The night air was thick with the acrid scent of burning wood. Smoke coiled through the trees, drawn toward the massive fire raging ahead—a beacon visible from anywhere in the forest. The crackling flames twisted and danced, casting long, jagged shadows against the trees.

  James’ mind barely had time to register the reckless insanity of it all before—

  “What the hell are they doing?!” Sam’s deep voice roared over the pounding of their footsteps.

  The fire wasn’t just a signal—it was a trap.

  And they had walked right into it.

  From the darkness—a blur of motion.

  Ethan.

  He came out of nowhere, slipping through their ranks like a whisper of wind. Before anyone could react, his hands snatched the last bag of rations from Sam’s grip.

  James spun—too late.

  Ethan was already gone, a shadow melting back into the smoke.

  “Damn it!” Amanda cursed, gripping her spear.

  Lucas’ voice rang out ahead, sharp and commanding. “We’re dispersing! MOVE!”

  They were splitting up. Trying to disappear into the night, taking the rations with them.

  “ Damn it. They got us I didn't think Lucas would actually do something so reckless”

  Amanda jolted at James “we don't have much time!”

  The chase exploded into motion.

  The forest blurred past them as James and his team surged forward, their feet pounding against the earth.

  Branches tore at their clothes. Roots reached to trip them. The flickering light of the fire cast everything in chaotic, shifting shadows.

  William vanished. Silent, quick—already looping around to flank.

  Amanda and Sophia stayed close to James, their weapons gleaming in the firelight.

  Jonathan and Sam crashed through the undergrowth, their sheer force making up for their lack of speed.

  Ahead, Lucas’ squad was barely holding together.

  Ethan darted between trees, clutching the stolen rations.

  Jared and Miles ran beside him, breathing ragged.

  Lucas—always the strategist—was ahead of them all, trying to lead them deeper into the forest, toward safety.

  They were so close now.

  James pushed harder. His lungs burned, but he didn’t care. A few more seconds—

  Then—

  BOOM.

  The air shuddered as something collided with the ground ahead of them.

  Dirt and debris exploded outward. A deafening shockwave rippled through the trees.

  And then—a blur of motion.

  Something inhumanly fast tore through the darkness.

  James barely had time to react before a monstrous fist slammed into Lucas’ ribs.

  CRACK.

  Lucas was lifted off the ground—his body flung like a ragdoll. He slammed into a tree with bone-rattling force, bark splintering on impact. A ragged gasp escaped his lips before he collapsed, motionless.

  Silence.

  For a moment, the only sound was the roar of the fire and the distant echo of Lucas’ body hitting the ground.

  Then, from the shadows—

  A deep voice spoke out, "there you are"

  It wasn’t like anything James had ever heard.

  A chill crawled up his spine as he saw it—The Rogue Awakened.

  Half-shrouded in darkness, his eyes burned like embers, his hulking form barely visible through the smoke. But James could see enough.

  A tall broad man with scar down his arms.

  The predatory stance.

  The raw malice radiating from its body.

  Lucas groaned, coughing blood, his hands weakly pushing against the dirt.

  But the Rogue wasn’t looking at him anymore.

  He was looking at James.

  The chase was over.

  The real fight had begun.

  Lucas groaned, rolling onto his side as pain flared through his ribs. His vision blurred for a second, but he forced himself up, coughing. The impact had knocked the wind out of him, but nothing felt broken.

  A deep chuckle echoed through the trees.

  "Oh? Get up. I barely used enough force to kill you."

  Torin's voice was casual, mocking. He rolled his broad shoulders, the moonlight casting shadows over his scarred skin. He had no weapons—he didn’t need them. His body was his weapon.

  Lucas’ team stood frozen. Jared clenched his fists, Ethan took a wary step back, and even Miles—the usually calm strategist—was visibly shaken.

  James' team was tense, their hands on their weapons, but even they could tell—this was different.

  This wasn't a test. This was real.

  James’ eyes flicked to Lucas as he steadied himself, ignoring the dull ache in his side. If they wasted time fighting among themselves, they were dead.

  "We call a truce," James said, his voice sharp. "Right now, he's our problem."

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  Lucas glanced at him, his usual smirk gone. He exhaled sharply, nodding. "Fine. Truce."

  Their teams fell into formation without another word.

  Torin cracked his neck, his grin widening. "Oh, this is gonna be fun."

  James darted forward first. He was the fastest to react. His blade flashed as he aimed for Torin’s ribs.

  Torin moved.

  Not dodged—moved.

  A shift, barely a step, and James' blade sliced through air.

  Before James could react, a fist shot toward his gut. He twisted, barely escaping the full force, but the shockwave of the near miss sent him skidding back.

