Night Hunter had arrived.

Alir’s breath caught in her throat.

Alir:
“Oh no…”
(pause)
“The Night Hunter…”

Serdihun stepped back slightly, her face pale.

Serdihun:
“The Creature Leader is powerful…”
(pause)
“But the Night Hunter too…”

Serdihun 2 clenched her fists.

Serdihun 2:
“Yeah…”
(pause)
“But what do we do now?”

The two enemies stood silently, watching them like hunters studying trapped prey.

Kemp stepped forward.

Even without his powers, even without magic—

His voice was steady.

Kemp:
“…Let’s fight.”

Alir turned toward him in shock.

Alir:
“Kemp—!”

Kemp:
“We don’t have a choice.”
(pause)
“If we run, they’ll hunt us.”
(pause)
“If we hide, we’ll starve.”
(pause)
“So we fight.”

The Night Hunter lifted his sword.

Hunter:
“…Then fight.”

Without warning—

The Night Hunter charged.

His speed was terrifying.

Kemp barely had time to react.

He drew his sword and blocked the strike.

CLANG!!

The impact sent shock through Kemp’s arms.

Kemp:
“Gah—!”

The Night Hunter smiled slightly.

Hunter:
“You’re slow.”

He attacked again—fast, precise, deadly.

Kemp blocked, dodged, rolled across the sand.

No powers.

No light.

Only steel and survival.

On the other side—

The Creature Leader raised his hand.

Dark energy surged forward like a wave.

Alir, Serdihun, and Serdihun 2 charged together.

Alir fired an arrow.

Serdihun launched an energy sphere.

Serdihun 2 struck with all her strength.

The attacks collided with the Creature Leader—

And exploded.

Dust filled the air.

But when it cleared—

He was still standing.

Creature Leader:
“…Too weak.”

He slammed his staff into the ground.

The earth shook violently.

Alir was thrown backward.

Serdihun hit the canyon wall hard.

Serdihun 2 fell to her knees.

Alir groaned.

Alir:
“My energy…”
(pause)
“It’s fading…”

Serdihun tried to summon another power ball.

Nothing happened.

Serdihun:
“My energy power…”
(pause)
“It’s useless here!”

Serdihun 2 struggled to stand.

Serdihun 2:
“I don’t have the strength…”
(pause)
“…to defeat him.”

Meanwhile—

Kemp was barely holding on.

The Night Hunter’s sword sliced past his shoulder, cutting fabric and skin.

Blood dropped onto the sand.

Kemp gritted his teeth.

Kemp:
“Hey!”
(pause)
“We’re not your enemies!”
(pause)
“Why are you attacking us?!”

The Night Hunter didn’t stop.

Hunter:
“Shut your mouth.”
(pause)
“And fight.”

The clash continued.

Steel against steel.

Breath against breath.

Finally—

Everyone fell back.

Exhausted.

Breathing heavily.

Their bodies screamed in pain.

Alir dropped to one knee.

Serdihun leaned on the canyon wall.

Serdihun 2 panted, barely standing.

Kemp lowered his sword.

Kemp:
“…Keep going.”
(pause)
“We have to survive…”

Suddenly—

Everything stopped.

The Night Hunter stepped back.

The Creature Leader lowered his staff.

The dark energy vanished.

Silence filled the canyon.

Kemp stared at them in confusion.

Kemp:
“Why…”
(pause)
“Why did you stop?”

The Creature Leader looked at them calmly now.

Creature Leader:
“Because the test is complete.”

Serdihun blinked.

Serdihun:
“…Test?”

The Night Hunter sheathed his sword.

Hunter:
“Yes.”
(pause)
“It was the truth.”

Alir struggled to her feet.

Alir:
“You tried to kill us!”
(pause)
“And now you say it’s a test?!”

The Creature Leader raised his hand.

Creature Leader:
“We needed to know.”
(pause)
“If you would run.”
(pause)
“If you would betray each other.”
(pause)
“Or if you would stand together.”

Kemp stared at them.

Kemp:
“…And?”

The Night Hunter looked directly at him.

Hunter:
“You stood.”

The dark energy around both of them began to fade.

Their forms shifted.

Their glowing eyes dimmed.

Their monstrous shapes slowly changed—

Into human ones.

Alir gasped.

Serdihun covered her mouth.

Serdihun 2 froze.

Standing before them now—

Were two human men.

Tall.

Strong.

Calm.

The Night Hunter spoke first.

Hunter:
“My name is Sarmon Kramsa.”

The Creature Leader stepped forward.

Creature Leader:
“And my name is Birson Terang.”

Alir stared at Birson.

He was tall, with sharp features and calm eyes. Power still surrounded him—but controlled.

Her heart skipped slightly.

Serdihun looked at Sarmon.

He was taller, broad-shouldered, with serious eyes and quiet strength.

She felt her face grow warm.

Serdihun 2 noticed.

Serdihun 2:
“…Alir?”
(pause)
“Serdihun?”
(pause)
“What’s wrong with you two?”

Alir and Serdihun didn’t answer.

They were still staring.

Kemp smirked.

Kemp:
“…I think Alir and Serdihun just fell in love.”
(soft laugh)
“Hehe…”

Serdihun 2 crossed her arms.

Serdihun 2:
“…Hmph.”

She looked away, feeling a strange tightness in her chest.

Sarmon smiled faintly.

Sarmon:
“We were once humans.”
(pause)
“Like you.”
(pause)
“Narkaal trapped us here long ago.”

Birson nodded.

Birson:
“We survived.”
(pause)
“We adapted.”
(pause)
“And we protect others from becoming monsters.”

Kemp lowered his sword completely.

Kemp:
“Then help us.”
(pause)
“We want to escape this world.”
(pause)
“And stop Narkaal.”

Sarmon and Birson exchanged a look.

Then—

They nodded.

Sarmon:
“The path will be painful.”

Birson:
“But not impossible.”

The canyon felt less dark now.

Not safe.

But hopeful.

For the first time since being thrown into this world—

They were not alone.

And far away—

Narkaal felt something shift.

His prison world was changing.

And he did not like it.