  Amanda was next. She launched her spear like a viper’s strike, the tip aimed for Torin’s neck.

  Torin caught it.

  His fingers wrapped around the shaft like it was a twig. With a flick of his wrist, Amanda was yanked forward, stumbling.

  Sophia was already there.

  A glint of silver—her curved saber aiming for his arm.

  Torin let go of the spear and ducked, Sophia's blade slicing clean through the air where his shoulder had been.

  Jonathan roared, bringing his ax down in a brutal arc.

  Torin caught it.

  With one hand.

  Jonathan’s eyes widened as Torin held his weapon mid-swing. Then, with monstrous strength, Torin swung both Jonathan and the ax, hurling him sideways into a tree.

  The trunk cracked.

  Jonathan groaned, stunned.

  Before Torin could capitalize, William struck. His daggers flashed in the dark, aiming for vital points—throat, kidney, Achilles.

  “You are a sharp one aren't”

  Torin moved like a predator. He weaved through the attacks, letting them barely graze him. William managed a shallow cut along his forearm—

  Then Torin kicked him.

  A brutal, piston-like strike that sent William tumbling through the dirt.

  James cursed.

  "He's toying with us."

  Then Lucas’ team moved.

  Lucas, still breathing hard, drew a weapon from his belt—a serrated combat knife.

  "We hit him together," he said.

  Jared pulled out a pair of knuckle blades—curved, brutal weapons meant for close combat. He grinned, despite the fear in his eyes. "Oh, I like this plan."

  Ethan wielded a lightweight short sword, built for speed rather than power. He was already circling, waiting for an opening.

  Miles raised a pair of tonfa—baton-like weapons designed for blocking and striking. His grip was tight, his stance precise.

  With their weapons drawn, Lucas’ team joined the fight.

  Jared lunged first, fists flashing. Torin barely had time to deflect his strike before Ethan was there, slashing low at his legs.

  Torin dodged—

  Miles was waiting.

  A sharp crack echoed as a tonfa struck Torin’s ribs. The impact made the rogue grunt, his first real reaction.

  Amanda and Sophia struck next—Amanda’s spear forcing Torin to step back while Sophia aimed for his ankles.

  Torin evaded, but now he was reacting instead of controlling.

  Lucas struck next, his knife stabbing toward Torin’s side—

  Torin caught his wrist.

  With a single twist, Lucas was wrenched off balance, pulled toward the rogue’s incoming knee—

  CLANG.

  Sam's longsword blocked the knee strike.

  For a brief moment, Lucas was free. He rolled away as Sam absorbed the impact.

  Torin took a half step back, exhaling. His smirk had faded.

  Then he cracked his knuckles.

  "Alright. Now you're getting serious."

  Torin moved.

  Faster than before.

  One moment he was standing still—the next, Jared was gone, thrown sideways like a ragdoll.

  Ethan tried to dodge—too late. A fist slammed into his chest, lifting him off his feet.

  Sophia ducked just in time to avoid a brutal punch—only for Torin to kick her mid-spin, sending her flying.

  He was tearing through them.

  James clenched his jaw. They couldn’t beat him one-on-one.

  "Jonathan!" James shouted. "Hit him with everything!"

  Jonathan, still dazed, gripped his ax. His eyes sharpened.

  Torin turned—

  Jonathan roared and swung with both hands.

  Torin raised his arms to block—

  The ax broke through.

  The force sent Torin staggering. His arms trembled as he gritted his teeth.

  James saw his chance.

  "NOW!"

  Lucas and James struck at the same time. James’ blade sliced toward Torin’s back—Lucas' knife toward his ribs.

  Torin twisted—

  But William was behind him.

  Twin daggers stabbed into his lower back.

  Torin snarled.

  Amanda’s spear pierced his shoulder.

  Sam’s longsword slashed across his chest.

  Miles’ tonfa slammed into his skull.

  Torin stumbled.

  Blood dripped down his arms. His breathing was uneven.

  He growled, but for the first time—

  He looked at them differently.

  Not as prey.

  As a threat.

  Torin charged.

  He knew he was losing. He needed to finish this now.

  James barely had time to react—Torin was faster now, desperate.

  A fist shot toward his head—

  Lucas tackled him out of the way.

  Torin’s strike shattered the tree behind them.

  James rolled to his feet, chest heaving.

  Jonathan lifted his ax—

  Torin kicked his legs out from under him. Jonathan crashed down hard.

  Amanda’s spear lashed out—Torin caught it, yanking her toward him.

  William tried to stab—Torin backhanded him.

  One by one, he knocked them away, bleeding but relentless.

  James clenched his blade. Looking for an opportunity to finish this before it was too late. If this goes on we may actually die.

  He stepped forward.

  Torin turned—

  James dropped his stance low—faster than before— . His eyes glowed with a light spark. For that fraction of a second. James moved almost impossible for the eyes to follow.

  And vanished.

  A blur—

  Then a slash.

  Torin’s eyes widened.

  What was that just now, I could have sworn he looked like the predator just now. Torin thought to himself.

  He staggered.

  A deep, crimson line ran across his chest.

  James landed behind him, exhaling.

  Torin touched his wound, blinking. He let out a breath.

  Then—

  He laughed.

  "Kid what the hell are you… ."

  His body swayed.

  Then he collapsed.

  Silence.

  The only sound was their ragged breathing.

  James, watching Torin’s unconscious form, felt nothing. He just killed a person although he should be feeling guilty for having killed someone for the first time, it felt like second nature to him like he had been doing it for years.

  Lucas coughed, shaking his head. “That was... ridiculous.”

  James let out a breath. “Yeah.”

  Jonathan groaned. “Please tell me that was the strongest one.”

  James didn’t answer.

  Because deep down—he knew it wasn’t. As he looked at the lifeless awakened he had remembered seeing him when scouting. This was not near to being the strongest awakened in the camp.

  The forest was silent.

  Torin’s unconscious body lay in the dirt, blood pooling beneath him. The air was thick with sweat, smoke, and exhaustion.

  James’ chest rose and fell in sharp breaths. His muscles ached, his knuckles were bruised from gripping his blade too tightly, and his vision swam from fatigue.

  Lucas groaned, clutching his ribs as he leaned against a tree. “That was... fucking awful.”

  Jonathan wheezed out a laugh, still sprawled on the ground. "We actually won."

  Amanda staggered has she went over to James. “You okay? We had no choice. You don't have to feel guilty”

  But James didn’t reply.

  Something was wrong.

  The hairs on his arms stood on end. A cold, crawling sensation slithered down his spine. His grip on his sword tightened.

  Then—

  A shadow moved.

  It wasn’t the flickering firelight playing tricks on his eyes.

  Something shifted in the darkness beyond the trees.

  James lifted his gaze.

  Figures emerged—silent, deliberate.

  They stepped forward from the blackened woods, their presence swallowing what little warmth remained in the air. Their movements were too smooth, too controlled. These weren’t panicked raiders or untrained rogues.

  These were killers.

  Lucas saw them at the same time James did. His face lost what little color it had.

  “…Shit.”

  One by one, more figures materialized from the shadows. Some crouched on thick branches, others stood among the twisted trunks of the forest, their outlines barely visible in the dying light.

  They weren’t alone.

  They had never been alone.

  Torin was just the scout.

  "We’re dead."

  Sam’s whisper was barely audible, but the weight of those words settled over the entire group like a noose tightening around their throats.

  Then, the leader stepped forward.

  A mountain of a man.

  He was at least a foot taller than Torin, broader, his shoulders covered in scars that told stories of wars fought and won. Unlike Torin, there was no amusement in his eyes. Only judgment.

  The firelight revealed a face carved from stone, one eye missing, a scar running jagged from his temple to his jaw. His remaining eye glowed with something primal.

  His presence alone crushed the air around them.

  James felt it instantly.

  Pressure.

  A suffocating force pressing down on his body, making his breaths shallow, his limbs heavier. His instincts screamed at him to run.

  But he couldn’t.

  None of them could.

  Lucas’ team staggered back. Ethan gritted his teeth, barely suppressing a shudder. Jared clenched his fists, but his usual bravado was gone. Miles’ tonfa trembled slightly in his grip.

  Even Amanda, always steady, had gone stiff.

  Jonathan swallowed hard. “…Who the hell is that?”

  The scarred man exhaled slowly, studying them. Then, he spoke.

  "You children are quite bold."

  His voice was deep. Rough. A sound that carried through the trees like rolling thunder.

  He took another step forward.

  James’ body screamed at him to move.

  But the man wasn’t looking at him.

  He was looking at Torin’s broken form on the ground.

  For a long moment, there was silence.

  Then—

  He laughed.

  A slow, rumbling chuckle that sent chills through James’ bones.

  The other Rogues around them began to smirk, some shaking their heads in amusement.

  Lucas exhaled sharply. "I really don’t like that laugh."

  The leader’s mirth faded, and his eye flicked back to James and Lucas.

  "You fought well. But you should have run when you had the chance."

  James’ pulse pounded in his ears.

  They weren’t fighting just one Rogue.

  They were fighting an entire pack.

  And their leader had just passed his judgment